The Single Divine Operation and Christ's Victory over Death

They come as partners, and concerning them a lot is cast. If someone leaves an only-begotten son and appoints him as successor, all the things belonging to the deceased are his, and no lot is cast. But when many come upon the true heir saying, 'We too are children of him,' a division of his garments occurs. But they are not divided, only the words; for the same word is not held in different minds by hereticsrd toward his own mindset and will. Therefore, the diligent and truly faithful one possesses the whole robe of Jesus, not having it torn; so he does not cast a lot; the whole is his. For even if they cast a lot and use the words, they do not become his, they do not become masters of them; for a wise man according to Christ comes into the midst and shows that what he thinks is his is not his.

And what about garments and clothing? The garments together are called clothing, but each one by itself is not called clothing. And just as many sheep gathered together at once are called a flock, but each one is not called a flock, and people who have come together into one are called a people, but each one is not called a people. 20 'But You, Lord, do not delay Your help' (Psalm 70:5). If they exerted themselves in these things, even if they bring tribulation upon me, I have entreated You not to turn away, 'for tribulation is near' (Psalm 70:6). And the tribulation, if it has become near from those surrounding me like calves and bulls, from those scattering my bones, from those becoming causes to me such that my tongue is stuck to my throat, but You, do not delay Your help. Immediately then the resurrection of the Savior occurred, and immediately those who were scandalized turned back to Him. So the help has not been far.

And these things, according to the intention of man, Jesus says: 'Do not delay Your help.' The help which is required happens from no one else but from God. And I said that, when 'God' is said, it does not always signify the Father, separating the Son, nor the Son dividing from the Father; for the divinity is one. And because it is thus, we call the help the resurrection from the dead. Where it is said that He has delivered Himself and has been raised, and where the Father is said to be...

He has given life and has raised him, from which it is shown that the one resurrection and the one work being done by Father and Son happens through only one divine energy. Even if the Father does it, as God working this, he works it; even if the Son, he does this as God.

20 Pay attention to my understanding. For if you pay attention to my understanding, the help is not far from me, but being near, it worked; for he says previously these things concerning the men: for he did not come so that previously he himself might die and rise, but through others. 'By the grace of God he was raised above all death' (Rom 6:9). All died on behalf of them. This one by the grace of God was raised above all. 'The love of God holds us together, judging this thing to be that if one died on behalf of all, then all died' (Rom 6:10), so that those having died might no longer be dead, 'but live by that one who died on behalf of them and rose' (Rom 6:10). Some human power is able to give life on behalf of another, and some reproach is able to be received on behalf of another, and a rebuke. But death, no one is able to receive on behalf of another. And behold: he was raised alone, he was not swallowed by it, nor did it consume him. But he who is being swallowed by death swallows it himself. 'Death, having prevailed, swallowed up' (1 Cor 15:55). This one swallowed death, the one having been laid under it. And since Jesus 'did not commit sin,' and through the seizing of sin death is swallowed and swallows the one sinning—therefore he was raised above all; indeed, he was raised. And he has given the reason: 'so that through death he might render powerless the one having the power of death' (Heb 2:14). In death he destroyed death.

28 Save my soul from the sword (Ps 54:23). Jesus is also the one saying this verse, and he is able to say this also concerning his own soul, which he had the power to cast out and take back, and concerning every soul made his own. Just as it is said each of the saints is not merely a man anymore, but a man of God, so a soul desiring to please God is not merely a soul anymore, but a soul of God. Thus, in either way, he says these things concerning his own soul and that which he received, and concerning every soul made his own. And the sword sometimes signifies punishment; as if it is said: 'in the sword all sinful people of the people shall perish'; for it has never happened in history.