The Meanings of Hypostasis and Substance

More completely, they say the insights grasped by them are to be taught at the same time as the beginning, so that they may also know what they lack, and take up a desire to succeed and recover.

"Behold, I have made my days into wrestling matches." The former reading, this more common one, is: "I have made my days into old wrestling matches." I am not young or a newborn, not having begun to live just now, but "I have made my days into old wrestling matches." And this must be said: that which approaches always makes old that which has passed. Thus also laws grow old. Therefore he says: the old days which I had, when I lived as a man of old, have grown old and have departed; I have clothed myself in the new. But the one at hand will say: "Behold, I have become an old man. Make known to me the end, when I shall die." "Behold, I have made my days into wrestling matches." Since the name "wrestler" is homonymous—meaning also the one contending in the arena, and also indicating a certain measure—it is possible to take it both ways. He says: "I have made my days into wrestling in the arena"; for we always have those who fight against us. At times human temptation comes and fights and wears out human passions, and at other times evil powers; for "our wrestling is not against blood and flesh"—for us, but for others, yes—"but against the principalities, against the powers" (Ephesians 6:12). In order that this may be, "I have made my days into wrestling matches." And it can also be said by measure: as toward the age of the ages, the days which I live hold the character of a wrestler. And just as he says that all the nations are many things, "a drop from a bucket"—as toward the bucket of rational drops all the nations are—and "a weight on a scale"—until the weight tips and oscillates, not so as to pull the scale plate down—as toward the magnitude of the aging and the length of the days, which the one capable of living well endures: "the one loving" (Exodus 20:12) "his father and his mother shall be long-lived." And this is not yet found according to the literal word.

And my substance is as if nothing is against...

The name of hypostasis signifies many things. Regarding the present, there is a need for two meanings. Sometimes essence is called hypostasis; for instance, when the Son is called the 'character of the divine hypostasis' (cf. Heb 1:3), meaning the divine essence and existence. Hypostasis is also called perfect endurance, by which someone stands firm against hardships.

Thus he speaks in both senses: 'the essence of my soul is nothing before you' (Ps 51:6), as if toward you a certain great essence. And saying that it ought to be perfect according to you, the Father, I diminished it. And that this is so, he says concerning some: 'Children of Zion, the honored, adorned with gold and silver, how they became earthen vessels?' (2 Tim 2:20). Behold, their essence was diminished. It is clearly necessary to take this: they have become earthen vessels. The gold, being reviled, is diminished and falls far short of its own value. He who does not realize the honor coming to him from God 'is compared to the mindless cattle' (Ps 49:20), and his hypostasis, through poverty, was considered nothing.

And since it also signifies endurance, he says: even if I endured desiring to see my end and I entreat you that you make this known to me, yet my endurance is not something brief in this way toward you. Moreover, all things are vanity, every living man (Eccl 1:2). This must be known in two ways: all things are vanity through man, as the Preacher has clearly interpreted. Regarding the things that have ascended above and are perfect and truly eternal, the hypostasis is vain, except 'every living man.'

Thus it is possible to say: even if all other things apart from man are vanity, such as mortal animals, the transient things, even if they are soulless, man alone is living, living according to that life which they live according to Abraham; for 'God is not of the dead, but of the living' (Mk 12:27). And the man who lives according to the human standard is himself vain. Therefore, it must be distinguished thus: all these things are vanity; for even if they were mortal, having died.