Homilies on Jeremiah and 1 Kings 28

Homily 9 : Jeremiah 11.1–10

85 HOMILY 9 Jeremiah 11.1–10 On “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, ‘Hear the words of this covenant’” up to, “‘They have turned back to the wrongdoings of their forefathers.’” ccording to the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ as historically told, his dwelling was in a body and a kind of universal event which illuminated the whole world, when the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.1 For he was the true light which enlightens every man who comes into the world. He was in the world and the world arose through him, and the world did not know him. To his own he came, and his own did not receive him.2 However, it is necessary to know that he was also dwelling prior to this, yet not in a body, in each of the holy ones. And after this visible dwelling, he dwells in us again. And if one wishes to have proof of this, take note of the passage, The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying: Hear. . . , and so on.3 For who is the word which came from the Lord to Jeremiah or to Isaiah or to Ezekiel or anyone except4 the one in the beginning with God? 5 I do not know any word of the Lord other than the one concerning whom the Evangelist said, The Word was in the beginning , and the Word was with God and the Word was God.6 (2) But we need also to see that the dwelling of the Word 1. John 1.14. 2. John 1.9–11. 3. Jer 11.1. 4. “Except,” an addition of Lietzmann. 5. John 1.1. 6. John 1.1. is with each of those who can especially benefit.7 For what profit is it for me if the Word has dwelt in the world and I do not have8 him? And, conversely, if he has not yet also dwelt in the whole world, but grants that I have become as the Prophets, I have the Word. And I could say that Christ was with Moses, with Jeremiah, with Isaiah, with each of the righteous, and what he said with the disciples, Behold I am with you all the days until the end of the age 9 is observed in fact and realized before his sojourn. For he was with Moses and he was with Isaiah and with each of the holy. How can they have spoken the word of God if the Word of God did not dwell in them? But these things must be understood especially with respect to us of the Church, who want God of the Law and the Gospel to be the same, Christ to be the same both then and now and10 for all of the ages. For there will be11 those who will cut in two, in their opinion, the divinity previous to the dwelling of the Savior and the divinity proclaimed12 by Jesus Christ, but we know one God both then and now, one Christ both then and now.13 (3) These thoughts are due to the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying. . . .14 (4) What then also may we hear? Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to those who dwell in Jerusalem.15 We are the men of Judah due to Christ. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah,16 and the name JuORIGEN 86 7. As Origen states in many places, each man has the Word (lovgo") because he has reason (lovgo"). But some “benefit” more because they are more prepared or willing. 8. “Have” (e[cw), a correction of Huet from Jerome. S has e[gnwn. 9. Matt 28.20. 10. “And,” an addition of Klostermann from Jerome. 11. “There will be” (e[sontai), a correction of Cordier. S has i[sontai. 12. “Proclaimed” (ajpaggellomevnh"), a correction of Klostermann from Jerome. S has ejpaggellomevnh". 13. Jerome continues: “and one Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son forever .” 14. Jer 11.1. 15. Jer 11.2. 16. Heb 7.14. HOMILY 9 87 dah, if I present it according to17 the Scripture, refers to Christ. The men of Judah will not be the Jews who do not believe in Christ, but all of us who believe in Christ. Judah, may your...