Confederates’ share; Isaac type of Christ; leaders after the apostles

Christ. And the confederates receive portions, God somehow blessing, I think, and in the affairs according to this life the co-zealots of the saints; for the things being increase for them measuredly from a just road; for to those not yet altogether departing from the earthly things, yet somehow portioned to God and world, God also distributes the blessings upon earth. Thus he was blessing Jacob, leading the nurslings unto multitude.

Palladius: You speak well.

Cyril: And thus being of good reputation, and made bright, as already genuine, the one who knows to save says that one must neither grow numb, and indeed that they will also bring a wide wage, he usefully promises; together setting the strengthless and most daring passion as far as possible from the flock of those who fear him, and sharpening unto eagernesses with hope of what has been promised, and setting them stronger. Therefore also divine Paul, disposing thus, was saying once: ‘I am strong all things in Christ who empowers me’; and again otherwise: ‘I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; for the rest the crown of righteousness is laid away for me.’ And divine Abraham is very vexed, and having a house-born son, is not without share of despondency. For what will you give me, he says, if I am released childless? and he makes equal to childlessness having a bastard fruit. Then God promises the son from a free woman—that is Isaac—and says he will be in that one a father of many nations, and will have the seed just as the stars of the heaven; for it was paining the holy apostles very much to have as from some slave woman—the worship according to law—a bastard fruit. And they were seeking rather the one from the freedom—that is, the one from the New Covenant. And this was Christ, of whom also Isaac according to promise is understood unto a type, and through faith. And indeed blessed Paul, concerning the boasts of law in himself, says: ‘Which things were gains for me, these I have thought a loss through Christ; but rather I also think all things to be a loss through the overlying of the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom I have been penalized all things, and I think them dung, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, that through law, but that through faith of Jesus Christ.’ For in Christ they have become fathers of many nations and of unnumbered seed, just as indeed also Abraham in Isaac. And we will dedicate the word upon this not only to the ancient and holy apostles, but also to those after them allotted to be made sacred, and leading Churches, or also thereafter to every holy and good one. ON THE WORSHIP AND SERVICE IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH