Fragments on Matthew · §167 · Cyril of Alexandria

Matthew 16:18–19

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See how he shows himself Lord of heaven and earth in summary. For he promises what is beyond our nature — rather, even beyond the angelic order — and whatever it befits to grant only to the nature and glory highest of all. First he says the church is his own, although the sacred writings dedicate it rather to God and to none of the others — “having no spot or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27) — and he also promises to found it, assigning it what cannot be shaken, as himself Lord of the powers, and he sets Peter over it as shepherd.

Then he said, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens.” (Matthew 16:18–19) This voice no angel, nor any other rational power, can utter; it befits rather the God who rules all and has authority over earth and heaven.

Greek

Ἄθρει, ὅπως κύριον ἑαυτὸν ἀποφαίνει συλλήβδην οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς· ὑπισχνεῖται γὰρ τὰ ὑπὲρ τὴν φύσιν τὴν καθ' ἡμᾶς, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ τάξεως τῆς ἀγγελικῆς καὶ ὅσα μόνῃ πρέπει χαρίζεσθαι τῇ ἀνωτάτω πασῶν φύσει τε καὶ δόξῃ· πρῶτον μὲν γάρ φησιν ἑαυτοῦ εἶναι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καίτοι τῶν ἱερῶν γραμμάτων θεῷ μᾶλλον καὶ οὐδενὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἀφιερούντων "μὴ ἔχουσαν σπίλον ἢ ῥυτίδα", ἣν δὴ καὶ θεμελιοῦν ἐπαγγέλλεται τὸ ἀκατάσειστον αὐτῇ προσνέμων ὡς αὐτὸς ὑπάρχων τῶν δυνάμεων κύριος καὶ ταύτης ποιμένα τὸν Πέτρον ἐφίστησιν. εἶτα ἔφη· καὶ δώσω σοι τὰς κλεῖς τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν. ταύτην δὲ τὴν φωνὴν οὐκ ἄγγελος, οὐκ ἄλλη τις λογικὴ δύναμις φθέγξασθαι δύναται, πρέπει δὲ μᾶλλον τῷ πάντων κρατοῦντι θεῷ καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔχοντι γῆς τε καὶ οὐρανοῦ.

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