Commentary on a Psalm
Commentarius in Psalmum
Eustathius of Antioch (fl. c. 320–337) wrote this commentary on Psalm 15. He was bishop of Antioch and a defender of Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism. The work survives only in fragments.
The soul of Jesus is rational and of the same substance as human souls§1
Eustathius of Antioch is opening his interpretation of Psalm 15 by arguing that Jesus possessed a human soul as well as human flesh.
1But surely the soul of Jesus had experience of both. For it came to be in the region of human souls, and having come to be outside the flesh it lives and subsists. It is therefore rational and of the same substance as the souls of human beings, just as his flesh is of the same substance as human flesh, having come forth from Mary.
From the interpretation of Psalm 15 by Eustathius of Antioch: “God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4). He did not say “born ones,” but “born”—for the person is singular. I did not say the nature is singular; away with it, may it not be! Nor did I say that flesh and divinity have the same substance. But I said one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things exist, known in every way in the distinction of natures.
Greek · §1
The Greek is on each section page: §1
The soul of Jesus experienced both states§2
Eustathius is explaining that the soul of Jesus has experience of both the realm of human souls and existence apart from the flesh.
2From the interpretation of Psalm 15: But indeed, the soul of Jesus had experience of both states. For it came to be in the region of human souls, and having come to be outside the flesh, it lives and subsists.
Greek · §2
The Greek is on each section page: §2
The soul and flesh of Jesus are of the same substance as human souls and flesh§3
Eustathius is concluding his argument that the soul of Jesus is rational and of the same substance as human souls, just as his flesh is of the same substance as human flesh, having come from Mary.
3Therefore the soul of Jesus is rational and of the same substance as the souls of human beings, just as his flesh is of the same substance as human flesh, having come forth from Mary.
Greek · §3
The Greek is on each section page: §3
One person, not one nature§4
Eustathius is closing his interpretation of Psalm 15 by quoting Galatians 4:4 and explaining that the singular 'born' points to Christ's one person, not one nature.
4From Eustathius of Antioch, from his interpretation of Psalm 15: “God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4). I did not say “born ones,” but “born,” for the person is singular. I did not say the nature is singular—away with it, may it not be! Nor did I say that flesh and divinity have the same substance. Rather, I said one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, known in all things in the difference of the natures.
Greek · §4
The Greek is on each section page: §4