← §3 Read continuously On James, the Brother of the Lord, and David · §4 · Hesychius of Jerusalem
The Judge Speaks Through James
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Hesychius is explaining that James's words at the apostolic council are not merely human, but the voice of Christ the judge of all speaking through James as an instrument.
“I judge.” It is not lawful to set aside his judgment, nor to despise his decree. For in me speaks the judge of all, both the dead and the living. The instrument is mine, but the craftsman is above me. I supply the tongue, but the Word, the maker, supplies the word. Pay no attention to the reed, but to the one who writes with it. Let obedience follow the hearing.
Greek «Ἐγὼ κρίνω»· οὗ τὴν κρίσιν ἀθετεῖν οὐ
θέμις, οὐδὲ φαυλίζειν τὸ ψήφισμα· «Ἐν ἐμοὶ γὰρ ὁ πάντων κριτὴς καὶ νεκρῶν καὶ
ζώντων φθέγγεται. Ἐμὸν τὸ ὄργανον, ἀλλ' ὁ τεχνίτης ὑπὲρ ἐμέ. Ἐγὼ τὴν γλῶσσαν
παρέχω, ἀλλ' ὁ δημιουργὸς Λόγος τὸν λόγον χορηγεῖ. Μὴ τῷ καλάμῳ, τῷ δὲ
γράφοντι πρόσεχε. Τὴν ἀκοὴν ὑπακοὴ διαδεχέσθω.»
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About this text A short passage from Hesychius comparing Bethlehem with Zion, then praising James, the Lord's brother, for his ruling at the council in Jerusalem.
Hesychius of Jerusalem (fl. c. 412–450), a priest of the Church of Jerusalem, wrote this homily in Greek for a congregation in Jerusalem in the early fifth century.
The surviving text contrasts Bethlehem and Zion and praises James. Hesychius begins by reflecting that if Christ had not humbled himself and become obedient to death, servants would not have been called kinsmen, nor would the clay have been called father of the potter. He then develops a sustained comparison between Bethlehem, where Christ was born, and Zion, where the Church now receives him, showing how the mysteries of the incarnation are fulfilled in the Church.
The homily turns to praise James, the brother of the Lord, as commander-in-chief of the new Jerusalem, leader of the priests, and chief of the apostles, whose brief judgment at the apostolic council settled the question of Gentile inclusion. A reader will meet Peter, mentioned as a public speaker, and Thomas, to whom Zion bared Christ's side when he wished to touch it. The homily quotes or alludes to Philippians 2:8 and Acts 15:19.
This work has passed our source check. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Greek on any section to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.
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