Friday, November 24, 2006

Testament or covenant?

For it was not sufficient that it was called "law," since it was also called a "testament." For no law is called a testament, nor is anything called a testament, except that which is made by someone about to die. And whatever is within the testament is sealed until the day of the death of the testator. And therefore rightly is it unsealed by the Lamb who, as a lion, destroyed death and fulfilled that which had been foretold of him, and had freed man, that is, flesh, form death, and had received as a possession the property of him who was dying, namely, of the human race. For as through one body all people had come into the debt of death, so through one body all who believe might rise to eternal life. Now the face of Moses is uncovered; now it is revealed, and therfore the apocalypse is called a "revelation"; now his book is unsealed; now the sacrifices of the victims is understood; now the offerings and the duties of the Anointed, the building of temple and the prophecies are clearly understood.

--Victorinus of Petovium, Commentary on the Apocalypse (of John in the Bible).

GCS: In other words, the Good News, the Gospel, the adoption into the family of God, made possible by the death of Jesus Christ, brings salvation as the inheritance. We receive His Life, through His will (double entendre); thus it is called a Testament. Believe and receive.