Anf-03 iv.ix.i Pg 12
This promise may be said to have been given “to Abraham,” because (of course) he was still living at the time; as we see by comparing Gen. xxi. 5 with xxv. 7 and 26. See, too, Heb. xi. 9.
out of the womb of Rebecca “two peoples and two nations were about to proceed,”1131 1131 Or, “nor did He make, by grace, a distinction.”
—of course those of the Jews, that is, of Israel; and of the Gentiles, that is ours. Each, then, was called a people and a nation; lest, from the nuncupative appellation, any should dare to claim for himself the privilege of grace. For God ordained “two peoples and two nations” as about to proceed out of the womb of one woman: nor did grace1132 1132 Or, “nor did He make, by grace, a distinction.”
make distinction in the nuncupative appellation, but in the order of birth; to the effect that, which ever was to be prior in proceeding from the womb, should be subjected to “the less,” that is, the posterior. For thus unto Rebecca did God speak: “Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be divided from thy bowels; and people shall overcome people, and the greater shall serve the less.”1133 1133
Anf-01 vi.ii.xiii Pg 3
Gen. xxv. 21.
Furthermore also, Rebecca went forth to inquire of the Lord; and the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples in thy belly; and the one people shall surpass the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.”1632 1632
Anf-03 iv.ix.i Pg 15
See Gen. xxv. 21–23, especially in the LXX.; and comp. Rom. ix. 10–13.
Accordingly, since the people or nation of the Jews is anterior in time, and “greater” through the grace of primary favour in the Law, whereas ours is understood to be “less” in the age of times, as having in the last era of the world1134 1134 Sæculi.
attained the knowledge of divine mercy: beyond doubt, through the edict of the divine utterance, the prior and “greater” people—that is, the Jewish—must necessarily serve the “less;” and the “less” people—that is, the Christian—overcome the “greater.” For, withal, according to the memorial records of the divine Scriptures, the people of the Jews—that is, the more ancient—quite forsook God, and did degrading service to idols, and, abandoning the Divinity, was surrendered to images; while “the people” said to Aaron, “Make us gods to go before us.”1135 1135
Anf-01 viii.ii.liii Pg 2
Isa. liv. 1.
For all the Gentiles were “desolate” of the true God, serving the works of their hands; but the Jews and Samaritans, having the word of God delivered to them by the prophets, and always expecting the Christ, did not recognise Him when He came, except some few, of whom the Spirit of prophecy by Isaiah had predicted that they should be saved. He spoke as from their person: “Except the Lord had left us a seed, we should have been as Sodom and Gomorrah.”1880 1880
Anf-01 ix.ii.xi Pg 15
Isa. liv. 1; Gal. iv. 27.
For in reference to these points, and others of a like nature, the apostle exclaims: “Oh! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God; how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”2798 2798
Anf-02 vi.ii.i Pg 30.1
Anf-02 vi.iv.ii.vi Pg 10.1
Anf-01 ix.vii.xxxv Pg 21
Isa. liv. 11–14.
And yet again does he say the same thing: “Behold, I make Jerusalem a rejoicing, and my people [a joy]; for the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. Also there shall not be there any immature [one], nor an old man who does not fulfil his time: for the youth shall be of a hundred years; and the sinner shall die a hundred years old, yet shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them themselves; and shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them themselves, and shall drink wine. And they shall not build, and others inhabit; neither shall they prepare the vineyard, and others eat. For as the days of the tree of life shall be the days of the people in thee; for the works of their hands shall endure.”4764 4764
Npnf-201 iii.xvi.iv Pg 157
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 112
VERSE (9) - :68:6 Ge 21:5-7; 25:21; 30:22,23 1Sa 2:5 Isa 54:1 Lu 1:13-15
