What it means to be a human being? This passage from the ancient letter of Barnabas examples this thought more thoroughly. The one point I want to expand on is when the letter quotes scripture when it reads "See, I make the last things as the first". What does the gospel writer mean by this? This reference is made of the person of Christ. Through Christ death, resurrection and his own incarnation the creation of humanity was made last by being made first. This great paradox explains the meaning of what it is to be human. Humanity was truly created through Adam and Eve. But life of this creation was attained through Christ own death and resurrection. Christ said "it is finished" on the cross. What was finished was not that he had died but rather has bestowed upon his creation life, eternal life which is given through the death of Christ and through our own death that we accept Christ in ourselves. This is the mystery of Christ and the mystery of becoming human. Creation was made perfect through the last thing (Christ death and resurrection) that was made first (Adam and Eve). Christ then is called the new Adam because he bestowed life in creation while the first Adam brought death. The evlogitaria which is chanted during the funeral rite at Byzantine services captures this moment on what it means to be a human being. See the bottom for the link.
Letter of Barnabas 6.9-15:
What does the other prophet, Moses say to them? "Lo, thus says the Lord God, enter into the good land which the Lord swore that he would give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and inherit it, a land flowing with milk and honey." (Ex 33.1-2; Lev.20.24). But what does knowledge say (τι δε λεγει γνωσις)? Hope, it says, on that Jesus who will be manifested to you in the flesh. For man is earth which suffers (ανθρωπος γαρ γη εστιν πασχουσα), for the creation of Adam was from the face of the earth. What then is the meaning "into the good land, a land flowing with milk and honey"? Blessed be our Lord, brethren, who has placed in us wisdom and understanding of his secrets. For the prophet speaks a parable of the Lord: "Who shall understand save he who is wise, and learned, and a lover of the Lord?" Since, then, he made us new by the remission of sins, he made us another type, that we should have the soul of children, as though he were creating us afresh. For it is concerning us that the Scripture says that he says to the Son, "Let us make man after our image and likeness..." Again I will show you how he speaks to us. In the last days he made a second creation; and the Lord says, "See, I make the last things as the first" (cf. Mt 19.30; 20.16). To this then the prophet referred when he proclaimed, "Enter into a land flowing with milk and honey and rule over it" (Ex 33.3). See then, we have been created afresh, as he says again in another prophet, "See saith the Lord, I will take out from them" (that is those whom the Spirit of the Lord foresaw) "the hearts of stone and I will put in hearts of flesh" (Ezk 11.19; 36.26). Because he himself was going to be manifest in the flesh and to dwell among us. For, my brethren, the habitation of our hearts is a shrine holy to the Lord.
Thanks so much.
ReplyDelete