約伯倫理 第 124 章

Ver. 21. — Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. 59. Christ is to return at the end of the world to the Jews from whom He went forth. — The Redeemer's mother according to the flesh was the Synagogue, out of which He went forth to us visible through the body. But she held Him hidden within herself under the covering of the letter, while she neglected to open the eyes of her mind to His spiritual understanding. Because she was unwilling to see God lying hidden in the flesh of a human body, she as it were scorned Him as naked in His divinity. But He went forth naked from His mother's womb: because, coming forth from the flesh of the Synagogue, He came conspicuous to the Gentiles. This was well signified by Joseph fleeing, having left his cloak (Gen. 39:12).

For while the adulterous woman wished to use him wickedly, he fled outside, leaving his cloak; because, while the Synagogue, believing the Lord to be mere man, wished as it were to bind Him fast in an adulterous embrace, He left the covering of the letter to her eyes, and offered Himself conspicuous to the Gentiles for the recognition of the power of His divinity. Whence also Paul said: Even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart (2 Cor. 3:15); because, namely, the adulterous woman retained the cloak with herself, and lost naked the One whom she wickedly held. He therefore who, coming from the Synagogue, appeared conspicuous to the faith of the Gentiles, went forth naked from His mother's womb. But does He wholly forsake her? And where is that which is said through the prophet:

If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved (Isa. 10:22; Rom. 9:27)? Where that which is written: Until the fulness of the Gentiles should come in, and so all Israel should be saved (Rom. 11:25)? There will therefore be a time when He may appear conspicuous even to the Synagogue. It will be at the end of the world, without doubt, when He will make Himself known to the remnant of His nation as He is, God. Whence also it is well said here: Naked shall I return thither. For He returns naked to His mother's womb, when, at the end of this world, He who, made man in time, is despised, is declared God before the ages to the eyes of His Synagogue. There follows: