Constantine
February 5th 2005, 02:32 AM
I didn't think my ECF essay was long enough so I was looking for more quotes before I finalized it and ran across something astounding. As you may know I am not really a proponent of the Days of Proclamation view (but I do not object to it) mainly because I am not aware of the ECF's supporting such a view. But it appears I might be wrong, Take a look at this paragraph from the 16th chapter of book 6 in the Miscellanies written by Clement of Alexandria:
The sensible types of these, then, are the sounds we pronounce. Thus the Lord Himself is called "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end," " by whom all things were made, and without whom not even one thing was made." God's resting is not, then, as some conceive, that God ceased from doing. For, being good, if He should ever cease from doing good, then would He cease from being God, which it is sacrilege even to say. The resting is, therefore, the ordering that the order of created things should be preserved inviolate, and that each of the creatures should cease from the ancient disorder. For the creations on the different days followed in a most important succession; so that all things brought into existence might have honour from priority, created together in thought, but not being of equal worth. Nor was the creation of each signified by the voice, inasmuch as the creative work is said to have made them at once. For something must needs have been named first. Wherefore those things were announced first, from which came those that were second, all things being originated together from one essence by one power. For the will of God was one, in one identity. And how could creation take place in time, seeing time was born along with things which exist.
(Miscellanies 6:16)
This is a link to the text: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/02106.htm
Maybe I'm reading too much into it but he seems to be saying something similar to the Days of Proclamation view of things being announced first. If this is helpful to that view then great! If not I hope you find it interesting.
You find so many cool things when you read what the Early Church Fathers wrote, if you've got the time I suggest reading some of it.
The sensible types of these, then, are the sounds we pronounce. Thus the Lord Himself is called "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end," " by whom all things were made, and without whom not even one thing was made." God's resting is not, then, as some conceive, that God ceased from doing. For, being good, if He should ever cease from doing good, then would He cease from being God, which it is sacrilege even to say. The resting is, therefore, the ordering that the order of created things should be preserved inviolate, and that each of the creatures should cease from the ancient disorder. For the creations on the different days followed in a most important succession; so that all things brought into existence might have honour from priority, created together in thought, but not being of equal worth. Nor was the creation of each signified by the voice, inasmuch as the creative work is said to have made them at once. For something must needs have been named first. Wherefore those things were announced first, from which came those that were second, all things being originated together from one essence by one power. For the will of God was one, in one identity. And how could creation take place in time, seeing time was born along with things which exist.
(Miscellanies 6:16)
This is a link to the text: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/02106.htm
Maybe I'm reading too much into it but he seems to be saying something similar to the Days of Proclamation view of things being announced first. If this is helpful to that view then great! If not I hope you find it interesting.
You find so many cool things when you read what the Early Church Fathers wrote, if you've got the time I suggest reading some of it.