Nielsen’s Nook

Nielsen’s Nook
Nielsen’s Nook
Contemplative, reflective, and irenic we pray.
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Apostles’ Creed Translation and Commentary, Part 7

Will Nielsen
October 29th, 2007
Tags: • • • • • •

Parts: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The Received Greek Text

The Received Latin Text
σαρκὸς ἀνάστασιν, ξωὴν αἰώνιον. Ἀμήν. carnis resurrectionem; vitam æternam. Amen.

Translation

the resurrection of the body, [1] and life eternal. [2] Amen.

[1] σαρκὸς (σάρξ) is the word St. John uses to speak of the Incarnation where the Logos became flesh (ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο, Jn 1:14). This is the flesh that was just like ours. The difference between us and Jesus is that Jesus overcame sin, and swallowed up death by his own death. τοῦτο γινώσκοντες ὅτι ὁ παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος συνεσταυρώθη, ἵνα καταργηθῇ τὸ σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας, τοῦ μηκέτι δουλεύειν ἡμᾶς τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ· “This we know, that our outmoded self was crucified with him with the result that the body of sin was sacked, that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Ro 6:6, author’s translation)

[2] αἰώνιον (αἰώνιος) that is, life without beginning or end, timeless, eternal. This is the kind of life that Jesus possessed as the Second Person of the Trinity. It is the kind of life that swallowed whole the condemned life that humanity ekes out as a result of the Fall and sin. It is the life that a New Humanity, one rooted in Christ Jesus participates in by mystical union, Christ giving himself to his people via means of grace, (e.g., the Word, sacraments and prayer).

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