And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Read Chapter 15
Irenaeus of Lyons
AD 202
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to impose a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are to be saved, even as they.".
that is, the men who are upon the earth; and from men of this stamp it will be God's good pleasure to take out
Not simply, Chose, but, for His Name, that is for His glory. His Name is not shamed by the taking (προλήψει) the Gentiles first, but it is even a greater glory.— Here some even great thing is hinted at: that these are chosen before all. After this I will return, and rebuild the tabernacle of David which is fallen down.
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Symeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets.
This (James) was bishop, as they say, and therefore he speaks last, and herein is fulfilled that saying, In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. Deuteronomy 17:6; Matthew 18:16 But observe the discretion shown by him also, in making his argument good from the prophets, both new and old. For he had no acts of his own to declare, as Peter had and Paul. And indeed it is wisely ordered that this (the active) part is assigned to those, as not intended to be locally fixed in Jerusalem, whereas (James) here, who performs the part of teacher, is no way responsible for what has been done, while however he is not divided from them in opinion. (b) Men and brethren, he says, hearken unto me. Great is the moderation of ...
