My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear with which he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
A little further on Malachi speaks of Christ, again in the person of God: “My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I gave him fear; and he feared me, and he was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and equity and turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of the priest shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the laws at his mouth because he is the angel of the Lord of hosts.” No one should be astonished to hear Christ spoken of as “the angel of the Lord of hosts.” He was called his servant because he came to humanity in the form of a servant; similarly he was called an angel because of the evangel, which he brought to humankind.
