Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own, zealous of good works.
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Athanasius the Apostolic
AD 373
How could he have given himself if he had not worn flesh? He offered his flesh and gave himself for us, in order that undergoing death in it, “He might bring to nothing the one who held the power of death, that is, the devil.” For this reason we continually give thanks in the name of Jesus Christ. We do not bring to nothing the grace which came to us through him. For the coming of the Savior in the flesh has been the ransom and salvation of all creation.
The faithful who are holy and good may be few in comparison with the larger number of the wicked, but … “many shall come from the east and the west and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” God shows to himself “a numerous people, zealous for good works.” … Even when sometimes darkened and, as it were, clouded over by a great number of scandals … still this people shines forth in her strongest members. .
May God, who seeth all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh-who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar.
May God, who seeth all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh-who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar
A people, particularly acceptable. Ver. 14. Acceptabilem, periousion a perieimi. St. Jerome says, Egregium, præcipuum. See Deuteronomy vii. 6.; Exodus xix. 5.; Psalm cxxxiv. 4., Israel in possessionem sibi. See also St. Chrysostom, log. i. p. 402. linea 4tâ.
And one Church which the holy apostles established from one end of the earth to the other by the blood of Christ, and by their own sweat and toil; it behoves you also, therefore, as "a peculiar people, and a holy nation"
He gave himself for us that he might make a periousion people (for thus is the term in Greek for “peculiar”) and that he might make them the emulator of good works. Though I have often pondered this term periousion and have sought after clues to its meaning in secular writers, I have come up with nothing. Thus, I have come to see that the apostle’s reference is primarily to the Old Testament…. It carries the meaning of “emulator of good works” through the special status conferred by the blood of Christ. .
Peculiar: that is, selected from the rest, and having nothing in common with them.
Zealous of good works.
Do you see that our part is necessary, not merely works, but zealous; we should with all alacrity, with a becoming earnestness, go forward in virtue. For when we were weighed down with evils, and incurably diseased, it was of His lovingkindness that we were delivered. But what follows after this is our part as well as His.
“That he might purify unto himself a people of his own.” Considering the desperate condition of human nature and the ineffably tender solicitude of Christ, in what he delivered us from and what he freely gave us, and kindled by the yearning of affection towards him, this is a remarkably tender expression. Thus the prophets often appropriate to themselves him who is God of all, as in the words, “O God, you are my God, early will I seek you.” Moreover, this language teaches that each individual justly owes a great debt of gratitude to Christ, as if he had come for that person’s sake alone. For he would not have grudged this his condescension even if it were only for one person. The measure of his love to each is as great as to the whole world. Commentary on Galatians, Galatians :.
