Athanasius of Alexandria : "From Adam to Moses death reigned"; but the presence of the Word abolished death. No longer in Adam are we all dying. In Christ we are all reviving. — Discourses Against the Arians 1.59.8 Augustine of Hippo : Is he not at the same time a lamb and a lion in both his suffering and his resurrection? Let us discern the lamb in the suffering. "He was," as we just reminded you, "mute as a lamb before its shearer, and he opened not his mouth." Let us discern the lion in the suffering. Jacob has said, "Thou hast risen: resting thou hast slept as a lion. Let us discern the lamb in the resurrection. When the Apocalypse is speaking of the everlasting glory of virgins, it says, "They follow the lamb wherever he goes." Let us discern the lion in the resurrection. The Apocalypse also says, "The lion of the tribe of Judah has overcome to open the scroll." Why is he a lamb in his suffering? Because, although he was innocent, he suffered death. Why is he a lion in his suffering? Because he slew death when he himself was slain. Why is he a lamb in his resurrection? Because his innocence is everlasting. Why is he a lion in his resurrection? Because his power is everlasting. — SERMONS 4.1 Ignatius of Antioch : The priests indeed are good, but the High Priest is better; to whom the holy of holies has been committed, and who alone has been trusted with the secrets of God. He is the door of the Father, by which enter in Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the prophets, and the apostles, and the Church. All these have for their object the attaining to the unity of God. But the Gospel possesses something transcendent [above the former dispensation], viz., the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, His passion and resurrection. For the beloved prophets announced Him, but the Gospel is the perfection of immortality. All these things are good together, if ye believe in love. — Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians John Chrysostom : "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel." Thou seest the power, thou seest the gift bestowed not by works, but through the Gospel. These are objects of hope: for both were wrought in His Body. And how will they be wrought in ours? "By the Gospel." — Homily on 2 Timothy 2 Oecumenius : Now revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. Already long ago it was prefigured that we would be saved, but now it has been revealed through the incarnation of our Savior God. For such is the will of God, that the world should be saved through faith, now and not at another time, it has now been revealed. who abolished death. To the one who forgives sin, and granted resurrection. life and immortality to light. That is, revealing. The word is worthy of life. Paul says, through the Gospel. For through it, both eternal life and resurrection have been made clear. for which I was appointed. First, he says what is, then he also implies this: You must also go to the Gentiles. Moreover, he also makes the statement more credible. — COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY Theodore of Mopsuestia : The gospel is ancient in the will of the Giver, even if new in the chain of events. God has demonstrated his eternal will in Christ. — COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY Theodoret of Cyrus : Indeed, the God of all pre-formed these things from the beginning and before the ages. Now he has brought about a conclusion to all that was decreed. The incarnation is that in which the eternity of the Son is finally manifested. — INTERPRETATION OF THE SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY