{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050878.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050878.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050878.htm","text":"Chapter 12.\u2014The Old Testament is Properly One Thing\u2014The Old Instrument Another.\nTherefore, by a custom of speech already prevailing, in one way the law and all the prophets who prophesied until John are called the \u201cOld Testament;\u201d although this is more definitely called the \u201cOld Instrument\u201d rather than the \u201cOld Testament;\u201d but this name is used in another way by the apostolical authority, whether expressly or impliedly. For the apostle is express when he says, \u201cUntil this day, as long as Moses is read, remaineth the same veil in the reading of the old testament; because it is not revealed, because it is made of no effect in Christ.\u201d 2722 For thus certainly the old testament referred to the ministry of Moses. Moreover, he says, \u201cThat we should serve in the newness of the Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter,\u201d 2723 signifying that same testament under the name of the letter. In another place also, \u201cWho also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit maketh alive.\u201d 2724 And here, by the mention of the new, he certainly meant the former to be understood as the old. But much more evidently, although he did not say either old or new, he distinguished the two testaments and the two sons of Abraham, the one of the bondwoman, the other of the free, as I have above mentioned. For what can be more express than his saying, \u201cTell me, ye that desire to be under the law, have ye not heard the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are in allegory; for these are the two testaments; the one in the Mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Agar. For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is associated with Jerusalem which now is, for it is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother?\u201d 2725 What is more clear, what more certain, what more remote from all obscurity and ambiguity to the children of the promise? And a little after, \u201cNow we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.\u201d 2726 Also a little after, \u201cBut we, brethren, are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free,\u201d 2727 with the liberty with which Christ has made us free. Let us, therefore, choose whether to call the righteous men of old the children of the bondwoman or of the free. Be it far from us to say, of the bondwoman; therefore if of the free, they pertain to the new testament in the Holy Spirit, whom, as making alive, the apostle opposes to the killing letter. For on what ground do they not belong to the grace of the new testament, from whose words and looks we convict and rebut such most frantic and ungrateful enemies of the same grace as these?\nGal. iv. 21 ff.\n407:2726 407:2727","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise Agains...","type":"page"}