Edition Masquer
Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

27.

Sed, ut potius quod nunc agitur explicem, si Christus, ubi quibusdam antiquis sententiis propositis adiunxit: Ego autem dico vobis, neque primorum hominum legem hoc verborum additamento adimplevit neque illam, quae per Moysen data est, quasi contrariorum oppositione destruxit, sed potius omnia ex Hebraeorum lege commemorata ita commendavit, ut, quicquid ex persona sua insuper loqueretur, vel ad expositionem requirendam valeret, si quid illa obscure posuisset, vel ad tutius conservandum quod illa voluisset: 529,15 vides, quam sit aliter intellegendum, quod ait non se venisse legem solvere sed adimplere, scilicet ut non quasi semiplena istis verbis integraretur, sed ut, quod littera iubente propter superborum praesumptionem non poterat, suadente gratia propter humilium confessionem impleretur, opere factorum, non adiectione verborum. Fides enim, sicut apostolus ait, per dilectionem operatur. Unde item dicit: Qui enim diligit alterum, legem implevit. Istam caritatem quia veniens Christus per sanctum spiritum, quem promissum misit, in manifestatione donavit, qua sola caritate iustitia legis posset impleri, propterea dixit: Non veni legem solvere sed adimplere. Sed: p. 530,1 Hoc est novum testamentum, quo huic dilectioni hereditas regni caelorum promittitur, quod in figuris veteris testamenti pro temporum distributione tegebatur. Unde item dicit: Mandatum novum do vobis, ut vos invicem diligatis.

Traduction Masquer
Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

27.

But, to explain the point in hand: If Christ, in adding the words, "But I say unto you," to the quotations He makes of ancient sayings, neither fulfilled the law of primitive times by His additions, nor destroyed the law given to Moses by opposite precepts, but rather paid such deference to the Hebrew law in all the quotations He made from it, as to make His own remarks chiefly explanatory of what the law stated less distinctly, or a means of securing the design intended by the law, it follows that from the words, "I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it" we are not to understand that Christ by His precepts filled up what was wanting in the law; but that what the literal command failed in doing from the pride and disobedience of men, is accomplished by grace in those who are brought to repentance and humility. The fulfillment is not in additional words, but in acts of obedience. So the apostle says "Faith worketh by love;" ¹ and again, He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." ² This love, by which also the righteousness of the law can be fulfilled was bestowed in its significance by Christ in His coming, through the spirit which He sent according to His promise; and therefore He said, "I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it." This is the New Testament in which the promise of the kingdom of heaven is made to this love; which was typified in the Old Testament, suitably to the times of that dispensation. So Christ says again; "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." ³