Voices from the Past: Meditations on the Person and Work of Christ
Hippolytus of Rome was born around 170 and died in Sardinia in 235. He was the first celebrated preacher of the western Church. His passion was for Church liberty and holiness and believed both were possible—“liberty is lost only in the measure in which her holiness is compromised.” In his opposition to the conniving ambition of the bishops and the lack of discipline in the church he denounced both pope and bishops, became known as the first antipope and was exiled to Sardinia.
Reading “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:7
Do you wish to know in what manner the Word of God, who is the eternal Living Word, communicated His revelations to the blessed prophets in former times? Well, as the Word shows His compassion and His denial of all respect of persons toward all the saints, He enlightens the prophets and adapts them to that which is advantageous for us, like a skilful physician, understanding the weakness of men.
He loves to teach the ignorant, and the erring He turns again to His own true way. By those who live by faith He is easily found; and to those of pure eyes and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, He opens immediately. He casts away none of His servants as unworthy of the divine mysteries. He does not esteem the rich man more highly than the poor, nor does He despise the poor man for his poverty. He does not disdain the barbarian, nor does He set the eunuch aside as no man. He does not hate the female on account of the woman’s act of disobedience in the beginning, nor does He reject the male on account of the man’s transgression. But He seeks all, and desires to save all, wishing to make all the children of God, and calling all the saints unto one perfect man. There is also one Son (or Servant) of God, by whom we too, receiving the regeneration through the Holy Spirit, desire to come all unto one perfect and heavenly man.
For whereas the Word of God was without flesh,He took upon Himself the holy flesh by the holy virgin and prepared a robe which He wove for Himself, like a bridegroom, in the sufferings of the cross, in order that by uniting His own power with our mortal body, and by mixingthe incorruptible with the corruptible, and the strong with the weak, He might save perishing man.
Hippolytus, The Christ and the Antichrist
