Theodoret, a 5th-century Syrian Christian, in his commentary on Daniel, understood the “Ancient of Days” of Daniel 7 to be the Father alone, and not Jesus. The following comes from:
Theodoret of Cyrus, Commentary on Daniel (trans. Robert C.
Hill; Leiden: Brill, 2006):
And here blessed Daniel,
therefore, in the phrase Ancient of Days conveys the eternal; some of the
commentators, in fact, took it likewise and rendered it "The one who makes
days old." He sees also the purity of the hair and the splendor of the
clothing, and is instructed to recognize the complete innocence and holiness,
not only of the divine nature but also of what it betokens, namely,
righteousness, providence, care, judgment. That is to say, since he had seen
the horn using arrogant words and hatching countless schemes against God's
servants, he is taught through the purity beaming from all sides that far from
God overlooking his committing these crimes, he is permitting them in his
ineffable providence. And in case you should get the idea that God in his
goodness wishes to assist his holy ones but is unable to do so, having the
nature of fire, a river of fire issuing from the throne, a thousand thousands
serving, and ten thousand times ten thousand in attendance. Through the latter
he conveys God's power, and through the former his freedom from blemish or
fault, while through the antiquity his being eternal, wise, and gentle.
(Chapter 7, p. 187)
. . . blessed Daniel clearly
taught us, prophesying the second coming of the Savior, clearly calling him Son
of Man on account of the nature he had assumed, coming on the clouds
in keeping with his own promise to bring out his authority, and receiving as
man honor and rule and kingship from the Ancient of Days. This,
in fact, blessed David in the second psalm also says on the part of the Lord
himself, "The Lord said to me, You are my son, today I have begotten you;
ask it of me and I shall give you nations for your inheritance, and the ends of
the earth as your possession." (Chapter 7, p. 191)
