Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Important Texts on Mariology from Isho'dad of Merv’s (9th century) Commentaries on the Gospels

  

Now he [Gabriel] added this Blessed art thou among women, first, for a sign that by the birth that shall be from thee the Curses are loosed form human nature, those that have reigned by the first Curse to Eve; second, that in thee shall all nations be blessed, according to the promise to Abraham; as Paul also testifies; third, that in thee they shall be delivered from female nature; as in a mystery, [from] the pains and pangs which sprung from sin, by the Child which in a virginal manner thou hast brought forth without labour; and justly, for there is no pangs to a virgin, who knoweth not a man; for the name of a virgin and the name of pangs cannot be true together; yet just as a Child is born to us without a father, thus also a Son is given to us without pangs; and where there was no desire at the beginning, neither are there any pangs at the end. And just as the Virgin did not know how that holy body was formed within the womb, thus neither in His birth did she feel pains. And Prophecy bears witness about this, saying, Before the pains of labour came, she was delivered, and brought forth a man child; and just as that woman, who was the mother of Sin, and of this dying world, brought forth in sorrows and pains, it was right that this [woman] also, who was the Mother of Life, and of the Virgin Son, who was the Father of the future, that is, of a virgin world, should begin with joy in conception, and finish with joy in birth; for there is nothing that pollutes, where God is. (The Commentaries of Isho'dad of Merv, 3 vols. [trans. Margaret Dunlop Gibson; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1911], 1:150-51)

 

 

And the Mother of Jesus was there, etc. This, What is to Me and to thee, woman? Mine hour is not yet come. If He call s out involuntarily it gives one sense ; and if intentionally, another sense. Involuntarily, Why, He says, dost thou incite Me and entreat Me ? these things are great which thou commandest; thy intercession is of no use on behalf of signs. Do not suppose that I have fixed times of knowledge and of deeds, like Moses and the Prophets, who according to the need of the recipients, received power to do something; but My power is continually near Me, that I act when I wish and how I wish, and even if the need of those who receive does not require it; therefore whether they believe or do not believe, there comes to Me now the time and the hour in which I will shew before every one, the splendour of the natural light which dwells in Me; and will make known that I am the Creator; intentionally, on the other hand, Thus, He says, the time has not yet come in which it is suitable for Me to work signs, and to reveal by their means about the glory of My Godhead; for thou lookest at deeds in a human manner, but I in a divine one. For this, that until now our Lord had done no sign, from whence did His mother know that He could do it? From the things that were administered at his conception, and from the testimony of John. Mar Ephraim says that she had heard from Him, that He would do a sign there; and on this account He replied to her, when she exhorted Him that the wine had failed, What is it to me and to thee, woman? it is not suitable that I go amongst them in a violent manner, but let them all perceive that the wine has failed, and let them ask to drink, so that the gift of God may be magnified in their eyes; and if it be not so, Mine hour is not yet come. (The Commentaries of Isho'dad of Merv, 3 vols. [trans. Margaret Dunlop Gibson; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1911], 1:224-25)

  

This, Now there stood by the Cross His Mother, and His Mother's Sister, Mary the wife of Joseph, and the mother of James and Jose and of Simeon and of Judah. She was called the sister of the Blessed One, because of her great love to her. (The Commentaries of Isho'dad of Merv, 3 vols. [trans. Margaret Dunlop Gibson; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1911], 1:278)