Saturday, May 2, 2009

Theodoret of Cyrus: Only the Ceremonial Law Abrogated

He also clearly taught us in these words that he does not reject the Law as a whole - only the regulation about eating and drinking, menstruation, leprosy, childbirth and periods; they washed themselves and purified themselves with sprinkling, but none of this could make the conscience pure. Now, none of these was imposed without reason, but to meet some need, specifying which is not relevant at the present time. They were all temporary, however, looking forward to the time of perfection - hence his saying, which are in force until the time of correction.

- Theodoret of Cyrus (around A.D. 393 to around A.D. 457), Commentary on Hebrews, Chapter 9, in Theodoret of Cyrus, Commentary on the Letters of St. Paul, Volume 2, p. 173 (2001), Robert C. Hill translator.