Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Theodoret of Cyrus: Adam Received Sin's Penalty for Race

Therefore, Adam also had to pay the penalty for his sin for the benefit of the race. He had received the first law, and a very light one at that. While he was regaled with an abundance of fruits of all kinds, the eating of one alone was forbidden. But if an ill-tempered creator inflicted the punishment of death for just a little food, as the ill-omened Marcion claims, how is it that, with all humanity rushing headlong into the worst wickedness and sin, he did not inflict universal ruin but gave his Son and bestowed the gift of salvation through cross and passion?

- Theodoret of Cyrus (around A.D. 393 to around A.D. 457), Questions on the Octateuch, Question 37 on Genesis, p. 81 (2007), Robert C. Hill translator.