"In order to secure that the ransom in our behalf might be easily accepted by him who required it, the Deity was hidden under the veil of our nature, so that, as with a ravenous fish, the hook of the Deity might be gulped down along with the bait of the flesh, and thus life being introduced into the house of death and light shining in darkness, that which is diametrically opposed to light and life might vanish; for it is not in the nature of darkness to remain when light is present, or of death to exist when life is active." (St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Great Catechism, chapter XXIV)
I never understood how exactly the Fathers, got all of this out of "ransom". Doesn't the concept of "ransom" or "bought"/"purchased", imply that the recipient knowingly received the payment for whatever was on the table?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have a friend who has told me that when the Confessions use the term, "satisfaction" they have in mind, "ransom". What are your thoughts on that? Can "satisfaction" appropriately be used for "ransom", or is that a stretch? I've been really struggle with this.
Thanks.