1. The admirabile commercium (marvelous exchange) describes the exchange between Jesus and humanity, and the rejoining of man to God through his sacrifice. Since the Old Testament, sin has caused the breakdown in the relationship between mankind and God. This breakdown allowed for the destruction of the original communion. In order to resolve this, God sends his only Son, Jesus, to take on the sins of mankind, redeem them, and help them reestablish their relationship with God. This exchange was seen by Saint Paul, and later expressed by Saint Irenaeus. Saint Paul stated, “He who was rich became poor for our sake so that we might become rich through his poverty” (Kereszty, pg. 212).
Saint Irenaeus further explained this by saying, “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, of his boundless love, became what we are that he might make us what he himself is” (4.1 Study notes). The Fathers believed that because mankind shared the divine nature with God, this allowed mankind to be the perfect human beings. As Jesus bears all the people in himself by taking up their sins, this embodies the existential aspect of the marvelous exchange. This marvelous exchange ensued that Jesus, the “eternal” …show more content…
228). This allows not only for Jesus to be identified, but to also be associated with the fallen human race. The historical-existential is seen through Jesus’ life, specifically through his words and actions. God gave his only son to take upon the sins and sufferings of mankind. In order to undertake the sins of the people, Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River. The river holds the sins of all who have been baptized in the name of God. This allows for mankind to be free from sin, and to establish a new communion between the people and God. The new communion that is created is the result of two forms of redemption, objective redemption, and subjective
Saint Irenaeus further explained this by saying, “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, of his boundless love, became what we are that he might make us what he himself is” (4.1 Study notes). The Fathers believed that because mankind shared the divine nature with God, this allowed mankind to be the perfect human beings. As Jesus bears all the people in himself by taking up their sins, this embodies the existential aspect of the marvelous exchange. This marvelous exchange ensued that Jesus, the “eternal” …show more content…
228). This allows not only for Jesus to be identified, but to also be associated with the fallen human race. The historical-existential is seen through Jesus’ life, specifically through his words and actions. God gave his only son to take upon the sins and sufferings of mankind. In order to undertake the sins of the people, Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River. The river holds the sins of all who have been baptized in the name of God. This allows for mankind to be free from sin, and to establish a new communion between the people and God. The new communion that is created is the result of two forms of redemption, objective redemption, and subjective