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Fragment number Vinzent 4
Klostermann 1
Rettb. 1
Source Eusebius, Against Marcellus 1.2
Modern edition M. Vinzent, Markell von Ankyra: Die Fragmente (Leiden, 1997).
Notes The Greek word “Jesus” is used in the Old Testament to translate the name Joshua, and in the New Testament for Jesus of Nazareth.  Marcellus declares the name Jesus to be the greatest name upon the earth.  To prove this, he quotes the angel’s statement to Mary in Luke as well as a passage in Zechariah.  The Old Testament hero Joshua was given the same name as the Savior because he was a type, i.e. one foreshadowing a future person, in this case Jesus who leads true believers into the heavenly Jerusalem.

The Gospel testifies that there has been no name on earth greater than “Jesus,” where the angel said to Mary, “Do not fear, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Lk 1:30-32).
It is also evident from the prophecy Zechariah made long ago about this name; for he says, “The Lord showed me Jesus the great priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and the Devil standing to his right to accuse him. The Lord said to the Devil, ‘The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!’ (Zech 3:1-2).
When did he rebuke him? When he united to his Word the man loved by him. He says, “who has chosen Jerusalem,” clearly referring to this Jerusalem of ours, about which the apostle says, “But our Jerusalem is above; for this one is enslaved along with her children” (Gal 4:25,26). For when he was in that great Jerusalem, that is, our church, he rebuked the Devil according to the prophecy, saying, “Get away from me, Satan, for you are a stumbling block to me” (Mt 16:23).
Therefore he is the “great priest” whose type the Jesus of that time was preserving. For it was impossible for that one to be called a “great priest” even though he was honored in everything, for not even Moses was called “great.” For Moses was great in that he was called the Servant of God (Josh 1), and God himself called him the “god of Pharaoh” (Ex 7:1).
But if anyone thinks to call Joshua “great” because he was considered worthy to lead the people into the holy land and did many other wonders, let him also know that greatness ascribed to the Jesus in this passage does not pertain to an event which is a type but to the fact that in a little while he will lead his own people into this great Jerusalem.

Translated by Daniel Noonan under the supervision of Prof. Glen L. Thompson, revised AMJ

Last updated: 8-29-2012

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