Romans 11:16 (WEB)
If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches.
Catechism · 1
“Yet the true vine is Christ who gives life and fruitfulness to the branches, that is, to us, who through the Church remain in Christ, without whom we can do nothing.” — Catechism footnote: LG 6; Cf. 1 Cor 39; Rom 11:13-26; Mt 21:32-43 and parallels; Isa 51-7; Jn 15:1-5.
Fathers and councils · 7
Gregory of Nyssa
“…united to God, the Man that is in Christ conducting the work of mediation, to Whom, by the first-fruits assumed for us, all the lump is potentially united.” — editor's note: Cf. Rom. xi. 16
Read the whole comment“…into life, and of those quickened by resurrection of the dead, “that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living,” and might sanctify the whole lump by means of its first-fruits in Himself.” — editor's note: Cf. Rom. xi. 16
Read the whole comment“…but is once more a son, once more in the station assigned to him by his God, inasmuch as along with the first-fruits of humanity the lump also is hallowed.” — editor's note: Cf. Rom. xi. 16
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“And that the Saviour received first-fruits of those whom He was to save, Paul declared when he said, “And if the first-fruits be holy, the lump is also holy,” teaching that the expression “first-fruits” denoted that which is spiritual, but that “the lump” meant us, that is, the animal Church, the lump of which they…” — editor's note: Rom. xi. 16.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“Christ is the beginning of your salvation; for He is truly the First-fruit, and ye the mass; but if the First-fruit be holy, it is manifest that Its holiness will pass to the mass also.” — editor's note: Rom. xi. 16.
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Tertullian
“…to grieve, at the restoration of Israel, if it be true, (as it is), that the whole of our hope is intimately united with the remaining expectation of Israel.” — editor's note: Comp. Rom. xi. 11–36.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“His mother was consecrated to God by virtue of her descent from a saintly family, and was possessed of piety as a necessary inheritance, not only for herself, but also for her children—being indeed a holy lump from a holy firstfruits.” — editor's note: Rom. xi. 16.
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