ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

Chapter XXXI.—Let us see by what means we may obtain the divine blessing.

Let us cleave then to His blessing, and consider what are the means¹²⁴¹²⁴    Literally, “what are the ways of His blessing.” of possessing it. Let us think¹²⁵¹²⁵    Literally, “unroll.” over the things which have taken place from the beginning. For what reason was our father Abraham blessed? was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith?¹²⁶¹²⁶    Comp. Jas. ii. 21. Isaac, with perfect confidence, as if knowing what was to happen,¹²⁷¹²⁷    Some translate, “knowing what was to come.” cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice.¹²⁸¹²⁸    Gen. xxii. Jacob, through reason¹²⁹¹²⁹    So Jacobson: Wotton reads, “fleeing from his brother.” of his brother, went forth with humility from his own land, and came to Laban and served him; and there was given to him the sceptre of the twelve tribes of Israel.