Commentary on 1 Corinthians

Novatian (200–258)

One who worships God through food is almost like one who has God for his belly.

Accordingly, it is evident that all these foods enjoy again the blessings they received at their creation, now that the law has ended.

Scripture states: "And the two shall be but one flesh," so that what was once one may become one again.… The head matches its own limbs and the limbs their own head, a natural bond uniting both in complete harmony, lest the closeness of the divine covenant be shattered by some sort of discord arising from the division of members.… Husbands are to love their wives even as Christ loved the church, and wives are to love their husbands as the church loves Christ.

This does not mean that the substance of our flesh was condemned. On the contrary, only the guilt of the flesh is censured, the guilt which was caused by humanity's deliberate and rash rebellion against the claims of divine law.

See also

• More works by Novatian

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