Annotation CCXCIX

”That now [it] might be made known to the principalities, and in the heavenly [places], through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God.” — Ephesians 3:10

Jerome, [in] the second book on the epistle to the Ephesians, expounding these [words], seems to think that the angels, before the passion and resurrection of Christ, did not know the mystery of the incarnate Word, and the sacrament of human redemption. For thus indeed he speaks: “THE CROSS of Christ opened, not only to us, but also to the angels, and to all the virtues in heaven, a sacrament which before they knew not. Finally, they marvel at [him] returning to heaven with [his] body, and say,¹ ‘Who is this, who ascends from Edom, his tawny garments out of Bosor?’ And in another place, ‘Who is this king of glory?’” Thus he.

Whether the angels, before the passion of Christ, knew the mystery of redemption.

Sedulius, agreeing with Jerome, [in] the Collectanea on this passage writes thus: “FROM WHICH we understand that the cross of Christ profited not only us, but also the angels; because it opened a sacrament which before they knew not. Whence they ask, ‘Who is this king of glory?’”

Peter Lombard, [in] the second book of the Sentences, distinction 11, animadverting on this passage, writes thus: “AUGUSTINE seems to contradict Jerome, saying, upon the same passage of the epistle, ‘The mystery of the kingdom of heaven was not hidden from the angels — which was revealed at an opportune time for our salvation. To them, therefore, the aforementioned mystery was made known from the ages [a saeculis]: because every creature is not before the ages, but from the ages.’ Attend, reader, because illustrious doctors seem to dissent in this sentence. And therefore, that all repugnance may be taken out of the midst, following Haymo let us so determine the aforesaid words: that by those angels, who are of greater dignity, and by whose ministry those [things] were announced, [these things] were in part known from the ages — as [being] familiars and messengers; but by those, who are of lesser dignity, we say they remained unknown, until they were fulfilled and preached through the Church: and then they were perfectly known by all the angels. It is agreed, therefore, that all the angels have advanced in the knowledge of the divine mysteries according to the process of time. Whence not incongruously these same [doctors] say that the knowledge and beatitude of the angels is increased even unto the future consummation — when, in knowledge and beatitude, they shall be so most perfect, that it is neither increased further, nor diminished.” See Annotations 165 and 182 of this book.