Why Is There is a Single Reference to the Ancient Israelites Seeing Jesus Seated on the Throne at Sinai Anywhere in the Writings of the Early Church Fathers?

The history of the Christian religion is perhaps the most interesting field of study there is.  Many people assume that I have an interest in this stuff because of some personal 'spiritual need' on my part.  The simple answer is - no, this is not what draws me to the early literature of Christianity.  The real reason is that what began as a mystery (= something which only a few people understood) has now become something that no one understands.  No one knows the answer but people pretend that there are these 'experts' who have something useful to contribute - and many of them do (in the way a good cleaning person can really scrub a house that needs scrubbing).  Yet talking to any of these experts about putting the whole puzzle of early Christianity together is often times about as useful as asking the maid.

At least the maid doesn't pretend to understand.

Here's my latest interest - Exodus chapter 24.  The story is that the elders of Israel actually saw God and he looked like a man ('almighty God is a living man' as Bunny Wailer once wrote). Rastas are cool with that and you'd think that everyone else would be cool with that.  Yet it is utterly amazing to see how few references there are in the ante Nicene Church Fathers to this critical chapter.

Here is the chapter:

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance,

2 but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”

3 When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.”

4 Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD.

6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar.

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”

8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up

10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.

11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

12 The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.

14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”

15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it,

16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.

17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.

18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

And here are all the references including Philo of Alexandria:

Exodus 24, 1

Philo Alexandrinus De migratione Abrahami (2) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: CAZEAUX J., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 14, Paris 1965, 94-242. § 168 (p.202, l.3 - <) BP8 § 201 (p.224, l.6) BP8

Philo Alexandrinus De mutatione nominum (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: ARNALDEZ R., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 18, Paris 1964, 32-158. § 126 (p.88, l.22) BP8

Philo Alexandrinus Quaestiones in Exodum I-II (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Questions and Responses Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: PETIT F., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 33, Paris 1978, 233-306. 2 § 28 (p.263, l.6) BP8 239

Origenes (1 work(s)) Origenes In Iesu Nave homiliae XXVI (latine Rufino interprete) (1) Date: ca.239 - ca.242 Genre: Homily Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1420 Biblio: BAEHRENS W.A., GCS 30 (1921), 286-463. 1 2 (p.289, l.10) BP3

Exodus 24, 2 

Philo Alexandrinus (1 work(s)) Philo Alexandrinus De uita Mosis (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Life Theme: Biography Clavis: 0 Biblio: ARNALDEZ R., MONDESERT C., POUILLOUX J., SAVINEL P., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 22, Paris 1967, 26-320. 2 § 163 (p.264, l.1) BP8 248

Origenes Contra Celsum (3) Date: ca.248 - ca.249 Genre: Controversy Theme: Faith and Christian Reflection Clavis: 1476 Biblio: BORRET M., SC 132 (1967) : livres 1-2 ; SC 136 (1968) : livres 3-4 ; SC 147 (1969) : livres 5-6 ; SC 150 ( 1969 ) : livres 7-8. 2 55 (p.416, l.42 - <) BP3 4 96 (p.424, l.20 - <) BP3 6 17 (p.220, l.25 - <) BP3

Exodus 24, 3 

Philo Alexandrinus (1 work(s)) Philo Alexandrinus De specialibus legibus (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: DANIEL S., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 24, Paris 1975, 12-394 : livres 1 et 2 ; MOSES A., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 25, Paris, 1970, 52-348 : livres 3 et 4. 2 § 14 (p.244, l.3 - >) BP8

Exodus 24, 4 

Philo Alexandrinus (1 work(s)) Philo Alexandrinus De mutatione nominum (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: ARNALDEZ R., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 18, Paris 1964, 32-158. § 126 (p.88, l.20) BP8

Exodus 24, 5 

Origenes (1 work(s)) Origenes In Genesim homiliae XVI (latine Rufino interprete) (1) Date: ca.239 - ca.242 Genre: - Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1411 Biblio: BAEHRENS W.A., GCS 29 (1920), 1-144. 8 4 (p.80, l.17 - >) BP3

Exodus 24, 6

Philo Alexandrinus (1 work(s)) Philo Alexandrinus Quis rerum diuinarum heres sit (2) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: HARL M., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 15, Paris 1966, 166-326. § 182 (p.254, l.9 - <) BP8 § 184 (p.256, l.1) BP8

Exodus 24, 7

Philo Alexandrinus (2 work(s)) Philo Alexandrinus De confusione linguarum (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: KAHN J.G., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 13, Paris 1963, 40-154. § 148 (p.124, l.2) BP8

Philo Alexandrinus De specialibus legibus (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: DANIEL S., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 24, Paris 1975, 12-394 : livres 1 et 2 ; MOSES A., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 25, Paris, 1970, 52-348 : livres 3 et 4. 2 § 14 (p.244, l.3 - /) BP8

Exodus 24, 9 

Origenes (?) (1 work(s)) Origenes (?) Fragmenta e catenis in Psalmos C (1) Date: ca.201 - ca.300 Genre: Fragment Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1426 Biblio: PITRA J.B., Analecta sacra, 3, Venetiis 1883, passim 4-364. (p.233, l.29 - /) BP3

Exodus 24, 10 

Philo Alexandrinus (3 work(s)) Philo Alexandrinus De confusione linguarum (2) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: KAHN J.G., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 13, Paris 1963, 40-154. § 96 (p.92, l.7 - <) BP8 § 99 (p.94, l.6) BP8

Philo Alexandrinus De somniis (2) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: SAVINEL P., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 19, Paris 1962, 22-242. 1 § 61 (p.48, l.23 - <) BP8 2 § 222 (p.214, l.8 - <) BP8

Philo Alexandrinus Quaestiones in Exodum I-II (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Questions and Responses Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: PETIT F., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 33, Paris 1978, 233-306. 2 § 37 (p.264, l.1 - >) BP8

Origenes (?) (1 work(s)) Origenes (?) Fragmenta e catenis in Psalmos C (1) Date: ca.201 - ca.300 Genre: Fragment Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1426 Biblio: PITRA J.B., Analecta sacra, 3, Venetiis 1883, passim 4-364. (p.233, l.29 - /) BP3

Exodus 24, 11 

Philo Alexandrinus (3 work(s)) Philo Alexandrinus De confusione linguarum (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: KAHN J.G., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 13, Paris 1963, 40-154. § 56 (p.70, l.19 - <) BP8

Philo Alexandrinus De mutatione nominum (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Treatise Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: ARNALDEZ R., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 18, Paris 1964, 32-158. § 109 (p.80, l.22 - < >) BP8

Philo Alexandrinus Quaestiones in Exodum I-II (2) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Questions and Responses Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: PETIT F., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 33, Paris 1978, 233-306. 2 § 38 (p.264, l.15) BP8 2 § 38 (p.265, l.1 - <) BP8

Exodus 24, 12 

Anonyma Oracula Sibyllina (1) Date: ca.1 - ca.300 Genre: Poetry Theme: Apocrypha Clavis: 1352 Biblio: GEFFCKEN J., GCS 8 (1902). 3 (p.61, l.257 - P) BP1

Tertullianus Aduersus Marcionem (1) Date: ca.207 - ca.213 Genre: Treatise Theme: Faith and Christian Reflection Clavis: 14 Biblio: KROYMANN Aem., CCL 1 (1954), 441-726. 5 19 § 11 (p.723, l.14) BP1


Origenes (1 work(s)) Origenes Fragmenta in Lamentationes in catenis (1) Date: ca.222 - ca.252 Genre: Fragment Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1439 Biblio: KLOSTERMANN E., GCS 6 (1901), 235-278. (p.271, l.16 - P) BP3 239 (1 pole(s)) Alexandria (1 ancient author(s))

Origenes Homiliae in Ieremiam (gr.) (3) Date: ca.239 - ca.242 Genre: Homily Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1438 Biblio: HUSSON P., NAUTIN P., SC 232 (1976) : homélies 1-11 ; SC 238 (1977) : homélies 12-20.39. 18 2 (p.180, l.15 - <) BP3 18 2 (p.182, l.33) BP3 18 2 (p.184, l.61) BP3 


Origenes In librum Iudicum homiliae IX (latine interprete Rufino) (1) Date: ca.239 - ca.242 Genre: Homily Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1421 Biblio: BAEHRENS W.A., GCS 30 (1921), 464-522. 1 5 (p.471, l.14 - P) BP3


Origenes Commentarii in Matthaeum, libri XII-XIII (lat.) (1) Date: ca.248 - ca.249 Genre: Commentary Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1450 Biblio: KLOSTERMANN E., BENZ E., GCS 38 (1933). 33 (p.61, l.3 - >) BP3

Exodus 24, 13 

Origenes In Iesu Nave homiliae XXVI (latine Rufino interprete) (1) Date: ca.239 - ca.242 Genre: Homily Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1420 Biblio: BAEHRENS W.A., GCS 30 (1921), 286-463. 1 2 (p.289, l.13 - <) BP3

Exodus 24, 15 

Origenes (?) Fragmenta e catenis in Psalmos C (1) Date: ca.201 - ca.300 Genre: Fragment Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1426 Biblio: PITRA J.B., Analecta sacra, 3, Venetiis 1883, passim 4-364. (p.184, l.34) BP3

Origenes Homiliae in Ieremiam (gr.) (1) Date: ca.239 - ca.242 Genre: Homily Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1438 Biblio: HUSSON P., NAUTIN P., SC 232 (1976) : homélies 1-11 ; SC 238 (1977) : homélies 12-20.39. 18 2 (p.182, l.34) BP3

Exodus 24, 16 

Philo Alexandrinus (1 work(s)) Philo Alexandrinus Quaestiones in Exodum I-II (2) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Questions and Responses Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: PETIT F., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 33, Paris 1978, 233-306. 2 § 45 (p.267, l.1 - <) BP8 2 § 46 (p.268, l.5 - <) BP8

Exodus 24, 17

Philo Alexandrinus Quaestiones in Exodum I-II (2) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Questions and Responses Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: PETIT F., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 33, Paris 1978, 233-306. 2 § 47 (p.269, l.8) BP8 2 § 47 (p.270, l.1) BP8

Exodus 24, 18 

Philo Alexandrinus Quaestiones in Exodum I-II (2) Date: ca.1 - ca.50 Genre: Questions and Responses Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 0 Biblio: PETIT F., Les oeuvres de Philon d'Alexandrie, 33, Paris 1978, 233-306. 2 § 49 (p.270, l.22 - >) BP8 2 § 49 (p.271, l.1 - >) BP8

Origenes (?) Fragmenta e catenis in Psalmos C (2) Date: ca.201 - ca.300 Genre: Fragment Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries Clavis: 1426 Biblio: PITRA J.B., Analecta sacra, 3, Venetiis 1883, passim 4-364. (p.184, l.34) BP3 (p.185, l.21) BP3

Tertullianus De ieiunio (aduersus psychicos) (1) Date: ca.213 - ca.217 Genre: Treatise Theme: Undetermined Clavis: 29 Biblio: REIFFERSCHEID A., WISSOWA G., CCL 2 (1954), 1257-1277. 6 § 5 (p.1262, l.1) BP1

What's so amazing about this is that if you ignore the references preserved in the catenae (which are dubious at the best of times) all we are left with is the most superficial sorts of allusions to this material.  For instance, that Origen makes reference to Ex 24.1 and 2 only confirms that Moses went up to see God, not what god he saw or that he saw God and 'almighty God is a living man' and what theological implications an anthropomorphic God has on Christianity.  Origen's single reference to Ex 24.5 is of course that bulls were sacrificed - hardly a controversial statement either.  The references to Ex 24, 12 and 13 are equally uneventful.  They only confirm the basic details of the narrative - i.e. that Moses went up to see God not what implications we can draw from him having seen an anthropomorphic God.  The reference to Ex 24, 15 is unusual in that it argues that Moses and Joshua - like all the heavenly hosts - were clouds.  Yet the pattern of avoiding the implications of the anthropomorphic god on the throne seen by the elders of Israel continues here too.  Our final reference - that of Tertullian - again only confirms that Moses saw God not what he saw.

Now I am sure there are many scholars who will tell us that we shouldn't be surprised that no mention is ever made of God being an anthropomorphic being, yet I disagree.  I think that given that the same claims were made about Jesus (= a god man) and the consistent objections of Jews - and later Muslims - that God can't be human - would be effectively blunted by this chapter.  In other words, since the elders of Israel themselves saw that God was a man the idea that Jesus was God isn't really that outlandish.  Of course all the nonsense about Jesus being a child of Mary and having brothers and the like becomes a difficulty, yet the earliest Christians like the Marcionites and even Clement of Alexandria either didn't accept this or avoided speaking about it.

So we are now in a dilemma insofar as Jesus coming to earth as a man God in the way that the Marcionites presented the gospel narrative is far more in keeping with the traditional Jewish understanding of their God and the covenant that was established through him by Moses than any of the nonsense developed by the Catholics.  In other words, it is easy to ridicule the Catholic version of the gospel story but the Marcionite narrative actually seems to be something which one could imagine a Jewish sect - even one of the communities whose literature is preserved at Qumram - might have believed.