Alcuin of York, Commentary on the Apocalypse of John, 10:5-6a

Alcuin of York, Commentary on the Apocalypse of John, 10:5-6a

Written in the late 8th century.

Source: Alcuin of York Commentary on Revelation: Commentary and the Questions and Answers Manual (English and Latin). Translated by: Sarah Van Der Pas. Edited by: John Litteral. Consolamini Publications 2016. p. 134.

And the angel, whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to Heaven, and he swore by him that liveth for ever and ever.

When the Lord forbids swearing, what does it mean that he himself swears, if not that men are often mistaken in swearing whereas he, who is truth, is never mistaken? So, the angel lifting up his hand to heaven was our Redeemer carrying his humanity up to the Father's seat by his own power. His swearing by him that lives for ever and ever means that he shows that he, who is the Father's word, and his flesh, which indicates the whole man, who consists of flesh and soul, are one person of God and true God of man; or if it is not this, then certainly he swears by the Father because he attributes him everything.