But is there any precedent of the final clause (the C-part) of 1 John 5:8 (Comma-less text) being used in the context of Peter and the "three tents" at the Transfiguration being applied in a allegorical context that Potamius and other's could have drawn on?
Yes, there is!
And (ironically) I express my indebtedness to S. A. Spencer, and TWOGG for this particular reference, because this one went under my radar, and I was unaware of it's existence.
Below is a passage from Origen of Alexandria which sets, and
is at least one example of a precedent that Potamius of Lisbon could have drawn on for his figurative (or τὰ μυστικὰ "the mystical") interpretation for the numbers (ἓν) "one" and (τρεῖς) from 1 John 5:8(C-part, Comma-less Text) in relation to the Transfiguration account at Mark 9:4 (VL + Vul, 9:5 GNT) (See the full Gospel parallel accounts found in Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36;).
ORIGEN (c. 185-254)
On Matthew, Bk. 12:36-43
The Transfiguration
Relation of Moses and Elijah to Jesus. The Injunction of Silence.
"Fragmenta ex commentariis in evangelium Matthaei"
Ed. E. Klostermann, E. Benz,
Origenes Werke, vol. 12
Ser Die griechischen christlichen Schriftsteller
41.1 (Leipzig, Teubner, 1941):3-5.
12.43 Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα γέγραπται, ὅτι <ἀκούσαντες> τῆς φωνῆς <ἐκ> τῆς νεφέλης τῆς μαρτυρούσης τῷ υἱῷ οἱ τρεῖς ἀπόστολοι, μὴ φέροντες τὴν τῆς φωνῆς δόξαν καὶ τὴν ἐπ' αὐτῆς δύναμιν, ἱκέτευσαν πεσόντες <ἐπὶ πρόσωπον> τὸν θεόν· <σφόδρα> γὰρ <ἐφοβήθησαν> τὸ παράδοξον τοῦ θεάματος καὶ τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ θεάματος λελεγμένων. πρόσχες δέ, εἰ δύνασαι καὶ ταῦτα εἰπεῖν περὶ τῶν κατὰ τὸν τόπον ὅτι, νοήσαντες οἱ μαθηταὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ κεχρηματικέναι Μωσεῖ καὶ αὐτὸν εἶναι τὸν εἰρηκότα· "οὐ γὰρ ὄψεται ἄνθρωπος τὸ πρόσωπόν μου καὶ ζήσεται", καὶ <ἰδόντες γενόμενον <τὸ πρόσωπον> τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ <ὡς ὁ ἥλιος> καὶ> τὴν περὶ αὐτοῦ μαρτυρίαν τοῦ θεοῦ προσλαβόντες, ὡς μὴ φέροντες τὰς τοῦ λόγου αὐγὰς ἐταπεινώθησαν "ὑπὸ τὴν κραταιὰν χεῖρα τοῦ θεοῦ". ἀλλὰ μετὰ τὴν ἁφὴν τοῦ λόγου <τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπάραντες εἶδον Ἰησοῦν μόνον,> καὶ <οὐδένα> ἄλλον.
ἓν γὰρ οἶμαι γέγονε Μωσῆς ὁ νόμος καὶ Ἠλίας ἡ προφητεία Ἰησοῦ τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ, καὶ οὐχ ὥσπερ ἦσαν πρότερον τρεῖς, οὕτω μεμενήκασιν, ἀλλὰ γεγόνασιν οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν. ταῦτα δέ μοι νόει ὡς πρὸς τὰ μυστικὰ πράγματα. πρὸς γὰρ τὸ ψιλὸν τοῦ γράμματος βούλημα <Μωσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας> "ὀφθέντες ἐν δόξῃ" καὶ <συλλαλήσαντες> τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἀπεληλύθασιν, ὅθεν ἐληλύθεισαν, τάχα τῶν λόγων μεταδώσοντες, ὧν ἐλάλησε μετ' αὐτῶν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, τοῖς ὅσον οὐδέπω <εὐεργετηθεῖσιν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ>, εὐεργετη- θησομένοις ὑπ' αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦ πάθους, ὅτε ἔμελλε "πολλὰ σώματα τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἁγίων", ἀνοιχθέντων αὐτῶν τῶν μνημείων, ἀπιέναι "εἰς τὴν" ἀληθῶς "ἁγίαν πόλιν", τὴν μὴ κλαιομένην ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἐμφανίζεσθαι "πολλοῖς". Μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἐν τῷ ὄρει οἰκονομίαν <καταβαινόντων ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους> τῶν μαθητῶν, ἵνα ἐλθόντες "πρὸς τὸν ὄχλον" ὑπηρετήσωσι τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ τῆς ἐκείνων σωτηρίας, <ἐνετείλατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς> τοῖς μαθηταῖς <λέγων· μηδενὶ εἴπητε τὸ ὅραμα ἕως οὗ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῇ.> τὸ δὲ <μηδενὶ εἴπητε τὸ ὅραμα> παραπλήσιον τῷ ἐν τοῖς ἀνωτέρω ἐξετασθέντι, ὅτε "διεστείλατο τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ εἴπωσιν, ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός". διὸ τὰ εἰς ἐκεῖνον εἰρημένα τὸν τόπον δύναται ἡμῖν εἶναι χρήσιμα καὶ πρὸς τὸ προκείμενον, ἐπεὶ καὶ κατὰ ταῦτα βούλεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς μὴ λεχθῆναι τὰ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ πρὸ τῆς μετὰ τὸ πάθος δόξης αὐτοῦ· ἐβλάβησαν γὰρ ἂν οἱ ἀκούοντες, καὶ μάλιστα ὄχλοι, τὸν οὕτω δεδοξασμένον ὁρῶντες σταυρούμενον. διόπερ ἐπεὶ συγγενὲς ἦν τῇ μεταμορφώσει αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ ὀφθέντι αὐτοῦ προσώπῳ <ὡς ὁ ἥλιος> τὸ δοξασθῆναι αὐτὸν τῇ ἀναστάσει, διὰ τοῦτο βούλεται τότε ταῦτα ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων λαληθῆναι, ἡνίκα <ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῇ.>
Fragm from Book II preserved in Philokalia, 6. Engl. ANF 10; tr. J. Patrick, (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1990) 413-512 [TLG 2042.31]
12.43. "But after these things it is written that, when they heard the voice from the cloud bearing testimony to the Son, the three Apostles, not being able to bear the glory of the voice and power resting upon it, “fell on their face,” (Matt 17:6) and besought God; for they were sore afraid at the supernatural sight, and the things which were spoken from the sight. But consider if you can also say this with reference to the details in the passage, that the disciples, having understood that the Son of God had been holding conference with Moses, and that it was He who said, “A man shall not see My face and live,” (Exod 30:20) and taking further the testimony of God about Him, as not being able to endure the radiance of the Word, humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God; (1 Pet 5:6) but, after the touch of the Word, lifting up their eyes they saw Jesus only and no other. (1 Pet 5:6)
Moses, the law, and Elijah, the prophet, became one only with the Gospel of Jesus; and not, as they were formerly three, did they so abide, but the three became one, But consider these things with me in relation to mystical matters; for in regard to the bare meaning of the letter, Moses and Elijah, having appeared in glory and talked with Jesus, went away to the place from which they had come, perhaps to communicate the words which Jesus spake with them, to those who were to be benefited by Him, almost immediately, namely, at the time of the passion, when many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep, their tombs being opened, were to go to the city which is truly holy—not the Jerusalem which Jesus wept over—and there appear unto many. (Matt 27:52, 53) But after the dispensation in the mountain, when the disciples were coming down from the mountain in order that, when they had come to the multitude, they might serve the Son of God concerning the salvation of the people, Jesus commanded the disciples saying, “Tell the vision to no man until the Son of man rise from the dead.” (Matt 17:9) But that saying, “Tell the vision to no man,” is like that which was investigated in the passage above, when “He enjoined the disciples to tell no man that He was the Christ.” (Matt 16:20) Wherefore the things that were said at that passage may be useful to us also for the passage before us; since Jesus wishes also, in accordance with these, that the things of His glory should not be spoken of, before His glory after the passion; for those who heard, and in particular the multitudes, would have been injured when they saw Him crucified, who had been so glorified. Wherefore since His being glorified in the resurrection was akin to His transfiguration, and to the vision of His face as the sun, on this account He wishes that these things should then be spoken of by the Apostles, when He rose from the dead."
This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 1990
http://ldysinger.stjohnsem.edu/@texts/0 ... transf.htm
[NOTE]: John Patrick, in his 1896 translation, or the editors of the ANF series, do not give any reference to 1st John 5:8(C-Part/Clause) or 1st John 5:7, for that matter. This is highly irregular. Surely the translator noticed the familiar Greek text? Was this a deliberate omission of a Scripture reference?
There are variations in the printed texts, so I've provided alternative translations that go with each.
Please take note, I can find absolutely no reference or evidence in any of the sources I've checked thus far, that any manuscript variations exist for the quotation of 1st John 5:8(C-part, Comma-less Text).
There exists some variants for some words in the near context (see below), but in all honesty (as of today 06/04/22) I personally cannot find any for 1st John 5:8(C-part) part of the text.
Here's Klostermann's text below.
Origen of Alexandria
(circa. 185-254 C.E.)
“Commentary On Matthew,”
Book 2, Section 45,
(commenting on Matthew 17:8)
ἓν γὰρ οἶμαι γέγονε Μωσῆς ὁ νόμος καὶ Ἠλίας ὁ προφήτης Ἰησοῦ τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ, καὶ οὐχ ὥσπερ ἦσαν πρότερον τρεῖς οὕτω μεμενήκασιν, ἀλλὰ γεγόνασιν
οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν.
[1 John 5:8(C) GNT] ταῦτα δέ μοι νόει ὡς πρὸς τὰ μυστικὰ πράγματα. πρὸς γὰρ τὸ ψιλὸν τοῦ γράμματος βούλημα Μωσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας «ὀφ θέντες ἐν δόξῃ» καὶ συλλαλήσαν τες τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἀπεληλύθασιν, ὅθεν ἐληλύθεισαν, τάχα τῶν λόγων μετα [Cf., (TWOGG) “The Witness of God is Greater,” Mike Ferrando Page 45] δώσοντες, ὧν ἐλάλησε μετ' αὐτῶν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, τοῖς ὅσον οὐδέπω <εὐερ γετηθεῖσιν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ>, εὐεργετη θησομένοις ὑπ' αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦ πάθους, ὅτε ἔμελλε «πολλὰ σώματα τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἁγίων», ἀνοιχθέντων αὐτῶν τῶν μνημείων, ἀπιέναι «εἰς τὴν» ἀληθῶς «ἁγίαν πόλιν», τὴν μὴ κλαιομένην ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἐμφανίζεσθαι «πολλοῖς».
My Translation
“For I suppose that the law of Moses and the prophecy of Elijah has become one with the Gospel of Jesus, and so these did not remain as three, as they had been formerly, but instead they became
[Or: “they have been made into” “they have become”],
'these three agree as one,' [Or: “these three agree as to the one thing” “these three agree to the one thing”] [1 John 5:8(C) GNT].” But you will need to think these things out [as you follow along] with me, as to there relation to mystical matters. For in regards to the plain
[Lit., “naked/bare” Or: “simple”] meaning of the text...”
Origenes Werke, Vol. XII. “Commentarius in Matthaeum III,1.” E. Klostermann & E. Benz, 1941.
https://digilib.bbaw.de/digitallibrary/ ... /GCS_41_1/
Page 157, Matthew 17:8
https://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/public ... 17/content
https://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/die ... le-online/
Here's the Migne/LaRue text.
Origen of Alexandria
(circa. 185-254 C.E.)
“Commentary On Matthew,”
Book 2, Section 45,
(commenting on Matthew 17:8)
CAROL. VINCENT. DELARUE, 1834.
Page 202, "Origenis Commentariorum,"
Migne, PG, Vol., 13, Col. 1083-1084, Sections A-C.
ἓν γὰρ μόνον γέγονε Μωσῆς ὁ νόμος καὶ Ἠλίας ἡ προφητεία
{5} Ἰησοῦ τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ, καὶ οὐχ ὥσπερ ἦσαν πρότερον τρεῖς, οὕτω μεμενήκασιν, ἀλλὰ γεγόνασιν
οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν.
[1 John 5:8(C) GNT] ταῦτα δέ μοι νόει ὡς πρὸς τὰ μυστικὰ πράγματα. πρὸς γὰρ τὸ ψιλὸν τοῦ γράμματος βούλημα Μωσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας «ὀφ θέντες ἐν δόξῃ» καὶ συλλαλήσαν τες τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἀπεληλύθασιν, ὅθεν ἐληλύθεισαν, τάχα τῶν λόγων μετα
[Cf. (TWOGG) "The Witness of God is Greater," By Mike Ferrando, 2021, Page 45] δώσοντες, ὧν ἐλάλησε μετ' αὐτῶν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, τοῖς ὅσον οὐδέπω <εὐερ γετηθεῖσιν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ>, εὐεργετη θησομένοις ὑπ' αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦ πάθους, ὅτε ἔμελλε «πολλὰ σώματα τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἁγίων», ἀνοιχθέντων αὐτῶν τῶν μνημείων, ἀπιέναι «εἰς τὴν» ἀληθῶς «ἁγίαν πόλιν», τὴν μὴ κλαιομένην ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἐμφανίζεσθαι «πολλοῖς».
[FOOTNOTE 5, Book 12.43]: Codd. Anglicanus, Vaticanus et Tarinianus (recte): ὴ προφητεία. Editio Huetli: οί προφηταί (non προφηται. R.
“For he has become one alone as the Law of Moses and Elijah the prophet with the Gospel of Jesus
[Or: “and the prophecies of Elijah, with the Gospel of Jesus,” “and Elijah's prophecy about Jesus, with the Gospel”], and so, these three did not remain as they had been formerly, but instead they have become 'these three agree as one.'
[Or: “these three agree as to the one thing” “these three agree to the one thing”] [1 John 5:8(C) GNT] But you will need to think these things out [as you follow along] with me, as to there relation to mystical matters. For in regards to the plain
[Lit., “naked/bare” Or: “simple”] meaning of the text...”
NOTE: Migne does not list 1st John 5:8(C-Part) or 1st John 5:7, or any reference to the Comma at all, in the Scripture references at the bottom of Columns 1083-1084. Knowing Migne, and his track record with the Comma in his other references and texts, this is probably (most probably IMO) a deliberate omission.
https://archive.org/details/operaomniaq ... ew=theater
Here we see an unmistakable contrast between the text's relation to mystical matters, (i.e. interpretation/meaning), and the literal meaning of the text.
Origen's commentaries were held in high regard by Greek and Latin writers alike during the centuries before the Origenist controversies, and were also subject to a great deal of retro-editing (tampering) to be more supportive of the Orthodoxy of the later times than they really were.
Hilary of Poitiers evidently drew on Origen's commentary.
THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH
ST. HILARY OF POITIERS
"COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW"
Translated by D. H. Williams, 2012
[Page 186, On Matthew, Chapter 17.2]
“After six days, Peter, James, and John were taken apart from the others and brought to the top of a mountain.{8} As they were looking on, the Lord was transfigured and resplendent in all the brilliance of his garments.{9} In this manner there is preserved and underlying principle,{10} a number, and an example.{11} It was after six days that the Lord was shown in his glory by his clothing ; that is, the honor of the heavenly Kingdom is prefigured in the unfolding of six thousand years.{12} By the three disciples who were taken apart is shown the future election of the people who were to come from a threefold origin : Shem, Ham, and Japheth.{13} That Moses and Elijah, out of the entire company of saints, were standing by,{14} shows Christ in his Kingdom standing
among the Law and the prophets, with whom he will judge Israel,
in whose testimonies he was foretold. So too, the reason that Moses was visibly standing by was to teach that the glory of the resurrection was designated for human bodies. As the Lord became brighter than snow or the sun,{15} he was conspicuous with a splendor that exceeds even our view of the heavenly lights. But to Peter, who offered to make there three tabernacles, he did not respond at all; for it was not yet the time that the Lord should be found in his glory.”
FOOTNOTES:
8. Mt 17.1.
9. Mt 17.2.
10. ratio.
11. ratio (a plan), numerus (numerology), and exemplum (lesson to be learned).
12. This is the number of the world's duration according to tradition reflected in Cyprian, Exhort. ad Mart, praef. 2; Lactantius, Inst. 7.14. See Sur Matt. 11.63. n.6.
13. Supra, 8.4.
14. Mt 17.3.
15. Mt 17.2.
There is no Comma Johanneum quotation or reference in Origen's Commentary in English, in the Printed Greek texts, or in the Manuscripts for his "Commentary On The Gospel According to Matthew".
Nor is there any genuine Comma Johanneum quotation or reference in Potamius of Lisbon's works, who simply read his own eisegesis (de figuris subiacentibus demonstremus "that we may try to prove to you the power of the substance from the underlying figurative meanings") into the Comma-less text of 1st John 5:8(C-Part), and in all probability drew on, and/or at least was aware of the precedent Origen set in his use of 1st John 5:8(C-Part, Comma-less Text).
Links below for manuscript images for all three (ironically) of Origen's Comma-less Greek quotations of 1st John 5:8(C-Part).
Origen of Alexandria (circa. 185-254 C.E.)
“Commentary on the Gospel of John,” Book 6, Chapter 26, (commenting on John 1:26)
ἀνέγραψεν τὰ τρία εἰς ἓν γινόμενα
Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek München Cod.graec. 191 [or Codex Monacensis] (circa. 13th century A.D./C.E.)
Folio 169r Digital viewer: [343/620] [Image 00343]
http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/000 ... &seite=343
Origen of Alexandria (circa. 185-254 C.E.)
“Commentary On Matthew,” Book 12, Section 43, (commenting on Matthew 17:8)
ἀλλὰ γεγόνασιν οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν
Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek München Cod.graec. 191 [or Codex Monacensis] (circa. 13th century A.D./C.E.)
Folio 37v Digital viewer: [78/620] [Image 0078]
https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/v ... page=78,79
Psuedo-Origen of Alexandria (circa. 185-254 C.E.)
(σχόλια Ώριγένουϛ) “Scholia Origenous,” or “Selecta in Psalmos,” or “Origen's Marginal Annotations,” [Catena] Psalm 122:2 LXX (Eng. 123:2)
οἱ γὰρ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν εἰσιν
Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Cod. Theol. gr. 8 (circa. 11th century A.D./C.E.)
Folio 236v Digital viewer: [482/567]
http://digital.onb.ac.at/RepViewer/view ... iew=SINGLE
Final note, it also appears (as of today 06/04/22) in both manuscripts of Origen's Commentary on Matthew itself, and in the manuscripts of the Catena with this commentary in the margins, none appear to have a Comma-inclusive text. I'll qualify that by honestly saying that I haven't as yet checked all available manuscripts to the Catena, but plan to research these in the near future. But from looking at the various printed texts (that I can reasonably access right now) they show no variation in the Catena texts for the words ἀλλὰ γεγόνασιν οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν.
So the point is, did anyone use the Comma-less 1st John 5:8(C-part/clause) Greek text with a figurative meaning (in Origen's case, figurative meanings plural, because he explored several figurative and spiritual meanings in the context) before Potamius?
That Potamius (and other's) could draw on?
In the context of the Transformation account with Peter and the "three tents"?
The answer is yes! A resounding yes!
So this is just one (out of many) lines of evidence that go directly, and devastatingly against Avery INC's erroneous claims about both Potamius and Origen, and the Psuedo-Origen Catena.
So then, with this solid empirical evidence we can now explore the REAL implications and historical connections that this REAL evidence presents.