Suffering And Belief

Crucifixus sub Pontio Pilato... Sed dicit aliquis: Nunquid haec de Domino intelligenda sunt? Nunquid Dominus ab hominibus teneri poterat, et ad judicium pertrahi? Et de hoc te idem propheta convincet. Dicit enim his verbis: Ipse Dominus in judicium veniet, cum senioribus et principibus populi. Judicatur ergo Dominus secundum prophetae testimonium, et non solum judicatur, sed etiam flagellis caeditur, et palmis in faciem verberatur, et conspuitur, et omne pro nobis perfert opprobrium indignitatis. Et quia haec stupescenda erant omnibus, cum praedicarentur ab Apostolis: idcirco etiam ex persona ipsorum propheta exclamat et dicit: Domine, quis credidit auditui nostro? Incredibile enim est, ut Deus Dei Filius passus, ista dicatur, et praedicetur: ergo et praedicuntur per prophetas, ne qua credituris dubitatio nasceretur. Ipse ergo ex sua persona Christus Dominus dicit: Dorsum meum dedit ad flagella, et maxillas meas ad palmas, et faciem meam non averti a confusione sputorum. Rufninus Aquileiensis, Commentarius In Symbolum Apostolorum Source: Migne PL 21.359a-b

Crucified under Pontius Pilate... But someone says: 'Must these things be understood of the Lord? Should the Lord be seized by men and dragged off to judgement?' Of this also the same Prophet shall convince you. For he says, 'The Lord Himself shall come into judgment with the elders and princes of the people.' 1 Therefore, according to the Prophet's testimony, the Lord is judged, and not only judged, but scourged, and slapped on the face with the palm, and spat on, and He suffers every insult and indignity for our sake. And because all must be bewildered when these things shall be preached by the Apostles, therefore the Prophet speaking in their person also exclaims, 'Lord, who has believed our report?' 2 For it is incredible that God, the Son of God, should be spoken of and preached about as having suffered these things. For this reason they were foretold by the Prophets, lest any doubt should be found in those who are going to believe. Thus Christ the Lord Himself, in His own person, says, 'I gave my back to scourges and my cheeks to palms, I did not turn my face away from the contempt of spitting.' 3 Rufinus of Aquileia, Commentary On The Apostles' Creed 1 Isaiah 3.14 2 Isaiah 53.1 3 Isaiah 50.6