The
Lord, though he was God, became man. He suffered for the sake of
whose who suffer, he was bound for those in bonds, condemned for the
guilty, buried for those who lie in the grave; but he rose from the
dead, and cried aloud: "Who will contend with me? Let him
confront me." I have freed the condemned, brought the dead back
to life, raised men from their graves. Who has anything to say
against me? I, he said, am the Christ; I have destroyed death,
triumphed over the enemy, trampled hell underfoot, bound the strong
one, and taken men up to the heights of heaven: I am the Christ.
--
Saint Melito of Sardis
