THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. Take note, Palladius, of the profound significance of the law, which directs our understanding towards an unexpected direction, illustrating what ultimately serves our good. Palladius. In what manner is this shown? Cyril. The Scriptures state, 'If there be on any man a plague of leprosy, he must be brought to the priest; the priest shall examine him, and if the tumour on the skin be white, and the hair be changed to white, and there be living meat on the tumour, it is a stale leprosy on the skin of his body; and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall confine him, for he is unclean.
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But if the leprosy blossoms on the skin, and the leprosy covers the whole skin of the sick man from his head to his feet, as far as the eyes of the priest can see, and the priest sees that the leprosy has covered his whole body, he will declare the sick man clean, because everything has turned white: he is clean. But when the living meat appears on him, he is unclean; the priest, when he sees the living meat, shall declare him unclean; the living meat is unclean: it is leprosy. But if the living meat change and turn white, let him come to the priest; the priest shall examine him, and if the sores turn white, the priest shall declare the sick man clean; he is clean' (Lev. 13:9-17). Palladius. What kind of paradox does this present? Cyril. Do you not see that we have proclaimed leprosy as a sign of decay within a living body, indicating that anyone afflicted by this condition is deemed unclean? Palladius. I comprehend. Cyril. Consider how the situation is turned on its head; if there exists a leper who appears entirely whole yet is in a state of decay, having no healthy portion, then such a person is deemed free from defilement: he is clean. However, should any living flesh remain in him, he is to be declared unclean by the priest: his living flesh renders him impure; he is a leper, for this condition equates to the guilt of leprosy.