John was conceived, or rather when he was born, the Holy
TRACTATE 4 97 says what he hears from the judge. Why then did he say, 'T am not Elias" and the Lord said, "He is Ehas"? Because in him the Lord Jesus Christ wished to prefigure his future coming and to say this, that John was in the spirit of Elias. And what John was to the First Coming, this will Elias be to the Second Coming. Just as there are two comings of the judge, so there are two heralds. There is indeed the same judge, but two heralds, not two judges. For it was necessary for the judge first to come to be judged. He sent before him the first herald; he called him Elias because in the Second Coming Elias will be what John was in the First.
6. For consider, beloved people, how truly I speak. When John was conceived, or rather when he was born, the Holy
Spirit prophesied that this was to be fulfilled with regard to that man. "And he will be," he said, "the forerunner of the most high, in the spirit and power of Elias." Not then Elias, but "in the spirit and power of Elias." What is, "in the spirit and power of Elias"? In the same Holy Spirit in place of Elias. Why in place of Elias? Because what Elias is to the Second Coming, this John was to the First. Correctly then John has just now answered in the strict sense. For the Lord [said] in a figurative sense, "John is Elias himself;" but he, as I said, in the strict sense, [said,] "I am not Elias." If you should look to the figure of forerunning, John himself is Elias; for what the former is to the First Coming, the latter will be to the Second.
If you sht)uld examine the strict designation of the particular individual, John is John, Elias is Elias. The Lord then [said] correctly for the purpose of prefiguration, "He is Elias." But John [said] correctly for the purpose of strict designation, "I am not Elias." Neither John [spoke] falsely, nor the Lord falsely, neither the herald falsely, nor the judge falsely, but only if you understand.
(2) But who will understand? He who imitates the lowliness of the herald and acknowledges the loftiness of the judge. For nothing was lowlier than this herald. My brothers, John had