Homily VII.

1 Thessalonians iv. 13

“But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope.”

There are many things which from ignorance alone cause us sorrow, so that if we come to understand them well, we banish our grief. This therefore Paul also showing, says, “I would not have you ignorant, that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope.” Is it on this account thou wouldest not have them ignorant? But wherefore dost thou not speak of the punishment that is laid up? Ignorant, says he, of the doctrine of the Resurrection. But why? This is manifest from the other, and is admitted. But meanwhile, together with that, there will also be this not inconsiderable gain. For since they did not disbelieve the Resurrection, but nevertheless bewailed, on this account he speaks. And he discourses indeed with those who disbelieve the Resurrection in one way, but with these in another. For it is manifest that they knew, who were enquiring about the “times and seasons.” (1 Thess. v. 1.)

Ver. 14. “For if we believe,” he says, “that Jesus died and rose again,” and lived,79    [This passage is here enlarged from Rom. xiv. 9, even as in many documents and Textus Receptus of N.T. that passage is enlarged from this.—J.A.B.] “even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”

Where are they who deny the Flesh?80    i.e. the Incarnation, as the Docetæ, and in a manner the Marcionites and the Manichees. St. Aug. Conf. For if He did not assume Flesh, neither did He die. If He did not die, neither did He rise again. How then does he exhort us from these things to faith? Was he not then according to them a trifler and a deceiver? For if to die proceeds from sin, and Christ did not sin, how does he now encourage us? And now, concerning whom does he say, O men, for whom do ye mourn? For whom do ye sorrow? for sinners, or simply for those who die? And why does he say, “Even as the rest, which have no hope”? For whom do the rest mourn? so that to them all these things are vapid.81    ἕωλα. He means to those who deny the Incarnation. “The firstborn from the dead” (Col. i. 18.), he says, the first-fruits. Therefore there must also be others left. And see how here he introduces nothing from reasonings, because they were docile. For in writing to the Corinthians, he started many things also from reasonings, and then he added, “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened.” (1 Cor. xv. 36.) For this is more authoritative, but it is when he converses with the believer. But with him who is without, what authority would this have? “Even so,” he says, “them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” Again, “fallen asleep”: he nowhere says, the dead. But with respect to Christ, his words are, “He died,” because there followed mention of the Resurrection, but here “them that are fallen asleep.” How “through Jesus”?82    [The Greek rendered “in Jesus” is properly “through Jesus,” and stands between “them that fell asleep” and “will bring,” so that it may be understood as connected with either. Modern commentators usually prefer to connect with the participle, and then the natural meaning is that through Jesus death became to them a falling asleep. Comp. Ellicott. The amenders of Chrys.’s text made it “them that fell asleep by faith in Jesus.”—J.A.B.] Either that they fell asleep through Jesus, or that through Jesus will He bring them. The phrase “that fell asleep through Jesus” means the faithful. Here the heretics say, that he is speaking of the baptized. What place then is there for “even so”? For Jesus did not fall asleep through Baptism. But on what account does he say, “them that are fallen asleep”? So that he is discoursing not of a general Resurrection, but of a partial one. Them that are fallen asleep through Jesus, he says, and thus he speaks in many places.

Ver. 15. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in nowise precede them that are fallen asleep.”

Speaking concerning the faithful, and them “which are fallen asleep in83    [Here Chrys. first quotes accurately from 1 Cor. xv. 18, and then adds from iv. 15 below, there taking “in Christ” with the verb, when the connection requires us to understand, “the dead in Christ shall rise.” Comp. Ellicott on iv. 15, and notice below, at the beginning of Hom. viii., that Chrys. connects as here.—J.A.B.] Christ” (1 Cor. xv. 18.); and again, “the dead shall rise in Christ.” Since his discourse is not concerning the Resurrection only, but both concerning the Resurrection and concerning the honor in glory; all then shall partake of a Resurrection, he says, but not all shall be in glory, only those in Christ. Since therefore he wishes to comfort them, he comforts them not with this only, but also with the abundant honor, and with its speedy arrival, since they knew that. For in proof that he wishes to comfort them with the honor, as he goes on, he says, “And we shall be ever with the Lord”: and “we shall be caught up in the clouds.”

But how do the faithful fall asleep in Jesus? It means having Christ within themselves. But the expression, “He shall bring with Him,” shows that they are brought from many places. “This.” Something strange he was about to tell them. On this account he also adds what makes it worthy of credit; “From the word of the Lord,” he says, that is, we speak not of ourselves, but having learnt from Christ, “That we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in nowise precede them that are fallen asleep.” Which also he says in his Epistle to the Corinthians; “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” (1 Cor. xv. 52.) Here he gives a credibility to the Resurrection by the manner also [in which it will occur].

For because the matter seems to be difficult he says that as it is easy for the living to be taken up, so also for the departed. But in saying “we,” he does not speak of himself, for he was not about to remain until the Resurrection, but he speaks of the faithful. On this account he has added, “We that are left unto the coming of the Lord shall in nowise precede them that are fallen asleep.” As if he had said, Think not that there is any difficulty. It is God that does it. They who are then alive shall not anticipate those who are dissolved, who are rotted, who have been dead ten thousand years. But as it is easy to bring those who are entire, so is it also those who are dissolved.

But there are some who disbelieve the matter, because they know not God. For, tell me, which is the more easy, to bring one into being out of nothing, or to raise up again him that was dissolved? But what say they? A certain one suffered shipwreck and was drowned in the sea, and having fallen many fishes caught him, and each of the fish devoured some member. Then of these very fishes, one was caught in this gulf, and one in that, and this was eaten by one man, and that by another, while having in it the devoured pieces of flesh. And again, those who ate the fishes, that had eaten up the man, died in different places, and were themselves perhaps devoured by wild beasts. And—when there has been so great a confusion and dispersion—how shall the man rise again? Who shall gather up the dust? But wherefore dost thou say this, O man, and weavest strings of trifles, and makest it a matter of perplexity? For tell me, if the man had not fallen into the sea, if the fish had not eaten him, nor the fish again been devoured by numberless men—but he had been preserved with care in a coffin, and neither worms nor anything else had disturbed him, how shall that which is dissolved rise again? How shall the dust and ashes be again conglutinated?84    This word is used by Bp. Pearson in this very argument, which he may have borrowed from St. Chrys.; see his work on the Creed, art. Resurrection. Whence shall there be any more its bloom for the body? But is not this a difficulty?

If indeed they be Greeks who raise these doubts, we shall have numberless things to say to them. What then? For there are among them those who convey souls into plants, and shrubs, and dogs. Tell me, which is more easy, to resume one’s own body, or that of another? Others again say that they are consumed by fire, and that there is a resurrection of garments and of shoes, and they are not ridiculed. Others say atoms. With them, however, we have no argument at all; but to the faithful, (if we ought to call them faithful who raise questions,) we will still say what the Apostle has said, that all life springs from corruption, all plants, all seeds.85    See 1 Cor. xv. 36. Seest thou not the fig tree, what a trunk it has, what stems, how many leaves, and branches, stalks, and roots, occupying so much ground and embosomed therein. This then, such and so great as it is, springs from the grain which was thrown into the ground and itself first corrupted. And if it be not rotted and dissolved, there will be none of these things. Tell me, whence does this happen? And the vine too, which is so fair both to see and to partake of, springs from that which is vile in appearance. And what, tell me, is not the water that descends from above one thing? how is it changed into so many things? For this is more wonderful than the Resurrection. For there indeed the same seed and the same plant is the subject, and there is a great affinity. But here tell me how, having one quality and one nature, it turns into so many things? In the vine it becomes wine, and not only wine, but leaves and sap. For not only is the cluster of grapes, but the rest of the vine nourished by it. Again, in the olive (it becomes) oil, and the other so numerous things. And what is wonderful, here it is moist, there dry, here sweet there sour, here astringent, elsewhere bitter. Tell me how it turns into so many things? Show me the reason! But you cannot.

And in the case of thyself, tell me, for this comes nearer, this seed, that is deposited, how is it fashioned and molded into so many things? how into eyes? how into ears? how into hands? how into heart? Are there not in the body ten thousand differences of figures, of sizes, of qualities, of positions, of powers, of proportions? Nerves and veins and flesh and bones and membranes, and arteries and joints and cartilages, and as many more things beside these, as the sons of the physicians precisely specify, which compose our nature—and these come from that one seed! Does not this then seem to you much more difficult than those things? How is the moist and soft congealed into the dry and cold, that is, bone? How into the warm and moist, which are united in the blood? How into the cold and soft, the nerve? How into the cold and moist, the artery?86    The arteries were then thought to convey air through the body. Tell me, whence are these things? Art thou not quite at a loss about these things? Dost thou not see every day a resurrection and a death taking place in the periods of our life? Whither is our youth gone? whence is our age come? how is it that he who is grown old cannot indeed make himself young, but begets another, a very young child, and what he cannot give to himself, that he bestows upon another?

This also we may see in trees and in animals. And yet that which gives to another ought first to bestow upon itself. But this is what human reasoning demands. But when God creates, let all things give way. If these things are so difficult, nay, so excessively difficult, I am reminded of those mad persons, who are curious about the incorporeal Generation of the Son. Things that take place every day, that are within the grasp of our hands, and that have been enquired into ten thousand times, no one has yet been able to discover; tell me, then, how is it they are curious about that secret and ineffable Generation? Is not the mind of such men wearied in treading that void? Has it not been whirled into ten thousand giddinesses? Is it not dumfounded? And yet not even so are they instructed. When they are able to say nothing about grapes and figs, they are curious about God! For tell me, how is that grape-stone resolved into leaves and stems? How before this were they not in it, nor seen in it? But it is not the grape-stone, you say, but all is from the earth. Then how is it that without this the earth bears nothing of itself? But let us not be void of understanding. What takes place is neither from the earth, nor from the grape-stone, but from Him who is Lord both of the earth and of its seeds. For this reason He has caused the same thing to be made both without them, and with them. In the first place, showing His own power, when he said, “Let the earth bring forth the herb of grass.” (From Gen. i. 11.) And secondly, besides showing His power, instructing us also to be laborious and industrious.

Why then have these things been said by us? Not idly, but that we may believe also in the Resurrection, and that, when we again wish to apprehend something by our reasonings, but do not find it, we may not be angry and take offense, but discreetly withdrawing and checking our reasoning, we may take refuge in the power and skillfulness of God. Knowing these things therefore, let us put a curb upon our reasonings. Let us not transgress our bounds, nor the measures that have been assigned to our knowledge. For, “If any man,” he says, “thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” (1 Cor. viii. 2.)

I speak not concerning God, he says, but concerning everything. For what? wouldest thou learn about the earth? What dost thou know? Tell me. How great is its measure? What is its size? What is its manner of position? What is its essence? What is its place? Where does it stand, and upon what? None of these things can you tell? But that it is cold, and dry, and black, this you can tell—and nothing farther. Again, concerning the sea? But there you will be reduced to the same uncertainty, not knowing where it begins, and where it ends, and upon what it is borne, what supports the bottom of it, and what sort of place there is for it, and whether after it there is a continent, or it ends in water and air. And what dost thou know of the things that are in it? But what? Let me pass over the elements. Would you have us select the smallest of plants? The unfruitful grass, a thing which we all know, tell me, how it is brought forth? Is not the material of it water, and earth, and dung? What is it that makes it appear so beautiful, and have such an admirable color? Whence does that beauty so fade away? This is not the work of water, or of earth. Seest thou that there is everywhere need of faith? How does the earth bring forth, how does it travail? Tell me. But you can tell me none of these things.

Be instructed, O man, in things that are here below, and be not curious nor overmeddling about heaven. And would it were heaven, and not the Lord of heaven! Dost thou not know the earth from which thou wast brought forth, in which thou wast nourished, which thou inhabitest, on which thou walkest, without which thou canst not even breathe; and art thou curious about things so far removed? Truly “man is vanity.” (Ps. xxxix. 5, and cxliv. 5.) And if any one should bid thee descend into the deep, and trace out things at the bottom of the sea, thou wouldest not tolerate the command. But, when no one compels thee, thou art willing of thyself to fathom the unsearchable abyss? Do not so, I beseech you. But let us sail upwards, not floating, for we shall soon be weary, and sink; but using the divine Scriptures, as some vessel, let us unfurl the sails of faith. If we sail in them, then the Word of God will be present with us as our Pilot. But if we float upon human reasonings, it will not be so. For to whom of those who float, is a Pilot present? So that the danger is twofold, in that there is no vessel, and that the Pilot is absent. For if even the boat without a pilot is unsafe, when both are wanting, what hope is there of safety? Let us not then throw ourselves into manifest danger, but let us go upon a safe vessel, having fastened ourselves by the sacred anchor. For thus we shall sail into the tranquil haven, with much merchandise,87    ἐμπορίας, al. εὐπορίας, facility. and at the same time with great safety, and we shall obtain the blessings laid up for them that love Him, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom, to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, honor, now and always and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Ζʹ. Οὐ θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοὶ, περὶ τῶν κεκοιμημένων, ἵνα μὴ λυπῆσθε, καθὼς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα. αʹ. Πολλὰ τῶν πραγμάτων ἐξ ἀγνοίας ἡμᾶς λυπεῖ μόνης, ὡς, ἂν αὐτὰ καλῶς καταμάθωμεν, ἀποκρουσόμεθα τὴν ὀδύνην. Τοῦτο γοῦν καὶ ὁ Παῦλος ἐμφαίνων ἔλεγεν, Οὐ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἵνα μὴ λυπῆσθε, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα. Τί οὐ θέλεις αὐτοὺς ἀγνοεῖν; Τὸν περὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως, φησὶ, λόγον. Διὰ τί δὲ μὴ λέγεις τὴν κόλασιν τὴν ἀποκειμένην τῷ ἀγνοεῖν τὸν περὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως λόγον; Διότι τοῦτο ἐκεῖθεν δῆλόν ἐστι, καὶ ὡμολογημένον: τέως δὲ μετ' ἐκείνου καὶ τοῦτο ἔσται κέρδος οὐ μικρόν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ οὐ τῇ ἀναστάσει ἠπίστουν, ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐθρήνουν, διὰ τοῦτο οὕτω φησί. Καὶ ἑτέρως μὲν τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσι διαλέγεται, ἑτέρως δὲ τούτοις: οἱ γὰρ περὶ τῶν χρόνων καὶ τῶν καιρῶν ζητοῦντες, δῆλον ὅτι ᾔδεσαν. Εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν, φησὶν, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανε καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἔζησεν, οὕτως ὁ Θεὸς καὶ τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ. Ποῦ εἰσιν οἱ τὴν σάρκα ἀθετοῦντες; Εἰ γὰρ μὴ ἀνέλαβε σάρκα, οὐδὲ ἀπέθανεν: εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀπέθανεν, οὐδὲ ἀνέστη. Πῶς οὖν ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τούτων προτρέπει εἰς πίστιν; ἆρα οὐ λῆρος μᾶλλον ἦν κατ' αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀπατεών; Εἰ γὰρ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν ἁμαρτίας ἐστὶν, ὁ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἥμαρτε, πῶς ἡμᾶς προτρέπεται νῦν; Διὰ τί δὲ καί φησιν, Ὥσπερ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα; Ὡσεὶ ἔλεγε: Τίνας θρηνεῖτε, ἄνθρωποι; ὑπὲρ τίνων λυπεῖσθε; ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν, ἢ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁπλῶς ἀποθνησκόντων; Ὥστε ἐκεῖνοι τίνας θρηνοῦσι; Πάντα δὲ ταῦτα ἕωλα αὐτοῖς γίνεται, Πρωτότοκος, φησὶν, ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν: τουτέστιν, ἀπαρχή. Οὐκοῦν καὶ λοιποὺς εἶναι δεῖ. Καὶ ὅρα πῶς ἐνταῦθα οὐδὲν ἀπὸ λογισμῶν τίθησιν, ἐπειδὴ προσηνεῖς ἦσαν: Κορινθίοις δὲ γράφων, πολλὰ πρῶτον καὶ ἀπὸ λογισμῶν ἐκίνησε, καὶ τότε ἐπήγαγεν: Ἄφρον σὺ, ὃ σπείρεις, οὐ ζωοποιεῖται. Κυριώτερον μὲν γὰρ τοῦτο, ἀλλ' ὅταν τῷ πιστῷ διαλέγηται: πρὸς δὲ τὸν ἔξω ποίαν ἰσχὺν ἂν ἔχοι τοῦτο; Οὕτω, φησὶν, ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ. Πάλιν, Κοιμηθέντας: οὐδαμοῦ λέγει, ἀποθανόντας. Ἀλλ' ἐπὶ μὲν τοῦ Χριστοῦ τὸ, Ἀπέθανεν, ἔθηκεν, ἐπειδὴ καὶ τὸ τῆς ἀναστάσεως εἶπεν: ἐνταῦθα δὲ, Τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ: ἢ τοῦτο λέγων, ὅτι τῇ πίστει τοῦ Ἰησοῦ κοιμηθέντας, ἢ ὅτι διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει τοὺς κοιμηθέντας, τουτέστι, τοὺς πιστούς. Ἐνταῦθα οἱ αἱρετικοί φασιν ὅτι τοὺς βαπτισθέντας λέγει. Τὸ οὖν, Οὕτω, ποῦ ἵσταται; ὁ γὰρ Ἰησοῦς οὐκ ἐκοιμήθη διὰ τοῦ βαπτίσματος. Τίνος δὲ ἕνεκέν φησι, Τοὺς κοιμηθέντας; Ὥστε οὐ περὶ καθολικῆς, ἀλλὰ περὶ μερικῆς ἀναστάσεως διαλέγεται. Ἄξει τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, φησί: καὶ πολλαχοῦ οὕτω λέγει. Τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν λέγομεν ἐν λόγω Κυρίου, ὅτι ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ Κυρίου, οὐ μὴ φθάσωμεν τοὺς κοιμηθέντας: περὶ τῶν πιστῶν λέγων, καὶ οἱ κοιμηθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ: καὶ πάλιν, Οἱ νεκροὶ ἀναστήσονται. Ἔπειτα οὐ περὶ ἀναστάσεως αὐτῷ ὁ λόγος μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ ἀναστάσεως καὶ περὶ τιμῆς τῆς ἐν δόξῃ. Ἀναστάσεως μὲν οὖν πάντες ἀπολαύσονται, φησίν: ἐν δόξῃ δὲ οὐ πάντες ἔσονται, ἀλλ', Οἱ ἐν Χριστῷ. Ἐπεὶ οὖν παραμυθήσασθαι βούλεται αὐτοὺς, οὐ τούτῳ μόνον παραμυθεῖται, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῇ τιμῇ τῇ πολλῇ καὶ τῷ τάχει, ἐπεὶ ἐκεῖνο ᾔδεσαν. Ὅτι γὰρ τῇ τιμῇ βούλεται αὐτοὺς παραμυθήσασθαι, προϊών φησι, Καὶ πάντοτε σὺν Κυρίῳ ἐσόμεθα: καὶ, ὅτι Ἐν νεφέλαις ἁρπαγησόμεθα. Πῶς δὲ οἱ πιστοὶ διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ κοιμῶνται: Δηλονότι τὸν Χριστὸν ἔχοντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς. Τὸ δὲ, Ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ, δείκνυσι πολλαχόθεν ἀγομένους. Τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν, φησὶ, λέγομεν ἐν λόγῳ Κυρίου. Ξένον τι ἔμελλε λέγειν: διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὸ ἀξιόπιστον τίθησιν. Ἐν λόγῳ Κυρίου, φησί: τουτέστιν, Οὐκ ἀφ' ἑαυτῶν, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μαθόντες λέγομεν, Ὅτι ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ Κυρίου, οὐ μὴ φθάσωμεν τοὺς κοιμηθέντας. Ὅπερ ἐν τῇ πρὸς Κορινθίους φησὶν, ὅτι Ἐν ἀτόμῳ, ἐν ῥιπῇ ὀφθαλμοῦ. Ἐνταῦθα τὸ ἀξιόπιστον τῇ ἀναστάσει καὶ τῷ τρόπῳ παρέστησε. βʹ. Καὶ ἐπειδὴ τὸ πρᾶγμα δοκεῖ δύσκολον εἶναι, δείκνυσιν αὐτὸς ὅτι ὥσπερ ἐστὶν εὔκολον τοὺς ζῶντας ἀρθῆναι, οὕτω καὶ τοὺς ἀπελθόντας. Τὸ δὲ, Ἡμεῖς, οὐ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ φησιν: οὐ γὰρ δὴ ἔμελλεν αὐτὸς μέχρι τῆς ἀναστάσεως μένειν, ἀλλὰ τοὺς πιστοὺς λέγει. Διὰ τοῦτο προσέθηκεν, Οἱ περιλειπόμενοι εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ Κυρίου, οὐ μὴ φθάσωμεν τοὺς κοιμηθέντας: ὡς ἂν εἰ ἔλεγε: Μὴ νομίσῃς ἐργωδίαν εἶναί τινα, ἀκούων ὅτι οἱ ζῶντες τότε τοὺς διαλυθέντας, τοὺς σαπέντας, τοὺς μυρία ἔτη ἔχοντας οὐ μὴ προλάβωσι: Θεός ἐστιν ὁ ποιῶν. Ἀλλ' ὥσπερ εὔκολον αὐτῷ ἐκείνους τοὺς ἀπηρτισμένους ἀγαγεῖν, οὕτω καὶ τοὺς διαλελυμένους. Ἀλλ' εἰσί τινες, οἳ διαπιστοῦσι τῷ πράγματι, ἐπειδὴ τὸν Θεὸν οὐκ ἴσασι. Τί γὰρ, εἰπέ μοι, εὐκολώτερον, ἐκ τοῦ μὴ ὄντος εἰς τὸ εἶναι παραγαγεῖν, ἢ διαλυθέντα ἀναστῆσαι πάλιν; Ἀλλὰ τί φασιν; Ὁ δεῖνα, φησὶ, ναυάγιον ὑπέστη, καὶ κατεποντίσθη, καὶ πεσόντα αὐτὸν ἰχθύες ἐδέξαντο πολλοὶ καὶ τῶν ἰχθύων ἕκαστος μέλος ἔφαγεν. Εἶτ' αὐτῶν δὴ τούτων ὁ μὲν ἐν τῷδε τῷ κόλπῳ, ὁ δὲ ἐν τῷδε συνελήφθη, καὶ ἐβρώθη ὑφ' ἑτέρου, καὶ οὗτος ὑπὸ ἄλλου. Καὶ οὗτοι πάλιν ἐν ἄλλοις χωρίοις ἀπέθανον οἱ τοὺς ἰχθῦς φαγόντες τοὺς τὸν ἄνδρα καταφαγόντας, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἴσως ὑπὸ θηρίων. Τοσαύτης δὲ τῆς συγχύσεως γενομένης καὶ διασπορᾶς, πῶς πάλιν ἀναστήσεται ὁ ἀνήρ; τίς ὁ τὸν χοῦν συνάγων; Διὰ τί γὰρ τοῦτο λέγεις, ἄνθρωπε, καὶ ὁρμαθοὺς λήρων ὑφαίνεις, καὶ ὡς ἄπορον τιθεῖς; Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, ἂν μὴ εἰς θάλατταν καταπέσῃ, ἂν γὰρ μὴ ἰχθὺς φάγῃ, μηδὲ βρωθῇ πάλιν ὁ ἰχθὺς ὑπὸ μυρίων ἀνθρώπων, ἀλλὰ κηδευθεὶς ἐν λάρνακι ὁ ἀνὴρ τεθῇ, καὶ μήτε σκώληκες, μήτε ἄλλο τι διενοχλήσῃ, πῶς ἀναστήσεται τὸ διαλυθέν; πῶς ἡ κόνις καὶ ἡ τέφρα συγκολληθήσεται, πόθεν τὸ ἄνθος λοιπὸν ἔσται τοῦ σώματος; τοῦτο δὲ οὐκ ἄπορον; Ἂν μὲν οὖν Ἕλληνες ὦσιν οἱ ταῦτα διαποροῦντες, πρὸς αὐτοὺς μυρία ἐροῦμεν. Τί δήποτε; εἰσὶ γὰρ παρ' αὐτοῖς οἱ τὰς ψυχὰς καὶ εἰς φυτὰ καὶ εἰς θάμνους ἄγοντες καὶ εἰς κύνας: εἰπέ μοι, τί εὐκολώτερον, τὸ οἰκεῖον σῶμα ἀναλαβεῖν, ἢ τὸ ἀλλότριον; Ἄλλοι πάλιν φασὶν ὑπὸ πυρὸς ἀναλίσκεσθαι, καὶ ἱματίων ἀνάστασιν γίνεσθαι καὶ ὑποδημάτων, καὶ οὐ καταγελῶνται: ἕτεροι ἀτόμους εἰσάγουσιν. Ἀλλὰ πρὸς ἐκείνους οὐδεὶς ἡμῖν λόγος: πρὸς δὲ τοὺς πιστοὺς, εἴ γε πιστοὺς δεῖ καλεῖν, τοὺς ἐρωτῶντας, ὅμως ἐροῦμεν τὸ ἀποστολικὸν, ὅτι πᾶσα ἡ ζωὴ ἀπὸ φθορᾶς γίνεται, πάντα φυτὰ, πάντα σπέρματα. Οὐχ ὁρᾷς τὴν συκῆν ἡλίκον μὲν ἔχει κορμὸν, ἡλίκα δὲ στελέχη; φύλλα δὲ πόσα, κλάδους, ἀνθέρικας, ῥίζας τοσοῦτον ἐπεχούσας καὶ ἐγκεκολπισμένας; Αὕτη τοίνυν ἡ τηλικαύτη καὶ τοιαύτη ἀπὸ τῆς κέγχρου γίνεται ἐκείνης τῆς καταβληθείσης, καὶ αὐτῆς διαφθαρείσης πρῶτον: κἂν μὴ σαπῇ καὶ διαλυθῇ, οὐδὲν τούτων ἔσται. Εἰπέ μοι, πόθεν τοῦτο γίνεται; Καὶ ἡ ἄμπελος δὲ ἡ οὕτω καλὴ καὶ ἰδεῖν καὶ μετέχειν, ἀπὸ τοῦ εἰδεχθοῦς γίνεται ἐκείνου. Τί δὲ, εἰπέ μοι, οὐχὶ ὕδωρ ἐστὶν ἓν τὸ ἄνωθεν καταφερόμενον; καὶ πῶς εἰς τοσαῦτα μεταβάλλεται; Τοῦτο γὰρ τῆς ἀναστάσεως θαυμασιώτερον. Ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ σπέρμα, καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ὑπόκειται φυτὸν, καὶ ἡ συγγένεια πολλή: ἐνταῦθα δὲ εἰπέ μοι πῶς μίαν ἔχον ποιότητα καὶ μίαν φύσιν, εἰς τοσαῦτα τρέπεται; Ἐν ἀμπέλῳ γίνεται οἶνος, οὐχὶ οἶνος μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ φύλλα καὶ ὀπός: καὶ γὰρ οὐχ ὁ βότρυς μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν τῆς ἀμπέλου αὐτῷ τρέφεται: πάλιν ἐν ἐλαίᾳ ἔλαιον, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα, ὅσα οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν. Καὶ τὸ θαυμαστὸν, ἐνταῦθα ὑγρὸν, ἐκεῖ ξηρὸν, ἐνταῦθα γλυκὺ, ἐκεῖ ὀξὺ, ἐκεῖ στῦφον, ἑτέρωθι πικρόν. Πῶς, εἰπέ μοι, τρέπεται εἰς τοσαῦτα; εἰπὲ τὸν λόγον: ἀλλ' οὐκ ἂν ἔχοις. Ἐπὶ δὲ σοῦ αὐτοῦ, εἰπέ μοι (ἐγγύτερον γὰρ), τοῦτο τὸ σπέρμα τὸ καταβαλλόμενον πῶς εἰς ὀφθαλμοὺς, πῶς εἰς ὦτα, πῶς εἰς χεῖρας, πῶς εἰς καρδίαν, πῶς εἰς τοσαῦτα ῥυθμίζεται καὶ διατυποῦται; οὐχὶ μυρίαι διαφοραὶ ἐν τῷ σώματι, σχημάτων, μεγεθῶν, ποιοτήτων, θέσεων, δυνάμεων, ῥυθμῶν; πῶς νεῦρα, καὶ φλέβες, καὶ σάρκες, καὶ ὀστᾶ, καὶ ὑμένες, καὶ ἀρτηρίαι, καὶ ἄρθρα, καὶ χόνδροι, καὶ ὅσα ἕτερα τούτων πλείονα παῖδες ἰατρῶν ἀκριβολογοῦνται, ἃ τὴν ἡμετέραν συνέχει φύσιν, καὶ ταῦτα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑνὸς σπέρματος; Ἆρα πολλῷ σοι δοκεῖ τούτων εἶναι τοῦτο ἀπορώτερον, πῶς τὸ ὑγρὸν καὶ μαλακὸν εἰς σκληρὸν καὶ ψυχρὸν πήγνυται, τὸ ὀστοῦν; πῶς εἰς θερμὸν καὶ ὑγρὸν, καὶ τὸ αἷμα, ἑνωθέν; πῶς εἰς ψυχρὸν καὶ μαλθακὸν τὸ νεῦρον; πῶς εἰς ψυχρὸν καὶ ὑγρὸν τὴν ἀρτηρίαν; πόθεν ταῦτα, εἰπέ μοι; ταῦτα οὐ διαπορεῖς; Οὐχὶ ὁρᾷς καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν ἀνάστασιν καὶ θάνατον ἐν ταῖς ἡλικίαις γινόμενον; ποῦ ἡ νεότης ἀπῆλθεν; πόθεν τὸ γῆρας ἦλθε; πῶς ὁ γεγηρακὼς ἑαυτὸν μὲν νέον ποιῆσαι οὐ δύναται, ἕτερον δὲ παιδίον τίκτει νεώτατον, καὶ ὃ ἑαυτῷ οὐ δύναται παρασχεῖν, ἑτέρῳ παρέχει. γʹ. Τοῦτο καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν δένδρων καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ζώων ἔστιν ἰδεῖν. Καίτοι τὸ ἑτέρῳ παρέχον, ἑαυτῷ πρότερον ὀφείλει παρασχεῖν. Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν ὁ λογισμὸς ὁ ἀνθρώπινος ἀπαιτεῖ: ὅταν δὲ ὁ Θεὸς δημιουργῇ, πάντα ὑποχωρείτω. Εἰ ταῦτα οὕτως ἄπορα, καὶ μεθ' ὑπερβολῆς ἄπορα, ὑπεισῆλθέ μοι νῦν ἔννοια τῶν μαινομένων, καὶ τὴν γέννησιν τὴν ἀσώματον πολυπραγμονούντων τοῦ Υἱοῦ. Τὰ καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν γινόμενα, καὶ χερσὶν ὑποβαλλόμενα, καὶ μυριάκις ζητηθέντα οὐδεὶς οὐδέπω εὑρεῖν δεδύνηται: πῶς οὖν τὴν ἄῤῥητον ἐκείνην καὶ ἄφραστον γέννησιν πολυπραγμονοῦσιν, εἰπέ μοι; οὐκ ἀπέκαμεν ἡ διάνοια τῶν τοιούτων κενεμβατοῦσα; οὐκ εἰς μυρίους ἰλίγγους περιετράπη; οὐχὶ ἀχανὴς γέγονε; Καὶ ὅμως οὐδὲ οὕτω παιδεύονται. Περὶ σταφυλῶν καὶ σύκων οὐδὲν εἰπεῖν δυνάμενοι, περὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ πολυπραγμονοῦσιν. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, πῶς τὸ γίγαρτον ἐκεῖνο ἀναλύεται εἰς φύλλα καὶ στελέχη; πῶς πρὸ τούτου οὐκ ἦν ἐν αὐτῷ, οὐδὲ ἑωρᾶτο; Ἀλλ' οὐ τὸ γίγαρτόν ἐστι, φησὶν, ἀλλὰ τῆς γῆς τὸ πᾶν. Καὶ πῶς χωρὶς τούτου οὐδὲν φέρει ἀφ' ἑαυτῆς; Ἀλλὰ μὴ ἀνοηταίνωμεν: οὔτε τῆς γῆς ἐστιν, οὔτε τῆς κέγχρου τὸ γινόμενον, ἀλλὰ τοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ τῶν σπερμάτων Κυρίου. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ χωρὶς τούτων καὶ μετὰ τούτων ταῦτα ἐποίησε γίνεσθαι τὸ μὲν τὴν αὐτοῦ δύναμιν δεικνὺς, ἡνίκα ἔλεγεν, Ἐξαγαγέτω ἡ γῆ βοτάνην χόρτου: τὸ δὲ, μετὰ τοῦ δεῖξαι τὴν αὐτοῦ δύναμιν, καὶ ἡμᾶς παιδεύων εἶναι φιλοπόνους καὶ φιλεργούς. Τί δὴ ταῦτα ἡμῖν εἴρηται; Οὐχ ἁπλῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα καὶ τῇ ἀναστάσει πιστεύωμεν: καὶ ὅταν τι πάλιν λογισμοῖς βουλόμενοι καταλαβεῖν οὐκ ἰσχύωμεν, μὴ δυσχεραίνωμεν μηδὲ ἀγανακτῶμεν, ἀλλ' εὐγνωμόνως ὑποστρέφοντες, καὶ ἀναχαιτίζοντες τὸν λογισμὸν, καταφεύγωμεν ἐπὶ τὸ δυνατὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ εὐμήχανον. Ταῦτα οὖν εἰδότες, χαλινὸν ἐπιθῶμεν τοῖς λογισμοῖς: μὴ ὑπερβαίνωμεν τοὺς ὅρους καὶ τὰ μέτρα τὰ δεδομένα τῆς γνώσεως ἡμῖν. Εἰ γάρ τις δοκεῖ, φησὶν, εἰδέναι τι, οὐδέπω οὐδὲν ἔγνωκε καθὼς δεῖ γνῶναι. Οὐ λέγω περὶ Θεοῦ μόνον, ἀλλὰ περὶ παντὸς πράγματος. Τί γὰρ βούλει μαθεῖν περὶ γῆς; τί οἶδας, εἰπέ μοι; πόσον τὸ μέτρον αὐτῆς; πηλίκον τὸ μέγεθος; ὁποία ἡ θέσις; τίς ἡ οὐσία; ποῖος ὁ τόπος; ποῦ ἕστηκε, καὶ ἐπὶ τίνος; Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν ἂν τούτων ἔχοις εἰπεῖν. Ἀλλ' ὅτι μέν ἐστι ψυχρὰ καὶ ξηρὰ καὶ μέλαινα, ταῦτα ἂν ἔχοις εἰπεῖν, περαιτέρω δὲ οὐδέν. Ἀλλὰ περὶ τῆς θαλάττης; Ἀλλ' ὁμοίως εἰς ἀμηχανίαν ἐμπεσῇ, οὐκ εἰδὼς ποῦ μὲν ἄρχεται, ποῦ δὲ λήγει, ἐπὶ τίνος δὲ φέρεται, τί τὸν πυθμένα αὐτῆς διαβαστάζει, ποῖος δὲ αὐτῇ τόπος ἐστὶ, πότερον δὲ καὶ μετ' αὐτήν ἐστιν ἤπειρος, ἢ εἰς ὕδωρ τελευτᾷ καὶ ἀέρα. Ἀλλὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτῇ τί οἶδας; Ἀλλὰ τὸν ἀέρα εἴπω; ἀλλὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα; Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν ἐρεῖς. Ἀφῶ ταῦτα, Βούλει τῶν φυτῶν τὸ μικρότατον ἐκλεξώμεθα; τὴν χλόην τὴν ἄκαρπον, ἥνπερ ἅπαντες ἴσμεν, εἰπὲ πῶς τίκτεται; οὐχὶ ὕδωρ ἐστὶ τὸ ὑποκείμενον καὶ γῆ καὶ κόπρος; τί τὸ ποιοῦν αὐτὴν οὕτω καλὴν φαίνεσθαι, καὶ χρῶμα ἔχειν θαυμαστόν; πόθεν ἐκεῖνο τὸ κάλλος οὕτω μαραίνεται; Οὐκ ἔστιν ὕδατος, οὐκ ἔστι γῆς τὸ ἔργον. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι πανταχοῦ πίστεως χρεία; Πῶς ἡ γῆ τίκτει; πῶς ὠδίνει, εἰπέ μοι; Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν ἂν τούτων ἔχοις εἰπεῖν. Παιδεύθητι, ὦ ἄνθρωπε, ἐν τοῖς κάτω καὶ τοῖς ἐνταῦθα, καὶ μὴ περιεργάζου μηδὲ πολυπραγμόνει τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ εἴθε τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ μὴ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τὸν Δεσπότην. Τὴν γῆν οὐκ οἶδας, εἰπέ μοι, ἀφ' ἧς ἐτέχθης, ἐν ᾗ ἐτράφης, ἣν οἰκεῖς, ἣν πατεῖς, ἧς ἄνευ οὐδὲ ἀναπνεῦσαι δύνασαι, καὶ τὰ τοσοῦτον ἀφεστηκότα πολυπραγμονεῖς; Ὄντως ἄνθρωπος ματαιότης ἐστί. Κἂν μέν τίς σε εἰς βυθὸν κελεύῃ καταβαίνειν, καὶ ἐξιχνεύειν τὰ ἐν τῷ πυθμένι τῆς θαλάσσης, οὐκ ἀνέξῃ τοῦ ἐπιτάγματος: οὐδενὸς δὲ ἀναγκάζοντος, αὐτὸς τὴν ἀνεξιχνίαστον ἄβυσσον βούλει καταλαβεῖν; Μὴ, παρακαλῶ: ἀλλ' ἄνω πλέωμεν, μὴ νηχόμενοι λογισμοῖς: ταχέως γὰρ ἀποκαμούμεθα, καὶ καταποντισθησόμεθα: ἀλλὰ ταῖς θείαις κεχρημένοι Γραφαῖς, καθάπερ πλοίῳ τινὶ τὰ ἱστία τῆς πίστεως ἀναπετάσωμεν. Ἂν ἐν ταύταις πλέωμεν, καὶ κυβερνήτης ὑμῖν παρέσται ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ: ἂν δὲ νηχώμεθα ἐν τοῖς λογισμοῖς τοῖς ἀνθρωπίνοις, οὐκέτι. Τίνι γὰρ τῶν οὕτω νηχομένων κυβερνήτης παρέσται; Ὥστε διπλῇ ὁ κίνδυνος, τῷ τε μὴ πλοῖον εἶναι, τῷ τε κυβερνήτην ἀπεῖναι. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ τὸ σκάφος ἄνευ κυβερνήτου σφαλερὸν, ὅταν ἀμφότερα ἀπῇ, ποία σωτηρίας ἐλπίς; Μὴ δὴ ῥίπτωμεν ἑαυτοὺς εἰς κίνδυνον φανερὸν, ἀλλ' ἐπ' ἀσφαλοῦς βαίνωμεν, τῆς ἱερᾶς ἀγκύρας ἐξαρτήσαντες ἑαυτούς. Οὕτω γὰρ εἰς τὸν εὔδιον λιμένα καταπλευσόμεθα μετὰ πολλῆς μὲν τῆς ἐμπορίας, μετὰ πάσης δὲ τῆς ἀσφαλείας: καὶ τῶν ἀποκειμένων τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτὸν ἐπιτύχωμεν ἀγαθῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς.