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for this reason the punishment is greater. But may it not come to pass. Therefore, I beseech you, let us even now return to our senses, let us have Gehenna before our eyes, let us consider those inexorable accounts; so that by reasoning on these things, we may both flee from wickedness and choose virtue, and may be able to attain the good things promised to those who love Him, by grace and loving-kindness.

HOMILY 3. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints,

and to be admired in all them that have believed. 1. There are many men, who have their good hopes not in the departing from their sins, but in the thinking that Gehenna is not so terrible as it is said to be, but milder than what is threatened, and temporary, not eternal; and they philosophize much on this. I then could have shown from many sources, and have reasoned from the very words concerning Gehenna, that it is not only not milder than what is threatened, but even much more terrible. But I shall now say nothing on these matters; for the fear arising even from the bare words is sufficient, even if we do not unfold their meaning. But that it is not temporary, hear Paul now saying, concerning those who know not God, and who believe not in the Gospel, that they shall be punished with everlasting destruction. How then is that which is everlasting temporary? From the presence, he says, of the Lord. What is this? What does he mean here so easily to say? For since they who were then wealthy were greatly puffed up, there is no need, he says, of much trouble, but it is sufficient for God only to be present and to appear, and all are in punishment and vengeance. His presence shall be to some light, but to others punishment. And from the glory, he says, of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that have believed. What do you say? Is God glorified? Yes, in all, he says, his saints. How? For when those who are greatly puffed up see those who were scourged by them, those who were despised, those who were mocked, being near him, His glory comes to be; or rather this is a glory both to them and to Him; to Him, because He did not forsake them, but 62.480 made them glorious; and to them, because they were deemed worthy of so great an honor. For just as it is His wealth to have believers, so also it is His glory to have those who are to enjoy His good things. It is the glory of the good to have those to whom he may impart his beneficence. And to be admired, he says, in all them that have believed. That is, through those who have believed. Behold, again, in is for through. For through them He is shown to be wonderful. For when He brings the pitiful and wretched and those who have suffered countless terrible things, and have believed, into so great a splendor, His power is then shown, that although here they seem to have been abandoned, yet there they enjoy great glory; then especially all the glory of God is shown, and His power. And how, listen; for he adds, Because our testimony among you was believed in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you. That is, when those are brought into the midst who have suffered countless terrible things, so as to depart from the faith, and have not given in, but have remained faithful, God is glorified; then also their glory is shown. Since, therefore, many feign the faith, count no man blessed before his death; for in that day those who have believed are shown. Wherefore also we pray, he says, always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling,

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τοῦτο μείζων ἡ τιμωρία. Ἀλλὰ μὴ γένοιτο γενέσθαι. ∆ιὸ, παρακαλῶ, κἂν νῦν ἀνανήψωμεν, ἔχωμεν τὴν γέενναν πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν, ἐννοῶμεν τὰς εὐθύνας ἐκείνας τὰς ἀπαραιτήτους· ἵνα ταῦτα λογιζόμενοι, καὶ τὴν κακίαν φύγωμεν, καὶ τὴν ἀρετὴν αἱρώμεθα, καὶ δυνηθῶμεν ἐπιτυχεῖν τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων ἀγαθῶν τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτὸν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Γʹ. Οἵτινες δίκην τίσουσιν, ὄλεθρον αἰώνιον, ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐνδοξασθῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ,

καὶ θαυμασθῆναι ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς πιστεύσασιν. αʹ. Εἰσὶ πολλοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τὰς ἐλπίδας τὰς χρηστὰς οὐκ ἐν τῷ τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπέχεσθαι ἔχουσιν, ἀλλ' ἐν τῷ νομίζειν τὴν γέενναν μὴ σφοδρὰν εἶναι, καθὼς λέγεται, ἀλλ' ἡμερωτέραν τῆς ἠπειλημένης, καὶ πρόσκαιρον, οὐκ αἰώνιον, καὶ πολλὰ περὶ τούτου φιλοσοφοῦσιν. Ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν οὐ μόνον ὅτι τῆς ἠπειλημένης οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμερωτέρα, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ σφοδροτέρα πολλῷ, πολλαχόθεν ἔχω παραστῆσαι, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν συλλογίσασθαι τῶν περὶ γεέννης ῥημάτων. Πλὴν ἀλλ' οὐδένα περὶ τούτων κινῶ λόγον νῦν· ἀρκεῖ γὰρ ὁ καὶ ἀπὸ ψιλῶν ῥημάτων φόβος, κἂν μὴ τὸν νοῦν αὐτῶν ἀναπτύξωμεν. Ὅτι δὲ οὐκ ἔστι πρόσκαιρος, ἄκουσον τοῦ Παύλου λέγοντος νῦν περὶ τῶν μὴ εἰδότων τὸν Θεὸν, μηδὲ πιστευόντων ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ, ὅτι δίκην τίσουσιν, ὄλεθρον αἰώνιον. Τὸ αἰώνιον οὖν πῶς πρόσκαιρον; Ἀπὸ προσώπου, φησὶ, τοῦ Κυρίου. Τί ἐστι τοῦτο; Τί εὔκολον ἐνταῦθα βούλεται εἰπεῖν; Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ μέγα ἐφύσων τότε πλουτοῦντες, οὐ δεῖ, φησὶν, πολλῆς ἐργωδίας, ἀλλ' ἀρκεῖ παραγενέσθαι μόνον καὶ ὀφθῆναι τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ πάντες ἐν κολάσει καὶ τιμωρίᾳ γίνονται. Ἡ παρουσία αὐτοῦ τοῖς μὲν φῶς ἔσται, τοῖς δὲ τιμωρία. Καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης, φησὶ, τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐνδοξασθῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ θαυμασθῆναι ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς πιστεύσασι. Τί λέγεις; Θεὸς ἐνδοξάζεται; Ναὶ, Ἐν πᾶσι, φησὶ, τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ. Πῶς; Ὅταν γὰρ ἴδωσιν οἱ μέγα φυσῶντες τοὺς μαστιζομένους ὑπ' αὐτῶν, τοὺς καταφρονουμένους, τοὺς καταγελωμένους, τούτους ἐγγὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ, δόξα αὐτοῦ γίνεται· μᾶλλον δὲ τοῦτο δόξα ἐστὶ καὶ αὐτῶν καὶ αὐτοῦ· αὐτοῦ μὲν, ὅτι αὐτοὺς οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπεν, ἀλλὰ 62.480 λαμπροὺς ἀπέδειξεν· αὐτῶν δὲ, ὅτι τοσαύτης κατηξιώθησαν τιμῆς. Ὥσπερ γὰρ πλοῦτος αὐτοῦ ἐστι τὸ εἶναι πιστοὺς, οὕτω καὶ δόξα αὐτοῦ ἐστι τὸ εἶναι τοὺς μέλλοντας ἀπολαύειν αὐτοῦ τῶν ἀγαθῶν. ∆όξα ἐστὶ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ τὸ ἔχειν οἷς τῆς εὐεργεσίας μεταδῷ. Καὶ θαυμασθῆναι, φησὶν, ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς πιστεύσασι. Τουτέστι, διὰ τῶν πιστευσάντων. Ἰδοὺ πάλιν τὸ, ἐν, διὰ ἐστί. ∆ι' ἐκείνων γὰρ θαυμαστὸς ἀποδείκνυται. Ὅταν γὰρ τοὺς οἰκτροὺς καὶ ταλαιπώρους καὶ μυρία παθόντας δεινὰ, καὶ πιστεύσαντας, εἰς τοσαύτην ἄγῃ λαμπρότητα, δείκνυται αὐτοῦ ἡ ἰσχὺς τότε, ὅτι εἰ καὶ ἐνταῦθα δοκοῦσιν ἐγκαταλελεῖφθαι, ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐκεῖ πολλῆς ἀπολαύουσι δόξης· τότε μάλιστα πᾶσα ἡ δόξα τοῦ Θεοῦ δείκνυται καὶ ἡ ἰσχύς. Καὶ πῶς, ἄκουε· ἐπάγει γὰρ, Ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφ' ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. Εἰς ὃ καὶ προσευχόμεθα πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν. Τουτέστιν, ὅταν παράγωνται εἰς μέσον οἱ μυρία παθόντες δεινὰ, ὥστε ἐκστῆναι τῆς πίστεως, καὶ μὴ ἐνδόντες, ἀλλὰ πιστοὶ μείναντες, δοξάζεται ὁ Θεός· τότε δείκνυται καὶ τούτων ἡ δόξα. Ἐπεὶ τοίνυν πολλοὶ τὴν πίστιν ὑποκρίνονται, μὴ μακάριζε μηδένα πρὸ τελευτῆς· καὶ γὰρ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ δείκνυνται οἱ πιστεύσαντες. Εἰς ὃ καὶ προσευχόμεθα, φησὶ, πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἵνα ὑμᾶς ἀξιώσῃ τῆς κλήσεως ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν,