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we may not know. And this is a proof that it is exceedingly profitable for us, that we do not know. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. What is this? The peace of God, he says, which He has worked towards men, surpasses all understanding. For who would have expected, who would have hoped that there would be such great blessings? It surpasses all human thought, not only reason; for enemies, for those who hated Him, for those who turned away from Him, for these He did not refuse to give up His only-begotten Son, so as to make peace with us. This peace, then, that is, the reconciliation, the love of God, will guard your hearts and your minds. Secondly. This is the mark of a teacher, not only to exhort, but also to pray, and by supplication to help, so that they might neither be overwhelmed by temptations, nor be carried about by deceit; as if he were saying: He who rescued you in such a way that no mind can comprehend, may He Himself keep you safe, and secure you, so that you suffer nothing. Either, then, it means this, or that the peace, of which Christ says, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, this will guard you. For peace surpasses every human mind. But if you say, how? listen: When He says to be at peace with enemies, with those who do wrong, with those who are hostile and bear ill-will toward us, how is this not beyond human understanding? But rather let us look at the first point: Peace surpasses all understanding. If peace does, much more does God Himself, who gave the peace, surpass all understanding, not only ours, but also that of the angels and the powers above. And what is, In Christ Jesus? In Him He will guard, he says, so that you may remain, and not fall away from faith in Him. Finally, brethren, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are true, whatever things are just. What is, Finally? It is instead of, Everything has been said by us. It is the word of one who is in a hurry, and has nothing in common with present things. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things; which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me. What is, Whatever is lovely? Lovely to the faithful, lovely to God. Whatever is true. For these things are truly true, namely virtue; but vice is a lie. For its pleasure is a lie, and its glory is a lie, and all the things of the world are a lie. Whatever is pure, with reference to, Those who set their minds on earthly things. Whatever is honorable, with reference to, Whose god is their belly. Whatever is just, whatever is of good report, these are the things, he says. If there is any virtue, and 62.285 if there is any praise. Here he wants them to also be mindful of things concerning men. Think on these things, he says. Do you see that he wishes to banish every evil thought from our souls? For from thoughts come evil actions. Which you have both learned and received. This is of the best teaching, to offer oneself as an example in all exhortations, as he also says elsewhere, As you have us for an example; and again here, Which you have both learned, and received; that is, You were taught; and heard, and saw in me, both on account of words, and actions, and conduct. Do you see that these things are commanded for every matter? For since it was not possible to speak with precision about everything, both comings and goings, and speech and deportment and company (for of all these things a Christian ought to be mindful); he said concisely and as in summary, You heard and saw in me; that is, From me; as if he said: Both by my works, and by my words I have led you up. Do these things; do not only say them, but also do them; and the God of peace will be with you. That is, if you keep these things in this way, and are at peace with one another, you will be in tranquility, in great security; you will suffer nothing grievous, nor of the

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μὴ εἰδῶμεν. Καὶ τοῦτο τοῦ σφόδρα συμφέρειν ἡμῖν ἐστι τεκμήριον, τὸ ἡμᾶς μὴ εἰδέναι. Καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τί ἐστι τοῦτο; Ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ Θεοῦ, φησὶν, ἣν πρὸς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰργάσατο, πάντα νοῦν ὑπερέχει. Τίς γὰρ ἂν προσεδόκησε, τίς δὲ ἂν ἤλπισε τοσαῦτα ἔσεσθαι ἀγαθά; Ἅπασαν ἀνθρωπίνην ὑπερβαίνει διάνοιαν, οὐχὶ λόγον μόνον· ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐχθρῶν, ὑπὲρ τῶν μισούντων αὐτὸν, ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀποστρεφομένων, ὑπὲρ τούτων τὸν Υἱὸν ἐκδοῦναι τὸν μονογενῆ οὐ παρῃτήσατο, ὥστε εἰρήνην ποιῆσαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς. Αὕτη δὴ οὖν ἡ εἰρήνη, τουτέστιν, ἡ καταλλαγὴ, ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ, φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν. βʹ. Τοῦτο διδασκάλου, μὴ μόνον παραινεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὔχεσθαι, καὶ διὰ δεήσεως βοηθεῖν, ὥστε μήτε ὑπὸ πειρασμῶν καταβαπτίζεσθαι, μήτε ὑπὸ ἀπάτης περιφέρεσθαι· ὡς ἂν εἰ ἔλεγεν· Ὁ ῥυσάμενος ὑμᾶς οὕτως, ὡς οὐδὲ νοῦς καταλαβεῖν δύναται, αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς διαφυλάξειε, καὶ ἀσφαλίσαιτο, ὥστε μηδὲν παθεῖν. Ἢ οὖν τοῦτο δηλοῖ, ἢ ὅτι ἡ εἰρήνη, ἥν φησιν ὁ Χριστὸς, Εἰρήνην ἀφίημι ὑμῖν, εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν, αὕτη φρουρήσει ὑμᾶς. Ἡ γὰρ εἰρήνη ὑπερέχει πάντα νοῦν ἀνθρώπινον. Εἰ δὲ λέγεις, πῶς; ἄκουε· Ὅταν λέγῃ πρὸς τοὺς ἐχθροὺς εἰρηνεύειν, πρὸς τοὺς ἀδικοῦντας, πρὸς τοὺς ἐκπεπολεμωμένους καὶ ἀπεχθῶς πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἔχοντας, πῶς οὐχ ὑπὲρ νοῦν ἐστιν ἀνθρώπινον τοῦτο; Μᾶλλον δὲ τὸ πρότερον ἴδωμεν Ἡ εἰρήνη ὑπερέχει πάντα νοῦν. Εἰ ἡ εἰρήνη, πολλῷ μᾶλλον αὐτὸς ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ τὴν εἰρήνην δοὺς, πάντα νοῦν, οὐ τὸν ἡμέτερον μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν τῶν ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν ἄνω δυνάμεων. Τί δέ ἐστιν, Ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ; Ἐν αὐτῷ φυλάξει, φησὶν,ὥστε μένειν, καὶ μὴ ἐκπεσεῖν αὐτοῦ τῆς πίστεως Τὸ λοιπὸν, ἀδελφοὶ, ὅσα ἐστὶ σεμνὰ, ὅσα ἀληθῆ, ὅσα δίκαια. Τί ἐστι, Τὸ λοιπόν; Ἀντὶ τοῦ, Πάντα ἡμῖν εἴρηται. Ἐπειγομένου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστι, καὶ οὐδὲν κοινὸν ἔχοντος πρὸς τὰ παρόντα. Λοιπὸν, ἀδελφοὶ, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνὰ, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνὰ, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε· ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε, καὶ παρελάβετε, καὶ ἠκούσατε, καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί. Τί ἐστιν, Ὅσα προσφιλῆ; Προσφιλῆ τοῖς πιστοῖς, προσφιλῆ τῷ Θεῷ. Ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ. Ταῦτα γὰρ ὄντως ἀληθῆ, ἡ ἀρετή· ψεῦδος δὲ ἡ κακία· καὶ γὰρ ἡ ἡδονὴ αὐτῆς ψεῦδος, καὶ ἡ δόξα αὐτῆς ψεῦδος, καὶ πάντα τὰ τοῦ κόσμου ψεῦδος. Ὅσα ἁγνὰ, πρὸς τὸ, Τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονοῦντας. Ὅσα σεμνὰ, πρὸς τὸ, Ὧν ὁ θεὸς ἡ κοιλία. Ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα εὔφημα, ταῦτά ἐστι, φησίν. Εἴ τις ἀρετὴ, καὶ 62.285 εἴ τις ἔπαινος. Ἐνταῦθα βούλεται αὐτοὺς καὶ τῶν πρὸς ἀνθρώπους προνοεῖν. Ταῦτα λογίζεσθε, φησίν. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι πᾶσαν ἔννοιαν βούλεται ἐξορίσαι πονηρὰν ἐκ τῶν ἡμετέρων ψυχῶν; ἀπὸ γὰρ ἐννοιῶν αἱ πράξεις αἱ πονηραὶ γίνονται. Ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε. Τοῦτο διδασκαλίας ἀρίστης, τὸ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς παραινέσεσιν ἑαυτὸν παρέχειν τύπον, καθὼς καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ φησι, Καθὼς ἔχετε τύπον ἡμᾶς· καὶ πάλιν ἐνταῦθα, Ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε, καὶ παρελάβετε· τουτέστιν, Ἐδιδάχθητε· καὶ ἠκούσατε, καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοὶ, καὶ ῥημάτων ἕνεκεν, καὶ πράξεων, καὶ ἀναστροφῆς. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι μέχρι παντὸς πράγματος ταῦτα διατάττεται; Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ οὐκ ἐνῆν ἀκριβολογεῖσθαι περὶ πάντων, καὶ εἰσόδων καὶ ἐξόδων, καὶ ῥήματος καὶ σχήματος καὶ συνουσίας (πάντων γὰρ τούτων χρὴ προνοεῖν τὸν Χριστιανόν)· συντόμως εἶπε καὶ ὡς ἐν κεφαλαίῳ, Ἐν ἐμοὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε· τουτέστι, Παρ' ἐμοί· ὡσεὶ ἔλεγε· Καὶ διὰ τῶν ἔργων, καὶ διὰ τῶν ῥημάτων ὑμᾶς ἀνήγαγον. Ταῦτα πράσσετε· μὴ λέγετε μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πράττετε· καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθ' ὑμῶν. Τουτέστιν, Ἐὰν οὕτω φυλάττητε ταῦτα, καὶ πρὸς ἀλλήλους εἰρηνεύητε, ἐν γαλήνῃ ἔσεσθε, ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ πολλῇ· οὐδὲν πείσεσθε λυπηρὸν, οὐδὲ τῶν