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the exhortation recently made; as if he said, that I did not exhort these things to you as to cruel men nor haters of the brethren, to receive one another, and not to permit nor to destroy the work of God; for I know that you are full of goodness. And it seems to me that here he also calls the whole of virtue by this name. And he did not say, You have, but, You are full of goodness. And what follows with the same emphasis; being filled with all knowledge. For what if they were affectionate, but did not know how they ought to treat those they loved? For this reason he added, Of all knowledge, able also to admonish others; not only to learn, but also to teach. But I have written the more boldly to you in some measure. See Paul’s humility, see his wisdom, how he made a deep incision in what went before, and since he had accomplished what he wished, he again uses 60.654.30 much healing. For it is sufficient, even without what has been said, this very thing of confessing to have been bold, to relax their tension. This he also does when writing to the Hebrews, saying thus: But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. And to the Corinthians again likewise, Now I praise you, that you remember me in all things, and as I delivered to you the ordinances, you so keep them. And writing to the Galatians he said, I have confidence in you, that you will be none otherwise minded. And throughout all the epistles one might find this principle in abundance; but here even more so. For they were also of greater dignity, and it was necessary to check their inflamed mind, not only by tightening, but also by relaxing; for he does this in different ways. Wherefore he also says here, I have written the more boldly to you. And he is not content with this, but added, In some measure, that is, gently. And he did not stop there, but what does he say? As putting you again in remembrance. And he did not say, Teaching, nor, Reminding, but, Putting again in remembrance, that is, reminding a little. Do you see the end agreeing with the beginning? For just as he said there, that Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world, so also at the end of the Epistle; For our obedience has come abroad to all. And just as he said in the beginning, For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you; so also here, he said, As putting you again in remembrance. And having descended from the teacher’s throne, both there and here he speaks as to brothers, and friends, and equals; which indeed is especially the mark of a teacher, to vary his discourse for the benefit of his hearers. See, then, how having said, 60.655 that I have written the more boldly, and that In some measure, and that As putting you again in remembrance, he was not content with these, but making his language yet more humble, he added: Because of the grace that is given to me of God; which he also said in the beginning, I am a debtor. As if he said, I did not seize the honor for myself, nor did I leap upon this first, but God commanded this, and this according to grace, not as having set me apart for this as worthy. Therefore, do not be harsh; for it is not I who rise up against you; it is God who commands. And just as he says there, Whom I serve in the gospel of his Son, so also here, having said, Because of the grace that is given to me of God, he added, That I should be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God. For after the extensive proof of what has been said, he leads his discourse to something more solemn, not simply speaking of service, as in the beginning, but of ministry and priestly service; For this is my priesthood, to preach and proclaim; this is the sacrifice I offer. But no one would blame a priest for striving to offer an unblemished victim. And he said these things, at once elevating their minds, and showing that they are a sacrifice, and defending himself, that this was commanded. For my sword, he says, is the gospel, the word of the preaching. And the reason is not that I may be glorified, not that I may appear brilliant, but That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. That is, that the souls of those being taught might be received. For God, honoring me not so much for this

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ἔναγχος γενομένην παραίνεσιν· ὡσανεὶ ἔλεγεν, ὅτι Οὐχ ὡς ὠμοῖς οὐδὲ μισαδέλφοις ταῦτα παρῄνεσα προσλαμβάνεσθαι, καὶ μὴ ἐᾷν μηδὲ καταλύειν τὸ ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ· οἶδα γὰρ, ὅτι μεστοί ἐστε ἀγαθωσύνης. ∆οκεῖ δέ μοι ἐνταῦθα καὶ ὁλόκληρον τὴν ἀρετὴν οὕτω καλεῖν. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, Ἔχετε, ἀλλὰ, Μεστοί ἐστε ἀγαθωσύνης. Καὶ τὸ ἑξῆς μετὰ τῆς αὐτῆς ἐπιτάσεως· Πεπληρωμένοι πάσης γνώσεως. Τί γὰρ εἰ φιλόστοργοι μὲν ἦσαν, οὐκ ᾔδεσαν δὲ πῶς δεῖ τοῖς φιλουμένοις κεχρῆσθαι; ∆ιὰ τοῦτο προσέθηκε, Πάσης γνώσεως, δυνάμενοι καὶ ἄλλους νουθετεῖν· οὐχὶ μόνον μανθάνειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ διδάσκειν. Τολμηρότερον δὲ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν ἀπὸ μέρους. Ὅρα Παύλου ταπεινοφροσύνην, ὅρα σοφίαν, πῶς καὶ βαθεῖαν ἔδωκε τὴν τομὴν ἐν τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν, καὶ ἐπειδὴ κατώρθωσεν ὅπερ ἐβούλετο, πολλῇ κέχρη 60.654.30 ται τῇ θεραπείᾳ πάλιν. Ἱκανὸν γὰρ καὶ χωρὶς τῶν εἰρημένων, αὐτὸ τοῦτο τὸ ὁμολογῆσαι τετολμηκέναι, χαλάσαι αὐτῶν τὸν τόνον. Τοῦτο καὶ Ἑβραίοις ἐπιστέλλων ποιεῖ, λέγων οὕτω· Πεπείσμεθα δὲ περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀγαπητοὶ, τὰ κρείττονα καὶ ἐχόμενα σωτηρίας, εἰ καὶ οὕτω λαλοῦμεν. Καὶ Κορινθίοις πάλιν ὁμοίως, Ἐπαινῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ὅτι πάντα μου μέμνησθε, καὶ καθὼς παρέδωκα ὑμῖν τὰς παραδόσεις, οὕτω κατέχετε. Καὶ Γαλάταις δὲ ἐπιστέλλων ἔλεγε, Πέποιθα εἰς ὑμᾶς, ὅτι οὐδὲν ἄλλο φρονήσετε. Καὶ πανταχοῦ δὲ τῶν ἐπιστολῶν τοῦτο εὕροι τις ἂν τὸ θεώρημα δαψιλές· ἐνταῦθα δὲ καὶ μειζόνως. Καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἀξιώματι ἦσαν πλείονι, καὶ ἔδει φλεγμαίνουσαν τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν καταστέλλειν, μὴ τῷ στύφειν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ χαλᾷν· καὶ γὰρ διαφόρως αὐτὸ ποιεῖ. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἐνταῦθά φησι, Τολμηρότερον ὑμῖν ἔγραψα. Καὶ οὐδὲ τούτῳ ἀρκεῖται, ἀλλὰ προσέθηκεν, Ἀπὸ μέρους, τουτέστιν ἠρέμα. Καὶ οὐδὲ ἐνταῦθα ἔστη, ἀλλὰ τί φησιν; Ὡς ἐπαναμιμνήσκων ὑμᾶς. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπε, ∆ιδάσκων, οὐδὲ, Ἀναμιμνήσκων, ἀλλ', Ἐπαναμιμνήσκων, τουτέστι, μικρόν τι ἀναμιμνήσκων. Ὁρᾷς τὸ τέλος τῷ προοιμίῳ συμβαῖνον; Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐκεῖ ἔλεγεν, ὅτι Ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν καταγγέλλεται ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ, οὕτω καὶ ἐν τῷ τέλει τῆς Ἐπιστολῆς· Ἡ γὰρ ἡμῶν ὑπακοὴ εἰς πάντας ἀφίκετο. Καὶ ὥσπερ ἀρχόμενος ἔλεγεν· Ἐπιποθῶ γὰρ ὑμᾶς ἰδεῖν, ἵνα τι μεταδῶ χάρισμα ὑμῖν πνευματικὸν εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς· τοῦτο δέ ἐστι, συμπαρακληθῆναι· οὕτω καὶ ἐνταῦθα, Ὡς ἐπαναμιμνήσκων, ἔλεγε. Καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ θρόνου καταβὰς τοῦ διδασκαλικοῦ, καὶ ἐκεῖ καὶ ἐνταῦθα ὡς ἀδελφοῖς διαλέγεται, καὶ φίλοις καὶ ὁμοτίμοις· ὃ δὴ μάλιστά ἐστι διδασκάλου, διαποικίλλειν τὸν λόγον πρὸς τὴν τῶν ἀκουόντων ὠφέλειαν. Ὅρα γοῦν πῶς εἰπὼν, 60.655 ὅτι Τολμηρότερον ἔγραψα, καὶ ὅτι Ἀπὸ μέρους, καὶ ὅτι Ὡς ἐπαναμιμνήσκων, οὐδὲ τούτοις ἠρκέσθη, ἀλλὰ ταπεινότερον ἔτι ποιῶν τὸν λόγον, ἐπήγαγε· ∆ιὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ· ὁ καὶ ἀρχόμενος ἔλεγεν, Ὀφειλέτης εἰμί. Ὡσανεὶ ἔλεγεν, Οὐκ ἐμαυτῷ ἥρπασα τὴν τιμὴν, οὐδὲ ἐπεπήδησα τούτῳ πρῶτος, ἀλλ' ὁ Θεὸς τοῦτο ἐπέταξε, καὶ τοῦτο κατὰ χάριν, οὐχ ὡς ἄξιον εἰς τοῦτο ἀφορίσας. Μὴ τοίνυν τραχύνεσθε· οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ κατεξανίσταμαι· ὁ Θεός ἐστιν ὁ ἐπιτάττων. Καὶ ὥσπερ ἐκεῖ φησιν, Ὧ λατρεύω ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, οὕτω καὶ ἐνταῦθα εἰπὼν, ∆ιὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐπήγαγεν Εἰς τὸ εἶναί με λειτουργὸν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, ἱερουργοῦντα τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Θεοῦ. Μετὰ γὰρ τὴν πολλὴν τῶν εἰρημένων ἀπόδειξιν, ἐπὶ τὸ σεμνότερον ἄγει τὸν λόγον, οὐχ ἁπλῶς λατρείαν λέγων, καθάπερ ἐν ἀρχῇ, ἀλλὰ λειτουργίαν καὶ ἱερουργίαν· Αὕτη γάρ μοι ἱερωσύνη τὸ κηρύττειν καὶ καταγγέλλειν· ταύτην προσφέρω τὴν θυσίαν. Ἱερεῖ δὲ οὐδεὶς ἂν ἐγκαλέσειε τὸ θῦμα σπουδάζοντι ἄμωμον προσενεγκεῖν. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγεν, ἅμα καὶ τούτων πτερῶν τὰ φρονήματα, καὶ δεικνὺς θυσίαν ὄντας, καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν καθ' ἑαυτὸν ἀπολογούμενος, ὅτι τοῦτο ἐπιτέτακται. Καὶ γὰρ μάχαιρά μου τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, φησὶν, ὁ τοῦ κηρύγματος λόγος. Καὶ ἡ αἰτία, οὐχ ἵνα ἐγὼ δοξασθῶ, οὐχ ἵνα λαμπρὸς φανῶ, ἀλλ' Ἵνα γένηται ἡ προσφορὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν εὐπρόσδεκτος, ἡγιασμένη ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. Τουτέστιν, αἱ ψυχαὶ τῶν διδασκομένων ἵνα δεχθῶσιν. Οὐ γὰρ ἐμὲ τοσοῦτον τιμῶν ὁ Θεὸς εἰς τοῦτο