Homily XI.

Colossians iv. 5, 6

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.”

What Christ said to His disciples, that doth Paul also now advise. And what did Christ say? “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matt. x. 16.) That is, be upon your guard, giving them no handle against you. For therefore it is added, “towards them that are without,” in order that we may know that against our own members we have no need of so much caution as against those without. For where brethren are, there are both many allowances and kindnesses. There is indeed need of caution even here; but much more without, for it is not the same to be amongst enemies and foes, and amongst friends.

Then because he had alarmed them, see how again he encourages them; “Redeeming,” he saith, “the time”: that is, the present time is short. Now this he said, not wishing them to be crafty, nor hypocrites, (for this is not a part of wisdom, but of senselessness,) but what? In matters wherein they harm you not, he means, give them no handle; as he says also, when writing to the Romans, “Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, honor to whom honor.” (Rom. xiii. 7.) On account of the Preaching alone have thou war, he saith, let this war have none other origin. For though they were to become our foes for other causes besides, yet neither shall we have a reward, and they will become worse, and will seem to have just complaints against us. For instance, if we pay not the tribute, if we render not the honors that are due, if we be not lowly. Seest thou not Paul, how submissive he is, where he was not likely to harm the Preaching. For hear him saying to Agrippa, “I think myself happy, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews.” (Acts xxvi. 2, 3.) But had he thought it his duty to insult the ruler, he would have spoiled everything. And hear too those of blessed Peter’s company, how gently they answer the Jews, saying, “we must obey God rather than men.” (Acts v. 29.) And yet men who had renounced their own lives, might both have insulted, and have done anything whatever; but for this object they had renounced their lives, not that they might win vainglory, (for that way had been vainglorious,) but that they might preach and speak all things with boldness. That other course marks want of moderation.

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt”; that is, that this graciousness may not lapse into indifferentism. For it is possible to be simply agreeable, it is possible also to be so with due seemliness. “That ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.” So that one ought not to discourse alike to all, Greeks, I mean, and Brethren. By no means, for this were the very extreme of senselessness.

Ver. 7. “All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord.”

Admirable! how great is the wisdom of Paul! Observe, he doth not put everything into his Epistles, but only things necessary and urgent. In the first place, being desirous of not drawing them out to a length; and secondly, to make his messenger more respected, by his having also somewhat to relate; thirdly, showing his own affection towards him; for he would not else have entrusted these communications to him. Then, there were things which ought not to be declared in writing. “The beloved brother,” he saith. If beloved, he knew all, and he concealed nothing from him. “And faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord.” If “faithful,” he will speak no falsehood; if “a fellow-servant,” he hath shared his trials, so that he has brought together from all sides the grounds of trustworthiness.

Ver. 8. “Whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose.”

Here he shows his great love, seeing that for this purpose he sent him, and this was the cause of his journey; and so when writing to the Thessalonians, he said, “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, and sent Timothy our brother.” (1 Thess. iii. 1, 2.) And to the Ephesians he sends this very same person, and for the very same cause, “That he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts.” (Eph. vi. 21, 22.) See what he saith, not “that ye might know my estate,” but “that I might know yours.” So in no place doth he mention what is his own. He shows that they were in trials too, by the expression, “comfort your hearts.”

Ver. 9. “With Onesimus, the beloved and faithful brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here.”

Onesimus is the one about whom, writing to Philemon, he said, “Whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the Gospel: but without thy mind I would do nothing.” (Philem. 13, 14.) And he adds too the praise of their city, that they might not only not199    Sav. adds οὐκ, but without necessity. be ashamed, but even pride themselves on him. “Who is one of you,” he saith. “They shall make known unto you all things that are done here.”

Ver. 10. “Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you.”

Nothing can surpass this praise. This is he that was brought up from Jerusalem with him. This man hath said a greater thing than the prophets; for they call themselves “strangers and foreigners,” but this one calleth himself even a prisoner. Just like a prisoner of war he was dragged up and down,200    ἤγετο καὶ ἐφέρετο, which is most properly said of property plundered in war. and lay at every one’s will to suffer evil of them, yea rather worse even than prisoners. For those indeed their enemies, after taking them, treat with much attention, having a care for them as their own property: but Paul, as though an enemy and a foe, all men dragged up and down, beating him, scourging, insulting, and maligning. This was a consolation to those also (to whom he wrote), when their master even is in such circumstances.

“And Mark, the cousin of Barnabas”; even this man he hath praised still from his relationship, for Barnabas was a great man; “touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him.” Why? would they not have received him? Yes, but he means, with much attention; and this shows the man to be great. Whence they received these commandments, he does not say.

Ver. 11. “And Jesus which is called Justus.”

This man was probably a Corinthian. Next, he bestows a common praise on all, having already spoken that of each one in particular; “who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me.” After having said, “fellow-prisoner”; in order that he may not therewith depress the soul of his hearers, see how by this expression he rouseth them up. “Fellow-workers,” he saith, “unto the kingdom of God.” So that being partakers of the trials, they become partakers of the kingdom. “Who have been a comfort to me.” He shows them to be great persons, seeing that to Paul they have been a comfort.

But201    The transition here is so sudden, that one suspects the text; but it may be only that he is catching himself up, to make a longer comment on the last few verses. [There may be two sets of rough notes, prepared for different occasions, with the same general discussion used in both cases, and the two combined by an editor. But the suggestion of the Oxford tr. is supported by a similar practice in several of the Homilies on Acts. Comp. below, on Hom. xii.—J.A.B.] let us see the wisdom of Paul. “Walk in wisdom,” he saith, “towards them that are without, redeeming the time.” (Ver. 5.) That is, the time is not yours, but theirs. Do not then wish to have your own way,202    αὐθεντεῖν, i.e. in the world, as men of the world. but redeem the time. And he said not simply, “Buy,” but “redeem,” making it yours after another manner. For it were the part of excessive madness, to invent occasions of war and enmity. For over and above the undergoing of superfluous and profitless dangers, there is this additional harm, that the Greeks will not come over to us. For when thou art amongst the brethren, reason is thou shouldest be bold; but when without, thou oughtest not to be so.

Seest thou how everywhere he speaks of those without, the Greeks? Wherefore also when writing to Timothy, he said, “Moreover, he must have good testimony from them that are without.” (1 Tim. iii. 7.) And again, “For what have I to do with judging them that are without.” (1 Cor. v. 12.) “Walk in wisdom,” he saith, “toward them that are without.” For “without,” they are, even though they live in the same world with us, seeing they are without the kingdom, and the paternal mansion. And he comforts them withal, by calling the others “without,” as he said above, “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. iii. 3.)

Then, he saith, seek ye glory, then honors, then all those other things, but not so now, but give them up to those without. Next, lest thou think that he is speaking of money, he adds, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.” That it may not be full of hypocrisy, for this is not “grace,” nor “a seasoning with salt.” For instance, if it be needful to pay court to any one without incurring danger, refuse not [to do so]; if the occasion require that thou discourse civilly, think not the doing so flattery, do everything that pertaineth to honor, so that piety be not injured. Seest thou not how Daniel payeth court to an impious man? Seest thou not the three children, how wisely they bore themselves, showing both courage, and boldness in speaking, and yet nothing rash nor galling, for so it had not been boldness, but vainglory. “That ye may know,” he saith, “how ye ought to answer every man.” For the ruler ought to be answered in one way, the ruled in another, the rich in one way, the poor in another. Wherefore? Because the souls of those who are rich, and in authority, are weaker, more inflammable, more fluctuating, so that towards them, one should use condescension; those of the poor, and the ruled, firmer and more intelligent, so that to these one should use greater boldness of speech; looking to one thing, their edification. Not that because one is rich, another poor, the former is to be honored more, the latter less, but because of his weakness, let the former be supported, the latter not so: for instance, when there is no cause for it, do not call the Greek “polluted,” nor be insulting; but if thou be asked concerning his doctrine, answer that it is polluted, and impious; but when none asketh thee, nor forceth thee to speak, it becomes thee not causelessly to challenge to thee his enmity. For what need is there to prepare for thyself gratuitous hostilities? Again, if thou art instructing any one; speak on the subject at present before thee, otherwise be silent.203    ἐπεὶ σίγα, i.e. since (if it be not so) be silent. If the speech be “seasoned with salt,” should it fall into a soul that is of loose texture, it will brace up its slackness; into one that is harsh, it will smooth its ruggedness. Let it be gracious, and so neither hard, nor yet weak, but let it have both sternness and pleasantness therewith. For if one be immoderately stern, he doth more harm than good; and if he be immoderately complaisant, he giveth more pain than pleasure, so that everywhere there ought to be moderation. Be not downcast, and sour visaged, for this is offensive; nor yet be wholly relaxed, for this is open to contempt and treading under foot; but, like the bee, culling the virtue of each, of the one its cheerfulness, of the other its gravity, keep clear of the fault. For if a physician dealeth not with all bodies alike, much more ought not a teacher. And yet better will the body bear unsuitable medicines, than the soul language; for instance, a Greek cometh to thee, and becomes thy friend; discourse not at all with him on this subject, until he have become a close friend, and after he hath become so, do it gradually.

See, when Paul also had come to Athens, how he discoursed with them. He said not, “O polluted, and all-polluted”; but what? “Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are somewhat superstitious.”204    δεισιδαιμονεστέρους. The word does not convey quite the reproach which the E.V. does. It may be rendered, “I see that ye are rather given to the fear of divinities.” [Or more probably, “very religious,” as in American App. to Rev. Ver. The adjective may have either the good or the bad sense; and the comparative may mean more than a little, “somewhat,” or more than common, “quite,” “remarkably,” or more than enough, “too.” Only the connection can in such cases decide, and that is not here conclusive.—J.A.B.] (Acts xvii. 22.) Again, when to insult was needful, he refused not; but with great vehemency he said to Elymas, “O full of all guile and all villainy, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness.” For as to have insulted those had been senselessness, so not to have insulted this one had been softness. Again, art thou brought unto a ruler on a matter of business, see that thou render him the honors that are his due.

Ver. 9. “They shall make known unto you,” he saith, “all things that are done here.” Why didst thou not come with them, says one? But what is, “They shall make known unto you all things”? My bonds, that is, and all the other things that detain me. I then, who pray to see them, who also send others, should not myself have remained behind, had not some great necessity detained me. And yet this is not the language of accusations—yes, of vehement accusation. For the assuring them that he had both fallen into trials, and was bearing them nobly, is the part of one who was confirming the fact, and lifting up again their souls.

Ver. 9. “With Onesimus,” he saith, “the beloved, and faithful brother.”

Paul calleth a slave, brother: with reason; seeing that he styleth himself the servant of the faithful. (2 Cor. iv. 5.) Bring we down all of us our pride, tread we under foot our boastfulness. Paul nameth himself a slave, he that is worth the world, and ten thousands of heavens; and dost thou entertain high thoughts? He that seizeth all things for spoil as he will, he that hath the first place in the kingdom of heaven, he that was crowned, he that ascended into the third heaven, calleth servants, “brethren,” and “fellow-servants.” Where is your madness? where is your arrogance?

So trustworthy was Onesimus become, as to be entrusted even with such things as these.

Ver. 10. “And Mark,” he saith, “the cousin of Barnabas, touching whom ye received commandments, receive him.” Perhaps they had received commandments from Barnabas.

Ver. 11. “Who are of the circumcision.” He represseth the swelling pride of the Jews, and inspiriteth the souls of these, [the Colossians,] because few of them were of the circumcision, the greater number of the Gentiles.

“Men that have been,” he saith, “a comfort unto me.” He shows himself to be set in the midst of great trials. So that neither is this a small thing. When we comfort the Saints by presence, by words, by assiduous attendance, when we suffer adversity together with them, (for he saith, “as bound with those in bonds”; [Heb. xiii. 3.]) when we make their sufferings ours, we shall also be partakers in their crowns. Hast thou not been dragged to the stadium? Hast thou not entered into the lists? It is another that strips himself, another that wrestles; but if thou be so minded, thou too shall be a sharer. Anoint him, become his favorer and partisan, from without the lists shout loudly for him, stir up his strength, refresh his spirit. It follows that the same things should be done in all other cases. For Paul stood not in need, but in order to stimulate them he said these things. Thou therefore in the case of all others, stop the mouths of those who would abuse such an one, procure favorers for him, receive him as he cometh forth with great attention, so shalt thou be a sharer in his crowns, so, in his glory; and if thou do no other thing, but only hast pleasure in what is done, even thus thou sharest in no common degree, for thou hast contributed love, the sum of all good things.

For if they that weep seem to share in the grief of those in sorrow, and gratify them mightily, and remove the excess of their woe, much more do they also that rejoice with others, make their pleasure greater. For how great an evil it is not to have companions in sorrow, hear the Prophet saying, “And I looked for one to lament with me, but there was none.”205    E.V. marg. Ps. lxix. 20. Wherefore Paul also saith, “Rejoice with them that rejoice; and weep with them that weep.” (Rom. xii. 15.) Increase their pleasure. If thou see thy brother in good esteem, say not, “the esteem is his, why should I rejoice.” These words are not those of a brother, but of an enemy. If thou be so minded, it is not his, but thine. Thou hast the power of making it greater, if thou be not downcast, but pleased, if thou be cheerful, if joyous. And that it is so, is evident from this; the envious envy not those only who are in good esteem, but those as well who rejoice at their good esteem, so conscious are they that these also are interested in that good esteem; and these are they who do glory most in it. For the other even blushes when praised exceedingly; but these with great pleasure pride themselves upon it. See ye not in the case of athletes, how the one is crowned, the other is not crowned; but the grief and the joy is amongst the favorers and disfavorers,206    See Tac. An. xiii. 25. The spectators at theaters and at the games were so eager in their favor toward one or another as sometimes to cause serious breaches of the peace. The factions of the Circus in the time of Justinian are described by Gibbon, c. xi.; see also the massacre of A.D. 501. Tillemont, Hist. des. Emp. t. vi.; Anastasius, art. x. these are they that leap, they that caper?

See how great a thing is the not envying. The toil is another’s, the pleasure is thine; another wears the crown, and thou caperest, thou art gay. For tell me, seeing it is another that hath conquered, why dost thou leap? But they also know well, that what hath been done is common. Therefore they do not accuse this man207    τουτῷ, the partisan of the victor. indeed, but they try to beat down the victory; and you hear them saying such words as these, “(There) I expunged thee,” and, “I beat thee down.” Although the deed was another’s, still the praise is thine. But if in things without, not to envy, but to make another’s good one’s own, is so great a good, much more in the victory of the devil over us he breathes the more furiously, evidently because we are more pleased.208    [The persons designated as “we” seem to be conceived as divided into two parts. The altered text has smoothed down the difficulty: “much more in the victory over the devil. For he then breathes the more furiously against us, evidently,” &c.—J.A.B.] Wicked though he is, and bitter, he well knows that this pleasure is great. Wouldest thou pain him? Be glad and rejoice. Wouldest thou gladden him? Be sad-visaged. The pain he has from thy brother’s victory, thou soothest by thy sadness; thou standest with him, severed from thy brother, thou workest greater mischief than he. For it is not the same for one that is an enemy to do the deeds of an enemy, and for a friend to stand with an enemy; such an one is more detestable than an enemy. If thy brother have gained good reputation209    [Above rendered “good esteem.”—J.A.B.] either by speaking, or by brilliant210    ἐπιδεικνύμενος, al. ἐπαινόμενος, “by being praised.” or successful achievement, become thou a sharer in his reputation, show that he is a member of thine.

“And how?” saith one, “for the reputation is not mine.” Never speak so. Compress thy lips. If thou hadst been near me, thou that speakest on that wise, I would have even put my hand over thy lips: lest the enemy should hear thee. Oftentimes we have enmities with one another, and we discover them not to our enemies; dost thou then discover thine to the devil? Say not so, think not so; but the very reverse: “he is one of my members, the glory passes on to the body.” “How then is it,” saith one, “that those without are not so minded?” Because of thy fault: when they see thee counting his pleasure not thine own, they too count it not thine: were they to see thee appropriating it, they durst not do so, but thou wouldest become equally illustrious with him. Thou hast not gained reputation by speaking; but by sharing in his joy thou hast gained more renown than he. For if love be a great thing, and the sum of all, thou hast received the crown this gives; he, that for oratory, thou, that for exceeding love; he displayed force of words, but thou by deeds hast cast down envy, hast trodden under foot the evil eye. So that in reason thou oughtest rather to be crowned than he, thy contest is the more brilliant; thou hast not only trodden under foot envy, but thou hast even done somewhat else. He hath one crown only, but thou two, and those both brighter than his one. What are these? One, that which thou wonnest against envy, another, which thou art encircled with by love. For the sharing in his joy is a proof not only of thy being free from envy, but also of being rooted in love. Him ofttimes some human passion sorely disquieteth, vainglory for instance; but thou art free from every passion, for it is not of vainglory that thou rejoicest at another’s good. Hath he righted up the Church, tell me? hath he increased the congregation? Praise him; again thou hast a twofold crown; thou hast struck down envy; thou hast enwreathed thee with love. Yea, I implore and beseech thee. Wilt thou hear of a third crown even? Him, men below applaud, thee, the Angels above. For it is not the same thing, to make a display of eloquence, and to rule the passions. This praise is for a season, that for ever; this, of men, that, of God; this man is crowned openly; but thou art crowned in secret, where thy Father seeth. If it were possible to have peeled off the body and seen the soul of each, I would have shown thee that this is more dignified than the other, more resplendent.

Tread we under foot the goads of envy, we advantage ourselves, beloved, ourselves shall we enwreath with the crown. He that envieth another fighteth with God, not with him; for when he seeth him to have grace, and is grieved, and wisheth the Church pulled down, he fighteth not with him, but with God. For tell me, if one should adorn a king’s daughter, and by his adorning and gracing her, gain for himself renown; and another person should wish her to be ill attired, and him to be unable to adorn her; against whom would he have been plotting mischief? Against the other? or against her and her father? So too now, thou that enviest, fightest with the Church, thou warrest with God. For, since with the good repute of thy brother is interwoven also the Church’s profit, need is, that if the one be undone, the other shall be undone also. So that, in this regard also, thou doest a deed of Satan, seeing thou plottest mischief against the body of Christ. Art thou pained at this man? Wrongly, when he hath in nothing wronged thee; yea, much rather, thou art pained at Christ. Wherein hath He wronged thee, that thou wilt not suffer His body to be decked with beauty? that thou wilt not suffer His bride to be adorned? Consider, I pray thee, the punishment, how sore. Thou gladdenest thine enemies; and him too himself, the man in good esteem, whom through thy envy thou wishest to grieve, thou dost the rather gladden; thou dost by thine envy the rather show that he is in good esteem, for otherwise thou wouldest not have envied him. Thou showest the rather that thou art in punishment.

I am ashamed indeed to exhort you from such motives, but seeing our weakness is so great, let us be instructed even from these, and free ourselves from this destructive passion. Grievest thou that he is in good esteem? then why swellest thou that esteem by envying? Wishest thou to punish him? Why then showest thou that thou art pained? Why punish thyself before him, whom thou wouldest not have well esteemed? Thereafter double will be his pleasure, and thy punishment; not only because thou provest him to be great; but because thou begettest in him yet another pleasure, by punishing thyself; and again, at what thou art pained, he is pleased, whilst thou enviest. See how we deal ourselves heavy blows without perceiving it! He is an enemy. And yet, why an enemy? What wrong hath he done? Still, however, by this we make our enemy the more illustrious, and thereby punish ourselves the more. And herein again we punish ourselves, if we have discovered that he knows it. For perhaps he is not pleased,211    The Empress Eudoxia is thought to have been reflected on in some of the passages against extravagance. This whole passage probably alludes to the enmity which prevailed at court in consequence, and these words were probably meant to hint at the real love of St. Chrysostom for his bitterest enemies. but we thinking him to be so, are again pained on that account. Cease then your envying. Why inflictest thou wounds upon thyself?

Think we of these things, beloved; of those two crowns for them that envy not; of those praises from men, of those from God; of the evils that come of envying; and so shall we be able to quell the brute, and to be in good esteem before God, and to obtain the same things with those who are of good esteem. For perhaps we shall obtain them, and if we obtain them not, it will be for our advantage; still, even so, we shall be able, if we have lived to the glory of God, to obtain the good things promised to them that love Him, through the grace and love toward man of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom, &c.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΙΑʹ. Ἐν σοφίᾳ περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω, τὸν και ρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι. Ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος, εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι. αʹ. Ὅπερ ὁ Χριστὸς πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς ἔλεγε, τοῦτο καὶ νῦν Παῦλος παραινεῖ. Τί δὲ ὁ Χριστὸς ἔλεγεν; Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω ὑμᾶς ὡς πρόβατα ἐν μέσῳ λύκων. Γίνεσθε οὖν φρόνιμοι ὡσεὶ ὄφεις, καὶ ἀκέραιοι ὡσεὶ περιστεραί. Τουτέστι, φυλακτικοὶ γίνεσθε, μηδεμίαν αὐτοῖς λαβὴν διδόντες καθ' ὑμῶν. Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο πρόσκειται, Πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω, ἵνα μάθωμεν, ὅτι πρὸς τὰ μέλη τὰ οἰκεῖα οὐ τοσαύτης ἡμῖν δεῖ ἀσφαλείας, ὅσης πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω. Ἔνθα μὲν γὰρ ἀδελφοὶ, εἰσὶ καὶ συγγνῶμαι πολλαὶ καὶ ἀγάπαι. Δεῖ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἐνταῦθα ἀσφάλειαν εἶναι, πολλῷ δὲ πλέον ἔξω: οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἴσον μεταξὺ ἐχθρῶν καὶ πολεμίων εἶναι, καὶ φίλων. Εἶτ' ἐπειδὴ ἐφόβησεν, ὅρα πῶς πάλιν θαῤῥύνει. Τὸν καιρὸν, φησὶν, ἐξαγοραζόμενοι: τουτέστι, βραχὺς ὁ παρὼν καιρός. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγεν, οὐ ποικίλους εἶναι βουλόμενος, οὐδὲ ὑποκριτάς: τοῦτο γὰρ οὐ σοφίας, ἀλλὰ ἀνοίας: ἀλλὰ τί; Ἐν οἷς μὴ βλάπτουσι, φησὶ, μηδεμίαν αὐτοῖς δίδοτε λαβήν: ὃ καὶ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους γράφων φησίν: Ἀπόδοτε πᾶσι τὰς ὀφειλὰς, τῷ τὸν φόρον, τὸν φόρον: τῷ τὸ τέλος, τὸ τέλος: τῷ τὴν τιμὴν, τὴν τιμήν. Διὰ τὸ κήρυγμα μόνον ἔστω σοι πόλεμος, φησί: μηδεμίαν ἑτέραν ὁ πόλεμος οὗτος ἀρχὴν λαμβανέτω. Εἰ γὰρ μέλλοιεν ἡμῖν καὶ δι' ἕτερα ἀπεχθάνεσθαι, οὔτε μισθὸς ἡμῖν ἔσται, καὶ αὐτοὶ χείρους ἔσονται, καὶ δόξουσιν ἡμῖν δίκαια ἐγκαλεῖν: οἷον τὰ τελέσματα ἂν μὴ καταβάλλωμεν, τὰς τιμὰς τὰς προσηκούσας ἐὰν μὴ ἀποδιδῶμεν, ἂν μὴ ὦμεν ταπεινοί. Οὐχ ὁρᾷς Παῦλον, ἔνθα μηδὲν ἔβλαπτε τὸ κήρυγμα, πῶς ἐστι καθυφιείς; Ἄκουε γὰρ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος πρὸς τὸν Ἀγρίππαν: Μακάριον ἐμαυτὸν ἥγημαι ἐπὶ σοῦ μέλλων ἀπολογεῖσθαι σήμερον, μάλιστα γνώστην σε ὄντα τῶν κατὰ Ἰουδαίους ἐθῶν τε καὶ ζητημάτων. Εἰ δὲ ἐνόμιζε δεῖν ὑβρίζειν τὸν ἄρχοντα, πάντα ἂν ἀνέτρεψεν. Ἄκουε δὲ καὶ τῶν περὶ τὸν μακάριον Πέτρον, πῶς ἐπιεικῶς ἀποκρίνονται τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις λέγοντες: Πειθαρχεῖν δεῖ Θεῷ μᾶλλον, ἢ ἀνθρώποις. Καίτοι γε ἄνθρωποι τῆς ἑαυτῶν ψυχῆς ἀπεγνωκότες, καὶ ὑβρίζειν καὶ πᾶν ὁτιοῦν ποιεῖν ἠδύναντο: ἀλλὰ διὰ τοῦτο ἀπέγνωσαν τῆς ψυχῆς, ἵνα μὴ κενοδοξῶσι (κενοδοξίας γὰρ τοῦτό ἐστιν), ἀλλ' ἵνα κηρύσσωσι, καὶ ἵνα μετὰ παῤῥησίας πάντα φθέγγωνται: ἐκεῖνο δὲ ἀμετρίας ἐστίν: Ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος: τουτέστι, μὴ εἰς ἀδιαφορίαν τὸ χαρίεν ἐκπίπτῃ. Ἔνι γὰρ καὶ χαριεντίζεσθαι, ἔνι καὶ μετὰ τῆς προσηκούσης κοσμιότητος τοῦτο ποιεῖν. Εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι. Ὥστε οὐχ ὁμοίως πᾶσι διαλέγεσθαι χρὴ, Ἕλλησι λέγω καὶ ἀδελφοῖς. Οὐδαμῶς: ἐπεὶ τοῦτο τῆς ἐσχάτης ἀνοίας ἐστί. Τὰ κατ' ἐμὲ πάντα γνωρίσει ὑμῖν Τυχικὸς, ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἀδελφὸς, καὶ πιστὸς διάκονος, καὶ σύνδουλος ἐν Κυρίῳ. Βαβαὶ, ὅση σοφία Παύλου! Πῶς οὐ πάντα ἐντίθησιν εἰς τὰς ἐπιστολὰς, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἀναγκαῖα καὶ τὰ κατεπείγοντα; Πρῶτον μὲν, οὐ βουλόμενος αὐτὰς εἰς μῆκος ἐκτείνειν: δεύτερον δὲ, καὶ τὸν ἀπερχόμενον αἰδεσιμώτερον ποιῶν, ἵνα ἔχῃ τι καὶ διηγεῖσθαι: τρίτον, δεικνὺς πῶς πρὸς αὐτὸν διάκειται: οὐ γὰρ ἂν αὐτῷ ταῦτα ἐνεχείρισεν. Ἔπειτα ἦν, ἃ οὐκ ἔδει διὰ γραμμάτων δηλωθῆναι. Ὁ ἀγαπητὸς, φησὶν, ἀδελφός. Εἰ ἀγαπητὸς, πάντα οἶδε, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτὸν ἔκρυπτε. Καὶ πιστὸς διάκονος καὶ σύνδουλος ἐν Κυρίῳ. Εἰ πιστὸς, οὐδὲν ψεύσεται: εἰ σύνδουλος, κεκοινώνηκε τῶν πειρασμῶν: ὥστε αὐτῷ πάντοθεν τὸ ἀξιόπιστον συνήγαγεν. Ὃν ἔπεμψα πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο. Ἐνταῦθα τὴν ἀγάπην δείκνυσι τὴν πολλὴν, εἴ γε καὶ διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὸν ἀπέσταλκε, καὶ τῆς ἀποδημίας αἰτία αὕτη γέγονεν: ὃ καὶ Θεσσαλονικεῦσι γράφων ἔλεγε: Διὸ μηκέτι στέγοντες ηὐδοκήσαμεν καταλειφθῆναι ἐν Ἀθήναις μόνοι, καὶ ἐπέμψαμεν Τιμόθεον τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν. Καὶ Ἐφεσίοις δὲ αὐτὸν τοῦτον πέμπει, καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς αὐτῆς αἰτίας: Ἵνα γνῷ, φησὶ, τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν, καὶ παρακαλέσῃ τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν. Ὅρα τί φησιν: Οὐχ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὰ ἐμὰ μάθητε, ἀλλ' ἵνα ἐγὼ τὰ ὑμέτερα: οὕτως οὐδαμοῦ τὸ αὑτοῦ τίθησι. Δείκνυσιν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐν πειρασμοῖς ὄντας τῷ εἰπεῖν: Ἵνα παρακαλέσῃ τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν. Σὺν Ὀνησίμῳ τῷ ἀγαπητῷ καὶ πιστῷ ἀδελφῷ, ὅς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν. Πάντα ὑμῖν γνωριοῦσι τὰ ὧδε. Ὀνήσιμος οὗτός ἐστι, περὶ οὗ γράφων τῷ Φιλήμονι ἔλεγεν: Ὃν ἐβουλόμην πρὸς ἐμαυτὸν κατέχειν, ἵνα ὑπὲρ σοῦ μοι διακονῇ ἐν τοῖς δεσμοῖς τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου: χωρὶς δὲ τῆς σῆς γνώμης οὐδὲν ἠθέλησα ποιῆσαι. Καὶ τὸ ἐγκώμιον δὲ προστίθητι τῆς πόλεως, ἵνα καὶ ἐγκαλλωπίζωνται, μὴ μόνον οὐκ ἐπαισχύνωνται. Ὅς ἐστι, φησὶν, ἐξ ὑμῶν: Πάντα ὑμῖν γνωριοῦσι τὰ ὧδε. Ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Ἀρίσταρχος ὁ συναιχμάλωτός μου. βʹ. Οὐδὲν τούτου τοῦ ἐγκωμίου μεῖζον. Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων ἀναχθεὶς μετ' αὐτοῦ. Μεῖζον εἶπε τῶν προφητῶν οὗτος: ἐκεῖνοι μὲν γὰρ ξένους καὶ παρεπιδήμους ἑαυτοὺς καλοῦσιν, οὗτος δὲ καὶ αἰχμάλωτον. Καθάπερ γὰρ αἰχμάλωτος, οὕτως ἤγετο καὶ ἐφέρετο, καὶ πᾶσιν εἰς τὸ κακῶς πάσχειν προὔκειτο, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ ἐκείνων χεῖρον. Ἐκείνους μὲν γὰρ, ἐπειδὰν λάβωσιν οἱ πολέμιοι, ἐν πολλῇ θεραπείᾳ λοιπὸν ἔχουσιν, ἅτε ὡς οἰκείων κτημάτων ἐπιμελούμενοι: τοῦτον δὲ ὡς ἐχθρὸν καὶ πολέμιον πάντες ἦγον καὶ ἔφερον, δέροντες, μαστίζοντες, ὑβρίζοντες, συκοφαντοῦντες. Τοῦτο καὶ ἐκείνοις παράκλησις ἦν: ὅταν γὰρ καὶ ὁ διδάσκαλος ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις ᾖ, μᾶλλον παρακαλοῦνται οἱ μαθηταί. Καὶ Μάρκος ὁ ἀνεψιὸς Βαρνάβα. Καὶ τοῦτον ἐνεκωμίασε τέως ἀπὸ τῆς συγγενείας: μέγας γὰρ ἦν ἀνὴρ ὁ Βαρνάβας. Περὶ οὗ ἐλάβετε ἐντολάς: ἐὰν ἔλθῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς, δέξασθε αὐτόν; Τί γάρ; οὐκ ἐδέχοντο καὶ χωρὶς τούτου; Ναί: ἀλλὰ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς σπουδῆς βούλομαι, φησί: καὶ τοῦτο τὸν ἄνδρα δείκνυσι μέγαν. Πόθεν τὰς ἐντολὰς ἔλαβον, οὐ λέγει. Καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ λεγόμενος Ἰοῦστος. Ἴσως Κορίνθιος ἦν οὗτος. Εἶτα πᾶσι τὸ ἐγκώμιον κοινὸν ἀποδίδωσιν, εἰπὼν τὸ ἰδιάζον ἑκάστου: Οἱ ὄντες ἐκ περιτομῆς: οὗτοι μόνοι συνεργοὶ εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, οἵτινες ἐγενήθησάν μοι παρηγορία. Ἐπειδὴ εἶπε, Συναιχμάλωτος, ἵνα μὴ συγκατενέγκῃ τὴν ψυχὴν τῶν ἀκουόντων, ὅρα πῶς τοῦτο τίθησι, καὶ διανίστησιν αὐτούς: Συνεργοὶ, φησὶν, εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὥστε τῶν πειρασμῶν κοινωνοῦντες, τῆς βασιλείας κοινωνοῦσιν. Οἵτινες ἐγενήθησάν μοι παρηγορία. Δείκνυσιν αὐτοὺς μεγάλους, εἴ γε Παύλῳ παρηγορία γεγένηνται. Ἀλλ' ἴδωμεν τὴν σύνεσιν Παύλου. Ἐν σοφίᾳ, φησὶ, περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω, τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι. Τουτέστιν, Οὐκ ἔστιν ὑμέτερος ὁ καιρὸς, ἀλλ' ἐκείνων ἐστί: μὴ τοίνυν βούλεσθε αὐθεντεῖν, ἀλλ' ἐξαγοράζετε τὸν καιρόν. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν ἁπλῶς, Ἀγοράζετε, ἀλλ', Ἐξαγοράζετε, δηλῶν, ὅτι Οὕτω διατιθέμενοι, ὑμέτερον αὐτὸν ποιεῖτε ἑτέρως. Ἀνοίας γὰρ περιττῆς, πολέμων καὶ ἀπεχθείας προφάσεις ἐπινοεῖν. Πρὸς γὰρ τῷ κινδύνους περιττοὺς ὑπομένειν καὶ κέρδος οὐκ ἔχοντας, καὶ ἑτέρα γίνεται βλάβη, τὸ τοὺς Ἕλληνας μὴ προσιέναι ἡμῖν. Ἐν γὰρ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὅταν ᾖς, εἰκότως θαῤῥεῖς: ἔξω δὲ οὐχ οὕτω χρή. Ὁρᾷς πῶς πανταχοῦ τοὺς ἔξω, τοὺς Ἕλληνας λέγει; Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ Τιμοθέῳ γράφων ἔλεγε: Δεῖ δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ μαρτυρίαν καλὴν ἔχειν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔξωθεν: καὶ πάλιν, Τί γάρ μοι καὶ τοὺς ἔξω κρίνειν; Ἐν σοφίᾳ, φησὶ, περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω. Ἔξω γάρ εἰσι, κἂν τὸν αὐτὸν κόσμον οἰκῶσιν ἡμῖν, τῆς βασιλείας ὄντες ἔξω καὶ τοῦ οἰκίσκου τοῦ πατρικοῦ. Ἅμα καὶ παραμυθεῖται αὐτοὺς, ἔξω ἐκείνους καλῶν: ὅπερ ἔλεγεν ἀνωτέρω, ὅτι Ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν κέκρυπται σὺν τῷ Χριστῷ ἐν τῷ Θεῷ. Τότε, φησὶ, δόξαν ζητεῖτε, τότε τιμὰς, τότε τὰ ἄλλα πάντα: νῦν δὲ μὴ, ἀλλ' ἐκείνοις παρέχετε. Εἶτα, ἵνα μὴ νομίσῃς χρήματα λέγειν αὐτὸν, ἐπάγει: Ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος, εἰδέναι ὑμᾶς πῶς δεῖ ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι. Ἵνα μὴ ὑποκρίσεως γέμῃ, φησί: τοῦτο γὰρ οὐ χάρις, οὐδὲ ἅλατι ἤρτυται. Οἷον, ἐὰν δέῃ θεραπεῦσαι ἀκινδύνως, μὴ παραιτήσῃ: ἂν καιρὸς ᾖ προσηνῶς διαλεχθῆναι, μὴ νομίσῃς τὸ πρᾶγμα κολακείαν: πάντα ποίει τὰ εἰς τιμὴν ἀνήκοντα, ἄνευ τοῦ βλάπτεσθαι τὴν εὐσέβειαν. Οὐχ ὁρᾷς πῶς Δανιὴλ ἄνθρωπον ἀσεβῆ θεραπεύει; οὐχ ὁρᾷς τοὺς τρεῖς παῖδας, πῶς μετὰ σοφίας τῷ βασιλεῖ προσεφέροντο, καὶ ἀνδρείαν δεικνύντες, καὶ παῤῥησίαν, καὶ οὐδὲν θρασὺ οὐδὲ ἐπαχθές; τοῦτο γὰρ οὐκέτι παῤῥησίας, ἀλλὰ κενοδοξίας. Εἰδέναι, φησὶ, πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι. Ἑτέρως γὰρ τῷ ἄρχοντι, ἄλλως τῷ ἀρχομένῳ: ἄλλως τῷ πλουτοῦντι, ἄλλως τῷ πένητι. Διὰ τί; Ὅτι αἱ τῶν πλουτούντων καὶ ἀρχόντων ψυχαὶ ἀσθενέστεραι τυγχάνουσιν οὖσαι, μᾶλλον φλεγμαίνουσαι, μᾶλλον διαῤῥέουσαι: ὥστε ἐκεῖ συγκαταβατικὸν εἶναι δεῖ: αἱ τῶν πενήτων καὶ ἀρχομένων, στεῤῥότεραι καὶ συνετώτεραι: ὥστε ἐνταῦθα καὶ παῤῥησίᾳ χρὴ μείζονι κεχρῆσθαι, πρὸς ἓν ὁρῶντα, τὴν οἰκοδομήν. Μὴ ἐπειδὴ ὁ μὲν πλούσιος, ὁ δὲ πένης, ὁ μὲν πλέον τιμάσθω, ὁ δὲ ἔλαττον: ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν ὁ μὲν διαβασταζέσθω, ὁ δὲ μὴ οὕτως: οἷον, αἰτίας οὐκ οὔσης, μὴ κάλει τὸν Ἕλληνα μιαρὸν, μηδὲ ἔσο ὑβριστής: ἀλλ' ἂν μὲν ἐρωτηθῇς περὶ τοῦ δόγματος, ἀπόκριναι ὅτι μιαρὸν καὶ ἀσεβές: οὐδενὸς δὲ ἐρωτῶντος οὐδὲ ἀναγκάζοντος λέγειν, οὐ προσήκει ἁπλῶς ἀπέχθειαν ἀναδέχεσθαι. Ποία γὰρ ἀνάγκη περιττὰς ἔχθρας κατασκευάζειν; Πάλιν, ἄν τινα κατηχῇς, λέγε ἐξ ὑποθέσεως ὑποκειμένης: ἐπεὶ σίγα. Ἐὰν ᾖ ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος ὁ λόγος, κἂν εἰς διαῤῥέουσαν ἐμπέσῃ ψυχὴν, ἐπισφίγξει τὴν χαύνην: κἂν εἰς τραχεῖαν, λεανεῖ τὸ σκληρόν. Ἐπίχαρις ὢν, μήτε φορτικὸς ἔστω, μήτε πάλιν χαῦνος, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ στῦφον ἐχέτω, καὶ τὸ μεθ' ἡδονῆς. Ἄν τε γὰρ ἀμέτρως ἐπιστύψῃ, μᾶλλον ἔβλαψεν ἢ ὠφέλησεν: ἐὰν δὲ ἀμέτρως χαριεντίσηται, μᾶλλον ἐλύπησεν ἢ ὤνησεν: ὥστε πανταχοῦ μέτρα δεῖ εἶναι. Μήτε κατηφὴς ἔσο καὶ σκυθρωπός: ἀηδὲς γάρ: μήτε διακεχυμένος: εὐκαταφρόνητον γὰρ καὶ πεπατημένον ἀλλ' ἑκατέρου τὴν ἀρετὴν λαβὼν, τὴν κακίαν φύγε, καθάπερ ἡ μέλιττα τοῦ μὲν τὸ φαιδρὸν, τοῦ δὲ τὸ σεμνόν. Εἰ γὰρ ἰατρὸς οὐχ ὁμοίως πᾶσι χρήσεται τοῖς σώμασι, πολλῷ μᾶλλον διδάσκαλος. Καίτοι μᾶλλον ἂν τὰ σώματα ἀκατάλληλα φάρμακα ἐνέγκοι, ἢ ψυχὴ λόγον: οἷον, πρόσεισιν Ἕλλην, καὶ γίνεταί σοι φίλος; μηδὲν αὐτῷ περὶ τούτου διαλεχθῇς, ἕως ἂν γένηται πάνυ φίλος: καὶ ὅταν γένηται, ἠρέμα. γʹ. Ὅρα γὰρ καὶ ὁ Παῦλος ἡνίκα εἰς τὰς Ἀθήνας παρεγένετο, πῶς αὐτοῖς διελέγετο. Οὐκ εἶπεν, Ὦ μιαροὶ καὶ παμμίαροι: ἀλλὰ τί; Ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, κατὰ πάντα ὡς δεισιδαιμονεστέρους ὑμᾶς θεωρῶ. Πάλιν ὅτε ὑβρίσαι ἐχρῆν, οὐ παρῃτήσατο: ἀλλὰ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς σφοδρότητος ἔλεγε τῷ Ἐλύμᾳ: Ὢ πλήρης παντὸς δόλου καὶ πάσης ῥᾳδιουργίας, υἱὲ διαβόλου, ἐχθρὲ πάσης δικαιοσύνης. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐκείνους ὑβρίσαι ἀνοίας ἦν, οὕτω τοῦτον μὴ ὑβρίσαι μαλακίας ἦν. Πάλιν, εἰσήχθης πρὸς ἄρχοντα διὰ πρᾶγμα; τὰς προσηκούσας ἀπόνειμαι τιμάς. Πάντα ὑμῖν, φησὶ, γνωριοῦσι τὰ ὧδε. Διὰ τί μὴ συνῆλθον, φησί; Τί δέ ἐστι, Πάντα ὑμῖν γνωριοῦσι τὰ ὧδε; Τουτέστι, Τὰ δεσμὰ, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα τὰ κατέχοντά με. Οὐκ ἂν οὖν ὁ προσευχόμενος αὐτοὺς ἰδεῖν, ὁ καὶ ἑτέρους ἀποστέλλων, αὐτὸς ὑστέρησα, μὴ μεγάλης με κατεχούσης ἀνάγκης. Καὶ μὴν τοῦτο οὐκ ἦν ἐγκαλούντων. Καὶ μὴν σφόδρα ἐγκαλούντων. Τὸ γὰρ μαθεῖν ὅτι καὶ πειρασμοῖς περιέπεσε καὶ ἤνεγκε γενναίως, τοῦτο πιστουμένου ἦν τὸ πρᾶγμα, καὶ ἀνορθοῦντος τὰς ἐκείνων ψυχάς. Σὺν Ὀνησίμῳ, φησὶ, τῷ ἀγαπητῷ καὶ πιστῷ ἀδελφῷ. Ἀδελφὸν τὸν δοῦλον ὁ Παῦλός φησιν: εἰκότως: ὅπου γε καὶ ἑαυτὸν δοῦλον ὀνομάζει τῶν πιστῶν. Κατενέγκωμεν πάντες τὸν τῦφον, καταπατήσωμεν τὴν ἀλαζονείαν. Δοῦλον ὀνομάζει ἑαυτὸν Παῦλος, ὁ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἀντάξιος καὶ μυρίων οὐρανῶν, καὶ σὺ μέγα φρονεῖς; ὁ πάντα ἄγων καὶ φέρων ὡς ἤθελεν, ὁ τὰ πρωτεῖα ἔχων ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν, ὁ ἐστεφανωμένος, ὁ εἰς τρίτον ἀνελθὼν οὐρανὸν, τοὺς δούλους ἀδελφοὺς καλεῖ, καὶ συνδούλους. Ποῦ ἡ μανία; ποῦ ἡ ἀλαζονεία; Οὕτως ἀξιόπιστος γέγονεν ὁ Ὀνήσιμος, ὥστε καὶ τοιαῦτα πιστεύεσθαι. Καὶ Μάρκος, φησὶν, ὁ ἀνεψιὸς Βαρνάβα, περὶ οὗ ἐλάβετε ἐντολάς: δέξασθε αὐτόν. Ἴσως παρὰ Βαρνάβα ἐντολὰς ἔλαβον. Οἱ ὄντες ἐκ περιτομῆς. Καταστέλλει τῶν Ἰουδαίων τὸ φύσημα: ἐπαίρει τούτων τὰς ψυχὰς, ὅτι ὀλίγοι μὲν ἐκ περιτομῆς, οἱ δὲ πλείους ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν. Οἵτινες ἐγενήθησάν μοι, φησὶ, παρηγορία. Δείκνυσιν ἑαυτὸν ἐν πειρασμοῖς ὄντα μεγάλοις. Ὥστε οὐδὲ τοῦτο μικρόν: ὅταν τοὺς ἁγίους παρακαλῶμεν καὶ παρουσίᾳ καὶ λόγῳ καὶ προσεδρείᾳ, ὅταν συγκακουχώμεθα (τοῖς δεσμίοις γὰρ, φησὶν, ὡς συνδεδεμένοι): ὅταν τὰ ἐκείνων ἡμέτερα ποιῶμεν πάθη, καὶ ἐν τοῖς στεφάνοις κοινωνήσομεν. Οὐχ εἱλκύσθης εἰς τὸ στάδιον; οὐ καθῆκας εἰς τὸν ἀγῶνα; ἄλλος ἀπεδύσατο, ἄλλος παλαίει. Ἀλλ' ἐὰν θέλῃς, κοινωνήσεις καὶ σύ: ἄλειψον ἐκεῖνον, γενοῦ αὐτοῦ φιλητὴς καὶ σπουδαστὴς, ἔξωθεν ἐπιβόα μεγάλα, διέγειρε τὴν δύναμιν, ἀνακτῶ τὴν ψυχήν. Ταῦτα ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων γίνεσθαι ἀκόλουθον. Παῦλος γὰρ οὐκ ἐδεῖτο, ἀλλ' ἐκείνους ἐπαίρων ἔλεγε ταῦτα. Σὺ τοίνυν ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων τοὺς βουλομένους κακίζειν ἐπιστόμιζε, κατασκεύαζε αὐτῷ ἐραστὰς, ὑπόδεξαι ἐξιόντα μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς θεραπείας: οὕτω κοινωνήσεις τῶν στεφάνων, οὕτω τῆς δόξης: κἂν μηδὲν ἕτερον ποιήσῃς, ἡσθῇς δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς γενομένοις, καὶ οὕτως ἐκοινώνησας οὐχ ὡς ἔτυχεν: εἰσήνεγκας γὰρ ἀγάπην, τὸ πάντων κεφάλαιον τῶν ἀγαθῶν. Εἰ γὰρ οἱ κλαίοντες δοκοῦσι τοῦ πένθους κοινωνεῖν, καὶ μεγάλα χαρίζονται τοῖς πενθοῦσι, καὶ τὸ πολὺ τῆς ὀδύνης ἀφαιροῦσι, πολλῷ μᾶλλον καὶ οἱ χαίροντες μείζονα ποιοῦσι τὴν ἡδονήν. Ὅσον γὰρ κακὸν τὸ μὴ ἔχειν τοὺς συλλυπουμένους, ἄκουε τοῦ Προφήτου λέγοντος: Καὶ ὑπέμεινα συλλυπούμενον, καὶ οὐχ ὑπῆρξε. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ Παῦλός φησι: Χαίρειν μετὰ χαιρόντων, καὶ κλαίειν μετὰ κλαιόντων. Αὔξησον τὴν ἡδονήν: ἂν ἴδῃς τὸν ἀδελφὸν εὐδοκιμοῦντα, μὴ εἴπῃς, Ἐκείνου ἡ εὐδοκίμησις, ἐγὼ τίνος ἕνεκεν χαίρω; οὐκ ἀδελφοῦ ταῦτα τὰ ῥήματα, ἀλλὰ πολεμίου. Ἂν θέλῃς, οὐκ ἐκείνου ἐστὶν, ἀλλὰ σοῦ: σὺ κύριος ποιῆσαι αὐτὴν μείζονα, ἂν μὴ κατηφὴς ᾖς, ἀλλ' ἡσθῇς, ἂν φαιδρὸς γένῃ, ἂν γεγανωμένος. Καὶ ὅτι οὕτως ἔχει τὸ πρᾶγμα, ἐκεῖθεν δῆλον: Οἱ φθονοῦντες οὐκ ἐκείνοις φθονοῦσι μόνοις τοῖς εὐδοκιμοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ταῖς ἐκείνων εὐδοκιμήσεσι χαίρουσιν: οὕτως ἴσασιν ὅτι καὶ οὗτοι ἐν τῇ εὐδοκιμήσει εἰσὶ, καὶ οὗτοι μάλιστά εἰσιν οἱ σεμνυνόμενοι. Ἐκεῖνος μὲν γὰρ καὶ ἐρυθριᾷ σφόδρα ἐγκωμιαζόμενος: οὗτος δὲ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἡδονῆς ἐγκαλλωπίζεται. Οὐχ ὁρᾶτε ἐπὶ τῶν ἀθλητῶν πῶς ὁ μὲν στεφανοῦται, ὁ δὲ οὐ στεφανοῦται; ἡ δὲ ὀδύνη καὶ χαρὰ τῶν ἐραστῶν ἐστι καὶ τῶν μισούντων: ἐκεῖνοι πηδῶσιν, ἐκεῖνοι σκιρτῶσιν. Ὅρα πόσον ἐστὶ τὸ μὴ φθονεῖν: ἑτέρου ὁ πόνος, καὶ σοῦ ἡ ἡδονή: ἕτερος τὸν στέφανον περίκειται, καὶ σὺ σκιρτᾷς, σὺ ἐγκαλλωπίζῃ. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, ἄλλος νενίκηκε, σὺ τί πηδᾷς; Ἀλλ' ἴσασι κἀκεῖνοι καλῶς, ὅτι κοινὸν τὸ γενόμενον. Διὰ τοῦτο τούτῳ μὲν οὐκ ἐγκαλοῦσιν οἱ φθονοῦντες, πειρῶνται δὲ καταβάλλειν τὴν νίκην: καὶ ἀκούεις ῥήματα τοιαῦτα λεγόντων αὐτῶν: Ἐξήλειψά σε, καὶ, Κατέβαλόν σε: καίτοι γε ἑτέρου τὸ ἔργον, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἐγκώμιον σόν. Εἰ δὲ ἐν τοῖς ἔξωθεν τοσοῦτον ἀγαθὸν τὸ μὴ φθονεῖν, ἀλλ' οἰκειοῦσθαι τὰ ἑτέρου ἀγαθὰ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐπὶ τῇ νίκῃ τοῦ διαβόλου: τότε γὰρ καθ' ἡμῶν πλέον πνεῖ, δηλονότι ὡς πλέον ἡδομένων. Καίτοι γε μιαρὸς ὢν οἶδεν ἀκριβῶς ὅτι μεγάλη αὕτη ἡ ἡδονή. Θέλεις αὐτὸν λυπῆσαι; ἥσθητι καὶ χάρηθι. Θέλεις αὐτὸν εὐφρᾶναι; σκυθρωπὸς γενοῦ: τὴν ἐκ τῆς νίκης τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ γενομένην αὐτῷ λύπην ἐπικουφίζεις διὰ τῆς σῆς ἀθυμίας: μετ' ἐκείνου ἵστασαι ἀποσχισθεὶς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ: μεῖζον ἢ ἐκεῖνος ποιεῖς κακόν. Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἴσον ἐχθρὸν ὄντα τὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ποιεῖν, καὶ φίλον ὄντα μετὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἵστασθαι: οὗτος τῶν ἐχθρῶν μιαρώτερος. Εἰ εὐδοκίμησεν ὁ ἀδελφὸς, ἢ λέγων, ἢ ἐπιδεικνύμενος, ἢ κατορθῶν, γενοῦ κοινωνὸς τῆς εὐδοκιμήσεως, δεῖξον ὅτι μέλος ἐστὶ σόν. δʹ. Καὶ πῶς, φησίν; ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐκ εὐδοκιμῶ. Μὴ φθέγξῃ ποτὲ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο: σύνελε τὰ χείλη. Εἴ γε πλησίον μου ἦς ὁ ταῦτα λέγων, ἐπέθηκα ἂν καὶ τὴν χεῖρα τοῖς χείλεσι, μή ποτε ἀκούσῃ ὁ ἐχθρός. Πολλάκις πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔχθρας ἔχομεν, καὶ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς οὐκ ἐπιδεικνύμεθα: τῷ διαβόλῳ οὖν ἐπιδείκνυσαι σύ. Μὴ εἴπῃς τοῦτο, μὴ ἐννοήσῃς: ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὐναντίον: Μέλος ἐστὶν ἐμόν: εἰς τὸ σῶμα διαβαίνει ἡ δόξα. Τί οὖν, φησὶν, ὅτι οἱ ἔξωθεν οὐχ οὕτω διάκεινται; Ὅτι σὺ αἴτιος: ὅταν ἴδωσί σε ἀλλοτριούμενον αὐτοῦ τὴν ἡδονὴν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀλλοτριοῦνται: ὡς ἂν ἴδωσί σε οἰκειούμενον, οὐ τολμῶσιν: ἀλλ' ὁμοίως εἶ καὶ σὺ λαμπρός. Οὐκ εὐδοκίμησας λέγων, ἀλλ' εὐδοκίμησας συνηδόμενος μειζόνως, ἢ ἐκεῖνος. Εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἀγάπη μέγα καὶ πάντων κεφάλαιον, σὺ τὸν ἐκ ταύτης ἔλαβες στέφανον: ἐκεῖνος τὸν ἐκ τῆς ῥητορείας, σὺ τὸν ἐκ τοῦ σφόδρα φιλεῖν: ἐκεῖνος ἐπεδείξατο ῥημάτων ἰσχὺν, σὺ διὰ τῶν ἔργων τὸν φθόνον κατέβαλες, ἐπάτησας τὴν βασκανίαν. Ὥστε εἰκότως ἂν μᾶλλον ἐκείνου στεφανωθείης: λαμπρότερος ὁ σὸς ἀγών: οὐκ ἐπάτησας μόνον τὴν βασκανίαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἕτερον τι πεποίηκας. Ἐκεῖνος ἕνα ἔχει στέφανον μόνον, σὺ δὲ δύο, καὶ τοὺς δύο τοῦ ἑνὸς λαμπροτέρους. Ποίους τούτους; Ἕνα μὲν ὃν ἀνείλου κατὰ τοῦ φθόνου, δεύτερον δὲ ὃν ἀνεδήσω ἐκ τῆς ἀγάπης. Οὐ γὰρ τοῦ καθαρὸν εἶναι φθόνου τεκμήριον μόνον τὸ συνήδεσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ ἀγάπην ἔχειν ἐῤῥιζωμένην. Ἐκείνῳ πολλάκις καὶ ἀνθρώπινόν τι διενοχλεῖ πάθος, οἷον ἡ κενοδοξία: σὺ δὲ παντὸς εἶ πάθους καθαρός: οὐ γὰρ δὴ κενοδοξῶν χαίρεις ἐπὶ τοῖς ἑτέρου καλοῖς. Ὤρθωσε τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἐκεῖνος, εἰπέ μοι; ηὔξησε τὸν σύλλογον; ἐπαίνεσον πάλιν: ἔχεις διπλοῦς τοὺς στεφάνους: τὸν φθόνον κατέβαλες, τὴν ἀγάπην ἀνεδήσω. Ναὶ δέομαι, καὶ ἀντιβολῶ. Βούλει καὶ τρίτον ἀκοῦσαι στέφανον; τοῦτον οἱ κάτω κροτοῦσιν ἄνθρωποι, σὲ οἱ ἄνω ἄγγελοι. Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἴσον εὐέπειαν ἐπιδείκνυσθαι, καὶ παθῶν κρατεῖν. Οὗτος ὁ ἔπαινος πρόσκαιρος, ἐκεῖνος αἰώνιος: οὗτος ἐξ ἀνθρώπων, ἐκεῖνος ἐκ Θεοῦ: οὗτος φαίνεται ἐστεφανωμένος, σὺ δὲ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ στεφανοῦσαι, ὅπου ὁ Πατήρ σου ὁρᾷ. Εἰ τὸ σῶμα ἀποσχίσαντα τὴν ἑκάστου ψυχὴν ἦν ἰδεῖν, ἔδειξα ἄν σοι τοῦτον ἐκείνου σεμνότερον, μᾶλλον ἀποστίλβοντα. Πατήσωμεν τὰ κέντρα τῆς βασκανίας, ἑαυτοὺς ἐντεῦθεν ὠφελοῦμεν ἀγαπητοὶ, αὐτοὶ ἀναδησόμεθα τὸν στέφανον. Ὁ βασκαίνων, τῷ Θεῷ μάχεται, οὐκ ἐκείνῳ: ὅταν γὰρ ἴδῃ χάριν ἔχοντα, καὶ ἀλγῇ, καὶ βούληται καθαιρεῖσθαι τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν, οὐκ ἐκείνῳ μάχεται, ἀλλὰ τῷ Θεῷ. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, εἴ τις κόρην ἐκαλλώπιζε βασιλέως, καὶ εὐδοκίμει καλλωπίζων αὐτὴν καὶ σεμνὴν ἐργαζόμενος, ἕτερος δέ τις ἐβούλετο ταύτην ἀσχημονῆσαι, καὶ μὴ δυνηθῆναι καλλωπίσαι, τίνι ἂν ἐπεβούλευσε, τούτῳ ἢ ἐκείνῃ καὶ τῷ ταύτης πατρί; Οὕτω καὶ νῦν σὺ ὁ βασκαίνων μάχῃ τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ, τῷ Θεῷ πολεμεῖς. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ τῇ εὐδοκιμήσει τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ συμπέπλεκται καὶ ἡ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ὠφέλεια, ἀνάγκη, ταύτης καταλυομένης, κἀκείνην καταλύεσθαι: ὥστε κατὰ τοῦτο, ἔργον σατανικὸν ποιεῖς, ἐπιβουλεύων τῷ σώματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Πρὸς τοῦτον ἀλγεῖς τὸν οὐδὲν ἠδικηκότα. πολλῷ δὲ μᾶλλον πρὸς τὸν Χριστόν. Τί σε ἠδίκησεν, ὅτι οὐκ ἀφίης τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ καλλωπισθῆναι τῷ κάλλει; ὅτι οὐκ ἀφίης τὴν νύμφην κοσμηθῆναι; Θέα δέ μοι τὴν τιμωρίαν, ὅση: Τοὺς ἐχθροὺς εὐφραίνεις τοὺς σοὺς, καὶ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸ εὐδοκιμοῦντα, ὃν βούλει λυπῆσαι φθονῶν, μᾶλλον αὐτὸν εὐφραίνεις, μᾶλλον δεικνύεις, ὅτι ηὐδοκίμησε βασκαίνων: οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐβάσκηνας μᾶλλον δεικνύεις ὅτι τιμωρῇ. Αἰσχύνομαι μὲν οὖν ἀπὸ τούτων προτρέπων: πλὴν ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ οὕτως ἀσθενῶς διακείμεθα, καὶ ἀπὸ τούτων παιδευθέντες τοῦ ὀλεθρίου τούτου πάθους ἀπαλλαγῶμεν. Ἀλγεῖς ὅτι ηὐδοκίμησε; τί οὖν τὴν εὐδοκίμησιν αὐτοῦ ἐπαίρεις φθονῶν; Βούλει αὐτὸν τιμωρήσασθαι; Τί οὖν δεικνύεις ὅτι ἀλγεῖς; τί τιμωρίαν σαυτὸν ἀπαιτεῖς ἔμπροσθεν τούτου, ὃν βούλει μὴ εὐδοκιμεῖν; Διπλῆ λοιπὸν ἔσται ἡ ἡδονὴ τούτῳ καὶ σοὶ ἡ τιμωρία, οὐ μόνον ὅτι μέγαν δεικνύεις αὐτὸν, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ ἑτέραν αὐτῷ ἐντίκτεις ἡδονὴν τιμωρούμενος σαυτόν: καὶ πάλιν ὑπὲρ ὧν ἀλγεῖς, ἐκεῖνος ἥδεται, σοῦ φθονοῦντος. Ὅρα πῶς πληγὰς χαλεπὰς ἑαυτοῖς διδόαμεν, καὶ οὐκ αἰσθανόμεθα. Ἀλλ' ἐχθρός ἐστι. Καίτοι γε διὰ τί ἐχθρός; Τί ἠδίκησεν; Ἀλλ' ὅμως τὸν ἐχθρὸν λαμπρότερον ποιοῦμεν, καὶ ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς πλέον κολάζομεν τούτῳ. Πάλιν ἑαυτοὺς τιμωρούμεθα, ἂν αἰσθώμεθα ὅτι ἔγνω ἐκεῖνος. Ἴσως μὲν γὰρ ἐκεῖνος οὐχ ἥδεται: ἡμεῖς δὲ νομίζοντες ὅτι ἥδεται, πάλιν διὰ τοῦτο ἀλγοῦμεν. Οὐκοῦν παῦσαι φθονῶν: τί τραύματα ἑαυτῷ παρέχεις; Ταῦτα ἐννοήσωμεν, ἀγαπητοὶ, τοὺς στεφάνους τοὺς διπλοῦς τῶν μὴ φθονούντων, τοὺς ἐπαίνους τοὺς παρὰ ἀνθρώπων, τοὺς παρὰ Θεοῦ, τὰ κακὰ τὰ ἀπὸ τῆς βασκανίας: καὶ οὕτω δυνησόμεθα σβέσαι τὸ θηρίον, καὶ εὐδοκιμῆσαι ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τῶν αὐτῶν τυχεῖν τοῖς εὐδοκιμοῦσι. Τευξόμεθα γὰρ ἴσως: κἂν μὴ τύχωμεν δὲ, διὰ τὸ συμφέρον οὐ τευξόμεθα: πλὴν καὶ οὕτω δυνησόμεθα εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ ζήσαντες, τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων ἀγαθῶν τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτὸν τυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.