John Chrysostom, On the Letter to the Romans

I Think that many even of those who have the appearance of being extremely good men, hasten over this part of the Epistle486 So mss. Ben. Sav. ἐντολῆς. as superfluous, and having no great weight in it. And I think that the same befalls them in regard to the genealogy that is in the Gospel. For because it is a catalogue of names, they think they cannot get any great good from it. Yet the gold founders’ people487 Stallbaum ad Plat. Phileb. 74. are careful even about the little fragments;488 See the Introduction to Boyle’s Reflections, where this is beautifully applied to the improvement of all fragments of time by meditation. while these pass over even such great cakes of gold. That this then may not befall them, what I have already said were enough to lead them off from their listlessness. For that the gain even from this is no contemptible one, we have shown even from what was said on a former occasion, when we lifted up your soul by means of these addresses. We will endeavor then to-day also to mine in this same place. For it is possible even from bare names to find a great treasure. If, for instance, you were shown why Abraham was so called, why Sarah, why Israel, why Samuel, you would find even from this a great many real subjects of research. And from times too, and from places, you may gather the same advantage. For the good man waxes rich even from these; but he that is slothful, does not gain even from the most evident things. Thus the very name of Adam teaches us no small wisdom, and that of his son, and of his wife, and most of the others. For names serve to remind us of several circumstances. They show at once God’s benefits and women’s thankfulness. For when they conceived by the gift of God, it was they who gave these names to the children. But why are we now philosophizing about names, while meanings so important are neglected, and many do not so much as know the very names of the sacred books? Still even then we ought not to recede from an attention to things of this sort. For “thou oughtest,” He says, “to have put My money to the exchangers.” (Matt. xxv. 27.) And therefore though there be nobody that listens to it, let us do our part, and show that there is nothing superfluous, nothing added at random in the Scriptures. For if these names had no use, they would not then have been added to the Epistle, nor would Paul have written what he has written. But there are some even so low-minded, and empty, and unworthy of Heaven, as not to think that names only, but whole books of the Bible are of no use, as Leviticus, Joshua, and more besides. And in this way many of the simple ones have been for rejecting the Old Testament, and advancing on in the way, that results from this evil habit of mind, have likewise pruned away many parts of the New Testament also. But of these men,489 Such as the Manichees, see St. Aug. Conf. p. 340, O.T. note at the end, and Marcion. Tert. adv. M. lib. 4. as intoxicated and living to the flesh, we do not make much account. But if any be a lover of wisdom, and a friend to spiritual entertainments, let him be told that even the things which seem to be unimportant in Scripture, are not placed there at random and to no purpose, and that even the old laws have much to profit us. For it says, “All these things are types (A.V. ensamples) and are written for our instruction.” (1 Cor. x. 11.) Wherefore to Timothy too he says, “Give heed to reading, to exhortation” (1 Tim. iv. 13), so urging him to the reading of the old books, though he was a man with so great a spirit in him, as to be able to drive out devils,490 This was done by his relics. St. Chrys. Hom. 1 ad Pop. Ant. §2, on the Statues, p. 4, O.T. and to raise the dead. Let us now keep on with the subject in hand. “Salute my well-beloved Epenetus.” It is worth learning from this how he distributes to each the different praises. For this praise is no slight one, but even very great, and a proof of great excellence in him, that Paul should hold him beloved, Paul who had no idea of loving by favor, and not by cool judgment. Then another encomium comes, “Who is the first-fruits of Achaia.” For what he means is, either that he leaped forward before any one else, and became a believer (and this were no slight praise), or that he displayed more religious behavior than any other. And on this account after saying, “who is the first-fruits of Achaia,” he does not hold his peace, but to prevent your suspecting it to be a glory of the world’s, he added, “unto Christ.” Now if in civil matters, he that is first seemeth to be great and honorable, much more so in these. As then it was likely that they were of low extraction, he speaks of the true noble birth and preëminency, and gives him his honors from this. And he says, that he “is the first-fruits,” not of Corinth only, but of the whole nation, as having become as it were a door, and an entrance to the rest. And to such, the reward is no small one. For such an one will reap much recompense also from the achievements of others, in that he too contributed much toward them by beginning.

Ver. 6. “Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us.”

How is this? a woman again is honored and proclaimed victorious! Again are we men put to shame. Or rather, we are not put to shame only, but have even an honor conferred upon us. For an honor we have, in that there are such women amongst us, but we are put to shame, in that we men are left so far behind by them. But if we come to know whence it comes, that they are so adorned, we too shall speedily overtake them. Whence then is their adorning? Let both men and women listen. It is not from bracelets, or from necklaces, nor from their eunuchs either, and their maid-servants, and gold-broidered dresses, but from their toils in behalf of the truth. For he says, “who bestowed much labor on us,” that is, not on herself only, nor upon her own advancement, (see p. 520) (for this many women of the present day do, by fasting, and sleeping on the floor), but upon others also, so carrying on the race Apostles and Evangelists ran. In what sense then does he say, “I suffer not a woman to teach?” (1 Tim. ii. 12.) He means to hinder her from publicly coming forward (1 Cor. xiv. 35), and from the seat on the bema,491 A raised place in which the Clergy were, v. Suicer, and Bingham, b. viii. c. 6, §1, and 9–12. not from the word of teaching.492 Or “Teaching of the word.” τοῦ λόγου τῆς διδασκαλίας, but we have τοῦ λόγου τῆς παρακλήσεως, Heb. xiii. 22. The word of Exhortation. Since if this were the case, how would he have said to the woman that had an unbelieving husband, “How knowest thou, O woman, if thou shalt save thy husband?” (ib. vii. 16.) Or how came he to suffer her to admonish children, when he says, but “she shall be saved by child-bearing493 St. C. does not seem to be here alluding to the former, but to the latter part of this very difficult passage. The most comprehensive view of it, on this interpretation, seems to be, that Christ has so hallowed all pain, that it has a saving influence in it: yet not in such wise saving, that the bearing of the great pain and peril of childbearing will atone for the neglect of the after labors of education. See Marlorate and Corn. a Lapide. in loc. The whole interpretation is questionable. Theoph. mentions some who take the words “the childbearing” of the birth of our Lord, which he rejects as not agreeing with what follows. But Estius justly observes, that the “abiding,” etc. may be better applied to the man and wife. if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety?” (1 Tim. ii. 15.) How came Priscilla to instruct even Apollos? It was not then to cut in sunder private conversing for advantage that he said this, but that before all, and which it was the teacher’s duty to give in the public assembly; or again, in case the husband be believing and thoroughly furnished, able also to instruct her. When she is the wiser, then he does not forbid her teaching and improving him. And he does not say, who taught much, but “who bestowed much labor,” because along with teaching (τοὓ λόγου) she performs other ministries besides, those in the way of dangers, in the way of money, in the way of travels. For the women of those days were more spirited than lions, sharing with the Apostles their labors for the Gospel’s sake. In this way they went travelling with them, and also performed all other ministries. And even in Christ’s day there followed Him women, “which ministered unto Him of their substance” (Luke viii. 3), and waited upon the Teacher.

Ver. 7. “Salute Andronicus and Junia my kinsmen.”

This also looks like an encomium. And what follows is much more so. And what sort is this of? “And my fellow-prisoners.” For this is the greatest honor, the noble proclamation. And where was Paul a prisoner, that he should call them “my fellow-prisoners?” A prisoner indeed he had494 St. Chrys. takes the word in its literal sense of a captive in war. If so meant it might be figurative, but it most likely refers either to an imprisonment, or to what he speaks of 2 Cor. xi. 26, as perils from robbers. not been, but he had suffered things worse495 Lit. “far more like a prisoner”—for Field reads αἰχμαλωτότερα for χαλεπώτερα. than prisoners, in being not an alien only to his country and his family, but in wrestling with famine and continual death, and thousands of other things. For of a prisoner the only misfortune is this, that he is separated from his relations, and often has to be a slave instead of being free. But in this case one may mention temptations thick as snow-flakes, which this blessed person underwent by being carried and taken about, scourged, fettered, stoned, shipwrecked, with countless people plotting against him. And captives indeed have no further foe after they are led away, but they even experience great care from those who have taken them. But this man was continually in the midst of enemies, and saw spears on every side, and sharpened swords, and arrays, and battles. Since then it was likely that these shared many dangers with him, he calls them fellow-captives. As in another passage also, “Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner.” (Col. iv. 10.) Then another praise besides. “Who are of note among the Apostles.” And indeed to be apostles496 St. Chrys. on 2 Cor. viii. 23, p. 215. O.T. and Phil. ii. 25, p. 104 O.T. takes this word to mean messengers of the Churches. Theodoret, on Phil. ii. 25, takes it to mean “Bishop,” as on 1 Tim. ii. 8, he says, “they then called the same persons Bishops and Elders, but those who are now called Bishops they named Apostles.” St. Chrys. Hom. in St. Ignat. call him an Apostle. at all is a great thing. But to be even amongst these of note, just consider what a great encomium this is! But they were of note owing to their works, to their achievements. Oh! how great is the devotion (φιλοσοφία) of this woman,497 Hammond reads the name Junias, and supposes a man to be intended. that she should be even counted worthy of the appellation of apostle!498 It is impossible to determine with certainty whether ἐπισήμοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις (7) means that the persons referred to were themselves apostles, or merely that they were held in high esteem by the apostles. The interpretation of Chrys. (the former) is possible both in point of language and in view of the fact that ἀποστόλοι embraced more than the twelve in N.T. usage, e.g. Paul, Barnabas, and probably, James, the Lord’s Brother (Gal. i. 19) (so Tholuck, Rückert, Ewald). The more probable view is that Andronicus and Junias [not Junia as Chrys., certainly not if his interpretation is correct; that a woman should have been an apostle is out of the question] are designated as distinguished, honorably known among (by) the apostles. (So De Wette, Philippi, Hofmann, Meyer).—G.B.S. But even here he does not stop, but adds another encomium besides, and says, “Who were also in Christ before me.”

For this too is a very great praise, that they sprang forth and came before others. But let me draw your attention to the holy soul, how untainted it is by vanity. For after glory such as his in kind and degree, he sets others before himself, and does not hide from us the fact of his having come after them, nor is ashamed of confessing this. And why art thou surprised at his not being ashamed of this, when he shunneth not even to parade before men his former life, calling himself “a blasphemer, and a persecutor?” (1 Tim. i. 13.) Since then he was not able to set them before others on this score, he looked out himself, who had come in after others, and from this he did find means of bestowing a praise upon them by saying, “Who were in Christ before me.”

Ver. 8. “Greet Amplias my beloved.”

Here again he passes encomiums upon his person by his love. For the love of Paul was for God, carrying countless blessings with it. For if being loved by the king is a great thing, what a great encomium must it be to be beloved by Paul? For if he had not acquired great virtue, he would not have attracted his love? Since as for those who live in vice and transgressions he is accustomed (οἶδε) not only to abstain from loving them, but even to anathematize them. As when he says, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus, let him be accursed” (1 Cor. xvi. 22); and, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal. i. 8.)

Ver. 9. “Salute Urbane, my helper in the Lord.”

This is a greater encomium than the other. For this even comprehends that. “And Stachys, my beloved.” This again is an honor of the same kind.

Ver. 10. “Salute Apelles, approved in Christ.”

There is no praise like this, being unblamable, and giving no handle in the things of God. For when he says, “approved in Christ,” he includes the whole list of virtues. And on what ground does he nowhere say my Lord such an one, my Master this? It is because these encomiums were greater than those. For those are mere titles of rank (τιμἥς), but these are of virtue. And this same honor he paid them not at random, or as addressing several of inferior virtue with the high and great characters. For so far as he is addressing, and that too one along with another, and in the same letter, he honors them all alike. But by stating the praises particularly to each, he sets before us the virtue peculiar to each; so as neither to give birth to envy by honoring one and dishonoring another, nor to work in them listlessness and confusion, by giving them all the same dignity, though they did not deserve the same. See now how he again comes to the admirable women. For after saying, “Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household,”

Ver. 11. “Salute Herodion my kinsman; greet them which be of the household of Narcissus;”

Who, it is likely, were not so worthy as the afore-mentioned, on which account also he does not mention them all by name even, and after giving them the encomium which was suited to them, that of being faithful, (and this the meaning of,)

“Which are in the Lord.”

He again reverts to the women, and says,

Ver. 12. “Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord.”

And in regard to the former woman, he says that “she bestowed labor upon you,” but of these that they are still laboring. And this is no small encomium, that they should be in work throughout, and should not only work, but labor even. But Persis he calls beloved too, to show that she is greater than these.

For he says, “Salute my beloved Persis.”

And of her great laborings he likewise bears testimony, and says, “which labored much in the Lord.”

So well does he know how to name each after his deserts, so making these more eager by not depriving them of any of their dues, but commending even the slightest preëminence, and making the others more virtuous, and inciting them to the same zeal, by his encomiums upon these.

Ver. 12. “Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”

Here again the good things are without any drawback, since the son and the mother are each of such a character, and the house is full of blessing, and the root agreeth with the fruit; for he would not have simply said, “his mother and mine,” unless he had been bearing testimony to the woman for great virtue.

Ver. 14. “Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.”

Here do not be looking to how he starts them without any encomium, but how he did not reckon them, though far inferior, as it seems, to all, unworthy of being addressed by him. Or rather even this is no slight praise that he even calls them brethren, as also those that are after them he calls saints. For he says,

Ver. 15. “Salute Philologus, and Julius, and Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them;”

Which was the greatest dignity, and unspeakable height of honor. Then to prevent any jealousy rising from his addressing one in one way and another in another, and some by name and some with no distinction, and some with more points of praise, and some with fewer, he again mingles them in the equality of charity, and in the holy kiss, saying,

Ver. 16. “Salute one another with an holy kiss.”

To cast out of them, by this salutation, all arguing that confused them, and all grounds for little pride; that neither the great might despise the little, nor the little grudge at the greater, but that haughtiness and envy might be more driven away, when this kiss soothed down and levelled every one. And therefore he not only bids them salute in this way, but sends in like manner to them the greeting from the Churches. For “there salute you,” he says, not this or that person individually, but all of you in common,

“The Churches of Christ.”

You see that they are no small gains that we earn from these addresses, and what treasures we should have passed hastily over, unless in this part of the Epistle also we had examined it with accuracy, such, I mean, as was in our power. So if there be found any man of wisdom and spiritual, he will dive even deeper, and find a greater number of pearls.499 He perhaps means something in the names, as well as in the facts implied; most of them are significant. In several places, as where he refers to Ps. xix. and in his metaphors, he shows that he knew and valued allegorical interpretation, but he makes little public use of it. But since some have often made it a question wherefore it was that in this Epistle he addressed so many, which thing he has not done in any other Epistle, we might say that it is owing to his never having seen the Romans yet, that he does this. And yet one may say, “Well, he had not seen the Colossians either, and yet he did not do anything of the kind.” But these were more honorable than others, and had come thither from other cities, as to a safer and more royal city. Since then they were living in a foreign country, and they needed much provision for security,500 This is rather an unusual way of taking “πολλῆς ἀσφαλείας ἔδει ἀπολαύειν αὐτοῖς,” but the sequel allows no other. and some of them were of his acquaintance, but some too were there who had rendered him many important services, he with reason commends them by letters; for the glory of Paul was then not little, but so great, that even from his sending them letters, those who had the happiness to have an Epistle to them, gained much protection. For men not only reverenced him, but were even afraid of him. Had this not been so,501 i.e. had he not been so greatly esteemed. he would not have said, who had been “a succorer of many, and of myself also.”502 αὐτοῦ ἐμοῦ, even of myself. (v. 2.) And again, “I could wish that myself were accursed.” (Rom. ix. 3.) And to Philemon he wrote and said, “as Paul the aged, and a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 9.) And to the Galatians, “Behold, I Paul say unto you.” (Gal. v. 2.) And, “Ye received me even as Jesus Christ.” (ib. iv. 14.) And writing to the Corinthians he said, “Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come unto you.” (1 Cor. iv. 18.) And again, “These things I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos, that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written.” (ib. 6.) Now from all these passages it is clear that all had a great opinion of him. Wishing then that they should feel on easy terms, and be in honor, he addressed each of them, setting forth their praise to the best advantage he might. For one he calls beloved, another kinsman, another both, another fellow-prisoner, another fellow-worker, another approved, another elect. And of the women one he addresses by her title, for he does not call her servant of the Church in an undefined way (because if this were so he would have given Tryphena and Persis this name too), but this one as having the office of deaconess, and another as helper and assistant, another as mother, another from the labors she underwent, and some he addresses from the house they belonged to, some by the name of Brethren, some by the appellation of Saints. And some he honors by the mere fact of addressing them, and some by addressing them by name, and some by calling them first-fruits, and some by their precedence in time, but more than all, Priscilla and Aquila. (τοὺς περὶ Πρ. κ. ᾽Α.) For even if all were believers, still all were not alike, but were different in their merits. Wherefore to lead them all to greater emulation, he keeps no man’s encomiums concealed. For when they who labor503 So Field with 4 mss. Vulg. “do,” more, do not receive the greater reward also, many504 πολλοὶ would bear to be rendered “they often.” become more listless. On this ground even in the kingdom, the honors are not equal, nor among the disciples were all alike, but the three505 i.e. Peter, James, and John. were preëminent above the rest. And among these three again there was a great difference. For this is a very exact method observed by God even to the last. Hence, “one star differeth from another star in glory,” (1 Cor. xv. 41), it says. And yet all were Apostles and all are to sit on twelve thrones,506 See Macarius, Hom. vi. v. fin. “So then many that were taught by Peter, came to repentance, and formed a new world, elect of God. You see how a beginning of judgment was manifested. For then a new world was made manifest. For then was power given them to sit and judge in this world. However, they will sit and give judgment at the coming of the Lord, in the resurrection of the dead.” and all left their goods, and all companied with Him; still it was the three He took. And again, to these very three, He said it was possible (ἐγχωρεῖν) that some might even be superior. “For to sit,” He says, “on My right hand and on My left, is not mine to give, save to those for whom it is prepared.” (Mark x. 40.) And He sets Peter before them, when He says, “Lovest thou Me more than these?” (John xxi. 15.) And John too was loved even above the rest. For there shall be a strict examination of all, and if thou be but little better than thy neighbor, if it be even an atom, or anything ever so little, God will not overlook even this. And this even from of old one might see coming out. For even Lot was a righteous man, yet not so, as was Abraham; and Hezekiah again, yet not so as was David: and all the prophets, yet not so as was John.

Where then are they who with all this great exactness in view, yet will not allow that there is a hell? For if all the righteous are not to enjoy the same lot, if they exceed others even a little (“for one star,” it says, “differeth from another star in glory,”) (1 Cor. xv. 41), how are sinners to be in the same lot with the righteous? Such a confusion as this even man would not make, much less God! But if ye will, I will show you that even in the case of sinners, arguing from existing facts, there is this distinction, and exact just judgment. Now consider; Adam sinned, and Eve sinned, and both transgressed, yet they were not equally sinful. And therefore neither were they equally punished. For the difference was so great that Paul said, “Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”507 1 Tim. ii. 14, whence it appears that St. C. looked upon the pains of childbirth as a punishment, though they were capable of being turned to good: see Gen. iii. 16. And yet the deceit was one. But still God’s searching examination pointed out a difference so great, as that Paul should make this assertion. Again, Cain was punished, but Lamech, who committed a murder after him, did not suffer near so great a punishment. And yet this was a murder, and that was a murder, and that so much the worse, because even by the example he had not become the better. But since the one neither killed his brother after exhortation, nor needed an accuser, nor shrunk from answering when God questioned him, but even without any accuser both pleaded again himself, and condemned himself more severely, he obtained pardon. But the other as having done the opposite was punished. See with what exactness God sifteth the facts. For this reason He punished those in the flood in one way, and those in Sodom in another; and the Israelites again, both those in Babylon, and those in Antiochus’ time, in different ways: so showing that He keeps a strict account of our doings. And these were slaves for seventy years, and those for four hundred, but others again ate their children, and underwent countless other more grievous calamities, and even in this way were not freed, either they or those that were burnt alive in Sodom. “For it shall be more tolerable,” He says, “for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha, than for that city.” (Matt. x. 15.) For if He hath no care for us, either when we sin or when we do aright, perhaps there will be some reason in saying that there is no punishment. But since He is so exceedingly urgent about our not sinning, and adopts so many means to keep us in the right, it is very plain that He punisheth the wicked, and also crowneth those that do right. But let me beg you to consider the unfairness of the generality. For they find fault with God because He so often long-suffering, overlooks so many that are impious, impure, or violent, without now suffering punishment. Again, if He threaten to punish them in the other world, they are vehement and pressing in their accusations. And yet if this be painful, they ought to accept and admire the other. But alas the folly! the unreasonable and asinine spirit! alas the sin-loving508 mss. omit “pleasure-loving” and “love of pleasure” in the next line. soul, that gazes after vice! For it is from this that all these opinions have their birth. And so if they who utter these things should be minded to lay hold upon virtue, they will presently find themselves satisfied concerning hell also, and will not doubt. And where (it is said) and in what place is this hell? For some fablers say that it is in the valley of Josaphat, thus drawing that which was said about a certain by-gone war, to apply to hell.509 Joel iii. 2, which is however a type of the last judgment. Isaiah xxx. 33. can hardly be meant, as the LXX. there has not the name Tophet. But the Scripture does not say this. But in what place, pray, will it be? Somewhere as I think at least quite out of the pale of this world. For as the prisons and mines are at a great distance from royal residences,510 Ben. and 3 mss. βασιλείων. so will hell be somewhere out of this world. Seek we not then to know where it is, but how we may escape it. Neither yet because God doth not punish all here, therefore disbelieve things to come. For merciful and long-suffering He is: that is why he threatens, and does not cast us into it forthwith. For “I desire not,” He says, “the death of a sinner.” (Ez. xviii. 32.) But if there is no death of a sinner, the words are but idle. And I know indeed that there is nothing less pleasant to you than these words. But to me nothing is pleasanter. And would it were possible at our dinner, and our supper, and our baths, and everywhere, to be discoursing about hell. For we should not then feel the pain at the evils in this world, nor the pleasure of its good things. For what would you tell me was an evil? poverty? disease? captivity? maiming of the body? Why all these things are sport compared to the punishment there, even should you speak of those who are tormented with famine all their life long; or those who are maimed from their earliest days, and beg, even this is luxury compared to those other evils. Let us then continually employ ourselves with talking about these things.511 This whole argument is nearly that of the close of Hom. 25. The object of it is clearly to keep their minds to the subject, as well as to convince gainsayers. For to remember hell prevents our falling into hell. Dost thou not hear St. Paul saying, “Who shall suffer everlasting punishment from the face of the Lord?” (2 Thess. i. 9.) Dost thou not hear what Nero’s character was, whom Paul even calls the Mystery of Antichrist? For “the mystery of iniquity,” he says, “already worketh.” (ib. ii. 7.) What then? Is Nero to suffer nothing? Is Antichrist to suffer nothing? or the Devil nothing? Then he will always be Antichrist, and so the Devil. For from mischief they will not leave off, unless they be punished. “Yea,” you say, “but that there is a hell everybody sees. But the unbelievers only are to fall into it.” What is the reason, pray? It is because the believers acknowledge their Master. And what is this to the purpose? when their life is impure, they will on this ground be punished more severely than the unbelievers. “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: but as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.” (Rom. ii. 12.) And, “The servant that knew his master’s will, and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes.” (Luke xii. 47.) But if there is no such thing as giving an account of one’s life, and all this is said in a loose way then neither will the Devil have vengeance taken upon him. For he too knows God, and far more than512 So Field; others: “more than many.” men too, and all the demons know Him, and tremble, and own He is their Judge. If then there is no giving an account of our life, nor of evil deeds, then will they also clean escape. These things are not so, surely they are not! Deceive not yourselves, beloved. For if there is no hell, how are the Apostles to judge the twelve tribes of Israel? How cometh Paul to say, “Know ye not that we shall judge Angels? how much more things of this life?” (1 Cor. vi. 3.) How came Christ to say, “The men of Nineveh shall arise and condemn this generation” (Matt. xii. 41); and, “It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment?” (ib. xi. 24.) Why then make merry with things that are no subjects for merriment? Why deceive thyself and put cheats upon thy reason (παραλογίζῃ, om. τὴν ψυχήνσου)? Why fight with the love of God toward man? For it was through this that He prepared it, and threatened, that we might not be cast into it, as having by this fear become better. And thus he that does away with speaking on these subjects doth nothing else than thrust us into it, and drive us thither by this deceit. Slacken not the hands of them then that labor for virtue, nor make the listlessness of them that sleep greater. For if the many be persuaded that there is no hell, when will they leave off vice? Or when will right be seen? I do not say between sinners and righteous men, but between sinners and sinners? For why is it that one is punished here, and another not punished, though he does the same sins, or even far worse? For if there be no hell, you will having nothing to say in defence of this to those who make it an objection. Wherefore my advice is, that we leave off this trifling, and stop the mouths of those that are gainsayers upon these subjects. For there will be an exact searching into the smallest things, both in the way of sins and in the way of good deeds, and we shall be punished for unchaste looks, and for idle words, and for mere reproachful words, and for drunkenness we shall render an account, as even for a cup of cold water we shall receive a reward, and a sigh only. (Eccl. xii. 14.) For it says, “Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry.” (Ez. ix. 4.) How then darest thou to say that He, who with so great exactness will search into our doings, threatened hell in bare words, and lightly? Do not, I beseech you, do not with these vain hopes destroy thyself and those that are persuaded by thee! For if thou disbelievest our words, make enquiry of Jews and Gentiles,513 See Bp. Taplor, Serm. on Sir G. Dalston; and Bp. Butler, Anal. 1. 2, note n. and all heretics. And all of them as with one mouth will answer that a judgment there shall be, and a retribution. And are men not enough? Ask the devils themselves, and thou wilt hear them cry, “Why hast thou come thither to torment us before the time.” (Matt. viii. 29.) And putting all this together persuade thy soul not to trifle idly, lest by experience thou come to know there is a hell, but from this thou mayest be sobered, and so able to escape those tortures, and attain to the good things to come; whereof may we all partake by the grace and love towards man, etc.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΛΑʹ. Ἀσπάσασθε Ἐπαίνετον τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου, ὅς ἐστιν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας εἰς Χριστόν. αʹ. Πολλοὺς καὶ τῶν σφόδρα δοκούντων εἶναι σπουδαίων τοῦτο τῆς ἐπιστολῆς τὸ μέρος παρατρέχειν ἡγοῦμαι, ὡς περιττὸν καὶ οὐδὲν μέγα ἔχον: καὶ τοῦτο αὐτὸ καὶ ἐν τῇ γενεαλογίᾳ τῇ ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ κειμένῃ πάσχειν αὐτοὺς νομίζω: ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ὀνομάτων ἐστὶ κατάλογος, οὐδὲν μέγα οἴονται ἐντεῦθεν κερδαίνειν. Καὶ οἱ μὲν τῶν χρυσοχόων παῖδες καὶ τὰ μικρὰ ψήγματα περιεργάζονται, οὗτοι δὲ καὶ μάζας χρυσίου τοσαύτας παρατρέχουσιν. Ἵν' οὖν μὴ τοῦτο πάσχωσιν, ἱκανὰ μὲν καὶ τὰ εἰρημένα ταύτης ἀπαγαγεῖν τῆς ῥᾳθυμίας αὐτούς. Ὅτι γὰρ οὐ μικρὸν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν κέρδος, ἐδείξαμεν καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἔμπροσθεν εἰρημένων, τὴν ψυχὴν ὑμῶν ἀναστήσαντες διὰ τῶν προσρήσεων τούτων: πειρασώμεθα δὲ καὶ σήμερον τὸ αὐτὸ πάλιν τοῦτο μεταλλεῦσαι τὸ χωρίον. Ἔστι γὰρ καὶ ἀπὸ ὀνομάτων ψιλῶν μέγαν εὑρεῖν θησαυρόν. Ἐὰν γοῦν μάθῃς διὰ τί Ἀβραὰμ ἐκλήθη, διὰ τί Σάῤῥα, διὰ τί Ἰσραὴλ, διὰ τί Σαμουὴλ, πολλῶν πραγμάτων καὶ ἐντεῦθεν ἱστορίας εὑρήσεις. Καὶ ἀπὸ καιρῶν δὲ καὶ ἀπὸ τόπων τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο δυνήσῃ συναγαγεῖν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ σπουδαῖος καὶ ἐντεῦθεν πλουτεῖ, ὁ δὲ ἀναπεπτωκὼς οὐδὲ ἀπὸ τῶν σφόδρα καταδήλων κερδαίνει. Καὶ γὰρ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ τὸ ὄνομα οὐ μικρὸν ἡμᾶς παιδεύει φιλοσοφίας, καὶ τὸ τοῦ παιδὸς ἐκείνου, καὶ τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτῆς, καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τὰ πλείω. Πολλῶν γάρ ἐστι πραγμάτων ὑπομνήματα τὰ ὀνόματα: καὶ Θεοῦ εὐεργεσίαν καὶ γυναικῶν δείκνυσιν εὐχαριστίαν: συλλαμβάνουσαι γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ δωρεᾶς, τὰ παιδία ὠνόμαζον αὗται. Ἀλλὰ τί νῦν περὶ ὀνομάτων φιλοσοφοῦμεν, νοημάτων τοσούτων ἀμελουμένων, καὶ πολλῶν οὐδὲ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτὰ τῶν βιβλίων εἰδότων; Πλὴν ἀλλ' οὐδ' οὕτως ἀναχωρητέον ἡμῖν τῆς περὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα σπουδῆς. Ἔδει γάρ σε, φησὶ, καταβαλεῖν τὸ ἀργύριον ἐπὶ τοὺς τραπεζίτας. Διόπερ κἂν μηδεὶς ὁ ὑποδεχόμενος ᾖ, τὸ αὑτῶν ποιῶμεν, καὶ δεικνύωμεν οὐδὲν περιττὸν οὐδὲ εἰκῆ προφερόμενον ταῖς Γραφαῖς. Εἰ γὰρ μηδὲν εἶχε ταῦτα κέρδος, οὐδ' ἂν προσετέθη τῇ Ἐπιστολῇ, οὐδ' ἂν Παῦλος ἔγραψεν ἅπερ ἔγραψεν. Ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὕτω τινές εἰσι βάναυσοι καὶ χαῦνοι καὶ τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνάξιοι, ὡς μὴ μόνον ὀνόματα, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁλόκληρα βιβλία περιττὰ εἶναι νομίζειν, ὡς τὸ Λευϊτικὸν, ὡς τὸν Ἰησοῦν, καὶ ἕτερα πλείονα. Οὕτω καὶ τὴν Παλαιὰν πολλοὶ τῶν ἀνοήτων ἐξέβαλον: καὶ ὁδῷ προβαίνοντες τῇ ἀπὸ πονηρᾶς ταύτης συνηθείας, πολλὰ καὶ τῆς Καινῆς περιέκοψαν. Ἀλλὰ τούτων μὲν ἅτε μεθυόντων καὶ τῇ σαρκὶ ζώντων οὐ πολὺς ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος: εἰ δέ τις φιλοσοφίας ἐραστὴς, καὶ πνευματικῆς ἀκροάσεως φίλος, ἀκουέτω ὅτι οὐδὲ τὰ μικρὰ δοκοῦντα εἶναι ἐν τῇ Γραφῇ, εἰκῆ κεῖται καὶ μάτην, καὶ ὅτι καὶ τὰ παλαιὰ πολὺ φέρει τὸ κέρδος. Ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα τύποι, καὶ πρὸς νουθεσίαν ἡμῶν ἐγράφη, φησί. Διὸ καὶ Τιμοθέῳ ἔλεγε, Πρόσεχε τῇ ἀναγνώσει, τῇ παρακλήσει, εἰς τὴν τῶν παλαιῶν αὐτὸν ἀνάγνωσιν ἐμβάλλων βιβλίων, ἄνθρωπον τοσοῦτον πνεῦμα ἔχοντα, ὡς καὶ δαιμόνια ἐλαύνειν καὶ νεκροὺς ἐγείρειν. Ἐχώμεθα τοίνυν τῶν προκειμένων. Ἀσπάσασθε Ἐπαίνετον τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου. Ἄξιον ἐντεῦθεν ἰδεῖν, πῶς ἑκάστῳ τοὺς ἐπαίνους ἀπονέμει διαφόρως. Οὐδὲ γὰρ μικρὸς οὗτος ὁ ἔπαινος, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα μέγας καὶ πολλῆς ἀρετῆς ἐνδεικτικὸς, τὸ Παῦλον ἔχειν ἀγαπητὸν, τὸν οὐκ εἰδότα χάριτι, ἀλλὰ κρίσει φιλεῖν. Εἶτα καὶ ἄλλο ἐγκώμιον: Ὅς ἐστιν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας. Ἢ γὰρ τοῦτό φησιν, ὅτι τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων προεπήδησε καὶ ἐπίστευσεν, ὅπερ οὐ μικρὸς ἔπαινος, ἢ ὅτι πάντων τῶν ἄλλων πλείονα ἐπιδείκνυται τὴν εὐλάβειαν. Διὰ τοῦτο εἰπὼν, Ὅς ἐστιν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, οὐκ ἐσίγησεν, ἵνα μὴ τὴν κοσμικὴν ὑποπτεύσῃς δόξαν, ἀλλὰ προσέθηκεν, Εἰς Χριστόν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς πολιτικοῖς πράγμασιν ὁ πρωτεύων μέγας εἶναι δοκεῖ καὶ λαμπρός: πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τούτοις. Ἐπεὶ γὰρ εἰκὸς ἦν αὐτοὺς ταπεινοῦ γένους εἶναι, λέγει τὴν ἀληθῆ εὐγένειαν καὶ τὴν προεδρίαν, ἐντεῦθεν αὐτὸν κοσμῶν. Καὶ οὐχὶ Κορίνθου μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁλοκλήρου ἔθνους φησὶν αὐτὸν ἀπαρχὴν εἶναι, ὡσανεὶ θύραν καὶ εἴσοδον τοῖς ἄλλοις γεγενημένον. Οὐ μικρὸς δὲ τοῖς τοιούτοις ὁ μισθός: καὶ γὰρ καὶ τῶν ἑτέροις κατωρθωμένων πολλὴν καρπώσεται τὴν ἀμοιβὴν ὁ τοιοῦτος, ἅτε καὶ ἐκείνοις πολὺ διὰ τῆς ἀρχῆς συνεισενεγκών. Ἀσπάσασθε Μαριὰμ, ἥτις πολλὰ ἐκοπίασεν εἰς ὑμᾶς. Τί τοῦτο; Πάλιν γυνὴ στεφανοῦται καὶ ἀνακηρύττεται, πάλιν ἡμεῖς αἰσχυνόμεθα οἱ ἄνδρες: μᾶλλον δὲ οὐκ αἰσχυνόμεθα μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ σεμνυνόμεθα. Σεμνυνόμεθα μὲν γὰρ, ὅτι τοιαῦται παρ' ἡμῖν γυναῖκες: αἰσχυνόμεθα δὲ, ὅτι σφόδρα αὐτῶν ἀπολιμπανόμεθα οἱ ἄνδρες. Ἀλλ' ἐὰν μάθωμεν πόθεν ἐκεῖναι καλλωπίζονται, ταχέως καὶ ἡμεῖς αὐτὰς καταληψόμεθα. Πόθεν οὖν καλλωπίζονται; Ἀκουέτωσαν καὶ ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες: οὐκ ἀπὸ τῶν ψελλίων, οὐδὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρμίσκων, οὐδὲ ἀπὸ τῶν εὐνούχων καὶ τῶν θεραπαινίδων καὶ τῶν χρυσοπάστων ἱματίων, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀληθείας ἱδρώτων. Ἥτις γὰρ, φησὶ, πολλὰ ἐκοπίασεν εἰς ἡμᾶς: οὐκ εἰς ἑαυτὴν μόνον οὐδὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν ἀρετὴν, ὃ πολλαὶ καὶ νῦν ποιοῦσι γυναῖκες νηστεύουσαι, χαμευνοῦσαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς ἑτέρους, ἀποστόλων καὶ εὐαγγελιστῶν ἀναδεξάμεναι δρόμους. Πῶς οὖν φησι, Γυναικὶ δὲ διδάσκειν οὐκ ἐπιτρέπω; Τῆς ἐν τῷ μέσῳ προεδρίας αὐτὴν κωλύων καὶ τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ ἐν τῷ βήματι, οὐ τοῦ λόγου τῆς διδασκαλίας: ἐπεὶ εἰ τοῦτο ἦν, πῶς ἔλεγε τῇ τὸν ἄπιστον ἄνδρα ἐχούσῃ: Τί γὰρ οἶδας, γύναι, εἰ τὸν ἄνδρα σώσεις; πῶς ἐπέτρεπε παῖδας νουθετεῖν λέγων: Σωθήσεται δὲ διὰ τῆς τεκνογονίας, ἐὰν ἐπιμείνωσι τῇ πίστει καὶ τῇ ἀγάπῃ καὶ τῷ ἁγιασμῷ μετὰ σωφροσύνης; Πῶς ἡ Πρίσκιλλα τὸν Ἀπολλὼ ἐκατήχει; Οὐ τοίνυν τὴν ἰδίᾳ διάλεξιν γινομένην ἐπ' ὠφελείᾳ διακόπτων τοῦτο ἔλεγεν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐν τῷ μέσῳ καὶ ἐν τῷ κοινῷ θεάτρῳ διδασκάλοις πρέπουσαν. Καὶ ὅταν πάλιν πιστὸς ὁ ἀνὴρ ᾖ καὶ σφόδρα ἀπηρτισμένος καὶ διδάσκειν αὐτὴν δυνάμενος, ὡς ἂν αὐτὴ σοφωτέρα ᾖ, οὐ κωλύει διδάσκειν καὶ διορθοῦν. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, Ἥτις πολλὰ ἐδίδαξεν, ἀλλ', Ἥτις πολλὰ ἐκοπίασε, δεικνὺς ὅτι μετὰ τοῦ λόγου καὶ ἕτερα ἄλλα διηκονεῖτο, τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν κινδύνων, τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν χρημάτων, τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποδημιῶν. βʹ. Λεόντων γὰρ θερμότεραι αἱ τότε γυναῖκες ἦσαν, διανεμόμεναι πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους τοὺς ὑπὲρ τοῦ κηρύγματος πόνους: διὰ τοῦτο καὶ συναπεδήμουν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα διηκονοῦντο. Καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ δὲ ἠκολούθουν γυναῖκες ἐκ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐταῖς διακονούμεναι, καὶ θεραπεύουσαι τὸν διδάσκαλον. Ἀσπάσασθε Ἀνδρόνικον καὶ Ἰουνίαν τοὺς συγγενεῖς μου. Δοκεῖ μὲν καὶ τοῦτο ἐγκώμιον εἶναι: τὸ δὲ ἐφεξῆς πολλῷ μεῖζον. Ποῖον δὲ τοῦτο; Καὶ συναιχμαλώτους μου. Τοῦτο γὰρ ὁ μέγιστος στέφανος, ἡ μεγάλη ἀνακήρυξις. Καὶ ποῦ γέγονεν αἰχμάλωτος Παῦλος, ἵνα εἴπῃ, Τοὺς συναιχμαλώτους μου; Αἰχμάλωτος μὲν οὐκ ἐγένετο, αἰχμαλώτων δὲ πολλῷ χαλεπώτερα ἔπασχεν, οὐ πατρίδος ἀλλοτριούμενος μόνον καὶ οἰκίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ λιμῷ παλαίων καὶ θανάτῳ διηνεκεῖ καὶ μυρίοις ἑτέροις. Τοῦ μὲν γὰρ αἰχμαλώτου τοῦτο μόνον ἐστὶ τὸ δεινὸν, ὅτι τῶν οἰκείων ἀλλοτριούμενος, δοῦλος γίνεται πολλάκις ἀντ' ἐλευθέρου: ἐνταῦθα δὲ νιφάδας ἔστιν εἰπεῖν πειρασμῶν, οὓς ὑπέμενεν ὁ μακάριος οὗτος, ἀγόμενος καὶ περιαγόμενος, μαστιγούμενος καὶ δεσμούμενος, λιθαζόμενος, καταποντιζόμενος, μυρίους ἔχων ἐπιβούλους. Καὶ οἱ μὲν αἰχμάλωτοι οὐδένα λοιπὸν ἔχουσι πολέμιον μετὰ τὴν ἀπαγωγὴν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πολλῆς ἀπολαύουσι προνοίας παρὰ τῶν εἰληφότων αὐτούς: οὗτος δὲ ἐν μέσοις περιεστρέφετο τοῖς πολεμίοις διηνεκῶς, καὶ πανταχοῦ δόρατα ἔβλεπε, καὶ ξίφη ἠκονημένα, καὶ παρατάξεις καὶ μάχας. Ἐπεὶ οὖν καὶ τούτους εἰκὸς ἦν πολλῶν αὐτῷ κεκοινωνηκέναι κινδύνων, συναιχμαλώτους αὐτοὺς καλεῖ, ὥσπερ καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ φησιν: Ἀρίσταρχος ὁ συναιχμάλωτός μου. Εἶτα καὶ ἕτερος ἔπαινος: Οἵτινές εἰσιν ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις. Καίτοι καὶ τὸ ἀποστόλους εἶναι μέγα, τὸ δὲ καὶ ἐν τούτοις ἐπισήμους εἶναι, ἐννόησον ἡλίκον ἐγκώμιον: ἐπίσημοι δὲ ἦσαν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων, ἀπὸ τῶν κατορθωμάτων. Βαβαὶ, πόση τῆς γυναικὸς ταύτης ἡ φιλοσοφία, ὡς καὶ τῆς τῶν ἀποστόλων ἀξιωθῆναι προσηγορίας. Καὶ οὐδὲ ἐνταῦθα ἵσταται, ἀλλ' ἕτερον πάλιν ἐγκώμιον προστίθησι, λέγων: Οἳ καὶ πρὸ ἐμοῦ γεγόνασιν ἐν Χριστῷ. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο ἔπαινος μέγιστος, τὸ προπηδῆσαι καὶ πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐλθεῖν. Σκόπει δέ μοι τὴν ἁγίαν ψυχὴν πῶς κενοδοξίας ἦν καθαρά. Μετὰ γὰρ τὴν τοσαύτην καὶ τηλικαύτην δόξαν ἑτέρους ἑαυτοῦ προτίθησι, καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρύπτεται τὸ ὕστερος αὐτῶν ἐλθεῖν, οὐδὲ αἰσχύνεται τοῦτο ὁμολογῶν. Καὶ τί θαυμάζεις, εἰ τοῦτο οὐκ αἰσχύνεται, ὅπου γε καὶ τὸν πρότερον αὐτοῦ βίον ἐκπομπεύειν οὐ παραιτεῖται, βλάσφημον ἑαυτὸν καὶ διώκτην καλῶν; Ἐπεὶ οὖν οὐκ εἶχε τῶν ἄλλων ἐντεῦθεν αὐτοὺς προτιθέναι, ἐζήτησε τὸν μετὰ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐλθόντα ἑαυτὸν, καὶ εὗρε καὶ ἐντεῦθεν αὐτοῖς συνθεῖναι ἔπαινον, εἰπὼν, Οἳ καὶ πρὸ ἐμοῦ γεγόνασιν ἐν Χριστῷ. Ἀσπάσασθε Ἀμπλίαν τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου. Πάλιν τοῦτον ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγάπης ἐγκωμιάζει: ἡ γὰρ ἀγάπη Παύλου διὰ τὸν Θεὸν, ἦν, μυρία ἔχουσα ἀγαθά. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ παρὰ βασιλέως ἀγαπᾶσθαι, μέγα, τὸ παρὰ Παύλου φιλεῖσθαι, ἡλίκον ἐγκώμιον; Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν, εἰ μὴ πολλὴν ἀρετὴν ἐκέκτητο, εἰς ἔρωτα αὐτὸν ἐπεσπάσατο. Οἶδε γὰρ τοὺς ἐν κακίᾳ ζῶντας καὶ παρανομίαις οὐ μόνον οὐ φιλεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀναθεματίζειν: ὡς ὅταν λέγῃ, Εἴ τις οὐ φιλεῖ τὸν Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν, ἔστω ἀνάθεμα: καὶ, Εἴ τις ὑμᾶς εὐαγγελίζεται παρ' ὃ παρελάβετε, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω. Καὶ Οὐρβανὸν τὸν συνεργόν μου ἐν Χριστῷ. Τοῦτο ἐκείνου μεῖζον τὸ ἐγκώμιον: καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐκεῖνο περιέχει τοῦτο. Καὶ Στάχυν τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου. Πάλιν ἀπὸ τῶν αὐτῶν στεφανοῖ καὶ τοῦτον. Ἀσπάσασθε Ἀπελλῆν τὸν δόκιμον ἐν Χριστῷ. Οὐδὲν τούτου τοῦ ἐπαίνου ἴσον, τὸ ἄληπτον εἶναι καὶ μηδεμίαν παρέχειν λαβὴν ἐν τοῖς κατὰ Θεὸν πράγμασιν. Ὅταν γὰρ εἴπῃ, Τὸν δόκιμον ἐν Χριστῷ. πᾶσαν ἀρετὴν καταλέγει. Καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν οὐδαμοῦ φησι, Τὸν κύριόν μου τὸν δεῖνα, καὶ τὸν δεσπότην μου; Ὅτι ταῦτα ἐκείνων μείζω τὰ ἐγκώμια: ἐκεῖνα μὲν γὰρ τιμῆς ἐστιν ἁπλῶς, ταῦτα δὲ ἀρετῆς. Καὶ τούτῳ δὲ αὐτῷ τετίμηκεν αὐτοὺς οὐχ ὡς ἔτυχε, τῷ πολλοὺς τῶν καταδεεστέρων μετὰ τῶν ὑψηλῶν καὶ μεγάλων προσαγορεύειν. Τῷ μὲν γὰρ προσειπεῖν, καὶ μετ' ἀλλήλων προσειπεῖν, καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ ἐπιστολῇ, πάντας ὁμοίως ἐτίμησε: τῷ δὲ τὰ ἰδιάζοντα ἑκάστου θεῖναι ἐγκώμια, τὴν ἰδιάζουσαν ἑκάστου παρέστησεν ἡμῖν ἀρετήν: ὡς μήτε φθόνον τεκεῖν τῷ τοὺς μὲν τιμῆσαι, τοὺς δὲ ἀτιμάσαι, μήτε ῥᾳθυμίαν καὶ σύγχυσιν ἐργάσασθαι ἐκ τοῦ πάντας τῶν αὐτῶν ἀξιῶσαι οὐ τῶν αὐτῶν ὄντας ἀξίους. γʹ. Ὅρα γοῦν πῶς πάλιν ἐπὶ τὰς θαυμαστὰς ἔρχεται γυναῖκας. Εἰπὼν γὰρ, Ἀσπάσασθε τοὺς ἐκ τῶν Ἀριστοβούλου, καὶ Ἡρωδίωνα τὸν συγγενῆ μου, καὶ τοὺς ἐκ τῶν Ναρκίσσου (οὓς εἰκὸς ἴσως μὴ τοιούτους εἶναι, οἵους τοὺς ἔμπροσθεν: διὸ οὐδὲ ὀνομαστὶ τῶν πάντων μέμνηται, καὶ τὸ προσῆκον αὐτοῖς ἐγκώμιον ἀποδοὺς, τὸ πιστοὺς εἶναι: τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι, Τοὺς ὄντας ἐν Κυρίῳ): ἐπὶ γυναῖκας πάλιν ἄγει τὴν πρόσρησιν, λέγων: Ἀσπάσασθε Τρύφαιναν καὶ Τρυφῶσαν τὰς κοπιώσας ἐν Κυρίῳ. Καὶ περὶ μὲν ἐκείνης φησὶν, ὅτι Ἐκοπίασεν εἰς ἡμᾶς: περὶ δὲ τούτων, ὅτι ἔτι κοπιῶσιν. Οὐ μικρὸν δὲ τοῦτο ἐγκώμιον, τὸ ἐν ἔργοις εἶναι δι' ὅλου, καὶ μὴ μόνον ἐνεργεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ κοπιᾷν. Τὴν δὲ Περσίδα καὶ ἀγαπητὴν καλεῖ, δεικνὺς μείζονα τούτων οὖσαν: Ἀσπάσασθε γὰρ, φησὶ, Περσίδα τὴν ἀγαπητήν. Καὶ πολὺν αὐτῇ μαρτυρεῖ κάματον, λέγων: Ἥτις πολλὰ ἐκοπίασεν ἐν Κυρίῳ. Οὕτως οἶδεν ἕκαστον κατὰ τὴν ἀξίαν ὀνομάζειν, τούτους τε προθυμοτέρους ποιῶν τῷ μηδενὸς τῶν προσόντων αὐτοῖς ἀποστερεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν μικροτάτην ὑπεροχὴν ἀνακηρύττειν: τούς τε ἑτέρους σπουδαιοτέρους κατασκευάζων, καὶ εἰς τὸν αὐτὸν ἐνάγων ζῆλον τοῖς περὶ τούτων ἐγκωμίοις: Ἀσπάσασθε Ῥοῦφον τὸν ἐκλεκτὸν ἐν Κυρίῳ, καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐμοῦ. Ὁλόκληρα πάλιν ἐνταῦθα τὰ ἀγαθὰ, ὅταν καὶ ὁ παῖς τοιοῦτος ᾖ, καὶ ἡ μήτηρ τοιαύτη, καὶ πλήρης ἡ οἰκία εὐλογίας, καὶ ἡ ῥίζα τῷ καρπῷ συμβαίνῃ. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἁπλῶς εἶπε, Μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐμοῦ, εἰ μὴ πολλὴν ἐμαρτύρει τῇ γυναικὶ τὴν ἀρετήν. Ἀσπάσασθε Ἀσύγκριτον, Φλέγοντα, Ἑρμᾶν, Πατρόβαν, Ἑρμῆν, καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτοῖς ἀδελφούς. Ἐνταῦθα μὴ τοῦτο ἴδῃς, ὅτι χωρὶς ἐγκωμίων αὐτοὺς τίθησιν, ἀλλ' ὅτι σφόδρα καὶ τοὺς καταδεεστέρους ὄντας ἁπάντων οὐκ ἀπηξίωσε τῆς παρ' αὐτοῦ προσρήσεως: μᾶλλον δὲ οὐ μικρὸν καὶ τοῦτο ἐγκώμιον, τὸ καὶ ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοὺς καλεῖν, ὡσπεροῦν καὶ τοὺς μετ' αὐτοὺς ἁγίους: Ἀσπάσασθε γὰρ, φησὶ, Φιλόλογον καὶ Ἰουλίαν, καὶ Νηρέα καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ Ὀλυμπᾶν καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτοῖς πάντας ἁγίους: ὅπερ μέγιστον ἦν ἀξίωμα, καὶ τιμῆς μέγεθος ἄφατον. Εἶτα, ἵνα μηδεμία φιλονεικία γένηται τῷ τοὺς μὲν οὕτω, τοὺς δὲ οὕτω προσειρῆσθαι, καὶ τοὺς μὲν ὀνομαστὶ, τοὺς δὲ ἀδιορίστως, καὶ τοὺς μὲν μετὰ πλειόνων ἐγκωμίων, τοὺς δὲ μετὰ ἐλαττόνων, ἀνακιρνᾷ πάλιν αὐτοὺς τῇ τῆς ἀγάπης ἰσοτιμίᾳ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ φιλήματι, λέγων: Ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι ἁγίῳ: διὰ τῆς εἰρήνης ταύτης πάντα ἐκβάλλων θορυβοῦντα αὐτοὺς λογισμὸν καὶ μικροψυχίας ἀφορμὴν, ἵνα μήτε ὁ μέγας καταφρονῇ τοῦ ἐλάττονος, μήτε ὁ μικρὸς βασκαίνῃ τῷ μείζονι: ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑπεροψία καὶ φθόνος ἀπελαύνηται, τοῦ φιλήματος τούτου πάντα καταπραΰνοντός τε καὶ ἐξισοῦντος. Διὸ οὐ μόνον αὐτοὺς ἀσπάσασθαι κελεύει οὕτως, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν πασῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν ἀσπασμὸν οὕτως αὐτοῖς διαπέμπεται. Ἀσπάζονται γὰρ, φησὶν, ὑμᾶς, οὐκέτι τὸν δεῖνα καὶ τὸν δεῖνα κατ' ἰδίαν, ἀλλὰ κοινῇ πάντας, αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Εἶδες πῶς οὐ μικρὰ καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν προσρήσεων τούτων ἐκερδάναμεν; Ὅσους θησαυροὺς ἐμέλλομεν παρατρέχειν, εἰ μὴ καὶ τουτὶ τὸ μέρος τῆς ἐπιστολῆς μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἐξητάσαμεν, τῆς ἡμῖν ἐγχωρούσης λέγω; ὡς εἴ γε τις εὑρεθείη σοφὸς ἀνὴρ καὶ πνευματικὸς, καὶ βαθύτερον καταβήσεται, καὶ πλείους ὄψεται τοὺς μαργαρίτας. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδή τινες ἐζήτησαν πολλάκις, τί δήποτε ἐν τῇ ἐπιστολῇ ταύτῃ τοσούτους προσεῖπεν, ὅπερ ἐν ἑτέρᾳ οὐκ ἐποίησεν ἐπιστολῇ: τοῦτο ἂν εἴποιμεν, ὅτι διὰ τὸ μηδέποτε ἑωρακέναι Ῥωμαίους τοῦτο ποιεῖ. Καίτοι γε, φησὶν, οὐδὲ Κολοσσαέας εἶδε, καὶ οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον ἐποίησεν. Ἀλλ' οὗτοι δοκιμώτεροι τῶν ἄλλων ἦσαν, καὶ ἐξ ἑτέρων πόλεων ἐκεῖ μεταστάντες, ὡς εἰς ἀσφαλεστέραν τινὰ καὶ βασιλικωτέραν πόλιν. Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἐν ξένῃ διῆγον, καὶ πολλῆς ἀσφαλείας ἔδει ἀπολαύειν αὐτοὺς, καὶ τῶν αὐτῷ γνωρίμων ἦσάν τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν, οἱ δὲ καὶ διακονησάμενοι πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ παρόντες: εἰκότως αὐτοὺς συνίστησι διὰ τῶν γραμμάτων. Καὶ γὰρ οὐ μικρὰ ἦν ἡ δόξα Παύλου τότε, ἀλλὰ τοσαύτη, ὡς καὶ ἀπὸ γραμμάτων μόνων πολλὴν ἔχειν προστασίαν τοὺς τῶν ἐπιστολῶν ἀπολαύοντας: οὐδὲ γὰρ ᾐδοῦντο μόνον αὐτὸν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐδεδοίκεσαν. Εἰ γὰρ μὴ τοῦτο ἦν, οὐκ ἂν εἶπεν, Ἥτις προστάτις πολλῶν ἐγενήθη, καὶ αὐτοῦ ἐμοῦ: καὶ πάλιν, Ηὐχόμην ἀνάθεμα εἶναι αὐτὸς ἐγώ. Καὶ Φιλήμονι γράφων ἔλεγεν, Ὡς Παῦλος πρεσβύτης, νυνὶ δὲ καὶ δέσμιος ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ: καὶ Γαλάταις, Ἴδε ἐγὼ Παῦλος λέγω ὑμῖν: καὶ, Ὡς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐδέξασθέ με. Καὶ Κορινθίοις δὲ ἐπιστέλλων ἔλεγεν: Ὡς μὴ ἐρχομένου δέ μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἐφυσιώθησάν τινες: καὶ πάλιν, Ταῦτα δὲ μετεσχημάτισα εἰς ἐμαυτὸν καὶ Ἀπολλὼ, ἵνα ἐν ἡμῖν μάθητε τὸ μὴ ὑπὲρ ὃ γέγραπται φρονεῖν. Δι' ὧν ἁπάντων δῆλον, ὅτι μεγάλην περὶ αὐτοῦ εἶχον δόξαν ἅπαντες. Βουλόμενος τοίνυν αὐτοὺς εἶναι ἐν ἀδείᾳ καὶ τιμῇ, προσεῖπεν ἕκαστον, κατὰ τὸ ἐγχωροῦν καλλωπίζων αὐτούς. Τὸν μὲν γὰρ ἀγαπητὸν ἐκάλεσε, τὸν δὲ συγγενῆ, τὸν δὲ ἀμφότερα, τὸν δὲ συναιχμάλωτον, τὸν δὲ συνεργὸν, τὸν δὲ δόκιμον, τὸν δὲ ἐκλεκτόν: καὶ τὴν μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀξιώματος: οὐδὲ γὰρ ἁπλῶς Τὴν διακονουμένην φησὶν, ἐπεὶ εἰ τοῦτο ἦν, καὶ τὰς περὶ Τρύφαιναν καὶ Περσίδα οὕτως ἂν ὠνόμασεν, ἀλλὰ τὴν μὲν, χειροτονίαν ἔχουσαν διακόνου, τὴν δὲ συνεργὸν καὶ λειτουργὸν, τὴν δὲ μητέρα, τὴν δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν κόπων ὧν ἐκοπίασε: καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκίας, τοὺς δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὀνόματος, τοὺς δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν ἁγίων προσηγορίας: καὶ τοὺς μὲν αὐτῷ τῷ προσαγορεῦσαι τιμᾷ, τοὺς δὲ καὶ τῷ ὀνομαστὶ προσαγορεῦσαι: καὶ τοὺς μὲν τῷ προσειπεῖν ἀπαρχὴν, τοὺς δὲ τοῖς τῶν χρόνων πρεσβείοις: πλέον δὲ ἁπάντων τοὺς περὶ Πρίσκιλλαν καὶ Ἀκύλαν. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ πάντες ἦσαν πιστοὶ, ἀλλ' οὐ πάντες ὅμοιοι, ἀλλὰ διεστήκασι τοῖς ἄθλοις. Διὸ δὴ καὶ εἰς μείζονα ζῆλον ἅπαντας ἄγων, οὐδενὸς ἔκρυψε τὰ ἐγκώμια. Ὅταν γὰρ οἱ πλείονα ποιοῦντες, οὐ πλείονα τὸν μισθὸν λαμβάνωσι, πολλοὶ γίνονται ῥᾳθυμότεροι. δʹ. Διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ ἴση ἡ τιμὴ, οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς μαθηταῖς πάντες ἴσοι, ἀλλ' οἱ τρεῖς τῶν ἄλλων προεῖχον, καὶ ἐν τούτοις αὐτοῖς τοῖς τρισὶ πολλὴ πάλιν διαφορά: πολλὴ γὰρ ἀκρίβεια παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ καὶ μέχρι τῶν ἐσχάτων. Καὶ γὰρ ἀστὴρ ἀστέρος διαφέρει ἐν δόξῃ, φησί. Καίτοι γε πάντες ἦσαν ἀπόστολοι, καὶ πάντες ἐπὶ δώδεκα θρόνους μέλλουσι καθῆσθαι, καὶ πάντες ἀφῆκαν τὰ ἑαυτῶν, καὶ πάντες αὐτῷ συνῆσαν: ἀλλ' ὅμως τοὺς τρεῖς ἐλάμβανε. Καὶ πάλιν καὶ τούτων αὐτῶν ἔφησέ τινας ἐγχωρεῖν καὶ ὑπερέξειν: Τὸ γὰρ καθίσαι, φησὶν, ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων, οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ' οἷς ἡτοίμασται. Καὶ τὸν Πέτρον δὲ αὐτῶν προτίθησι λέγων, Φιλεῖς με πλέον τούτων; καὶ ὁ Ἰωάννης δὲ ὑπὲρ τοὺς ἄλλους ἠγαπᾶτο. Καὶ γὰρ πάντων ἐξέτασις ἔστα ἀκριβής: κἂν μικρὸν ὑπερέχῃς τοῦ πλησίον, κἂν ἀκαριαῖον, κἂν ὁτιοῦν, οὐδὲ τοῦτο παρόψεται ὁ Θεός. Καὶ τοῦτο καὶ ἄνωθεν ἴδοι τις ἂν διαλάμπον. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Λὼτ δίκαιος ἦν, ἀλλ' οὐχ οὕτως ὡς ὁ Ἀβραάμ: καὶ ὁ Ἰεζεκίας πάλιν, ἀλλ' οὐχ οὕτως ὡς ὁ Δαυΐδ: καὶ οἱ προφῆται πάντες, ἀλλ' οὐχ οὕτως ὡς ὁ Ἰωάννης. Ποῦ τοίνυν εἰσὶν οἱ μετὰ τὴν τοσαύτην ἀκρίβειαν οὐ βουλόμενοι εἶναι γέενναν; Εἰ γὰρ οἱ δίκαιοι πάντες οὐ τῶν αὐτῶν ἀπολαύσονται, κἂν μικρὸν ὦσι τῶν ἑτέρων ὑπερέχοντες (Ἀστὴρ γὰρ ἀστέρος διαφέρει, φησὶν, ἐν δόξῃ): πῶς οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐν τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἔσονται τοῖς δικαίοις; Ταύτην γὰρ οὐδ' ἂν ἄνθρωπος ἐργάσαιτο τὴν σύγχυσιν, μήτι γε ὁ Θεός. Εἰ δὲ βούλεσθε, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἡμαρτηκότων, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἤδη γεγενημένων ταύτην ὑμῖν δείξω τὴν διαφορὰν καὶ τὴν ἀκριβῆ δικαιοκρισίαν. Σκόπει δέ: ἥμαρτεν ὁ Ἀδὰμ, ἥμαρτε καὶ ἡ Εὔα: καὶ ἀμφότεροι μὲν παρέβησαν, οὐκ ἐξ ἴσης δὲ ἥμαρτον: οὐκοῦν οὐδὲ ἐξ ἴσης ἐκολάσθησαν. Τοσοῦτον γὰρ τὸ μέσον ἦν, ὡς Παῦλον εἰπεῖν, ὅτι Ἀδὰμ οὐκ ἠπατήθη, ἡ δὲ γυνὴ ἀπατηθεῖσα ἐν παραβάσει γέγονε. Καίτοι ἡ ἀπάτη μία ἦν: ἀλλ' ὅμως ἡ τοῦ Θεοῦ μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἐξέτασις τοσοῦτον ἔδειξε τὸ μέσον, ὡς Παῦλον εἰπεῖν τοῦτο. Πάλιν ὁ μὲν Κάϊν ἐκολάζετο: ὁ δὲ Λάμεχ μετ' ἐκεῖνον φονεύσας, οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον ἔπαθε: καίτοι καὶ τοῦτο φόνος, κἀκεῖνο φόνος, καὶ πολλῷ χαλεπώτερος, ὅτι μηδὲ τῷ παραδείγματι γέγονε βελτίων οὗτος: ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐπειδὴ ὁ μὲν οὔτε ἀδελφὸν ἔσφαξε μετὰ παραίνεσιν, οὔτε ἐδεήθη τοῦ κατηγορήσοντος, οὔτε Θεοῦ ἐρωτῶντος ἠναισχύντησεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ μηδενὸς ἐλέγχοντος καὶ κατεῖπεν ἑαυτοῦ καὶ κατεδίκασε, συγγνώμης ἔτυχεν: ὁ δὲ, ἐπειδὴ τἀναντία ἐποίησεν, ἐτιμωρεῖτο. Ἴδε μεθ' ὅσης ἀκριβείας ἐξετάζει τὰ γινόμενα ὁ Θεός. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τοὺς ἐν τῷ κατακλυσμῷ ἑτέρως, καὶ τοὺς ἐν Σοδόμοις ἄλλως ἐτιμωρήσατο: καὶ τοὺς Ἰσραηλίτας δὲ πάλιν διαφόρως, καὶ τοὺς ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, καὶ τοὺς ἐπ' Ἀντιόχου: δεικνὺς, ὅτι πολὺν ἔχει τῶν ἡμετέρων λόγον. Καὶ οἱ μὲν ἑβδομήκοντα ἐδούλευσαν ἔτη, οἱ δὲ τετρακόσια: οἱ δὲ τέκνα ἔφαγον, καὶ μυρίας ἑτέρας χαλεπωτέρας ὑπέμειναν συμφορὰς, καὶ οὐδὲ ταύτῃ ἀπηλλάγησαν οὔτε οὗτοι οὔτε οἱ ζῶντες καέντες ἐν Σοδόμοις. Ἀνεκτότερον γὰρ, φησὶν, ἔσται γῇ Σοδόμων καὶ Γομόῤῥων, ἢ τῇ πόλει ἐκείνῃ. Εἰ μὲν γὰρ μηδὲν αὐτῷ μήτε ἁμαρτανόντων ἡμῶν μέλει, μήτε κατορθούντων, ἴσως ἕξει τινὰ λόγον τὸ λέγειν μὴ εἶναι κόλασιν: εἰ δὲ τοσαύτην ποιεῖται σπουδὴν, ὥστε μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν ἡμᾶς, καὶ τοσαῦτα πραγματεύεται, ὥστε κατορθοῦν, εὔδηλον ὅτι καὶ ἁμαρτάνοντας κολάζει, καὶ κατορθοῦντας στεφανοῖ. Σὺ δέ μοι σκόπει τῶν πολλῶν τὴν ἀνωμαλίαν. Ἐνταῦθα μὲν γὰρ ἐγκαλοῦσι τῷ Θεῷ, ὅτι μακροθυμεῖ πολλάκις, καὶ περιορᾷ πολλοὺς μιαροὺς, ἀσελγεῖς, βιαίους, μὴ διδόντας δίκην: ἐκεῖ πάλιν ἂν ἀπειλήσῃ κολάζειν αὐτοὺς, σφοδροὶ καὶ βαρεῖς εἰσιν αἰτιώμενοι: καίτοι γε εἰ τοῦτο λυπεῖ, ἐκεῖνο ἀποδέχεσθαι ἔδει καὶ θαυμάζειν. Ἀλλ' ὢ τῆς ἀνοίας, ὢ τῆς ἀλόγου καὶ ὀνώδους γνώμης: ὢ φιλαμαρτήμονος καὶ φιληδόνου καὶ πρὸς κακίαν βλεπούσης ψυχῆς: καὶ γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς φιληδονίας τὰ δόγματα ἅπαντα ταῦτα τίκτεται: ὡς εἰ βουληθεῖεν οἱ ταῦτα λέγοντες ἀρετῆς ἐπιλαβέσθαι, ταχέως καὶ περὶ τῆς γεέννης πιστωθήσονται, καὶ οὐκ ἀμφιβαλοῦσι. Καὶ ποῦ, φησὶ, καὶ ἐν ποίῳ χωρίῳ αὕτη ἔσται ἡ γέεννα; Τί γάρ σοι τούτου μέλει; τὸ γὰρ ζητούμενον, δεῖξαι ὅτι ἔστιν, οὐχ ὅπου τεταμίευται καὶ ἐν ποίῳ χωρίῳ. Τινὲς μὲν γὰρ μυθολογοῦντές φασιν, ὅτι ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι τοῦ Ἰωσαφὰτ, ὃ περὶ πολέμου τινὸς εἴρηται παρελθόντος, καὶ νῦν τοῦτο εἰς τὴν γέενναν ἕλκοντες: ἡ δὲ Γραφὴ οὐ τοῦτό φησιν. Ἀλλ' ἐν ποίῳ τόπῳ, φησὶν, ἔσται; Ἔξω που, ὡς ἔγωγε οἶμαι, τοῦ κόσμου τούτου παντός. Καθάπερ γὰρ τῶν βασιλείων τὰ δεσμωτήρια καὶ τὰ μέταλλα πόῤῥω διέστηκεν, οὕτω δὴ καὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης ταύτης ἔξω που ἔσται ἡ γέεννα. δʹ. Μὴ τοίνυν ζητῶμεν ποῦ ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ πῶς ἂν αὐτὴν φύγοιμεν: μηδὲ ἐπειδὴ πάντας ἐνταῦθα οὐ κολάζει Θεὸς, διὰ τοῦτο ἀπίστει τοῖς μέλλουσι: φιλάνθρωπος γάρ ἐστι, καὶ μακροθυμεῖ. Διὰ τοῦτο ἀπειλεῖ, καὶ οὐκ εὐθέως ἐμβάλλει: Οὐ γὰρ θέλω, φησὶ, τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ. Εἰ δὲ μή ἐστι θάνατος ἁμαρτωλοῦ, περιττὸν τὸ εἰρημένον. Καὶ οἶδα μὲν, ὅτι οὐδὲν ἀηδέστερον τούτων ὑμῖν τῶν λόγων: ἀλλ' ἐμοὶ τούτων οὐδὲν ἥδιον. Καὶ εἴθε ἦν καὶ ἀριστοποιουμένους καὶ δειπνοῦντας καὶ λουομένους καὶ πανταχοῦ περὶ γεέννης διαλέγεσθαι: οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν ἠλγήσαμεν τοῖς ἐνταῦθα δεινοῖς, οὐκ ἂν ἥσθημεν τοῖς χρηστοῖς. Τί γάρ μοι καὶ εἰπεῖν ἔχεις δεινόν; πενίαν, νόσον, αἰχμαλωσίαν, πήρωσιν σώματος; Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πάντα γέλως πρὸς τὴν ἐκεῖ κόλασιν: κἂν τοὺς δι' ὅλου βασανιζομένους λιμῷ λέγῃς, κἂν τοὺς ἐκ πρώτης ἡλικίας πεπηρωμένους καὶ προσαιτοῦντας, τρυφὴ καὶ ταῦτα πρὸς ἐκεῖνα τὰ κακά. Συνεχῶς τοίνυν στρέφωμεν τοὺς περὶ τούτων λόγους: οὐ γὰρ ἀφίησιν ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς γέενναν τὸ μεμνῆσθαι γεέννης. Οὐκ ἀκούεις Παύλου λέγοντος: Οἵτινες δίκην τίσουσιν αἰώνιον ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου; οὐκ ἀκούεις οἷος ὁ Νέρων ἐγένετο, ὃν καὶ μυστήριον καλεῖ τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου ὁ Παῦλος; Τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη, φησὶν, ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας. Τί οὖν; οὐδὲν πείσεται ὁ Νέρων; οὐδὲν πείσεται ὁ ἀντίχριστος, οὐδὲν ὁ διάβολος; Οὐκοῦν ἀεὶ ὁ ἀντίχριστος ἔσται, καὶ ὁ διάβολος: οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀποστήσονται τῆς κακίας μὴ κολαζόμενοι. Ναὶ, φησίν: ἀλλ' ὅτι μέν ἔστι κόλασις καὶ γέεννα, παντί που δῆλον: οἱ δὲ ἄπιστοι ἐμπεσοῦνται μόνοι. Τίνος ἕνεκεν, εἰπέ μοι; Ὅτι οἱ πιστοὶ, φησὶ, τὸν Δεσπότην ἐπέγνωσαν τὸν ἑαυτῶν. Καὶ τί τοῦτο; Ὅταν γὰρ ὁ βίος ἀκάθαρτος ᾖ, καὶ μείζονα κατὰ τοῦτο δώσουσι δίκην τῶν ἀπίστων: Ὅσοι γὰρ ἀνόμως ἥμαρτον, ἀνόμως καὶ ἀπολοῦνται: καὶ ὅσοι ἐν νόμῳ ἥμαρτον, διὰ νόμου κριθήσονται: καὶ, Ὁ οἰκέτης ὁ εἰδὼς τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου αὑτοῦ, καὶ μὴ ποιήσας, δαρήσεται πολλάς. Εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἔστι βίου δοῦναι λόγον, ἀλλ' ἁπλῶς ταῦτα εἴρηται, οὐδὲ ὁ διάβολος τιμωρηθήσεται: καὶ γὰρ τὸν Θεὸν οἶδε, καὶ ἀνθρώπων μᾶλλον πολλῶν: καὶ οἱ δαίμονες δὲ πάντες καὶ ἴσασιν αὐτὸν, καὶ φρίττουσι, καὶ κριτὴν ὁμολογοῦσιν. Εἰ τοίνυν βίου οὐκ ἔστι δοῦναι λόγον, οὐδὲ πονηρῶν πράξεων, διαφεύξονται καὶ οὗτοι. Οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα, οὐκ ἔστι: μὴ ἑαυτοὺς ἀπατᾶτε, ἀγαπητοί. Εἰ γὰρ μὴ ἔστι γέεννα, πῶς κρινοῦσι τὰς δώδεκα φυλὰς τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ οἱ ἀπόστολοι; πῶς φησιν ὁ Παῦλος: Οὐκ οἴδατε, ὅτι ἀγγέλους κρινοῦμεν; μήτι γε βιωτικά; πῶς ὁ Χριστὸς ἔλεγεν: Ἄνδρες Νινευῖται ἀναστήσονται ἐν τῇ κρίσει, καὶ κατακρινοῦσι τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην; καὶ, Ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται γῇ Σοδόμων ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως; Τί τοίνυν παίζεις ἐν οὐ παικτοῖς; τί ἀπατᾷς σαυτὸν καὶ παραλογίζῃ τὴν ψυχήν σου, ἄνθρωπε; τί τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίᾳ μάχῃ; Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο καὶ ἡτοίμασεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἠπείλησεν, ἵνα μὴ ἐμπέσωμεν, τῷ φόβῳ γενόμενοι βελτίους. Ὥστε ὁ τὸν περὶ τούτων ἀναιρῶν λόγον, οὐδὲν ἕτερον λανθάνει ποιῶν, ἢ εἰς αὐτὴν αὑτὸν ὠθεῖ καὶ ἐμβάλλει διὰ τῆς ἀπάτης ταύτης. Μὴ τοίνυν ἐκλύσῃς τὰς χεῖρας τῶν ὑπὲρ ἀρετῆς πονούντων, μηδὲ ἐπιτείνῃς τὴν ῥᾳθυμίαν τῶν καθευδόντων. Εἰ γὰρ πεισθεῖεν οἱ πολλοὶ, ὅτι γέεννα οὐκ ἔστι, πότε ἀποστήσονται τῆς κακίας; ποῦ δὲ καὶ τὸ δίκαιον φανεῖται; Οὐ λέγω ἐπὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ δικαίων, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν. Διὰ τί ὁ μὲν ἐκολάσθη ἐνταῦθα, ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἐκολάσθη τὰ αὐτὰ ἁμαρτὼν, ἢ καὶ πολλῷ χαλεπώτερα; Εἰ γὰρ οὐκ ἔστι γέεννα, οὐδὲν ὑπὲρ τούτων δυνήσῃ ἀπολογήσασθαι τοῖς ἐγκαλοῦσι. Διὸ παρακαλῶ παυσαμένους τοῦ γέλωτος τούτου, ἐπιστομίζειν τοὺς ὑπὲρ τούτων ἡμῖν ἀντιλέγοντας. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τῶν μικροτάτων καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἁμαρτήμασι καὶ ἐν τοῖς κατορθώμασιν ἀκριβὴς ἔσται ἡ ἐξέτασις. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ὀφθαλμῶν ἀκολάστων δώσομεν δίκην, καὶ ῥήματος ἀργοῦ, καὶ γέλωτος καὶ λοιδορίας ἁπλῶς, καὶ ἐνθυμήσεως, καὶ μέθης εὐθύνας ὑφέξομεν: ὡς πάλιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς καὶ ποτηρίου ψυχροῦ ληψόμεθα μισθὸν καὶ λόγου ἀγαθοῦ καὶ στεναγμοῦ μόνου. Δὸς γὰρ, φησὶ, τὸ σημεῖον ἐπὶ τὸ πρόσωπον τῶν στεναζόντων καὶ κατοδυνωμένων: πῶς οὖν τολμᾷς εἰπεῖν, ὅτι ὁ μετὰ τοσαύτης ἀκριβείας ἐξετάζων τὰ ἡμέτερα, ἁπλῶς καὶ εἰκῆ τὴν γέενναν ἠπείλησε; Μὴ, παρακαλῶ, μὴ ταῖς κεναῖς ταύταις ἐλπίσι σεαυτὸν ἀπόλλυε, καὶ τοὺς πειθομένους. Εἰ γὰρ τοῖς ἡμετέροις ἀπιστεῖς λόγοις, ἐξέτασον Ἰουδαίους, Ἕλληνας, αἱρετικοὺς ἅπαντας, καὶ πάντες ὡς ἐξ ἑνὸς στόματος ἀποκρινοῦνται, ὅτι κρίσις ἔσται καὶ ἀντίδοσις. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀρκοῦσιν ἄνθρωποι; Ἐρώτησον καὶ τοὺς δαίμονας αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀκούσῃ βοώντων: Τί ἦλθες ὧδε πρὸ καιροῦ βασανίσαι ἡμᾶς; καὶ ταῦτα πάντα συναγαγὼν πεῖσον τὴν ψυχὴν μὴ μάτην ληρεῖν, ἵνα μὴ διὰ τῆς πείρας μάθῃ τὴν γέενναν, ἀλλ' ἐντεῦθεν σωφρονισθεῖσα καὶ τὰς βασάνους ἐκείνας δυνηθῇ διαφυγεῖν, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν ἐπιτυχεῖν, 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.