Homilies Of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop Of Constantinople, On The First Epistle Of St. Paul The Apostle To The Thessalonians.

Homily I.

1 Thessalonians i. 1–3

“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace.1    [Some mss. and editions add, “from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ,” as it is added in Text. Rec. of the N.T.—J.A.B.]We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.”

Wherefore then, when writing to the Ephesians,2    This mistake cannot be charged on the transcribers, as Timothy is mentioned in Philip. i. 1 [and it is Philippians that he proceeds to quote from.—J.A.B.] and having Timothy with him, did he not include him with himself (in his salutation), known as he was to them and admired, for he says, “Ye know the proof of him, that as a child serveth the father, so he served with me in the Gospel” (Philip. ii. 22.); and again, “I have no man like-minded who will care truly for your state” (ver. 20.); but here he does associate him with himself? It seems to me, that he was about to send him immediately, and it was superfluous for him to write, who would overtake the letter. For he says, “Him therefore I hope to send forthwith.” (Philip. ii. 23.) But here it was not so; but he had just returned to him, so that he naturally joined in the letter. For he says, “Now when Timothy came from you unto us.” (1 Thess. iii. 6.) But why does he place Silvanus before him,3    [The natural explanation is that Silas was an older man, Timothy being at the time of writing 1 Thess. (prob. A.D. 52) quite young, and indeed still noticeably young a dozen years later (1 Tim. iv. 12.). Chrys. seems to have made no systematic study of the chronology of the Epistles.—J.A.B.] though he testifies to his numberless good qualities, and prefers him above all? Perhaps Timothy wished and requested him to do so from his great humility; for when he saw his teacher so humble-minded, as to associate his disciple with himself, he would much the more have desired this, and eagerly sought it. For he says,

“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the Church of the Thessalonians.” Here he gives himself no title—not “an Apostle,” not “a Servant”; I suppose, because the men were newly instructed, and had not yet had any experience of him,4    αὐτοῦ, perhaps “of the thing.” he does not apply the title; and it was as yet the beginning of his preaching to them.

“To the Church of the Thessalonians,” he says. And well. For it is probable there were few, and they not yet formed into a body; on this account he consoles them with the name of the Church. For where much time had passed, and the congregation of the Church was large, he does not apply this term. But because the name of the Church is for the most part a name of multitude, and of a system5    [Here the same Greek word (systema) is translated “body,” “congregation,” and “system.”—J.A.B.] now compacted, on this account he calls them by that name.

“In God the Father,” he says, “and the Lord Jesus Christ.” “Unto the Church of the Thessalonians,” he says, “which is in God.” Behold again the expression, “in,”6    [Most editions have “the word God,” and one ms. has “in God,” both obviously alterations, and really unsuitable to the connection.—J.A.B.] applied both to the Father and to the Son. For there were many assemblies,7    ἐκκλησίαι. Churches, or assemblies. New converts would be more familiar with the word in its secular sense. both Jewish and Grecian; but he says, “to the (Church) that is in God.” It is a great dignity, and to which there is nothing equal, that it is “in God.” God grant therefore that this Church may be so addressed! But I fear that it is far from that appellation. For if any one were the servant of sin, he cannot be said to be “in God.” If any one walks not according to God, he cannot be said to be “in God.”8    [Most editions omit this sentence, but it is found in several mss., and the amplification is quite after the manner of Chrys.—J.A.B.]

“Grace be unto you, and peace.”9    [This seems to belong (as Hales suggested) after the next sentence, which is a remark upon the foregoing.—J.A.B.] Do you perceive that the very commencement of his Epistle is with encomiums? “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” For to give thanks to God for them is the act of one testifying to their great advancement, when they are not only praised themselves, but God also is thanked for them, as Himself having done it all. He teaches them also to be moderate, all but saying, that it is all of the power of God. That he gives thanks for them, therefore, is on account of their good conduct, but that he remembers them in his prayers, proceeds from his love towards them. Then as he often does, he says that he not only remembers them in his prayers, but apart from his prayers. “Remembering without ceasing,” he says, “your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.” What is remembering without ceasing? Either remembering before God and the Father, or remembering your labor of love that is before God and the Father, or simply, “Remembering you without ceasing.” Then again, that you may not think that this “remembering you without ceasing” is said simply, he has added, “before our God and Father.” And because no one amongst men was praising their actions, no one giving them any reward, he says this, “You labor before God.” What is “the work of faith”? That nothing has turned aside your steadfastness. For this is the work of faith. If thou believest, suffer all things; if thou dost not suffer, thou dost not believe. For are not the things promised such, that he who believes would choose to suffer even ten thousand deaths? The kingdom of heaven is set before him, and immortality, and eternal life. He therefore who believes will suffer all things. Faith then is shown through his works. Justly might one have said, not merely did you believe, but through your works you manifested it, through your steadfastness, through your zeal.

And your labor “of love.” Why? what labor is it to love? Merely to love is no labor at all. But to love genuinely is great labor. For tell me, when a thousand things are stirred up that would draw us from love, and we hold out against them all, is it not labor? For what did not these men suffer, that they might not revolt from their love? Did not they that warred against the Preaching go to Paul’s host, and not having found him, drag Jason before the rulers of the city? (Acts xvii. 5, 6.) Tell me, is this a slight labor, when the seed had not yet taken root, to endure so great a storm, so many trials? And they demanded security of him. And having given security, he says, Jason sent away Paul.10    See Acts xvii. 9. Is this a small thing, tell me? Did not Jason expose himself to danger for him? and this he calls a labor of love, because they were thus bound to him.

And observe: first he mentions their good actions, then his own, that he may not seem to boast, nor yet to love them by anticipation.11    προλήψει. Assuming good of them before trial. “And patience,” he says. For that persecution was not confined to one time, but was continual, and they warred not only with Paul, the teacher, but with his disciples also. For if they were thus affected towards those who wrought miracles, those venerable men; what think you were their feelings towards those who dwelt among them, their fellow-citizens, who had all of a sudden revolted from them? Wherefore this also he testifies of them, saying, “For ye became imitators of the Churches of God which are in Judæa.”

“And of hope,” he says, “in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.” For all these things proceed from faith and hope, so that what happened to them showed not their fortitude only, but that they believed with full assurance in the rewards laid up for them. For on this account God permitted that persecutions should arise immediately, that no one might say, that the Preaching was established lightly or by flattery, and that their fervor might be shown, and that it was not human persuasion, but the power of God, that persuaded the souls of the believers, so that they were prepared even for ten thousand deaths, which would not have been the case, if the Preaching had not immediately been deeply fixed and remained unshaken.

Ver. 4, 5. “Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election, how that our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves among12    [It is very doubtful whether Rev. Ver. of N.T. is here right in omitting ἐν (as in ii. 10.), and so translating “towards.” Chrys. has the ἐν, and so must be tr. “among.”—J.A.B.] you for your sake.”

Knowing what? How “we showed ourselves among you”? Here he also touches upon his own good actions, but covertly. For he wishes first to enlarge upon their praises, and what he says is something of this sort. I knew that you were men of great and noble sort, that you were of the Elect. For this reason we also endure all things for your sake. For this, “what manner of men we showed ourselves among you,” is the expression of one showing that with much zeal and much vehemence we were ready to give up our lives for your sake; and for this thanks are due not to us, but to you, because ye were elect. On this account also he says elsewhere, “And these things I endure for the Elect’s sake.” (2 Tim. ii. 10.) For what would not one endure for the sake of God’s beloved ones? And having spoken of his own part, he all but says, For if you were both beloved and elect, we suffer all things with reason. For not only did his praise of them confirm them, but his reminding them that they too themselves had displayed a fortitude corresponding to their zeal: he says,

Ver. 6. “And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.”

Strange! what an encomium is here! The disciples have suddenly become teachers! They not only heard the word, but they quickly arrived at the same height with Paul. But this is nothing; for see how he exalts them, saying, “Ye became imitators of the Lord.” How? “Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.” Not merely with affliction, but with much affliction. And this we may learn from the Acts of the Apostles, how they raised a persecution against them. (Acts xvii. 5–8.) And they troubled all the rulers of the city, and they instigated the city against them. And it is not enough to say, ye were afflicted indeed, and believed, and that grieving, but even rejoicing. Which also the Apostles did: “Rejoicing,” it is said, “that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.” (Acts v. 41.) For it is this that is admirable. Although neither is that a slight matter, in any way to bear afflictions. But this now was the part of men surpassing human nature, and having, as it were, a body incapable of suffering.

But how were they imitators of the Lord? Because He also endured many sufferings, but rejoiced. For He came to this willingly. For our sakes He emptied Himself. He was about to be spit upon, to be beaten and crucified, and He so rejoiced in suffering these things, that He said to the Father, “Glorify Me.” (John xvii. 1–5.)

“With joy of the Holy Ghost,” he says. That no one may say, how speakest thou of “affliction”? how “of joy”? how can both meet in one? he has added, “with joy of the Holy Ghost.” The affliction is in things bodily, and the joy in things spiritual. How? The things which happened to them were grievous, but not so the things which sprang out of them, for the Spirit does not allow it.13    οὐκ ἀφίησι. Perhaps, “does not forsake us,” as just below. So that it is possible both for him who suffers, not to rejoice, when one suffers for his sins; and being beaten to take pleasure, when one suffers for Christ’s sake. For such is the joy of the Spirit. In return for the things which appear to be grievous, it brings out delight. They have afflicted you, he says, and persecuted you, but the Spirit did not forsake you, even in those circumstances. As the Three Children in the fire were refreshed with dew,14    Song, ver. 27. so also were you refreshed in afflictions. But as there it was not of the nature of the fire to sprinkle dew, but of the “whistling wind,”15    διασυρίζοντος, as Sept. Dan. iii. 28. so also here it was not of the nature of affliction to produce joy, but of the suffering for Christ’s sake, and of the Spirit bedewing them, and in the furnace of temptation setting them at ease. Not merely with joy, he says, but “with much joy.” For this is of the Holy Spirit.

Ver. 7. “So that ye became ensamples16    [Rev. Ver. right for N.T., “an ensample”; but Chrys. has the plural, employing (as he commonly does) that which spread from Constantinople, and became the prevalent text.—J.A.B.] to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”

And yet it was later that he went to them. But ye so shone, he says, that ye became teachers of those who received (the word) before you. And this is like the Apostle. For he did not say, so that ye became ensamples in regard to believing, but ye became an ensample to those who already believed; how one ought to believe in God, ye taught, who from the very beginning entered into your conflict.

“And in Achaia,” he says; that is, in Greece.

Do you see how great a thing is zeal? that it does not require time, nor delay, nor procrastination, but it is sufficient only to venture one’s self, and all is fulfilled. Thus then though coming in later to the Preaching, they became teachers of those who were before them.

Moral. Let no one therefore despair, even though he has lost much time, and has done nothing. It is possible for him even in a little while to do so much, as he never has done in all his former time. For if he who before did not believe, shone so much at the beginning, how much more those who have already believed! Let no one, again, upon this consideration be remiss, because he perceives that it is possible in a short time to recover everything. For the future is uncertain, and the Day of the Lord is a thief, setting upon us suddenly when we are sleeping. But if we do not sleep, it will not set upon us as a thief, nor carry us off unprepared. For if we watch and be sober, it will not set upon us as a thief, but as a royal messenger, summoning us to the good things prepared for us. But if we sleep, it comes upon us as a thief. Let no one therefore sleep, nor be inactive in virtue, for that is sleep. Do you not know how, when we sleep, our goods are not in safety, how easy they are to be plotted against? But when we are awake, there needs not so much guarding. When we sleep, even with much guarding we often perish. There are doors, and bolts, and guards, and outer guards, and the thief has come upon us.

Why then do I say this? Because, if we wake we shall not need the help of others; but if we sleep, the help of others will profit us nothing, but even with this we perish. It is a good thing to enjoy the prayer of the Saints, but it is when we ourselves also are on the alert. And what need, you say, have I of another’s prayer, if I am on the alert myself. And in sooth, do not place yourself in a situation to need it; I do not wish that you should; but we are always in need of it, if we think rightly. Paul did not say, what need have I of prayer? and yet those who prayed were not worthy of him,17    i.e. worthy to pray for him. or rather not equal to him; and you say, what need have I of prayer? Peter did not say, What need have I of prayer, for “prayer,” it says, “was made earnestly of the Church unto God for him.” (Acts xii. 5.) And thou sayest, What need have I of prayer? On this account thou needest it, because thou thinkest that thou hast no need. Yea, though thou become as Paul, thou hast need of prayer. Do not exalt thyself, lest thou be humbled.

But, as I said, if we be active also ourselves, the prayers for us avail too. Hear Paul saying, “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your supplication, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” (Philip. i. 19.) And again, “That for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.” (2 Cor. i. 11.) And thou sayest, what need have I of prayer? But if we be idle, no one will be able to profit us. What did Jeremiah profit the Jews? Did he not thrice draw nigh to God, and the third time hear, “Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer, for I will not hear thee”? (Jer. vii. 16.) What did Samuel profit Saul? Did he not mourn for him even to his last day, and not merely pray for him only? What did he profit the Israelites? Did he not say, “God forbid that I should sin in ceasing to pray for you”? (1 Sam. xii. 23.) Did they not all perish? Do prayers then, you say, profit nothing? They profit even greatly: but it is when we also do something. For prayers indeed coöperate and assist, but a man coöperates with one18    So B. Edd. om. one, &c. that is operating, and assists one that is himself also working. But if thou remainest idle, thou wilt receive no great benefit.

For if prayers had power to bring us to the kingdom while we do nothing, why do not all the Greeks become Christians? Do we not pray for all the world? Did not Paul also do this? Do we not intreat that all may be converted? Why do not the wicked become good without contributing anything of themselves? Prayers, then, profit greatly, when we also contribute our own parts.

Would you learn how much prayers have profited? consider, I pray, Cornelius, Tabitha. (Acts x. 3 and ix. 36.) Hear also Jacob saying to Laban, “Except the Fear of my father had been with me, surely thou hadst now sent me away empty.” (Gen. xxxi. 42.) Hear also God again, saying, “I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.” (2 Kings ix. 34.) But when? In the time of Hezekiah, who was righteous. Since if prayers availed even for the extremely wicked, why did not God say this also when Nebuchadnezzar came, and why did He give up the city? Because wickedness availed more. Again, Samuel himself also prayed for the Israelites, and prevailed. But when? When they also pleased God, then they put their enemies to flight. And what need, you say, of prayer from another, when I myself please God? Never, O man, say this. There is need, aye, and need of much prayer. For hear God saying concerning the friends of Job; “And he shall pray for you, and your sin shall be forgiven you.”19    [Quoting from memory. So below.—J.A.B.] (Job xlii. 8.) Because they had sinned indeed, but not a great sin. But this just man, who then saved his friends by prayer, in the season of the Jews was not able to save the Jews who were perishing. And that you may learn this, hear God saying through the prophet; “If Noah, Daniel, and Job stood, they shall not deliver their sons and their daughters.” (Ezek. xiv. 14, 16.) Because wickedness prevailed. And again, “Though Moses and Samuel stood.” (Jer. xv. 1.)

And see how this is said to the two Prophets, because both prayed for them, and did not prevail. For Ezekiel says, “Ah Lord, dost thou blot out the residue of Israel?” (Ezek. ix. 8.) Then showing that He does this justly, He shows him their sins; and showing that not through despising him does He refuse to accept his supplication for them, he says, Even these things are enough even to persuade thee, that not despising thee, but on account of their many sins, I do not accept thy supplication. Nevertheless He adds, “Though. Noah, Job, and Daniel stood.” (From Ezek. xiv.) And with good reason does He the rather say this to him, because it is he who suffered so many things. Thou badest me, he says, eat upon dung, and I ate upon it.20    i.e. food baked on it. Ezek. iv. 12, 15. Thou badest me, and I shaved my head. Thou badest me, and I lay upon one side. Thou badest me go out through a hole in the wall, bearing a burden, and I went out. Thou tookest away my wife, and badest me not mourn, and I did not mourn, but bore it with fortitude. (Ezek. xxiv. 18.) Ten thousand other things have I wrought for their sake: I entreat for them, and dost Thou not comply? Not from despising thee, says he, do I do this, but though Noah, Job, and Daniel were there, and were entreating for sons and daughters, I would not comply.

And again to Jeremiah, who suffered less from the commandments of God, but more from their wickedness, what does He say? “Seest thou not what these do?” (Jer. vii. 17.) “Yea,” he says, “they do so—but do Thou do it for my sake.” On this account He says to him, “Though Moses and Samuel stood.” Their first lawgiver, who often delivered them from dangers, who had said, “If now thou forgivest their sins, forgive it; but if not, blot me out also.” (Ex. xxxii. 32, Sept.) If therefore he were now alive, and spoke thus, he would not have prevailed,—nor would Samuel, again, who himself also delivered them, and who from his earliest youth was admired. For to the former indeed I said, that I conversed with him as a friend with a friend, and not by dark sayings. And of the latter I said, that in his first youth I was revealed to him, and that on his account, being prevailed upon, I opened the prophecy that had been shut up. For “the word of the Lord,” it is said, “was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” (1 Sam. iii. 1.) If these men, therefore, stood before Me, they would profit nothing. And of Noah He says, “Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations.” (Gen. vi. 9.) And concerning Job, He was “blameless, just, true, fearing God.” (Job i. 1, Sept.) And concerning Daniel, whom they even thought a God; and they will not deliver, says he, their sons and daughters. Knowing these things, therefore, let us neither despise the prayers of the Saints, nor throw everything upon them: that we may not, on the one hand, be indolent and live carelessly; nor on the other deprive ourselves of a great advantage. But let us both beseech them to pray and lift up the hand for us, and let us adhere to virtue; that we may be able to obtain the blessings promised to those who love Him by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom, &c.

ΤΟΥ ΕΝ ΑΓΙΟΙΣ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΕΩΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΥ ΥΠΟΜΝΗΜΑ ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΕΙΣ ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗΝ ΠΡΩΤΗΝ. ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Αʹ. Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν Θεῷ Πατρὶ καὶ Κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Εὐχαριστοῦμεν τῷ Θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, μνείαν ὑμῶν ποιούμενοι ἐπὶ τῶν προ σευχῶν ἡμῶν, ἀδιαλείπτως μνημονεύοντες ὑμῶν τοῦ ἔργου τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης, καὶ τῆς ὑπομονῆς τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν. αʹ. Τί δήποτε Ἐφεσίοις μὲν ἐπιστέλλων, καὶ τὸν Τιμόθεον ἔχων μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ, οὐχὶ συνέταξεν ἑαυτῷ, καίτοι γνωριζόμενον παρ' αὐτοῖς καὶ θαυμαζόμενον (Τὴν γὰρ δοκιμὴν αὑτοῦ γινώσκετε, φησὶν, ὅτι ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσε: καὶ πάλιν, Οὐδένα ἔχω ἰσόψυχον, ὅστις γνησίως τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει): ἐνταῦθα δὲ συντάττει αὐτὸν ἑαυτῷ; Ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ ὅτι ἔμελλεν αὐτὸν πέμπειν εὐθέως, καὶ περιττὸν ἦν ἐπιστέλλειν τὸν τὰ γράμματα ὅσον οὔπω καταληψόμενον: φησὶ γὰρ, Τοῦτον μὲν ἐλπίζω πέμψαι ἐξαυτῆς. Ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὐχ οὕτως, ἀλλ' ἐπανελθὼν ἦν, ὥστε εἰκότως ἐπέστελλεν: Ἄρτι γὰρ ἐλθόντος Τιμοθέου, φησὶ, πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀφ' ὑμῶν. Διὰ τί δὲ αὐτοῦ προτίθησι τὸν Σιλουανὸν, καίτοι μυρία αὐτῷ μαρτυρῶν ἀγαθὰ, καὶ πάντων αὐτὸν προτιθείς; Ἴσως μὲν ἀξιοῦντος τοῦτο αὐτοῦ κατὰ πολλὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην, καὶ παρακαλοῦντος. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ τὸν διδάσκαλον ἑώρα οὕτω ταπεινοφρονοῦντα, ὡς τὸν μαθητὴν ἑαυτῷ συντάττειν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τοῦτο αὐτὸς ἐζήτησεν ἄν. Παῦλος γὰρ, φησὶ, καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων. Οὐδὲν ἐνταῦθα περὶ ἑαυτοῦ τίθησιν, οὐχ Ὁ ἀπόστολος, οὐχ Ὁ δοῦλος. Ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, διὰ τὸ νεοκατηχήτους εἶναι τοὺς ἄνδρας, καὶ μηδέπω αὐτοῦ πεῖραν εἰληφέναι, οὐ τίθησι τὸ ἀξίωμα: ἄλλως δὲ καὶ ἀρχὴ τοῦ κηρύγματος ἔτι ἦν τοῦ πρὸς αὐτούς. Τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ, φησὶ, Θεσσαλονικέων. Καλῶς. Ἐπεὶ γὰρ εἰκὸς ἦν ὀλίγους εἶναι καὶ οὐδέπω συνεστάναι, διὰ τοῦτο αὐτοὺς παραμυθεῖται διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τῆς Ἐκκλησίας: ἔνθα γὰρ πολὺς παρεληλύθει χρόνος, καὶ τὸ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας σύστημα πολὺ ἦν, οὐ τίθησι τοῦτο. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ ὄνομα πλήθους ἐστὶν, ὡς τὰ πολλὰ, τὸ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ὄνομα, καὶ συστήματος ἤδη συγκεκροτημένου, διὰ τοῦτο αὐτοὺς οὕτω καλεῖ. Ἐν Θεῷ, φησὶ, Πατρὶ, καὶ Κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ. Τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ, φησὶ, Θεσσαλονικέων τῇ ἐν Θεῷ. Ἰδοὺ πάλιν τὸ, Θεός, ἐπὶ τοῦ Πατρὸς, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ. Τὸ δὲ, Ἐν Θεῷ, φησὶν, ἐπειδὴ πολλαὶ Ἐκκλησίαι καὶ Ἰουδαϊκαὶ καὶ Ἑλληνικαὶ ἦσαν. Μέγα τὸ ἀξίωμα, καὶ οὗ ἴσον οὐδὲν, εἰ ἐν Θεῷ ἐστι. Γένοιτο τοίνυν καὶ ταύτην τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν οὕτω καλεῖσθαι: δέδοικα δὲ μὴ μακρὰν ᾖ τῆς προσηγορίας ταύτης. Εἴ τις γὰρ ἁμαρτίας δοῦλος, οὐ δύναται λέγεσθαι ἐν Θεῷ. Χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη. Εἶδες εὐθὺς ἀπὸ ἐγκωμίων τὸ προοίμιον τῆς ἐπιστολῆς; Εὐχαριστοῦμεν τῷ Θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν, μνείαν ὑμῶν ποιούμενοι ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν ἡμῶν. Τὸ γὰρ εὐχαριστεῖν τῷ Θεῷ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, μαρτυροῦντός ἐστιν αὐτοῖς πολλὴν προκοπὴν, ὅταν μὴ μόνον ἐπαινῶνται αὐτοὶ, ἀλλὰ καὶ Θεὸς εὐχαριστῆται, ὡς αὐτὸς ἐργασάμενος τὸ πᾶν. Διδάσκει δὲ αὐτοὺς καὶ μετριάζειν, μονονουχὶ λέγων, ὅτι τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ δυνάμεώς ἐστι τὸ πᾶν. Τὸ μὲν οὖν εὐχαριστεῖν τῶν κατορθωμάτων ἕνεκεν τίθησι: τὸ δὲ μεμνῆσθαι αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν, τῆς ἀγάπης τῆς πρὸς αὐτούς. Εἶτα δεικνὺς ὅτι οὐ μόνον ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μέμνηται, ἀλλὰ καὶ χωρὶς τῶν εὐχῶν, ὅπερ πολλάκις ποιεῖ: Ἀδιαλείπτως, φησὶ, μνημονεύοντες ὑμῶν τοῦ ἔργου τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης, καὶ τῆς ὑπομονῆς τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν. Τί ἐστιν; Ἀδιαλείπτως μνημονεύοντες; Ἤτοι μνημονεύοντες ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς, ἢ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης μνημονεύοντες τοῦ ὄντος ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς δὲ εἶπεν: Ἀδιαλείπτως μνημονεύοντες, ἀλλ' Ὑμῶν. Εἶτα πάλιν, ἵνα μὴ νομίσῃς ἁπλῶς μηδὲ τὸ Ὑμῶν εἰρῆσθαι, ἐπήγαγεν: Ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ οὐδεὶς ἐπῄνει τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὰ γινόμενα, οὐδεὶς μισθὸν ἀπεδίδου, καὶ τοῦτο προστίθησι, μονονουχὶ λέγων, Θαῤῥεῖτε, ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ κάμνετε. Τί ἐστι, Τοῦ ἔργου τῆς πίστεως; Ὅτι οὐδὲν ὑμῶν παρέκλινε τὴν ἔνστασιν: τοῦτο γὰρ ἔργον πίστεως. Εἰ πιστεύεις, πάντα πάσχε: εἰ δὲ μὴ πάσχεις, οὐ πιστεύεις. Μὴ γὰρ οὐ τοιαῦτά ἐστι τὰ ἐπηγγελμένα, ὡς καὶ μυρίους θανάτους πείσεσθαι τὸν πιστεύοντα ἀνελέσθαι; Οὐρανῶν βασιλεία πρόκειται καὶ ἀθανασία καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος. Ὁ τοίνυν πιστεύων, πάντα πείσεται. Ἄρα ἡ πίστις διὰ τῶν ἔργων δείκνυται. Εἰκότως οὖν οὕτως εἶπε, δηλῶν, ὅτι Οὐχ ἁπλῶς, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῶν ἔργων αὐτὴν ἐπεδείξασθε, διὰ τῆς ἐνστάσεως, διὰ τῆς προθυμίας. Καὶ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης. Ποῖος γὰρ κόπος τὸ φιλεῖν ἁπλῶς; Οὐδείς: τὸ δὲ γνησίως φιλεῖν κόπος πολύς. Ὅταν γὰρ, εἰπέ μοι, μυρία κινῆται τῆς ἀγάπης ἡμᾶς ἀφελκύσαι βουλόμενα, ἡμεῖς δὲ πρὸς πάντα ἀντιτείνωμεν, οὐχὶ κόπος ἐστί; Τί γὰρ οὐκ ἔπαθον οὗτοι, ὥστε μὴ ἀποστῆναι τῆς ἀγάπης; οὐχὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ὑποδοχέα Παύλου ἦλθον οἱ πολεμοῦντες τῷ κηρύγματι, καὶ μὴ εὑρόντες αὐτὸν, ἔσυρον τὸν Ἰάσονα ἐπὶ τοὺς πολιτάρχας; Μικρὸς οὗτος κόπος, εἰπέ μοι, μηδέπω τῶν σπερμάτων παγέντων, τοσοῦτον χειμῶνα φέρειν, τοσούτους πειρασμούς; Καὶ ἱκανὰ αὐτὸν ἀπῄτησαν. Καὶ ἱκανὰ, φησὶ, δοὺς, ἐξέπεμψε τὸν Παῦλον. Μικρὸν τοῦτο, εἰπέ μοι; οὐχὶ καὶ ἑαυτὸν ἀντ' ἐκείνου τῷ κινδύνῳ ὑπέθηκε; Τοῦτο κόπον φησὶν ἀγάπης, ὅτι οὕτω προσεδέθησαν. βʹ. Καὶ ὅρα: πρῶτον ἐκείνων λέγει τὰ κατορθώματα, καὶ τότε τὰ ἑαυτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ μεγαληγορεῖν, μηδὲ προλήψει φιλεῖν αὐτούς. Καὶ τῆς ὑπομονῆς, φησίν. Οὐ γὰρ πρὸς ἕνα χρόνον ὁ διωγμὸς ἐκεῖνος γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ διαπαντός: οὐδὲ τῷ διδασκάλῳ μόνον Παύλῳ ἐπολέμουν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς μαθητευομένοις. Εἰ γὰρ πρὸς ἐκείνους οὕτω διέκειντο τοὺς θαύματα ἐργαζομένους, τοὺς αἰδεσίμους, τί οἴει πρὸς τοὺς συνοικοῦντας αὐτοῖς, καὶ συμπολίτας, καὶ ἀθρόον ἀποστάντας; Ὅπερ οὖν αὐτοῖς καὶ μαρτυρεῖ, λέγων, ὅτι Μιμηταὶ ἐγένεσθε τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ τῶν οὐσῶν ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ. Καὶ τῆς ἐλπίδος, φησὶ, τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν. Καλῶς οὕτως εἶπε: ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα ἀπὸ πίστεως γίνεται καὶ ἐλπίδος. Ὥστε οὐ τὴν ἀνδρείαν αὐτῶν μόνον ἐδήλου τὰ γενόμενα, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ μετὰ πληροφορίας ἐπίστευον τοῖς ἀποκειμένοις ἐπάθλοις. Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο συνεχώρει ὁ Θεὸς εὐθέως γενέσθαι διωγμοὺς, ἵνα μή τις εἴπῃ, ὅτι ἁπλῶς καὶ κολακείᾳ τὸ κήρυγμα συνίστατο, καὶ ἵνα τὸ θερμὸν αὐτῶν δειχθῇ, καὶ ὅτι οὐ πεισμονὴ ἀνθρωπίνη, ἀλλὰ Θεοῦ δύναμις ἦν ἡ τὰς τῶν πιστευόντων ψυχὰς πείθουσα, ὥστε καὶ πρὸς θανάτους μυρίους παρασκευάζεσθαι: ὅπερ οὐκ ἂν ἦν, εἰ μὴ εὐθέως κατὰ βάθους τὸ κήρυγμα ἐπεπήγει καὶ εἰστήκει ἀκλινές. Εἰδότες, ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι, ὑπὸ Θεοῦ τὴν ἐκλογὴν ὑμῶν, ὅτι τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, καὶ ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ: καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ἐν ἡμῖν ὑμᾶς. Τί ἐστιν ὃ λέγει: Οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ἐν ὑμῖν; Ἐνταῦθα καὶ τῶν αὐτοῦ κατορθωμάτων ἅπτεται, ἀλλ' ἐπεσκιασμένως: βούλεται γὰρ πρότερον τοῖς ἐκείνων ἐγκωμίοις ἐπεξελθεῖν. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν: Ἤ|δειμεν ὅτι τῶν γενναίων ἦτε καὶ μεγάλων ἀνδρῶν, ὅτι τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν: διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς πάντα ὑπομένομεν δι' ὑμᾶς. Τὸ γὰρ, Οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ἐν ὑμῖν, τοῦτό ἐστι δηλοῦντος, ὅτι μετὰ πολλῆς προθυμίας καὶ πολλῆς σφοδρότητος ἕτοιμοί ἐσμεν τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν ἐκδοῦναι δι' ὑμᾶς: καὶ τούτου δὲ οὐχ ἡμῖν χάρις, ἀλλ' ὑμῖν, ὅτι ἐκλεκτοὶ ἦτε. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ φησι: Καὶ ταῦτα πάσχω διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς. Ὑπὲρ γὰρ τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀγαπητῶν τί οὐκ ἄν τις πάθοι; Καὶ εἰπὼν τὸ αὐτοῦ, μονονουχί φησιν: Εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἀγαπητοὶ καὶ ἐκλεκτοὶ, πάντα εἰκότως ὑπομένομεν. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ τὸ ἐπαινεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐῤῥώννυε μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ὑπομιμνήσκειν, ὅτι καὶ αὐτοὶ τῆς ἐκείνων προθυμίας ἀντίῤῥοπον ἀνδρείαν ἐπεδείξαντο. Φησὶ γοῦν: Καὶ ὑμεῖς μιμηταὶ ἡμῶν ἐγενήθητε καὶ τοῦ Κυρίου, δεξάμενοι τὸν λόγον ἐν θλίψει πολλῇ, μετὰ χαρᾶς Πνεύματος ἁγίου. Βαβαί! πόσον τὸ ἐγκώμιον! οἱ μαθηταὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένοντο διδάσκαλοι: οὐκ ἤκουσαν μόνον τῶν λόγων, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τὴν αὐτὴν κορυφὴν τῷ Παύλῳ ἔφθασαν. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν τοῦτο πρὸς τὸ ἑξῆς: ὅρα γὰρ ποῦ αὐτοὺς ἀνάγει λέγων: Μιμηταὶ ἐγένεσθε τοῦ Κυρίου. Πῶς; Δεξάμενοι τὸν λόγον ἐν θλίψει πολλῇ, μετὰ χαρᾶς Πνεύματος ἁγίου. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς μετὰ θλίψεως, ἀλλὰ μετὰ πολλῆς. Καὶ ἔνεστι τοῦτο ἀπὸ τῶν Πράξεων τῶν ἀποστολικῶν μαθεῖν, πῶς ἐπήγειραν τὸν διωγμὸν ἐπ' αὐτούς: _Καὶ πάντας, φησὶ, τοὺς πολιτάρχας ἐτάραξαν, καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἀνεπτέρωσαν κατ' αὐτῶν. Καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν, ὅτι Ἐθλίβητε μὲν καὶ ἐπιστεύσατε, ἀλγοῦντες δὲ, ἀλλὰ καὶ χαίροντες σφόδρα. Ὅπερ καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι ἐποίουν: Χαίροντες, φησὶν, ὅτι κατηξιώθησαν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀτιμασθῆναι. Τὸ γὰρ θαυμαστὸν, τοῦτό ἐστιν: εἰ καὶ οὐδὲ ἐκεῖνο μικρὸν, τὸ φέρειν ὁπωσδήποτε θλίψεις: τοῦτο δὲ ἤδη τῶν τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην φύσιν ὑπερβαινόντων ἦν, καὶ ὥσπερ ἀπαθὲς σῶμα ἐχόντων. Πῶς δὲ μιμηταὶ τοῦ Κυρίου ἐγένοντο; Ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς πολλὰ παθήματα ὑπέμεινε, καὶ οὐκ ἤλγει, ἀλλ' ἔχαιρεν: ἑκὼν γὰρ ἐπὶ τοῦτο ἤρχετο. Δι' ἡμᾶς ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν, ἔμελλεν ἐμπτύεσθαι καὶ ῥαπίζεσθαι, σταυροῦσθαι: καὶ οὕτως ἔχαιρε ταῦτα πάσχων, ὡς τῷ Πατρὶ λέγειν: Δόξασόν με. Μετὰ χαρᾶς, φησὶ, Πνεύματος ἁγίου. Ἵνα μή τις εἴπῃ: Πῶς θλίψεως λέγεις; πῶς χαρᾶς; πῶς ἀμφότερα ἔνι συνελθεῖν; ἐπήγαγε: Μετὰ χαρᾶς Πνεύματος ἁγίου. Ἡ θλῖψις ἐν τοῖς σωματικοῖς, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ ἐν τοῖς πνευματικοῖς. Πῶς; Τὰ μὲν γινόμενα, λυπηρά: τὰ δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν τικτόμενα, οὐκέτι: οὐ γὰρ ἀφίησι τὸ Πνεῦμα. Ὥστε ἔνεστι καὶ πάσχοντα μὴ χαίρειν, ὅταν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτημάτων τις πάσχῃ: καὶ μαστιζόμενον ἥδεσθαι, ὅταν διὰ τὸν Χριστόν τις πάσχῃ. γʹ. Τοιαύτη γὰρ ἡ τοῦ Πνεύματος χαρά: ἀντὶ τῶν δοκούντων εἶναι ἀνιαρῶν, ἐκφύει τὴν ἡδονήν. Ἔθλιψαν ὑμᾶς, φησὶ, καὶ ἐδίωξαν, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀφῆκεν ὑμᾶς τὸ Πνεῦμα οὐδὲ ἐν ἐκείνοις: ἀλλ' ὥσπερ ἐν πυρὶ ἐδροσίζοντο οἱ παῖδες οἱ τρεῖς, οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν. Ὥσπερ δὲ ἐκεῖ οὐ τῆς τοῦ πυρὸς φύσεως τὸ δροσίζειν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος τοῦ διασυρίζοντος: οὕτω καὶ ἐνταῦθα, οὐ τῆς φύσεως τῆς θλίψεως τὸ τὴν χαρὰν τίκτειν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν πάσχειν, καὶ τοῦ Πνεύματος τοῦ δροσίζοντος, καὶ διὰ τῆς καμίνου τῶν πειρασμῶν ἐν ἀνέσει ποιοῦντος. Μετὰ χαρᾶς, φησὶν, οὐχ ἁπλῶς, ἀλλὰ πολλῆς: τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι Πνεύματος ἁγίου. Ὥστε γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς τύπους πᾶσι τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ Ἀχαΐᾳ. Καὶ μὴν ἐν ὑστέρῳ ἦλθε πρὸς αὐτούς: ἀλλ' οὕτως ἐλάμψατε, φησὶν, ὡς τῶν προλαβόντων γενέσθαι διδάσκαλοι. Καὶ τοῦτο ἀποστολικόν. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν: Ὥστε τύπους γενέσθαι πρὸς τὸ πιστεῦσαι, ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἤδη πιστεύουσι τύπος ἐγένεσθε: τουτέστι: Πῶς δεῖ πιστεύειν εἰς Θεὸν ὑμεῖς ἐδιδάξατε, οἱ ἀπὸ προοιμίων εἰς τοὺς ἀγῶνας ἐμβάντες. Καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀχαίᾳ, φησί: τουτέστι, τῇ Ἑλλάδι. Ὁρᾷς ὅσον ἐστὶ προθυμία; Ὅτι χρόνου οὐ δεῖται, οὐδὲ μελλήσεως, οὐδὲ ἀναβολῆς: ἀλλ' ἀρκεῖ παραστῆσαι μόνον ἑαυτὸν, καὶ πάντα ἤνυσται. Οὕτω γοῦν καὶ οὗτοι ὕστερον προσελθόντες τῷ κηρύγματι, τῶν πρώτων ἐγένοντο διδάσκαλοι. Μηδεὶς οὖν ἀπογινωσκέτω: κἂν πολὺν ἀναλώσας χρόνον μηδὲν ἐργασάμενος ᾖ, ἔνεστιν αὐτῷ καὶ διὰ μικροῦ τοσοῦτον ἐργάσασθαι, ὅσον οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ ἔμπροσθεν χρόνῳ. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ μηδέπω πιστεύσας, τοσοῦτον ἔλαμψεν ἐν ἀρχῇ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον οἱ ἤδη πιστεύσαντες. Μηδεὶς πάλιν τοῦτο ἐννοῶν ῥᾳθυμείτω, μαθὼν ὅτι ἐξὸν ἐν βραχεῖ χρόνῳ τὸ πᾶν ἀνακτήσασθαι: τὸ γὰρ μέλλον ἄδηλον, καὶ κλέπτης ἐστὶν ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ Κυρίου, ἀθρόον ἡμῖν καθεύδουσιν ἐπιτιθεμένη: ἀλλ' ἐὰν μὴ καθεύδωμεν, οὐχ ὡς κλέπτης ἡμῖν ἐπιθήσεται, οὐδὲ ἀπαρασκευάστους ἀπάξει. Ἐὰν γὰρ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν, οὐκέτι ἡμῖν ὡς κλέπτης ἐπιθήσεται, ἀλλ' ὡς ἄγγελος βασιλικὸς καλῶν ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ τὰ ἡτοιμασμένα ἡμῖν ἀγαθά: ἂν δὲ καθεύδωμεν, ὡς κλέπτης ἐφίσταται. Μηδεὶς τοίνυν καθευδέτω, μηδεὶς ἀργὸς ἔστω πρὸς ἀρετήν: τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν ὕπνος. Οὐκ ἴστε, ὅταν καθεύδωμεν, πῶς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἀσφαλεῖ τὰ ἡμέτερα, πῶς εὐεπιβούλευτα; ὅταν δὲ γρηγορῶμεν, οὐ δεῖ τοσαύτης ἡμῖν φυλακῆς. Ὅταν καθεύδωμεν, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς φυλακῆς ἀπολλύμεθα πολλάκις: καὶ θύραι καὶ μοχλοὶ καὶ φύλακες καὶ προφύλακες, καὶ ὅμως ἐπεισῆλθεν ὁ κλέπτης. Τί δὴ ταῦτα λέγω; Ὅτι ἂν γρηγορῶμεν, οὐ δεησόμεθα τῆς ἑτέρων βοηθείας: ἂν δὲ καθεύδωμεν, οὐδὲν ἡμᾶς ἡ ἑτέρων ὀνήσει βοήθεια, ἀλλὰ καὶ μετ' ἐκείνης ἀπολλύμεθα. Καλὸν εὐχῆς ἀπολαύειν τῆς τῶν ἁγίων, ἀλλ', ὅταν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐνεργοὶ ὦμεν. Καὶ τί μοι δεῖ, φησὶν, εὐχῆς τῆς παρ' ἑτέρων, ὅταν ἐνεργὸς ὦ, καὶ μὴ καταστήσω ἐμαυτὸν ἐν χρείᾳ; Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ βούλομαι: ἀλλ' ἀεὶ ἐν χρείᾳ ἐσμὲν, ἐὰν εὖ φρονῶμεν. Παῦλος οὐκ εἶπε: Τί μοι δεῖ εὐχῆς; καίτοι γε τῶν εὐχομένων οὐκ ὄντων ἀξίων αὐτοῦ, μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ ἴσων: καὶ σὺ λέγεις: Τί μοι δεῖ εὐχῆς; Πέτρος οὐκ εἶπε: Τί μοι δεῖ εὐχῆς; Εὐχὴ γὰρ ἦν, φησὶν, ἐκτενὴς γινομένη ὑπὸ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ: καὶ σὺ λέγεις: Τί μοι δεῖ εὐχῆς; Διὰ τοῦτό σοι δεῖ, ἐπειδὴ νομίζεις μηδὲν δεῖσθαι. Κἂν ὡς Παῦλος γένῃ, χρείαν ἔχεις εὐχῆς. Μὴ ὕψου σαυτὸν, ἵνα μὴ ταπεινωθῇς, Ἀλλ' ὅπερ ἔφην, ἂν μὲν ἐνεργοὶ ὦμεν καὶ αὐτοὶ, ἀνύουσι καὶ αἱ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν εὐχαί. Ἄκουε Παύλου λέγοντος: Οἶδα γὰρ, φησὶν, ὅτι τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ τῆς ὑμῶν δεήσεως καὶ ἐπιχορηγίας τοῦ Πνεύματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ: καὶ πάλιν: Ἵνα ἐκ πολλῶν προσώπων τὸ εἰς ἡμᾶς χάρισμα διὰ πολλῶν εὐχαριστηθῇ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν. Καὶ σὺ λέγεις: Τί μοι δεῖ εὐχῆς; Ἂν δὲ ἀργῶμεν, οὐδεὶς ἡμᾶς εὐχόμενος ὀνῆσαι δυνήσεται. Τί ὠφέλησεν Ἱερεμίας τοὺς Ἰουδαίους; οὐχὶ τρίτον προσῆλθε τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ τρίτον ἤκουσε: Μὴ προσεύχου μηδὲ ἀξίου ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσακούσομαί σου; Τί ὠφέλησε τὸν Σαοὺλ ὁ Σαμουήλ; οὐχὶ μέχρις ἐσχάτης ἡμέρας ἐπένθει περὶ αὐτοῦ, οὐχ ἁπλῶς ηὔχετο μόνον; Τί ὠφέλησε τοὺς Ἰσραηλίτας; Οὐχὶ ἔλεγεν: Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο ἁμαρτεῖν διαλιπόντα εὐχόμενον ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν; οὐχὶ πάντες ἀπώλοντο; Οὐδὲν οὖν ὠφελοῦσι, φησὶν, αἱ εὐχαί; Ὠφελοῦσι καὶ μεγάλα, ἀλλ' ὅταν καὶ ἡμεῖς πράττωμέν τι: συμπράττουσι μὲν γὰρ αἱ εὐχαὶ καὶ βοηθοῦσι: συμπράττει δέ τις καὶ βοηθεῖ τῷ καὶ αὐτῷ ἐργαζομένῳ: ἂν δὲ ἀργὸς μένῃς, οὐδὲν μέγα ὠφεληθήσῃ. δʹ. Ἐπεὶ εἰ ἴσχυον αἱ εὐχαὶ ἀργοῦντας ἡμᾶς εἰσαγαγεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν, διὰ τί μὴ πάντες Ἕλληνες γίνονται Χριστιανοί; οὐχὶ ὑπὲρ παντὸς τοῦ κόσμου εὐχόμεθα; οὐχὶ καὶ Παῦλος τοῦτο ἐποίει; οὐχὶ πάντας ἀξιοῦμεν ἐπιστραφῆναι; Εἰπὲ γὰρ, διὰ τί οἱ πονηροὶ μὴ γίνονται χρηστοί; ἆρα οὐχὶ δῆλον, ὅτι διὰ τὸ μὴ δύνασθαι παρ' ἑαυτῶν τι εἰσενεγκεῖν; Μεγάλα τοίνυν ὠφελοῦσιν αἱ εὐχαὶ, ὅταν καὶ ἡμεῖς τὰ παρ' ἑαυτῶν εἰσφέρωμεν. Βούλει μαθεῖν ὅσα ὠφέλησαν εὐχαί; ἐννόει μοι τὸν Κορνήλιον, τὴν Ταβιθάν: ἄκουε δὲ καὶ τοῦ Ἰακὼβ λέγοντος πρὸς τὸν Λάβαν: Εἰ μὴ ὁ φόβος τοῦ πατρός μου ἦν μοι, νῦν ἄν με κενὸν ἐξαπέστειλας: ἄκουε δὲ καὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ πάλιν λέγοντος: Ὑπερασπιῶ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης δι' ἐμὲ, καὶ διὰ Δαυῒδ τὸν παῖδά μου. Ἀλλὰ πότε; Ἐπὶ Ἐζεκίου δικαίου ὄντος. Ἐπεὶ εἴ γε ἴσχυον εὐχαὶ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν σφόδρα πονηρῶν, διὰ τί μὴ καὶ, ὅτε ὁ Ναβουχοδονόσορ ἦλθεν, εἶπε τοῦτο ὁ Θεὸς, ἀλλ' ἐξέδωκε τὴν πόλιν; Ἐπειδὴ μεῖζον ἴσχυσεν ἡ πονηρία. Πάλιν αὐτὸς οὗτος ὁ Σαμουὴλ ηὔξατο ὑπὲρ τῶν Ἰσραηλιτῶν, καὶ ἤνυσεν: ἀλλὰ πότε; Ὅτε καὶ αὐτοὶ εὐηρέστουν, τότε ἐτροπώσατο τοὺς ἐχθρούς. Καὶ τίς χρεία, φησὶ, τῆς παρ' ἑτέρου εὐχῆς, ὅταν ἐγὼ εὐαρεστῶ; Μηδέποτε τοῦτο εἴπῃς, ἄνθρωπε. Χρεία, καὶ πολλῆς χρεία εὐχῆς: ἄκουε γὰρ τοῦ Θεοῦ λέγοντος περὶ τῶν φίλων τοῦ Ἰώβ: Καὶ προσεύξεται, φησὶ, περὶ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀφεθήσεται ὑμῖν ἡ ἁμαρτία: ἐπειδὴ ἥμαρτον μὲν, οὐχ ἁμαρτίαν δὲ μεγάλην. Ἀλλ' αὐτὸς οὗτος ὁ δίκαιος ὁ σώσας τοὺς φίλους αὑτοῦ τότε ἀπὸ εὐχῆς, ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῷ Ἰουδαϊκῷ οὐκ ἠδυνήθη σῶσαι τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἀπολλυμένους. Καὶ ἵνα μάθῃς, ἄκουε τοῦ Θεοῦ λέγοντος διὰ τοῦ προφήτου: Ἂν στῇ Νῶε, καὶ Ἰὼβ, καὶ Δανιὴλ, οὐκ ἐξελοῦνται τοὺς υἱοὺς αὑτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας: ἐπειδὴ ὑπερίσχυσεν ἡ κακία: καὶ πάλιν, Ἐὰν στῇ Μωϋσῆς, καὶ Σαμουήλ. Καὶ ὅρα πῶς πρὸς τοὺς δύο προφήτας τοῦτο λέγεται, ἐπειδὴ ἀμφότεροι ἠξίωσαν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέτυχον. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Ἰεζεκιὴλ ἐπειδὴ ἔλεγεν: Οἴμοι, Κύριε! ἐξαλείφεις σὺ τὸ κατάλοιπον τοῦ Ἰσραήλ: ὁ Θεὸς, δηλῶν ὅτι δικαίως τοῦτο ποιεῖ, καὶ οὐκ αὐτοῦ καταφρονῶν οὐ δέχεται τὴν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαν, δείκνυσιν αὐτῷ τὰ ἁμαρτήματα αὐτῶν, μονονουχὶ λέγων: Ἱκανὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ταῦτά σε πεῖσαι ὅτι οὐ καταφρονῶν σου, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν τὰς πολλὰς οὐ δέχομαι τὴν ἱκετηρίαν: ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐπάγει καὶ τοῦτο, Ἐὰν στῇ Νῶε, καὶ Ἰὼβ, καὶ Δανιήλ. Καὶ εἰκότως ἐκείνῳ μᾶλλον ταῦτα λέγει, ἐπειδὴ ὁ πολλὰ παθὼν αὐτός ἐστιν. Εἶπές μοι, φησὶν, ἐπὶ βολβίτων φαγεῖν, καὶ ἔφαγον: εἶπές μοι, καὶ ἐξυράμην: εἶπές μοι, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἑνὸς πλευροῦ ἐκοιμήθην: εἶπές μοι δι' ὀπῆς ἐξελθεῖν βασταζόμενον, καὶ ἐξῆλθον: ἔλαβές μου τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ εἶπές μοι μὴ πενθῆσαι, καὶ οὐκ ἐπένθησα, ἀλλ' ἤνεγκα γενναίως: μυρία ἕτερα εἰργασάμην δι' αὐτούς: καὶ ἐγώ σε ἀξιῶ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐ πείθῃ; Δεικνὺς τοίνυν ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι οὐ καταφρονῶν αὐτοῦ τοῦτο ποιεῖ, λέγει: Κἂν Νῶε, κἂν Ἰὼβ, κἂν Δανιὴλ ᾖ, καὶ ὑπὲρ υἱῶν ἀξιώσωσι καὶ θυγατέρων, οὐ πείθομαι. Καὶ τῷ Ἱερεμίᾳ πάλιν ἐλάττονα μὲν πάσχοντι ἀπὸ τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ προσταγμάτων, πλείονα δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῶν πονηρίας, τί φησιν; Ἢ οὐχ ὁρᾷς τί οὗτοι ποιοῦσι; Ναὶ, φησὶ, ποιοῦσιν: ἀλλὰ δι' ἐμὲ ποίησον. Διὰ τοῦτό φησι πρὸς αὐτόν: Ἐὰν στῇ Μωϋσῆς καὶ Σαμουήλ: Μωϋσῆς ὁ πρῶτος νομοθέτης, ὁ πολλάκις αὐτοὺς ἐξελόμενος κινδύνων, ὁ εἰπὼν, Εἰ μὲν ἀφῇς αὐτοῖς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν, ἄφες: εἰ δὲ μὴ, κἀμὲ ἐξάλειψον. Εἰ τοίνυν οὗτος ἦν νῦν, καὶ ταῦτα ἔλεγεν, οὐκ ἂν ἐπέτυχε: καὶ εἰ Σαμουὴλ πάλιν, ὁ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξελόμενος αὐτοὺς, ὁ ἐκ πρώτης ἡλικίας θαυμασθείς. Πρὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐκεῖνον εἶπον, ὅτι ὡσανεὶ φίλος πρὸς φίλον, οὕτω διειλέχθην, καὶ οὐ δι' αἰνιγμάτων: πρὸς δὲ τοῦτον εἶπον, ὅτι ἐν πρώτῃ ἡλικίᾳ ὤφθην αὐτῷ, καὶ διὰ τοῦτον δυσωπηθεὶς ἀποκλεισθεῖσαν τὴν προφητείαν ἀνέῳξα. Καὶ γὰρ ἦν, φησὶ, ῥῆμα τίμιον, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὅρασις διαστέλλουσα. Ἐὰν οὗτοι τοίνυν στῶσιν, οὐδὲν ὀνήσουσι. Καὶ περὶ τοῦ Νῶε δὲ λέγει, Δίκαιος, τέλειος ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ αὐτοῦ ἦν Νῶε: καὶ περὶ τοῦ Ἰὼβ, Ἄμεμπτος, δίκαιος, ἀληθινὸς, Θεοσεβής. Τούτους οὖν στάντας, καὶ Δανιὴλ, ὃν καὶ Θεὸν ἐνόμισαν οἱ Χαλδαῖοι, οὐκ ἐξελεῖν ἰσχῦσαί φησιν υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ θυγατέρας. Ταῦτα τοίνυν εἰδότες, μήτε καταφρονῶμεν τῶν εὐχῶν τῶν ἁγίων, μήτε τὸ πᾶν αὐταῖς ἐπιῤῥίπτωμεν, τοῦτο μὲν, ἵνα μὴ ῥᾳθυμῶμεν καὶ εἰκῇ ζῶμεν, ἐκεῖνο δὲ, ἵνα μὴ πολλοῦ κέρδους ἐκπέσωμεν: ἀλλὰ καὶ παρακαλῶμεν εὔχεσθαι ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν καὶ χεῖρας ὀρέγειν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐχώμεθα τῆς ἀρετῆς: ἵνα δυνηθῶμεν ἐπιτυχεῖν τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων ἀγαθῶν τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτὸν, 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.