English · KJV

Apollinaris of Laodicea

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 73 passages across 5 books

Commentary

41–60 of 73
Matthew 27:26

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

The floggings [are] for the sins of the world, because the sinner is flogged many times, according to the prophecy that says, “I gave my back to the whips.” And so is fulfilled [the saying] that the righteous [will give himself] for sinners. The height of goodness is also fulfilled when “the righteous [suffered] for the unrighteous,” so that “by his wounds we might be healed,” as Isaiah says.

FRAGMENT 138.34

Matthew 27:27-31

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

It was not as though those men had the power [to do these deeds]. Rather, it seemed good to God that these events occur for the redemption of humanity. The “Lord of glory” was treated shamefully for us because of the dishonor due to us. He is now glorified while the day of the righteous is always mocked by the ignorant. Since the cloak was tinged with the color of blood, those murdering him dressed him with it, though they did not realize the significance of what they were doing. Instead, they clothed Jesus … in scarlet cloth and bound his hand with the symbol of one of the sons of Tamar and Judah. The cloak itself [represents] the blood shed by the world and by the people in it. The Savior was put to death for the salvation of all. But they who are choked by “worries, wealth and pleasure” have received the word of God but have not borne fruit. They weave thorns together and crown Jesus with them, dishonoring him.… Those who deemed his kingdom to be of little value placed a reed in his right hand.

FRAGMENT 139

Matthew 27:45

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Now a certain Phlegon, a philosopher among the Greeks, recollects this darkness as an incredible occurrence in the fourteenth [night] of the moon, when an eclipse should not have appeared … for eclipses occur at the time when these two stars [the sun and the moon] draw near to one another. An eclipse of the sun happens at the conjunction of the sun and the moon as it runs into its way. This is not the time of the full moon, when the sun is diametrically opposed to the moon. But the eclipse occurred as creation mourned over what had happened, signifying that the drunken behavior of the Jews was linked to a darkened mind. The sunshine of the intellect had departed from them. For if they had been considering him—for that darkness found its source in the wrathful one and was evidence of what was about to overtake the murderers.

FRAGMENT 142.17

Matthew 27:50

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

This is also the beginning of the translation of souls into the heavens. For whatever souls follow Christ are translated. Stephen made this plain when he said, “Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit.” Paul also writes, “It is better to depart and be with Christ.” Such was not the case with those of ancient times. It was said concerning the dead that each was handed over “to his people.” This proceeding was below, as was the detention of souls. The Lord changes the direction of the journey from below to above by means of himself.

FRAGMENT 143.52

Matthew 27:53-54

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

The raising up of the saints’ bodies was announcing that the death of Christ was actually the cause of life. They certainly were not made visible prior to the Lord’s resurrection, since it was necessary that the resurrection of the Savior first be made known. Then those raised through him were seen. It is plain that they have died again, having risen from the dead in order to be a sign. For it was not possible for only some of the firstborn from the dead to be raised to the life of the age to come, but the remainder [must be raised] in the same manner. Now Luke says that the crowd passing by “beat their breasts and went away.” Thus the divine superiority did not escape the notice of the Jews, either in the Passion itself or in the obscurity of the Savior. But habitual human forgetfulness held them fast, and the deceit of the teachers led many astray.

FRAGMENT 144.67

Romans 1:1

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Paul was set apart and dedicated to evangelism, like the offerings which the law says were set apart for God and for the priests.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.28

Romans 1:6

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Paul says this in order to show that the Romans too, made up as they were of all the nations inhabiting the world, rightly accepted the preaching of his message.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 1:12

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Even Paul was not above the need of comfort. For right speech comforts the speaker as well. By this means Paul is teaching his followers not to be proud if they are called to teach. They are not giving what merely belongs to them when they teach. They come to realize that they not only minister to others’ needs but that they have needs themselves. For this is the fruit of the gospel. It is a blessing to those who preach it.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 1:13

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

For the fruit of those who have believed the Word is the benefit to those who hear it. And the Lord says that he has sent the apostles in order to bear much fruit. Indeed, a few gleaners have harvested the entire church.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.65

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Paul says that even if, in the very largest of cities, the preacher of the cross of Christ will be mocked by the ignorant, he is not to be ashamed. For if the Son of God bore the shame of the cross on our behalf, how could it not be out of place for us to be ashamed at the Lord’s suffering for us?

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

In place of righteousness by works, which is neither sincere nor life-giving, Paul praised life through faith. The prophet said: “through faith for faith.” “If you had believed in Moses,” said Jesus, “you would have believed in me also.”

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

This means that although the visible creation was sufficient to reveal the invisible God, they nevertheless abandoned God and deified creatures instead, “suppressing the truth of God in unrighteousness.”

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 1:19

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

The energies of the divine being have always been invisible by nature, and they are never revealed to anybody directly, but they are made known through the creation.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 1:21

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

It is futile to conceive of nonbeing as if it were being, as do those who worship vanity as if it were God. For this reason their minds have been rendered senseless and darkness has entered their souls.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 1:32

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Here again we see the innocence of God and the guilt of man and the justice of the judgment which is brought. For men do these things, not being unaware that they are worthy of punishment by God the judge. For it is clear that they are not unaware of this when they judge others and hand those who do such things over to death. For when evil men have knowledge of the good and make use of it as if they are not given over to pleasures, they bear witness that God’s creation is good.… But those who lead men into wrong, as well as those who follow what is wrong, are both evil.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 2:10

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

Paul is right to put the Jew first here and then the Greek. For those who are closer to the Lord and to his rebukes are honored above others, and they enjoy their rewards more than others.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 2:13

(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

This is not the perfect righteousness according to Christ. About that, Paul says: “By works of the law shall no one be justified.”

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 2:16

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Men sit as judges of the external things only. It is God who judges things hidden. For Scripture says: “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.” When Christ judges, then God is the judge.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 3:3

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Let it be agreed, Paul says, that God is faithful and true in every case, whereas men have been judged as unfaithful and untrue, so that God by his goodness may conquer the self-righteousness of men by bestowing his own righteousness upon them.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

Romans 3:21

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

[The righteousness of God] has not been manifested in opposition to the law but as an increase of good and as the free gift of God, so that we may no longer be judged according to human righteousness, which is always under judgment, but that we may be made perfect by the righteousness which comes from God. For this is the righteousness which comes by faith in Christ to all who believe and which dwells in them all.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

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