English · KJV

Theodore of Mopsuestia

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 490 passages across 31 books

Commentary

41–60 of 490
1 Timothy 4:14

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Those whom he calls presbyters in this passage are not those whom we now call by that name—Paul does not usually allow to presbyters as such the power of ordination by the laying on of hands. Rather he says that the gathering of the apostles was present with him when he laid hands in his ordination. He calls this the “council of presbyters” as a designation of honor. It is in accordance with this custom that at the ordination of a bishop not one, but the multitude of bishops present, implement the ordination.

COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY

1 Timothy 5:3

Honour widows that are widows indeed.

Paul’s intention is precisely not to give honor to women who have given only a promise of widowhood but rather to give honor to those who have clearly fulfilled the promise by their action.

COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY

1 Timothy 5:4

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

It is the children and grandchildren who should learn their religious duties, namely, to care for widowed forebears, and not the widows who are to learn, for it is precisely they who are worthy of assistance, partly because they have no children.

COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY

1 Timothy 5:9

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

What is said here applies only to the order of widows and not to deaconesses, as some believe.

COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY

1 Timothy 5:19

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

It is the duty of the presbyter to function as the common father of both the men and women of the congregation; because the care of both sexes involves seeing and speaking discreetly with the women, pastoral work must be done with great reverence. Furthermore, the duty of presbyters involves the administration of penitential discipline on admitted sinners and the exercise of oversight where such discipline is substandard. For both reasons the presbyters are vulnerable to charges.

COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY

2 Corinthians 1:3

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Paul does not begin with suffering but with comfort, giving thanks for that before going on to explain that it came about through suffering.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

2 Corinthians 1:24

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Paul says that he finds no fault with their faith. However, there are some other things which need to be put right, and he is concerned with those.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

2 Corinthians 3:7

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

Paul did not say the dispensation of the law but the dispensation of death, speaking rather of its result in order to lessen its attraction.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

If Paul had wanted to say that the Lord is a spirit, he would have left the article the out. Compare John [4:24], where in speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus says that God is a spirit, meaning that he does not have a body. But in this case Paul puts the article in, which proves that he is not saying that the Lord is a spirit but rather that the Spirit is Lord.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

2 Corinthians 8:23

Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

The two “as for” phrases do not denote a contrast between them but rather emphasize the similarity.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

2 Corinthians 10:4

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

By “worldly weapons” Paul means the law of Moses.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

2 Corinthians 11:29

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

By “weak” in this case Paul means “sinful.”

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

2 Corinthians 12:4

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

He saw the beautiful appearance of paradise, the dances of the saints in it and the harmonious sound of its hymnody.

PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH

2 Thessalonians 1:3

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Paul seems to say here that the activity of grace has grown, for he does not say that “we give thanks” but that “we are bound to give thanks.” In the same way we deserve to have a complaint lodged against us if we do not render to someone what is justly owed. This is the force of “as is fitting,” where the point is that there has been an increase in the work of grace, such that what has happened in the Thessalonians is rightly referred to God as its source.

COMMENTARY ON 2 THESSALONIANS

2 Thessalonians 1:9

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Paul shows here just how seriousness this punishment is by his use of “eternal.” Indeed the punishment of those wicked who have died is completed in a reality that transcends time itself and is forever.

COMMENTARY ON 2 THESSALONIANS

2 Timothy 1:10

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

The gospel is ancient in the will of the Giver, even if new in the chain of events. God has demonstrated his eternal will in Christ.

COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY

2 Timothy 1:12

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

The “deposit” is the pledge of the Spirit given to Paul that he may be preserved.

COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY

2 Timothy 2:8

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Some were teaching that it was merely the “assumed body” which came from the seed of David. Paul taught this to combat Simon’s Docetic heresy, by which the resurrection is emptied of meaning.

COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Paul’s intent here is to urge Timothy to teach with a correct purpose, so that the word is not undermined.

COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY

2 Timothy 2:18

Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

The heretical teaching about the resurrection is that it happens in the process of natural procreation, by which our children succeed us.

COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY

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