Kiswahili

Theodoret of Cyrus

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500

1,374 passages across 50 books of the Bible · Who was this?

On Isaiah

20 of 208
  1. Isaiah 40:11
    Of this prophecy also let us observe the fulfillment in the exact way and in truth in the holy Gospels. In the first place, the Lord has said, “I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep and am known by my own … and [I] lay down my life for the sheep.” Moreover, he has likewise gathered the lambs with his arms, [that is to say] by the power of his teachings. For soon he said to the fishermen, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men [people].” Presently he called the publicans and ate with them. Again, another time, he allowed even a woman who had led an evil life to shed tears at his feet. He has likewise comforted pregnant women with the thought that they would give birth for salvation. As they learned of the destruction of death and the hope of the resurrection, they possesed sufficient solace for their pains in the expectation of the benefits that had been announced. Finally, while the holy Virgin still carried him in her womb, he filled Elizabeth, who was with child, with joy.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.11

  2. Isaiah 40:19
    What art can produce an imitation of him who precisely is boundless?

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.19

  3. Isaiah 40:19
    At the moment when he gave the law, the God of the universe transmitted his commands in these terms: “You shall not make for yourself an image or likeness of any thing, whether of things in the heaven above, and in the earth beneath, and in the waters under the earth … for I am the Lord your God.” That is to say, of the God whose appearance you have not seen. Here also the prophetic text, while denouncing the lack of sense of those who fabricate idols and who worship them, strives to show the infinite character of divine capacity; but in [Isaiah’s] inability to teach people another way, he sets out the creation to indicate [its] extraordinary measure; that which, he says, is a drop in the bucket, a turning of a balance, or spittle, so much is all the human race in relation to that ineffable and unlimited power. Then [Isaiah] teaches that the collection of all kinds of beasts is a small thing and not enough for an offering in honor of the divine magnificence, and that [even] all the forests of Lebanon are incapable of satisfying the fire lit [on the altar of sacrifice]. What image cou…
    At the moment when he gave the law, the God of the universe transmitted his commands in these terms: “You shall not make for yourself an image or likeness of any thing, whether of things in the heaven above, and in the earth beneath, and in the waters under the earth … for I am the Lord your God.” That is to say, of the God whose appearance you have not seen. Here also the prophetic text, while denouncing the lack of sense of those who fabricate idols and who worship them, strives to show the infinite character of divine capacity; but in [Isaiah’s] inability to teach people another way, he sets out the creation to indicate [its] extraordinary measure; that which, he says, is a drop in the bucket, a turning of a balance, or spittle, so much is all the human race in relation to that ineffable and unlimited power. Then [Isaiah] teaches that the collection of all kinds of beasts is a small thing and not enough for an offering in honor of the divine magnificence, and that [even] all the forests of Lebanon are incapable of satisfying the fire lit [on the altar of sacrifice]. What image could you, therefore, fashion that would be equivalent in nature?

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.18

  4. Isaiah 40:20
    On the subject of the God of the universe, [Isaiah] has expressed himself in the following manner: “Lebanon is not enough to burn,” while here, to mock the feebleness of idols, he makes it obvious that the artisan has a need for wood to give form to the pretended god. Not only, [Isaiah] says, does he borrow its essence and its appearance from an outside source, but he even calls for much artfulness in order to obtain an image and to keep it from being moved.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.20

  5. Isaiah 40:21
    From the beginning, [Isaiah] says, have I not taught you the weakness of the idols? Do you not know who it is who set the earth on its foundations with a view to assuring its stability?

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.21

  6. Isaiah 40:22-23
    It is he, [Isaiah] says, who has caused the earth to appear; it is he who holds it in his hand and who directs it. As for human beings, they are no different from grasshoppers if one compares them with divine power. Then [Isaiah] teaches that God is not only the Maker of the earth but also the Creator of the heavens: “He that set up the heaven as a chamber and stretched it out as a tent to dwell in.” For since the earth is like the ground floor of a house and the sky simulates a roof in the form of an arch and dome, [Isaiah] has aptly compared it with a tent. And after having shown us the God of the universe as Creator, the prophetic text indicates to us his ineffable providence.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.22

  7. Isaiah 40:22-23
    It is thus he has brought down Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar and thousands of others. “And has made the earth as nothing.” For the power of the Creator does not even have the object of his creation as a measure, but only his will: “Our God has done in heaven and on earth whatsoever he has pleased,” not all that he has the power [to do] but all he pleases: for he would be capable [of accomplishing] works many times greater, but God has accomplished what he judges to be best.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.23

  8. Isaiah 40:25
    To him who has performed works, to him who has accomplished these works and who continually goes on performing them, to whom do you compare him? What mark of respect do you offer to him that is worthy of him?

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.25

  9. Isaiah 40:26-27
    Do not think that I ignore the designs of your souls, God says through Isaiah, and do not believe that you escape my view when you hold perverse reasonings. This passage lets [us] see clearly that he has also thrown the accusation of polytheism against Israel itself.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.27

  10. Isaiah 40:26-27
    [Isaiah] says, look at the sun, the moon, the movement of the stars, the cycle of the year, the changing of the seasons, the regular succession of night and day. For this is what [Isaiah] has added: “He who brings forth by number the order of the cosmos.” For he calls the setting in order of creation “the cosmos.” “He shall call them by names.” He is ignorant of nothing, [Isaiah] says, but he knows all things with clarity, since it is he who has given a name equally to each and every thing. “By means of the greatness of [your] glory and by the power of [your] might nothing has escaped you.” He has power above all, he is able [to do] all, he is ignorant of nothing that exists, and he knows the very thoughts of people.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.26

  11. Isaiah 40:28-30
    This is what the admirable Hannah has also said: “The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, and he lifts up.”

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.29

  12. Isaiah 40:28-30
    Then he recalls the truths that he has often taught: “[I am an] eternal God.” This is what the blessed Moses has also said: “I AM WHO I AM.” As for the blessed David, he in his turn addresses himself to him in these terms: “But you, Lord, endure forever, and your remembrance to generation and generation.” Or again: “But you are the same, and your years shall not fail.”

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.28

  13. Isaiah 40:31
    These things took place at the time of the Jews and the divine apostles. In fact, all those who did not believe were handed over to famine, disease, war and bondage. Those, however, who believed were renewed by the All-Holy Spirit and so imitated the swift flight of eagles. They flew over all the earth, struggling in bodies so foreign to them.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:40.30

  14. Isaiah 41:1
    He calls the churches “islands,” because they receive the assault of the waves of persecutors and because they are founded on the rock. He gives the title of “princes” to the heralds of truth, who have become changed from their [previous state] after their call: “Follow me,” says [the Scripture] and I will make you fishers of men.” They have consequently taken on new strength: it was no longer fish drawn from a single lake, but humans drawn from the entire world that they made their catch.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:41.1

  15. Isaiah 41:2
    Of this righteousness, the blessed Paul has said in his turn: “It is from God that we have been given wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.” When this righteousness arose and pervaded the world, kings were dismayed, tyrants were conquered, all kinds of torments were suppressed; the persecuted overcame their persecutors, and, as if rejoicing in great peace, they ran the course that was set before them. However, the words “it will not come” are not to be found in the Septuagint.… They show clearly that righteousness will not come for all but [only] for believers; for the ungodly did not even desire to pay attention to divine messages.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:41.2

  16. Isaiah 41:4
    From the beginning, [Isaiah] says, God has made announcements concerning righteousness. He made the covenant with Abraham in these terms: “All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in your seed,” and he [renewed] the covenant with Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David. This is what he has likewise announced through other prophets. “I, God, I AM the first, and I AM the future.” The One who gave the Old Testament, he says, is not different from the One who established the New. The divine nature is one, always the same and unchanging.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:41.4

  17. Isaiah 41:6
    Those who formerly have been in error, as soon as they have benefited from the light of the knowledge of God, cannot bear to hide his glory but call all people to participate in it. “And one will say,” that is to say, one who is removed from the darkness of ignorance.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:41.6

  18. Isaiah 41:7
    Look, [Isaiah] says, what the newcomers to the truth say to those who are still held prisoner to the error of idols, to show them their impotence: idols can neither walk nor hold themselves up without being fastened with nails. As for the phrase “it is a piece well joined,” the three interpreters have rendered it, “it is a joint well made”; that is to say, the joints are well fitted. It has been put together by craftsmanship.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:41.7

  19. Isaiah 41:8-9
    To Israel [Isaiah] awards praise at one time, then later addresses accusations. Far from acting in a contradictory manner, he does things in consonance. For those who believe are descendants of Israel, as are also those who crucified Jesus. It is, therefore, natural that [Isaiah] should praise one and accuse the other. Here, in any case, he has recalled his promises and his benefits of former times: he led their patriarch [Abraham] out of the land of the Chaldeans. He delivered their whole race from the domination of the Egyptians; and he deemed them worthy of all kinds of attention.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:41.8

  20. Isaiah 41:11
    This is what already happened figuratively in the epoch of the Babylonians, since the God of the universe destroyed their empire, liberated the Jews from bitter servitude and brought them back to the land of their ancestors. However, this deliverance applies properly and truly to the holy apostles and to the victorious martyrs: their enemies are covered with shame, their persecutors have today disappeared and are unknown, whereas the defenders of the truth attract all the attention and are known by all.

    COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:41.12

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