Theodoret of Cyrus — Commentary on Scripture

Isaiah 45:8

“And let the clouds rain righteousness.” On the occasion of making previous threats, he has said, “I will command the clouds to rain no rain on it,” and … it was the prophets who were referred to in this way. Here, therefore, the text invites the prophets to present, as a kind of rain, the discourse dealing with righteousness. In fact, those recognized as prophets after the return from exile were Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. “And let the earth bring forth and blossom with mercy, and bring forth righteousness likewise.” For it is fitting likewise that the people who benefit from such watering offer fruits in consonance with the watering. Thus, the rain provides discourse regarding righteousness; therefore, he demands from them the fruits of righteousness and mercy. For he has called the people who inhabit the earth “the earth.” “I am the Lord who created you.” It is I who likewise from the beginning have brought you into existence.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:45.8

Isaiah 45:9-10

Just as the potter models anew the vase of broken clay, [God] says, for my part, I will make you better than at first. “Will the plowman plow the earth all day?” This comes back to saying it is not effective to use chastisement continually, for the cultivator does not keep tearing up the soil without ceasing. “Woe to him who disputes with the One who formed him!” “Shall the clay say to the potter, What are you doing that you do not work, nor have hands? Shall the thing formed answer him that formed it?” Since there were many in that epoch, and now likewise, who concern themselves ill-advisedly with divine providence and who attempt to study inquisitively the cause for the occurrence of wars, of periods of sterility of the soil, of premature deaths and of all the things of this nature, it is understandable that he should first of all deplore those who demand an accounting from the Creator of the universe. He, then, has skillfully closed their mouth by the image of the clay and the potter: the clay does not demand an accounting from the one who worked it regarding his rest or his work…

Just as the potter models anew the vase of broken clay, [God] says, for my part, I will make you better than at first. “Will the plowman plow the earth all day?” This comes back to saying it is not effective to use chastisement continually, for the cultivator does not keep tearing up the soil without ceasing. “Woe to him who disputes with the One who formed him!” “Shall the clay say to the potter, What are you doing that you do not work, nor have hands? Shall the thing formed answer him that formed it?” Since there were many in that epoch, and now likewise, who concern themselves ill-advisedly with divine providence and who attempt to study inquisitively the cause for the occurrence of wars, of periods of sterility of the soil, of premature deaths and of all the things of this nature, it is understandable that he should first of all deplore those who demand an accounting from the Creator of the universe. He, then, has skillfully closed their mouth by the image of the clay and the potter: the clay does not demand an accounting from the one who worked it regarding his rest or his work. In the same way is it no more fitting to occupy yourself rudely with divine matters, for you are precisely the clay. But there is between me and the potter the greatest difference there could be: the potter, though he is the creator of the utensil of clay, is nevertheless, on his part, the firstborn of the clay, whereas I possess an uncreated nature. Yet the clay does not say a word but supports the modeling that the potter wishes to impose on it, while you pay no attention to my providence.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:45.9

Isaiah 45:19

[Isaiah] has said this to mock the delusion of idols. For their votaries used certain practices of sorcery. They took darkness as an auxiliary for deceit and, from the bottom of some secluded and obscure place, they said whatever they wished and deceived their listeners, all the while saying that it was the idols who uttered that voice. As for me, on the contrary, he says, when I gave the law, as whenever I prophesied, I have spoken openly.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:45.19

Isaiah 45:23

“I am God, and there is no other God apart from me, the righteous one and savior. There is none beside me.” These words clearly teach us the homoousion. For if the Father is God as the Son is God, the Father savior as the Son is savior, the prophetic text applies these things univocally; it makes extremely clear that their essence is identical.… If the Father is speaking these things, the Son is excluded from these titles and is not homoousios. Or the Son is the one speaking and the Father does not have them. But if God is the Father and God is the Son and the Father is savior and the Son savior, that is why it is said in the singular that there is no other God and savior beside him.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:45.20-21

Isaiah 45:23

“They will be justified in the Lord, and all the seed of the sons of Israel will be glorified in God.” It does not say all the seed of Israel but “all the seed of the sons of Israel.” The “sons of Israel” are those who are descended from Israel. Their seed is those judged worthy of salvation from among the nations. It is, indeed, thanks to those among the Jews who believed that their descendants received the seed of the teaching and harvested the fruit of salvation.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:45.25

Isaiah 46:1

Having discussed the Deity, displayed the believers and confounded the unbelievers, the prophetic text also predicts the destruction of the idols. Some copies carry “Dagon.” That was an idol of the Allophyles [foreigners]. As for Bel, some claim that he was Kronos. Then [Isaiah] generalizes: “Their graven images are gone to the wild beasts and the cattle.” For they did not only manufacture anthropomorphic idols but also idols resembling wild beasts and cattle. The Egyptians, in particular, worshiped representations of monkeys, of dogs, of lions, of farm animals and of crocodiles, whereas the Akaronites even had an image of a fly, and some others worshiped figures of bats. These are the practices that the beginning of the prophetic text has already denounced. He predicts the destruction of all these idols.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:46.1

Isaiah 46:2

By the same token, [Isaiah] says, as all the other burdens that are unable to walk but have to be carried, the idols, by reason of their inanimate nature, constrain their porters to toil. Their impotence is so great that they cannot even—as people do in war time—take flight.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:46.2

Isaiah 46:6

[Isaiah] has clearly mocked the impotence of the idols. And since he had made mention of their creation from a piece of wood in a preceding passage, but gold and silver are more precious material than wood, and many people on account of the material treated the gods of gold and of silver with the greater regard, he considers it necessary to give this instruction concerning them: people collect gold and silver. They hire a goldsmith, weigh the statue he has fashioned and treat it as a god. Yet it moves with the feet of others, but if they are lacking, it stands still. Moreover, it brings no help to its worshipers. After this refutation, [Isaiah] introduces an exhortation.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:46.7

Isaiah 46:11

All is easy for the God of the universe. Not only the beings endowed with reason but even those devoid of it submit to divine authority. In addition, by the term “bird” he has clearly shown the speed of Israel’s return from exile.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:46.11

Isaiah 46:12

For though you are unworthy of salvation, since you have distanced yourself from righteousness because of your iniquity, I will procure salvation [for you] and will inflict just chastisement on the Babylonians. “I have given salvation in Zion to Israel for my glory.” For thanks to the salvation of Israel, all will learn of my power and acknowledge that I am truly God.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:46.13

Isaiah 47:3

“Come down, sit on the ground, virgin daughter of Babylon.” Isaiah calls her “virgin” not because she was chaste—in fact she was corrupt and shameless—but because she was dressed in the manner of a virgin. “Sit down on the ground; it is not a throne.” You have been deprived of royalty, he says; you have changed place with a slave. “Sink down into the shades, O daughter of the Chaldeans, for you shall no more be called tender and luxurious.” You have lost your good fortune of former times; you do not revel in the misfortunes of others.… The one who has redeemed you has the name “the Lord of Hosts.” If anyone wants to understand this passage as applying equally to Babylon, one should recognize that through its punishment it has been spared from sinning more. Because Babylon no longer was in power, it no longer sinned and gained the benefit of avoiding greater sins.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:47.1-4

Isaiah 47:6

For they have burned the temple of God, they have consecrated the sacred vessels to idols, and they have used cruelty against the prisoners. “I gave them into your hands.” You would not have carried off the victory if I had not willed it. I delivered them [to you] because I wanted to correct them, not exterminate them. “But you did not extend mercy to them; you made the yoke of the aged very heavy.” Even age did not seem to you worthy of respect. [Isaiah] has by this trait shown the extent of their hardness.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:47.6

Isaiah 47:11

Suddenly, [Isaiah] says, you will receive destruction and undergo the misfortunes that you do not expect. “[There shall be] a pit, and you shall fall into it; and grief shall come on you, and you cannot be cleared.” Symmachus and Aquila have rendered the translation of this passage as follows: “And a misfortune will befall you that you will not be able to avert,” that is to say, I will precipitate you into unavoidable misfortunes, and you will not obtain a pardon, for you have sinned beyond [the point] of being pardoned.” “And destruction shall come suddenly on you, and you shall not know.” For Babylon had not been expecting a change [of fortune] and had had no dread of seeing the situation reversed.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:47.11

Isaiah 47:12

The prophetic text addresses these words to [Babylon] in an ironic manner: stick to your habitual magic; stick to your customary incantations. It is likely that you will escape from misfortunes that besiege you! Then he proclaims the vainness of these practices.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:47.12

Isaiah 47:15

In the other nations likewise, there are people who choose an iniquitous law, he says, but not all embrace this mode of conduct. For your part, you studied iniquity and you practiced the extreme of impiety as if it were the height of piety; therefore you will not enjoy salvation. As for us, instructed by their punishment, let us procure salvation, and may their destruction turn to our advantage! Seeing what payment is reserved for malice, and taking on the opposite mode of conduct and having as a holy anchor trust in the God of the universe, we will obtain his solicitude during the present life, just as we will enjoy the eternal benefits in the life to come by the grace of Christ our Savior. Glory to the Father, together with him, in the unity of the All-Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 14:47.15

Isaiah 48:3

The adversities that have come on you were announced by me well beforehand, in order that you would be frightened by threats and driven to repentance, so that you may steer clear of the dreadful events. But since you failed to believe my words, I will now proceed to demonstrate their truth by my actions. For you see what is added, “I acted suddenly, and the events came to pass.”

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 15:48.3

Isaiah 48:4

Instructed by this passage, the divine Stephen in his turn says to the Jews, “You stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your ancestors did, so do you.” And also through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah, the God of the universe has declared to them, “You have had the appearance of a prostitute; you refuse to be ashamed.” It is this shamelessness that [Isaiah] likewise alludes to by [the phrase] “brazen forehead.” The forehead of a brass statue does not blush. Similarly, you no longer blush when you commit evil or when you are confronted or chastised.… In this way he has described with greater clarity their spirit of disobedience. For they voluntarily refused to listen, because they did not even desire to hear the words of God.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 15:48.4-8

Isaiah 48:10

It was not a need for money that caused me to deliver you to the Babylonians but the will to make you atone for your iniquity; nevertheless, I am going to make you a gift of freedom again. For Isaiah has called the bondage a “furnace of poverty.” In a furnace the fire itself remains hidden, and only the smoke released from the furnace can be seen. Likewise, prisoners of war do not dare to lament openly, but in their hearts. For they are consumed by the flame of discouragement, and their groan rises like a kind of smoke.… Since the enemies thought they had triumphed, not only over you but even over me, and that it was my weakness that had allowed them to dominate you, I will liberate you from this bitter slavery to the extent that even those who do not know me will hear of my might.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 15:48.10-11

Isaiah 48:16

Since you have not believed the gloomy predictions, believe, then, at least in the prophecies of encouragement. For I do not prophesy falsely in dark, inaccessible places after the manner of the [oracles of] idols. But I know these things clearly before their occurrence since I am present to the events themselves and see each one. “And now the Lord has sent me as well as his Spirit.” It is the prophet who made this declaration. He says, “I do not speak on my own authority but because the God of the universe and the holiest Spirit has sent me.” Now [the text] demonstrates here that there is another person besides God, the person of the Spirit, so as to refute the Jews and the mad ravings of Sabellius. For [Isaiah] said, “The Lord sent me as well as his Spirit.” For Sabellius often taught the one deity of God.… He must also teach about the particular characteristics of the persons, sometimes that of the Son and that of the Father, sometimes that of the Father and that of the Holy Spirit.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 15:48.16

Isaiah 48:19

“I am the Lord your God. I have shown how to find my way so that you may benefit by traveling on that way.” … But since the Jews did not desire to pay attention to these commandments, by reason of their attachment to a fleshly manner of thinking, they viewed having many children as a sign of blessing.… Nevertheless, although you have despised my laws, I will consider you worthy of consideration and, once again, you will be called “my people.”

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 15:48.18-19