Theodoret of Cyrus

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 1,374 passages across 50 books

Commentary

181–200 of 1,374

And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

It ought not to excite astonishment that Constantine was so far deceived as to send so many great men into exile: for he believed the assertions of bishops of high fame and reputation, who skillfully concealed their malice. Those who are acquainted with the Sacred Scriptures know that the holy David, although he was a prophet, was deceived; and that too not by a priest, but by one who was a menial, a slave and a rascal. I mean Ziba, who deluded the king by lies against Mephibosheth, and thus obtained his land. It is not to condemn the prophet that I speak in this way; but that I may defend the emperor, by showing the weakness of human nature, and to teach that credit should not be given only to those who advance accusations, even though they may appear worthy of credit; but that the other party ought also to be heard, and that one ear should be left open to the accused.

2 Thessalonians 1:6

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

When Paul says “since indeed,” he means it as an affirmation without any shred of doubt. When we are in the habit of making an affirmation, we say “Since indeed this is true,” meaning “This is to be treated as true without any question.” Therefore God is said to be just, when, coming as the enforcer of the law, there is reward for us who have suffered for the faith and punishment for the godlessness of our persecutors.

2 Thessalonians 2:1

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

To what has been said it must also be added that we must not affirm that after the ascension the Lord Christ is not Christ but only the begotten Son. The divine Gospels and the history of the Acts and the epistles of the apostle himself were, as we know, written after the ascension. It is after the ascension that the divine Paul exclaims “Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” … And again when writing to the same a second time, he says, “Now we beseech you, brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.”

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7

And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

Indeed, the God of the universe has decreed that this figure shall himself appear during the time of consummation, and thus it is God’s own decree that actually detains him until that appearance. What this means is as follows. When the divine apostle taught that the Lord had instructed him to preach the gospel among all the Gentiles, and then the end would come, and when he saw the worship of idols flourishing in connection with this, he spoke in obedience to the Lord’s teaching. He said that superstition would be openly overturned and that when divine preaching would shine forth, then the adversary of the truth would appear.… Some say that the mystery of iniquity is Nero, that the master of impiety has already lived. But I think that the apostle indicates the heresies that have since arisen.

2 Timothy 1:2

To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy’s sonship to Paul is that of the soul, not that generated by nature, and is based on the spiritual promise of life.

2 Timothy 1:5

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Commenting on Timothy’s Jewish background, Paul mentions Timothy’s parentage in order to confirm Timothy in faith. Nothing helps so much as a domestic example.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Grace was given to us so that we might not be afraid but love all the more steadily.

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:

Indeed, the God of all pre-formed these things from the beginning and before the ages. Now he has brought about a conclusion to all that was decreed. The incarnation is that in which the eternity of the Son is finally manifested.

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 power and grace offered to Paul by the Spirit for serving the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:15

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Paul was then at Rome. Many had wandered away, some for money, others for other reasons. Some of the Asian converts abandoned Paul there on account of the fear of Nero. Paul is afraid that they might be a problem to Timothy, and he wants him to be aware of them.

2 Timothy 2:8

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

Paul discusses here only the human nature of Christ because he is responding to Simon’s heresy, where the true enfleshment of the Savior is denied.

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.

Good teachers are like farmers who plow straight furrows, thus presenting the rule of Scripture in a correct manner.

2 Timothy 2:18

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

The successions that happen through the procreation of children they unhappily call the resurrection.

2 Timothy 2:20

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

Paul applies the image of the great house to the world, where the golden vessels are persons of faith and virtue, the silver those who embrace civil life virtuously and righteously and the wooden those who live irreverent and disgraceful lives.

2 Timothy 3:8

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Paul takes the story of Jannes and Jambres not from holy Scripture but from an unwritten Jewish tradition.

2 Timothy 3:9

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

The only progress which heretics will make is in impiety, for they cannot simulate genuine piety for very long.

2 Timothy 3:11

Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Paul’s point in recalling these events is to show the divine help, thus adding spirit to the disciple.

2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Many are the devices secretly plotted against me and through me patched up against the faith of apostles. I am however comforted by the sufferings of the saints, prophets, apostles, martyrs and men famous in the churches in the word of grace and besides these by the promises of our God and Savior. For in the present life he has promised us nothing pleasant or delightful, but rather trouble, toil, and peril and attacks of enemies.

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Every occasion is appropriate for teaching, so long as this is done boldly and with forethought.

2 Timothy 4:6

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Paul calls his destruction a libation, as if his blood were poured out for the sake of true religion.

All writers

Who was this?

A theologian of the School of Antioch and bishop of Cyrrhus, he participated in the Christological controversies of the fifth century. He wrote biblical commentaries and polemics against Cyril of Alexandria. His writings were later condemned during the Three Chapters Controversy at the Second Council of Constantinople.

Wikipedia

Works cited

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS 145
INTERPRETATION OF THE SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY 16
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 11 14
INTERPRETATION OF THE FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY 14
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 1 13
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 13 10
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 7 10
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 10 9
COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS 1 8
DIALOGUE 2 8
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 2 8
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 4 8

2 Samuel 16:1-3 2 Thessalonians 1:6 2 Thessalonians 2:1 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 2 Timothy 1:2 2 Timothy 1:5 2 Timothy 1:7 2 Timothy 1:10 2 Timothy 1:12 2 Timothy 1:15 2 Timothy 2:8 2 Timothy 2:15 2 Timothy 2:18 2 Timothy 2:20 2 Timothy 3:8 2 Timothy 3:9 2 Timothy 3:11 2 Timothy 3:12 2 Timothy 4:2 2 Timothy 4:6