Theodoret of Cyrus

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

Commentary

101–120 of 1,374

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Believers of Jewish background, taking pride in their knowledge of the Old Testament, laid certain questions before Gentile believers. They did this in order to take advantage of their ignorance of these same divine words, and in the attempt to persuade them to embrace the law as a way of life. They rehearsed with them the human genealogy of the Lord as descended from Abraham and David. Therefore, Paul instructs Timothy to block these people and to prevent them from corrupting the teaching. The others he orders not to listen. He calls their ideas “myth” because they involve the Jewish, Mishna-like exposition of the Scripture, which focuses on superfluous and useless questions, rather than the essential divine economy of salvation.

1 Timothy 1:8

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

To use the law appropriately is to keep its purpose, that is, to lead one to Christ the Lord. Those who refrain from the sins that Paul mentions are living in conformity with the law.

1 Timothy 1:18 · 2 passages

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

By recalling prophecy, Paul makes it clear that Timothy received the laying on of hands in accordance with divine revelation, and after numerous signs that he, Timothy, had been so elected.

With the name of “son,” Paul gives his blessing to Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:20

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

The sinner is separated from the body of the church, stripped of divine grace, and so will be cruelly beaten by the Adversary, will fall into illnesses and painful passions and into a host of scrapes and calamities. It is understood that the sentence will be revoked when the sinner has repented.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

There is one conciliator of peace, who joins in himself what has been in disjunction. Paul calls Christ man precisely because he is the Mediator, the one in whom human and divine natures are joined in friendship.

1 Timothy 3:4-5

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

As a good overseer of his children, the father’s task is not to abdicate to their opinion but to teach them all the virtues, even if he must act strongly to shape their wills.

1 Timothy 3:8

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

“Not double-tongued” means that the deacon is not to be a person who says one thing to one person and something else to another.

1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The “mystery” is the sacred object of reverence, namely, that what was foreordained from the beginning and afterward became manifest.

1 Timothy 4:2

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

“Consciences seared” refers to their final numbing, the deadening of their consciences.

1 Timothy 4:7

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

“Godless wives tales” are Jewish speculations in the form of false interpretations of the law and its proper observance.

1 Timothy 5:3

Honour widows that are widows indeed.

Those faithful widows who have no other support must have churchly assistance.

1 Timothy 5:9

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

The teaching that a widow should be the wife of only one man is an encouragement to chastity within marriage, not a forbidding of second marriages.

1 Timothy 5:10

Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

In emphasizing hospitality and the care of the saints as important qualifications for the widow, Paul’s goal is not to focus on a certain quantity of virtuous activity but rather on a quality of mind.

2 Chronicles 15:3

Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

The passage shows the impiety of the ten tribes: “For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law; but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.” Do not imitate, the Scripture says, the impiety of your brothers. They do not preach the true God but pursue false idols. For this reason they have been deprived of the priests and the teachers, who could teach them the law of God. Experience, therefore, becomes our guide in showing the damages of impiety. For after being afflicted by any kind of calamity they implore now the help of God, giving themselves entirely to the ineffable goodness of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Timothy and Titus were both sent to Corinth, but Paul did not mention Titus in the letter because he was the one who actually carried it there.

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;

Christ himself teaches us that God is his Father..

2 Corinthians 1:8

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

I think that Paul is referring here to the riot at Ephesus which was provoked by Demetrius the silversmith..

2 Corinthians 1:12

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Paul is saying that he teaches only what he has been taught by the grace of God, adding nothing of his own to it.

2 Corinthians 1:13

For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

Paul says that, in spite of the accusations leveled against him, he does not preach one thing and think another. The facts speak for themselves and prove that he is right.

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

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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
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INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 7 10
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COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS 1 8
DIALOGUE 2 8
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 2 8
INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 4 8