Theodoret of Cyrus — Commentary on Scripture

2 Corinthians 9:12

Paul is pointing out that giving to the saints is not just a matter of supplying their immediate wants. It has many other ramifications as well and leads to blessings of different kinds.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 336

2 Corinthians 9:14

The Corinthians will reap the benefit of the prayers of the poor. Those prayers come out of great love.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 336

2 Corinthians 9:15

It is Paul’s custom to praise God every time he expounds some divine dispensation or other.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 336

2 Corinthians 10:1

Some Jewish believers were ordering Gentile converts to follow the law of Moses. They condemned Paul, calling him base and stupid, and claiming that although he kept the law in secret himself, he was prepared to dispense the Gentiles from it publicly, because he thought they were too ignorant to be able to keep it. Paul refutes this charge by reminding the Corinthians of the miracles which he had done among them and of the gifts which they had received because of him.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 337

2 Corinthians 10:3

Although we are surrounded by the world, we do not give in to it.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 337

2 Corinthians 10:6

Paul explains why he is being patient. He wants to try to persuade as many as possible to amend their ways. He will punish only those who continue to resist his exhortations.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 338

2 Corinthians 10:9

This is what Paul’s enemies were saying he was trying to do.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 339

2 Corinthians 11:1

Paul realizes that wise people do not boast of themselves, but he has been forced to do so.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 340

2 Corinthians 11:9

This is the greatest condemnation of the Corinthians imaginable. For while he was benefiting them, Paul was being funded by others elsewhere.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 343

2 Corinthians 11:15

It is the devil’s custom to imitate the things of God. He sets up false prophets to oppose the true ones and assumes the form of an angel in order to deceive men.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 344

2 Corinthians 11:17

Jesus said that when we have done all, we should confess that we are no more than unprofitable servants. This is why Paul says here that he is not speaking with the Lord’s authority.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 344

2 Corinthians 12:4

Some argue that here Paul is referring to things which he actually saw, like the beauty of paradise and the choirs of the saints which are to be found there.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 348

2 Corinthians 12:7

By “messenger of Satan” Paul means the insults, attacks and riots which he had to face.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 349

2 Corinthians 12:9

Paul wanted to make it clear that his affliction was not a natural property of the body but something which was intended by God for a higher purpose.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 350

2 Corinthians 12:10

Paul does not say that he enjoyed these things but that he had learned to cope with them.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 350

2 Corinthians 12:12

Paul rightly puts patience before signs and wonders, because attitudes matter more than abilities.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 350

2 Corinthians 13:10

Paul shows that chastisement is a form of edification. If one or two are punished, the entire fellowship learns the lesson.

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 356

2 Kings 10:15-17

This was also a pious man, and a relative of his. Indeed, his family constantly lived in tents and kept away from drunkenness. The prophet Jeremiah mentions them with praise, and history shows their piety. Therefore king Jehu, as soon as he saw him, blessed him, that is, greeted him. Then he asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as mine is to yours?” When he had answered, “It is,” Jehu said to him, “If it is, give me your hand.” Then, while he was taking him into his chariot, he said, “ ‘Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.’ So he had him ride in his chariot.” From this it clearly appears that also among the ten tribes there were people endowed with piety, and thanks to them, God, who rules everything with wisdom, tolerated all the others.

QUESTION 33, ON 2 KINGS

2 Kings 10:18-24

“Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, ‘Ahab offered Baal small service; but Jehu will offer much more.’ ” We need to examine the purpose of words and actions. And this must be done here too. In fact, since he did not want anyone to escape his revenge, Jehu used these words, so that all the priests of Baal might come confidently. In addition, in order that no priest of God might share with them the same punishment, he ordered that they be driven away as though they were not worthy of that celebration, and so he killed only [the idolatrous priests]. He also burned the statue of Baal, cut down its sacred groves and freed the whole land of Israel from other idols. However, he continued to worship the two golden calves and gave the name of Baalim to the sanctuary of Baal.

QUESTION 34, ON 2 KINGS

2 Kings 16:17-20

I certainly do not think that he built [the altar] for the God of all things but just for certain of those who are falsely called gods. This is what the book of Chronicles points out. It reads, “In the time of his distress this king Ahaz became yet more faithless to the Lord. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.” And this is also signified by the next verse: “Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God and cut in pieces the utensils of the house of God. He shut up the doors of the house of the Lord and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.” He did these and other similar things, as is also confirmed in the book of Chronicles: “When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. King Ahaz sent to the priest Uriah a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details.” He removed the genuine altar of bro…

I certainly do not think that he built [the altar] for the God of all things but just for certain of those who are falsely called gods. This is what the book of Chronicles points out. It reads, “In the time of his distress this king Ahaz became yet more faithless to the Lord. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.” And this is also signified by the next verse: “Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God and cut in pieces the utensils of the house of God. He shut up the doors of the house of the Lord and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.” He did these and other similar things, as is also confirmed in the book of Chronicles: “When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. King Ahaz sent to the priest Uriah a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details.” He removed the genuine altar of bronze, which Solomon had built, and put in its place another one recently made. And what happened to the stands is revealed by what follows: “King Ahaz cut off the frames of the stands,” the text says, “and removed the laver from them.” And he even dared to commit another act of impiety: he moved the entrance of the royal house into the divine temple, transforming the sacred enclosure into a thoroughfare.

QUESTION 48, ON 2 KINGS