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The Church Fathers

Olympiodorus of Alexandria

Eastern & Byzantine Theology · 600

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94 passages of commentary across 3 books.

Books commented on

A few passages

Idolaters are similar to idols. Indeed, it is written, "The one who makes them will be like them." And for all those who are moved by demons, the face of the soul is deprived of light, darkened by the diabolical smoke that is in their hearts.

This is not the fear of God but the fear that is all around [the Leviathan's] teeth. But if you have Christ in you, you must not be worried by this fear. Indeed, you will fear the Lord God and will fear no one else.

He calculates ten years for each generation.

The spiritual weapons [of humans], he says, are unable to kill him, and [the devil] considers as straw and rotten wood those weapons that cannot inflict a lethal wound on him.

"Who is the person," Eliphaz asks, "who can be blameless or can proclaim, I am righteous?" If, in fact, those who are very holy, both men and angels, and the purity itself of heaven before the judgment of the most pure God appear to be unclean, what should we say about the damnable and impure human being who drinks iniquity like a draught? He has said…

Along with idols he considers those who have been drawn into error and are not enlightened by the law of God, of which it is written, "Your law is light for my feet," or by the word of the prophets, "lighted like a lamp that shines in a dark place."

Perhaps not even his goods will flourish, but they will become corrupted while still in bloom. In fact, if he appears to be full and abundant in all goods, then every need and affliction will assault him, so that he fills his belly, that is, fills his soul with every pain. "Let God send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon…

This is the beginning of Baruch's prophecy. All of the preceding words are part of the letter of the deportees to Babylon and are in the form of a confession.

"Revealing deep things out of darkness, and he has brought into light the shadow of death." The literal meaning is, "He manifests the things which are hidden to all, and preserves those who are in danger and close to death." He calls danger "the shadow of death," because, as shadow is very close to the body that produces it, so danger is very close to the…

He says this again to his friends with a bit of hesitation, If afflictions entirely derive from sins, why did he who observes all that happens on earth allow them to go without being visited by him? "And they took no notice," that is, the iniquitous took no notice of the fact that they were not visited. Indeed it is believed and taught about divine…

"I beg of you. Take away my life. Deliver me from my pains through death. In fact, you did not create me immortal. So … may [I] enjoy quiet and tranquility in the future. I do not demand, O Lord, anything contrary to your decree. You made me mortal, not immortal. Therefore bring me death." Moses prayed with these same words by saying, "If that is your…

[Job] openly declares that he had not learned these things before but had come to know the unconquered power of God. And since God penetrates the decisions of people and understands the thoughts of all, there is nobody who can hide from his eye, which sees everything.