Theodore of Mopsuestia
Eastern & Byzantine Theology · 428
492 passages of commentary across 31 books.
Books commented on
A few passages
Paul says that he finds no fault with their faith. However, there are some other things which need to be put right, and he is concerned with those.
He [Christ] has given us in holy baptism regeneration, and by this he makes us his own body, his own flesh, his offspring—as it is written, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
From here the Evangelist passes to the story of the passion. Here also, insofar as is possible, he is careful in saying nothing that has already been related by the other [Evangelists], unless the course of the narrative obliges him [to do so], and it is impossible to construct an accurate order of events without reporting part of the facts already…
If, he says, you are really sincere in your mercy for the poor, there is much time left for you to benefit them. There will never be a shortage of them in this world. But it will not always be easy for you to perform a service for me: I am staying with you for a short time, and then I will leave. First he purified the woman from the blame with these words…
We ought to laugh at those who think that after the resurrection we shall eat and drink, when Paul's words so clearly say the opposite.
That the angels were "ministering spirits" he has established from previous testimony, but now he finally renews the image of their service, saying that they do everything in service for the things needful for our salvation. For it is not a small thing to know the need for the assistance of their service.
Actually, he tells what the benefit is for those who honor or believe in him.… The one who obeys, he says, my words and believes is made a participant in eternal life. Such a person will not only avoid the judgment, that is, the tribulations of judgment, but will even be held in honor, and certainly honor will be attributed to him by the judge himself.
The phrase "in order that we" should be read as: "and so we shall".… For Paul wants to say that once we have been established in this life we shall bear the fruits of righteousness for God, since we have been changed from our behavior under the law.It is most remarkable that Paul says that we have died not through baptism but through the body of Christ.…
The mention of the angels' "service" (wind) shows their quickness, while the mention of "ministry" (flames) shows their power. When he says that the angels have been made these things, he presents how they also have the ability to be these things. And he distinguishes them from the "Creator" and "God" and "throne" and "scepter of the kingdom," all of…
Since the forthcoming punishment of the ungodly and unrighteous has already been decreed, it is essential to walk in the righteousness of faith, in order to avoid the evils to come. Paul rightly said that the wrath of God is being revealed … in this present age, when God restrains himself and does not render the full punishment, so as not to remove the…
Through his question to Philip, he intended to expose his disciples to doubt, so that they might observe more clearly the miracle he would do. Even though he appears to speak to one disciple only, his words concerned all for the common benefit. By explaining the purpose of that question the evangelist added: "He said this to test him, for he himself knew…
The first part of this [verse] ought to be read as a question to which the second part is the apostle's answer.… There is nothing surprising about this, for Isaiah also testifies to the small number of believers.