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1 Thessalonians iii. 5-8.
"For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that
I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted
you, and our labor should be in vain. But when Timothy came even now
unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love,
and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us,
even as we also to see you; for this cause, brethren, we were
comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your
faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord."
A QUESTION lies before us to-day, which is much disputed,
and which is gathered from many sources. But what is this question?
"For this cause," he says, "when I could no longer forbear, I
sent Timothy that I might know your faith." What sayest thou?
He, who knew so many things, who heard unutterable words, who
ascended even to the third heaven, doth not he know, even when he is
in Athens? And yet the distance is not great, nor has he been long
parted from them. For he says, "Being bereaved of you for a short
season." He does not know the affairs of the Thessalonians, but is
compelled to send Timothy to know their faith, "lest," he says,
"the tempter had tempted you, and our labors should be in vain."
What then is one to say? That the Saints knew not all things. And
this one might learn from many instances, both of the early ones, and
of those who came after them, as Elisha knew not concerning the woman
(2 Kings iv. 27); as Elijah said to God, "I only am left,
and they seek my life." Wherefore he heard from God, "I have left
me seven thousand men." (1 Kings xix. 10 and 18.) Samuel
again, when he was sent to anoint David; "The Lord said to him,
Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature;
because I have rejected him: for God seeth not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart."
(1 Sam. xvi. 7.)
And this comes to pass out of great care on God's part. How, and
in what way? For the sake both of the Saints themselves, and of
those who believe in them. For as He permits that there should be
persecutions, so He permits that they should also be ignorant of many
things, that they may be kept humble. On this account also Paul
said, "There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of
Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted over much." (2
Cor. xii. 7.) And again, lest others also should have great
imaginations concerning them. For if they thought they were gods from
their miracles, much more if they had continued always knowing all
things. And this again he also says: "Lest any man should account
of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth from me." (2
Cor. xii. 6.) And again hear Peter, when he healed the lame
man, saying, "Why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own
power or godliness we had made him to walk." (Acts iii. 12.)
And if even when they were saying and doing these things, and from
these few and small miracles, evil imaginations were thus engendered,
much more would they have been from great ones But for another reason
too these things were allowed. For that no one might be able to say it
was as being other than men that they performed those excellent
actions, and so all should become supine, he shows their infirmity,
that from their folly he might cut off every pretext of shamelessness.
For this reason he is ignorant, for this reason also, after having
purposed, he frequently does not come, that they might perceive there
were many things he knew not. Great advantage then came of this. For
if there were some yet saying, "This man is that power of God which
is called Great" (Acts viii. 10), and some, that it is this
person, or that; unless these things had been so, what would they not
have thought?
But here, however, there seems to be a censure on them. But quite
otherwise, it even shows their admirable conduct, and proves the
excess of their temptations. How? Attend. For if thou first sayest
"that we are appointed thereunto," and "let no man be moved," why
again dost thou send Timothy, fearing that something might happen
which thou wouldest not wish. This indeed he does from his great
love. For those who love suspect even what is safe, from their
exceeding warmth. But this is caused by their great temptations. For
I said indeed that we are appointed thereunto, but the excess of the
temptations alarmed me. Wherefore he has not said, I send him as
condemning you, but "when I could no longer forbear," which is
rather an expression of love.
What means, "Lest by any means the tempter had tempted you "?
Dost thou see that to be shaken in afflictions proceeds from the
devil, and from his seduction? For when he cannot shake us
ourselves, he takes another way, and shakes the weaker sort through
our means, which argues exceeding infirmity, and such as admits of no
excuse; as he did in the case of Job, having stirred up his wife,
"Speak some word against the Lord," she says, "and die." (Job
ii. 9, Sept.) See how he tempted her.
But wherefore has he not said, "shaken," but "tempted"?
Because, he says, I only suspected so much, as that you had been
tempted. For he does not call his temptation a wavering. For he who
admits his attack is shaken. Strange! how great is the affection of
Paul He did not regard afflictions, nor plots against him. For I
think that he then remained there, as Luke says, that "he abode in
Greece three months, when the Jews laid a plot against him."
(Acts xx. 3.)
His concern therefore was not for his own dangers, but for his
disciples. Seest thou how he surpassed every natural parent? For we
in our afflictions and dangers lose the remembrance of all. But he so
feared and trembled for his children, that he sent to them Timothy,
whom alone he had for his consolation, his companion and
fellow-laborer, and him too in the very midst of dangers.
"And our labor," he says, "should be in vain." Wherefore! for
even if they were turned aside, it was not through thy fault, not
through thy negligence. But nevertheless, though this were the case,
I think, from my great love of the brethren, that my labor had been
rendered vain.
"Lest by any means the tempter had tempted you." But he tempts,
not knowing whether he shall overthrow. Does he then, even though he
knows not, yet assail us, and do we, who know that we shall
completely overcome him, not watch? But that he does attack us,
though he knows not, he showed in the case of Job. For that evil
demon said to God, "Hast Thou not made a hedge about his things
within, and his things without? Take away his goods, and surely he
will bless Thee to Thy face." (Job i. 10, 11, Sept.) He
makes trial; if he sees anything weak, he makes an attack, if
strong, he desists. "And our labor," he says, "be in vain."
Let us all hear, how Paul labored. He does not say work, but
"labor"; he does not say, and you be lost, but "our labor." So
that even if anything had happened, it would be happening with some
reason. But that it did not happen was a great wonder. These things
indeed we expected, he says, but the contrary happened. For not only
did we receive from you no addition to our affliction but even
consolation.
"But when Timothy came even now unto us, and brought us glad tidings
of your faith and love." "Brought us glad tidings," he says. Do
you see the excessive joy of Paul? he does not say, brought us word,
but "brought us glad tidings." So great a good did he think their
steadfastness and love. For it was necessary, the one remaining
firm, that the other also must be steadfast. And he rejoiced in their
love, because it was a sign of their faith. "And that ye have," he
says, "good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we
also to see you." That is, with praises. Not when we were
present, nor when we were working miracles, but even now, when we are
far off, and are scourged, and are suffering numberless evils, "ye
have good remembrance of us." Hear how disciples are admired, who
have good remembrance of their teachers, how they are called blessed.
Let us imitate these. For we benefit ourselves, not those who are
loved by us. "Longing to see us," he says, "as we also to see
you."
And this too cheered them; for to him who loves, to perceive that the
beloved person knows that he is beloved, is a great comfort and
consolation.
"For this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our
distress and affliction through your faith. For now we live if ye
stand fast in the Lord." What is comparable to Paul, who thought
the salvation of his neighbors was his own, being so affected towards
all, as really towards members? Who now would be able to break forth
into such speech? Or rather, who will ever be able to have such a
thought? He did not require them to be thankful to him for the trials
which he suffered for them, but he was thankful to them that they were
not moved on account of his trials. As if he had said, that to you
rather than to us was injury done by those trials; you were tempted
rather than we, you who suffered nothing, rather than we who
suffered. Because, he says, Timothy brought us these good tidings,
we feel nothing of our sorrows, but were comforted in all our
affliction; not in this affliction only. For nothing besides can
touch a good teacher, as long as the affairs of his disciples go on to
his mind. Through you, he says, we were comforted; you confirmed
us. And yet the reverse was the case. For that when suffering they
did not yield, but stood manfully, was sufficient to confirm the
disciples. But he reverses the whole matter, and turns the encomium
over to them. You have anointed us, he says, you have caused us to
breathe again; you have not suffered us to feel our trials. And he
has not said, we breathe again, nor we are comforted, but what?
"Now we live," showing that he thinks nothing is either trial or
death, but their stumbling, whereas their advancement was even life.
How else could any one have set forth either the sorrow for the
weakness of one's disciples, or the joy? He has not said we
rejoice, but "we live," the life to come.
So that without this we do not even think it life to live. So ought
teachers to be affected, so disciples; and there will be nothing at
any time amiss. Then further softening the expression, see what he
says, Ver. 9, 10. "For what thanksgiving can we render again
unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes
before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your
face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?"
Not only, he says, are ye the causes of life to us, but also of much
joy, and so much that we cannot worthily give thanks to God. Your
good behavior, he says, we consider to be the gift of God. Such
kindnesses have you shown to us, that we think it to be of God; yea,
rather, and it is of God. For such a disposition of mind comes not
of a human soul or carefulness.
"Night and day," he says, "praying exceedingly." This too is a
sign of joy. For as any husbandman, hearing concerning his land that
has been tilled by himself, that it is burdened with ears of grain,
longs with his own eyes to see so pleasant a sight, so Paul to see
Macedonia. "Praying exceedingly." Observe the excess; "that we
may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your
faith."
Here there is a great question. For if now thou livest, because they
stand fast, and Timothy brought thee "glad tidings of their faith and
love," and thou art full of so much joy as not to be able worthily to
give thanks to God, how sayest thou here that there are deficiencies
in their faith? Were those then the words of flattery? By no means,
far be it. For previously he testified that they endured many
conflicts, and were no worse affected than the Churches in Jud a.
What then is it? They had not enjoyed the full benefit of his
teaching, nor learned all that it behoved them to learn. And this he
shows toward the end. Perhaps there had been questionings among them
concerning the Resurrection, and there were many who troubled them,
not by temptations, nor by dangers, but by acting the part of
teachers. This is what he says is lacking in their faith, and for
this reason, he has so explained himself, and has not said, that you
should be confirmed, where indeed he feared concerning the faith
itself, "I have sent," he says, "Timothy 'to confirm you,'"
but here, "to perfect that which is lacking,'' which is rather a
matter of teaching than of confirming. As also he says elsewhere,
"that ye may be perfected unto every good work." (From 1 Cor.
i. 10, or 2 Tim. iii. 17.) Now the perfected thing is one
in which there is some little deficiency: for it is that which is
brought to perfection.
Ver. 11, 12. "Now may our God and Father Himself, and our
Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you: and the Lord make you to
increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men,
even as we also do toward you."
This is a proof of excessive love, that he not only prays for them by
himself, but even in his Epistles inserts his prayer. This argues a
fervent soul, and one truly not to be restrained. This is a proof of
the prayers made there also, and at the same time also an excuse, as
showing that it was not voluntarily, nor from indolence, that they did
not go to them. As if he had said, May God Himself cut short the
temptations that everywhere distract us, so that we may come directly
to you. "And the Lord make you to increase and abound." Do you
see the unrestrainable madness of love that is shown by his words?
"Make you to increase and abound," instead of cause you to grow.
As if one should say, that with a kind of superabundance he desires to
be loved by them. "Even as we do also toward you," he says. Our
part is already done, we pray that yours may be done. Do you see how
he wishes love to be extended, not only toward one another, but
everywhere? For this truly is the nature of godly love, that it
embraces all. If you love indeed such an one, but do not love such an
one, it is human love. But such is not ours. "Even as we do also
toward you."
Ver. 13. "To the end He may establish your hearts unblamable in
holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ with all His saints."
He shows that love produces advantage to themselves, not to those who
are loved. I wish, he says, that this love may abound, that there
may be no blemish. He does not say to stablish you, but your hearts.
"For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts." (Matt. xv.
19.) For it is possible, without doing anything, to be a bad
man; as for example, to have envy, unbelief, deceit, to rejoice at
evils, not to be loving, to hold perverted doctrines, all these
things are of the heart; and to be pure of these things is holiness.
For indeed chastity is properly by pre minence called holiness, since
fornication and adultery is also uncleanness. But universally all sin
is uncleanness, and every virtue is purity. For, "Blessed," it
is said, "are the pure in heart." (Matt. v. 8.) By "the
pure" He means those who are in every way pure.
For other things also know how to pollute the soul, and no less. For
that wickedness defiles the soul, hear the prophet, saying, "O
Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness." (Jer. iv. 14.)
And again, "Wash you, make you clean, put away the wickednesses
from your souls." (Isa. i. 16, Sept.) He did not say
"fornications," so that not only fornication, but other things also
defile the soul.
"To establish your hearts," he says, "unblamable in holiness
before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
with all His saints." Therefore Christ will then be a Judge, but
not before Him (only), but also before the Father we shall stand to
be judged. Or does he mean this, to be unblamable before God, as he
always says, "in the sight of God," for this is sincere
virtue--not in the sight of men?
It is love then that makes them unblamable. For it does make men
really unblamable. And once when I was discoursing of this to a
certain one, and saying, that love makes men unblamable, and that
love to our neighbor does not suffer any entrance of transgression, and
in my discourse going over, and pursuing all the rest--some one of my
acquaintance interposing himself said, What then of fornication, is
it not possible both to love, and to commit fornication? And it is
indeed from love that this springs. Covetousness indeed, and
adultery, and envy, and hostile designs, and everything of this sort
can, from love of one's neighbor, be stopped; but how fornication?
he said. I therefore told him, that even this can love stop. For if
a man should love a woman that commits fornication, he will endeavor
both to draw her off from other men, and not himself also to add to her
sin. So that to commit fornication with a woman is the part of one
exceedingly hating her with whom he commits the fornication, but one
who truly loved her would withdraw her from that abominable practice.
And there is not, there is not any sin, which the power of love,
like fire, cannot consume. For it is easier for a vile faggot to
resist a great pile of fire, than for the nature of sin to resist the
power of love.
This then let us plant in Our own souls, that we may stand with all
the Saints. For they all pleased God by their love to their
neighbor. Whence was Abel slain, and did not slay? From his
vehement love to his brother, he could not even admit such a thought.
Whence was the destructive pest of envy received by Cain? For I
will no longer call him the brother of Abel! Because the foundations
of love had not been firmly fixed in him. Whence did the sons of Noah
obtain a good report? was it not because they vehemently loved their
father, and did not endure to see his exposure? And whence was the
other cursed? was it not from not loving him? And whence did Abraham
obtain a good report? was it not from love in doing what he did
concerning his nephew? what he did as to his supplication for the
Sodomites? For strongly, strongly, were the Saints affected with
love and with sympathy.
For consider, I pray; Paul, he that was bold in the face of fire,
hard as adamant, firm and unshaken, on every side compact, riveted in
the fear of God, and inflexible; for, "who (said he) shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword"?
(Rom. viii. 35) he that was bold in the face of all these
things, and of earth and sea, he that laughed to scorn the adamantine
gates of death, whom nothing ever withstood,--he, when he saw the
tears of some whom he loved, was so broken and crushed,--the
adamantine man,--that he did not even conceal his feelings, but said
straightway, "What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart?" (Acts
xxi. 13.) What sayest thou, tell me? Had a tear the power to
crush that soul of adamant? Yea, he says, for I hold out against
all things except love. This prevails over me, and subdues me. This
is the mind of God. An abyss of water a did not crush him, and a few
tears crushed him. "What do ye, weeping and crushing my heart?"
For great is the force of love. Dost thou not see him again weeping?
Why weepest thou? Tell me. "By the space of three years," he
says, "I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with
tears." (Acts xx. 31.) From his great love he feared, lest
some plague should be introduced among them. And again, "For out of
much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many
tears." (2 Cor. ii. 4.)
And what did Joseph? tell me, that firm one, who stood up against
so great a tyranny, who appears so noble against so great a flame of
love, who so out-battled and overcame the madness of his mistress.
For what was there not then to charm him? A beautiful person, the
pride of rank, the costliness of garments, the fragrance of perfumes,
(for all these things know how to soften the soul,) words more soft
than all the rest! For ye know that she who loves, and so
vehemently, nothing so humble but she will bring herself to say it,
taking upon her the attitude of a supplicant. For so broken was this
woman, though wearing gold, and being of royal dignity, that she
threw herself at the knees perhaps of the captive boy, and perhaps even
intreated him weeping and clasping his knees, and had recourse to this
not once, and a second time, but oftentimes. Then he might see her
eye shining most brilliantly. For it is probable that she not simply
but with excessive nicety would set off her beauty; as wishing by many
nets to catch the lamb of Christ. Add here I pray also many magic
charms. Yet nevertheless this inflexible, this firm man, of rocky
hardness, when he saw his brothers who had bartered him away, who had
thrown him into a pit, who had sold him, who had even wished to murder
him, who were the causes both of the prison and the honor, when he
heard from them how they had worked upon their father, (for, we
said, it says, that one was devoured by a wild beast [Gen. xxxvii.
20, and lxiv. 28,]) he was broken, softened, crushed, "And
he wept," it says, and not being able to bear his feelings, he went
in, and composed himself (Gen. xliii. 30), that is, wiped away
his tears.
What is this? dost thou weep, O Joseph? and yet the present
circumstances are deserving not of tears, but of anger, and wrath,
and indignation, and great revenge and retribution. Thou hast thine
enemies in thy hands, those fratricides; thou canst satiate thy
wrath. And yet neither would this be injustice. For thou dost not
thyself begin the unjust acts, but defendest thyself against those who
have done the wrong. For look not to thy dignity. This was not of
their contrivance, but of God, who shed His favor upon thee. Why
dost thou weep? But he would have said, far be it that I, who in
all things have obtained a good report, should by this remembrance of
wrongs overturn them all. It is truly a season for tears. I am not
more brutish than beasts. They pour out a libation to nature,
whatever harm they suffer. I weep, he says, that they ever treated
me thus.
This man let us also imitate. Let us mourn and weep for those who
have injured us. Let us not be angry with them. For truly they are
worthy of tears, for the punishment and condemnation to which they make
themselves liable. I know, how you now weep, how you rejoice, both
admiring Paul, and amazed at Joseph, and pronouncing them blessed.
But if any one has an enemy, let him now take him into recollection,
let him bring him to his mind, that whilst his heart is yet warm with
the remembrance of the Saints, he may be enabled to dissolve the
stubbornness of wrath, and to soften what is harsh and callous. I
know, that after your departure hence, after that I have ceased
speaking, if anything of warmth and fervor should remain, it will not
be so great, as it now is whilst you are hearing me. If therefore any
one, if any one has become cold, let him dissolve the frost. For the
remembrance of injuries is truly frost and ice. But let us invoke the
Sun of Righteousness, let us entreat Him to send His beams upon
us, and there will no longer be thick ice, but water to drink.
If the fire of the Sun of Righteousness has touched our souls, it
will leave nothing frozen, nothing hard, nothing burning, nothing
unfruitful. It will bring out all things ripe, all things sweet, all
things abounding with much pleasure. If we love one another, that
beam also will come. Allow me, I beseech you, to say these things
with earnestness. Cause me to hear, that by these words we have
produced some effect; that some one has gone and thrown both his arms
about his enemy, has embraced him, has twined himself around him, has
warmly kissed him, has wept. And though the other be a wild beast, a
stone, or whatever he be, he will be made gentle by such affectionate
kindness. For on what account is he thine enemy? Hath he insulted
thee? yet he has not injured thee at all. But dost thou for the sake
of money suffer thy brother to be at enmity with thee? Do not so, I
beseech you. Let us do away all. It is our season. Let us use it
to good purpose. Let us cut asunder the cords of our sins. Before we
go away to judgment, let us not ourselves judge one another. "Let
not the sun" (it is said) "go down upon your wrath." (Eph. iv.
26.) Let no one put it off. These puttings off produce delays.
If you have deferred it to-day, you blush the more, and if you add
to-morrow, the shame is greater, and if a third day, yet worse.
Let us not then put ourselves to shame, but let us forgive, that we
may be forgiven. And if we be forgiven, we shall obtain all
blessings, through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom,
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