{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/113/1130024.htm","path":"chr/ecf/113/1130024.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/113/1130024.htm","text":"\u201cThere is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.\u201d\nThe love Paul requires of us is no common love, but that which cements us together, and makes us cleave inseparably to one another, and effects as great and as perfect a union as though it were between limb and limb. For this is that love which produces great and glorious fruits. Hence he saith, there is \u201cone body\u201d; one, both by sympathy, and by not opposing the good of others, and by sharing their joy, having expressed all at once by this figure. He then beautifully adds, \u201cand one Spirit,\u201d showing 283 that from the one body there will be one Spirit: or, that it is possible that there may be indeed one body, and yet not one Spirit; as, for instance, if any member of it should be a friend of heretics: or else he is, by this expression, shaming them into unanimity, saying, as it were, \u201cYe who have received one Spirit, and have been made to drink at one fountain, ought not to be divided in mind\u201d; or else by spirit here he means their zeal. Then he adds, \u201cEven as ye were called in one hope of your calling,\u201d that is, God hath called you all on the same terms. He hath bestowed nothing upon one more than upon another. To all He hath freely given immortality, to all eternal life, to all immortal glory, to all brotherhood, to all inheritance. He is the common Head of all; \u201cHe hath raised all\u201d up, \u201cand made them sit with Him.\u201d (Eph. ii. 6.) Ye then who in the spiritual world have so great equality of privileges, whence is it that ye are high-minded? Is it that one is wealthy and another strong? How ridiculous must this be? For tell me, if the emperor some day were to take ten persons, and to array them all in purple, and seat them on the royal throne, and to bestow upon all the same honor, would any one of these, think ye, venture to reproach another, as being more wealthy or more illustrious than he? Surely never. And I have not yet said all; for the difference is not so great in heaven as here p. 103 below we differ. There is \u201cone Lord, one faith, one baptism.\u201d 284 Behold \u201cthe hope of your calling. One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.\u201d For can it be, that thou art called by the name of a greater God, another, of a lesser God? That thou art saved by faith, and another by works? That thou hast received remission in baptism, whilst another has not? \u201cThere is one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.\u201d \u201cWho is over all,\u201d that is, the Lord and above all; and \u201cthrough all,\u201d that is, providing for, ordering all; and \u201cin you all,\u201d that is, who dwelleth in you all. Now this they own to be an attribute of the Son; so that were it an argument of inferiority, it never would have been said of the Father.\n\u201cBut 285 unto each one of us was the grace given.\u201d\nWhat then? he saith, whence are those diverse spiritual gifts? For this subject was continually carrying away both the Ephesians themselves, and the Corinthians, and many others, some into vain arrogance, and others into despondency or envy. Hence he everywhere takes along with him this illustration of the body. Hence it is that now also he has proposed it, inasmuch as he was about to make mention of diverse gifts. He enters indeed into the subject more fully in the Epistle to the Corinthians, because it was among them that this malady most especially reigned: here however he has only alluded to it. And mark what he says: he does not say, \u201caccording to the faith of each,\u201d lest he should throw those who have no large attainments into despondency. But what saith he? \u201cAccording to the measure of the gift of Christ.\u201d The chief and principal points of all, he saith,\u2014Baptism, the being saved by faith, the having God for our Father, our all partaking of the same Spirit,\u2014these are common to all. If then this or that man possesses any superiority in any spiritual gift, grieve not at it; since his labor also is greater. He that had received the five talents, had five required of him; whilst he that had received the two, brought only two, and yet received no less a reward than the other. And therefore the Apostle here also encourages the hearer on the same ground, showing that gifts are bestowed not for the honor of one above another, but for the work of the church, even as he says further on:\n\u201cFor the perfecting of the saints unto the work of ministering unto the building up of the body of Christ.\u201d\nHence it is that even he himself saith, \u201cWoe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.\u201d (1 Cor. ix. 16.) For example: he received the grace of Apostleship, but for this very reason, \u201cwoe unto him,\u201d because he received it: whereas thou art free from the danger.\nWhat is meant by, \u201caccording to the measure\u201d? It means, \u201cnot according to our merit,\u201d for then would no one have received what he has received: but of the free gift we have all received. And why then one more, and another less? There is nothing to cause this, he would say, but the matter itself is indifferent; for every one contributes towards \u201cthe building.\u201d And by this too he shows, that it is not of his own intrinsic merit that one has received more and another less, but that it is for the sake of others, as God Himself hath measured it; since he saith also elsewhere, \u201cBut now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased Him.\u201d (1 Cor. xii. 18.) And he mentions not the reason, lest he should deject or dispirit the hearers.\nEph. 4.8. \u201cWherefore he saith, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.\u201d\nAs though he had said, Why art thou high-minded? The whole is of God. The Prophet saith in the Psalm, \u201cThou hast received gifts among men\u201d (Ps. lxviii. 18.), whereas the Apostle saith, \u201cHe gave gifts unto men.\u201d The one is the same as the other. 286\nEph. 4:9, 10. \u201cNow this, He ascended, what is it, but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended, is the same also that ascended far above all the Heavens, that He might fill all things.\u201d\nWhen thou hearest these words, think not of a mere removal from one place to another; for what Paul establishes in the Epistle to the Philippians (Philip. ii. 5-8.), that very argument 287 is he also insisting upon here. In the same way as there, when exhorting them concerning lowliness, he brings forward Christ as an example, p. 104 so does he here also, saying, \u201cHe descended into the lower parts of the earth.\u201d For were not this so, this expression which he uses, \u201cHe became obedient even unto death\u201d (Phil. 2:8, 9.), were superfluous; whereas from His ascending, he implies His descent, and by \u201cthe lower parts of the earth,\u201d he means \u201cdeath,\u201d according to the notions of men; as Jacob also said, \u201cThen shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.\u201d (Gen. xxxii. 48.) And again as it is in the Psalm, \u201cLest I become like them that go down into the pit\u201d (Ps. cxliii. 7.), that is like the dead. Why does he descant upon this region here? And of what captivity does he speak? Of that of the devil; for He took the tyrant captive, the devil, I mean, and death, and the curse, and sin. Behold His spoils and His trophies.\n\u201cNow this, He ascended, what is it but that He also descended?\u201d\nThis strikes at Paul of Samosata and his school. 288\n\u201cHe that descended, is the same also that ascended far above all the Heavens, that He might fill all things.\u201d\nHe descended, saith he, into the lower parts of the earth, beyond which there are none other: and He ascended up far above all things, to that place, beyond which there is none other. This is to show His divine energy, and supreme dominion. For indeed even of old had all things been filled.\nEph. 4:11, 12. \u201cAnd He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ.\u201d\nWhat he said elsewhere, \u201cWherefore also God hath highly exalted Him\u201d (Philip. ii. 9.), that saith he also here. \u201cHe that descended, is the same also that ascended.\u201d It did Him no injury that He came down into the lower parts of the earth, nor was it any hindrance to His becoming far higher than the Heavens. So that the more a man is humbled, so much the more is he exalted. For as in the case of water, the more a man presses it downwards, the more he forces it up; and the further a man retires to hurl a javelin, the surer his aim; so is it also with humility. However, when we speak of ascents with reference to God, we must needs conceive a descent first; but when with reference to man, not at all so. Then he goes on to show further His providential care, and His wisdom, for He who hath wrought such things as these, who had such might, and who refused not to go down even to those lower parts for our sakes, never would He have made these distributions of spiritual gifts without a purpose. Now elsewhere he tells us that this was the work of the Spirit, in the words, \u201cIn the which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops to feed the Church of God.\u201d 289 And here he saith that it is the Son; and elsewhere that it is God. \u201cAnd He gave to the Church some apostles, and some prophets.\u201d But in the Epistle to the Corinthians, he saith, \u201cI planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.\u201d And again, \u201cNow he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.\u201d (1 Cor. iii. 6-8.) So is it also here; for what if thou bring in but little? Thou hast received so much. First, he says, \u201capostles\u201d; 290 for these had all gifts; secondarily, \u201cprophets,\u201d for there were some who were not indeed apostles, but prophets, as Agabus; thirdly, \u201cevangelists,\u201d who did not go about everywhere, but only preached the Gospel, as Priscilla and Aquila; \u201cpastors and teachers,\u201d those who were entrusted with the charge of a whole nation. What then? are the pastors and the teachers inferior? Yes, surely; those who were settled and employed about one spot, as Timothy and Titus, were inferior to those who went about the world and preached the Gospel. However, it is not possible from this passage to frame the subordination and precedence, but from another Epistle. \u201cHe gave,\u201d saith he; thou must not say a word to gainsay it. Or perhaps by \u201cevangelists\u201d he means those who wrote the Gospel.\n\u201cFor the perfecting of the saints unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ.\u201d 291\nPerceive ye the dignity of the office? Each one edifies, each one perfects, each one ministers.\nEph. 4.13. \u201cTill we all attain,\u201d he proceeds, \u201cunto the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.\u201d\nBy \u201cstature\u201d here he means perfect \u201cknowledge\u201d; for as a man will stand firmly, whereas p. 105 children are carried about and waver in mind, so is it also with believers.\n\u201cTo the unity,\u201d saith he, \u201cof the faith.\u201d\nThat is, until we shall be shown to have all one faith: for this is unity of faith, when we all are one, when we shall all alike acknowledge the common bond. Till then thou must labor to this end. If for this thou hast received a gift, that thou mightest edify others, look well that thou overturn not thyself, by envying another. God hath honored thee, and ordained thee, that thou shouldest build up another. Yea, for about this was the Apostle also engaged; and for this was the prophet prophesying and persuading, and the Evangelist preaching the Gospel, and for this was the pastor and teacher; all had undertaken one common work. For tell me not of the difference of the spiritual gifts; but that all had one work. Now when we shall all believe alike then shall there be unity; for that this is what he calls \u201ca perfect man,\u201d is plain. And yet he elsewhere calls us \u201cbabes\u201d (1 Cor. xiii. 11.), even when we are of mature age; but he is there looking to another comparison, for there it is in comparison with our future knowledge that he there calls us babes. For having said, \u201cWe know in part\u201d (1 Cor. 13:9, 12.), he adds also the word \u201cdarkly,\u201d and the like: whereas here he speaks with reference to another thing, with reference to changeableness, as he saith also elsewhere, \u201cBut solid food is for full-grown men.\u201d (Heb. v. 14.) Do you see then also in what sense he there calls them full-grown? Observe also in what sense he calls men \u201cperfect\u201d here, by the words next added, where he says, \u201cthat we may be no longer children.\u201d That we keep, he means to say, that little measure, which we may have received, with all diligence, with firmness and steadfastness.\nEph. 4.14. \u201cThat we may be no longer.\u201d\u2014The word, \u201cno longer,\u201d shows that they had of old been in this case, and he reckons himself moreover as a subject for correction, and corrects himself. For this cause, he would say, are there so many workmen, that the building may not be shaken, may not be \u201ccarried about,\u201d that the stones may be firmly fixed. 292 For this is the character of children, to be tossed to and fro, to be carried about and shaken. \u201cThat we may be no longer,\u201d saith he, \u201cchildren, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error.\u201d \u201cAnd carried about,\u201d saith he, \u201cwith every wind.\u201d He comes to this figure of speech, to point out in how great peril doubting souls are. \u201cWith every wind,\u201d saith he, \u201cby the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error.\u201d The word \u201csleight\u201d 293 means the art of gamesters. Such are the \u201ccrafty,\u201d whenever they lay hold on the simpler sort. For they also change and shift about everything. He here glances also at human life.\nEph. 4:15, 16. \u201cBut speaking truth,\u201d 294 saith he, \u201cin love, may grow up in all things into Him, which is the Head, even Christ, from whom,\u201d (that is, from Christ,) \u201call the body fitly framed and knit together, through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.\u201d\nHe expresses himself with great obscurity, from his desire to utter everything at once. What he means, however, is this. In the same way as the spirit, or vital principle, which descends from the brain, communicates the sensitive faculty which is conveyed through the nerves, not simply to all the members, but according to the proportion of each member, to that which is capable of receiving more, more, to that which is capable of less, less, (for the spirit is the root or source;) so also is Christ. For the souls of men being dependent upon Him as members, His provident care, and supply of the spiritual gifts according to a due proportion in the measure of every single member, effects their increase. But what is the meaning of this, \u201cby the touch of the supply\u201d? 295 that is to say, by the sensitive faculty. 296 For that spirit which is supplied to the members from the head, \u201ctouches,\u201d 297 each single member, and thus actuates it. As though one should say, \u201cthe body receiving the supply according to the proportion of its several members, thus maketh the increase\u201d; or, in other words, \u201cthe members receiving the supply according to the proportion of their proper measure, thus make increase\u201d; or otherwise again thus, \u201cthe spirit flowing plenteously from above, and touching 298 all the members, and supplying them as each is capable of \u201creceiving it, thus maketh increase.\u201d But wherefore doth he add, \u201cin love\u201d? Because in no other way is it possible for that Spirit to descend. For as, in case a hand should happen to be torn from the body, the spirit which prop. 106 ceeds from the brain seeks the limb, and if it finds it not, does not leap forth from the body, and fly about and go to the hand, but if it finds it not in its place, does not touch it; so also will it be here, if we be not bound together in love. All these expressions he uses as tending to humility. For what, he seems to say, if this or that man receives more than another? He has received the same Spirit, sent forth from the same Head, effectually working in all alike, communicating itself to all alike.\n\u201cFitly framed and knit together.\u201d\nThat is, having great care bestowed upon it; for the body must not be put together anyhow, but with exceeding art and nicety, since if it gets out of place, it is no longer. So that each must not only be united to the body, but also occupy his proper place, since if thou shalt go beyond this, thou art not united to it, neither dost thou receive the Spirit. Dost thou not see, that in those dislocations of the bones which take place in any accident, when a bone gets out of its proper place and occupies that of another, how it injures the whole body, and oftentimes will produce death? So that sometimes it will be found to be no longer worth preserving. For many in many cases will cut it off, and leave a void in its place; because everywhere what is in excess is an evil. And so again with the elements, if they lose their proper proportion and be in excess, they impair the whole system. This is the meaning of the being \u201cfitly framed and knit together.\u201d Consider then of how vast importance it is, that each should remain in his own proper place, and not encroach on another which in nowise appertains to him. Thou puttest the members together, He supplieth them from above. For as there are in the body such recipient organs, as we have seen, so is it also with the Spirit, the whole root or source being from above. For example, the heart is the recipient of the breath, the liver of the blood, the spleen of the bile, and the other organs, some of one thing, others of another, but all these have their source from the brain. So also hath God done, highly honoring man, and being unwilling to be far from him, He hath made Himself indeed the source of his dependence, and hath constituted them fellow-workers with Himself; and some He hath appointed to one office, and others to another. For example, the Apostle is the most vital vessel of the whole body, receiving everything from Him; so that He maketh eternal life to run through them to all, as through veins and arteries, I mean through their discourse. The Prophet foretells things to come, whilst He alone ordereth the same; Thou puttest the members together, 299 but He supplies them with life, \u201cFor the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry.\u201d Love builds up, and makes men cleave one to another, and be fastened and fitted together.\nMoral. If therefore we desire to have the benefit of that Spirit which is from the Head, let us cleave one to another. For there are two kinds of separation from the body of the Church; the one, when we wax cold in love, the other, when we dare commit things unworthy of our belonging to that body; for in either way we cut ourselves off from the \u201cfullness of Christ.\u201d But if we are appointed to build up others also, what shall not be done to them who are first to make division? Nothing will so avail to divide the Church as love of power. Nothing so provokes God\u2019s anger as the division of the Church. Yea, though we have achieved ten thousand glorious acts, yet shall we, if we cut to pieces the fullness of the Church, suffer punishment no less sore than they who mangled His body. For that indeed was brought to pass for the benefit of the world, even though it was done with no such intention; whereas this produces no advantage in any case, but the injury is excessive. These remarks I am addressing not to the governors only, but also to the governed. Now a certain holy man said what might seem to be a bold thing; yet, nevertheless, he spoke it out. What then is this? He said, that not even the blood of martyrdom can wash out this sin. 300 For tell me for what dost thou suffer as a martyr? Is it not for the glory of Christ? Thou then that yieldest up thy life for Christ\u2019s sake, how dost thou lay waste the Church, for whose sake Christ yielded up His life? Hear what Paul saith, \u201cI am not meet to be called an Apostle (1 Cor. xv. 9.), because I persecuted the Church of God and made havoc of it.\u201d (Gal. i. 13.) This injury is not less than that received at the hands of enemies, nay, it is far greater. For that indeed renders her even more glorious, whereas this, when she is warred upon by her own children, disgraces her even before her enemies. Because it seems to them a great mark of hypocrisy, that those who have been born in her, and nurtured in her bosom, and have learned perfectly her secrets, that these should of a sudden change, and do her enemies\u2019 work.\nI mean these remarks for those who give p. 107 themselves up indiscriminately to the men who are dividing the Church. For if on the one hand those men have doctrines also contrary to ours, then on that account further it is not right to mix with them: if, on the other hand, they hold the same opinions, the reason for not mixing with them is greater still. And why so? Because then the disease is from lust of authority. Know ye not what was the fate of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram? (Num. xvi. 1-35.) Of them only did I say? Was it not also of them that were with them? What wilt thou say? Shall it be said, \u201cTheir faith is the same, they are orthodox as well as we\u201d? If so, why then are they not with us? There is \u201cone Lord, one faith, one baptism.\u201d If their cause is right, then is ours wrong; if ours is right, then is theirs wrong. \u201cChildren,\u201d saith he, \u201ctossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind.\u201d Tell me, dost thou think this is enough, to say that they are orthodox? Is then the ordination 301 of clergy 302 past and done away? And what is the advantage of other things, 303 if this be not strictly observed? For as we must needs contend for the faith; so must we for this also. For if it is lawful for any one, according to the phrase of them of old, \u201cto fill his hands,\u201d 304 and to become a priest, let all approach to minister. In vain has this altar been raised, in vain the fullness of the Church, in vain the number of the priests. Let us take them away and destroy them. \u201cGod forbid!\u201d ye will say. You are doing these things, and do ye say, \u201cGod forbid\u201d? How say ye, \u201cGod forbid,\u201d when the very things are taking place? I speak and testify, not looking to my own interest, but to your salvation. But if any one be indifferent, he must see to it himself: if these things are a care to no one else, yet are they a care to me. \u201cI planted,\u201d saith he, \u201cApollos watered, but God gave the increase.\u201d (1 Cor. iii. 6.) How shall we bear the ridicule of the Greeks? For if they reproach us on account of our heresies, what will they not say of these things? \u201cIf they have the same doctrines, if the same mysteries, wherefore does a ruler in one Church invade another? See ye,\u201d say they, \u201chow all things amongst the Christians are full of vainglory? And there is an ambition among them, and hypocrisy. Strip them,\u201d say they, \u201cof their numbers, and they are nothing. Cut out the disease, the corrupt multitude.\u201d Would ye have me tell what they say of our city, how they accuse us on the score of our easy compliances? Any one, say they, that chooses may find followers, and would never be at a loss for them. Oh, what a sneer is that, what a disgrace are these things! And yet the sneer is one thing, the disgrace is another. If any amongst us are convicted of deeds the most disgraceful, and are about to meet with some penalty, great is the alarm, great is the fear on all sides, lest he should start away, people say, and join the other side. Yea, let such an one start away ten thousand times, and let him join them. And I speak not only of those who have sinned, but if there be any one free from offense, and he has a mind to depart, let him depart. I am grieved indeed at it, and bewail and lament it, and am cut to the very heart, as though I were being deprived of one of my own limbs; and yet I am not so grieved, as to be compelled to do anything wrong through such fear as this. We have \u201cnot lordship over your faith\u201d (2 Cor. i. 24.), beloved, nor command we these things as your lords and masters. We are appointed for the teaching of the word, not for power, nor for absolute authority. We hold the place of counselors to advise you. The counselor speaks his own sentiments, not forcing the hearer, but leaving him full master of his choice upon what is said; in this case alone is he blameable, if he fail to utter the things which present themselves. For this cause do we also say these things, these things do we assert, that it may not be in your power in that day to say, \u201cNo one told us, no one gave us commandment, we were ignorant, we thought it was no sin at all.\u201d Therefore I assert and protest, that to make a schism in the Church is no less an evil than to fall into heresy. Tell me, suppose a subject of some king, though he did not join himself to another king, nor give himself to any other, yet should take and keep hold of his king\u2019s royal purple, and should tear it all from its clasp, and rend it into many shreds; would he suffer less punishment than those who join themselves to the service of another? And what, if withal he were to seize the king himself by the throat and slay him, and tear his body limb from limb, what punishment could he undergo, that should be equal to his deserts? Now if in doing this toward a king, his fellow-servant, he would be committing an act too great for any punishment to reach; of what hell shall not he be worthy who slays Christ, and plucks Him limb from limb? of that one which is threatened? No, I think not, but of another far more dreadful.\nSpeak, ye women, that are present,\u2014for this p. 108 generally is a failing of women, 305 \u2014relate to them that are absent this similitude which I have made; startle them. If any think to grieve me and thus to have their revenge, let them be well aware that they do these things in vain. For if thou wishest to revenge thyself on me, I will give thee a method by which thou mayest take vengeance without injury to thyself; or rather without injury it is not possible to revenge thyself, but at all events with less injury. Buffet me, woman, spit upon me, when thou meetest me in the public way, and aim blows at me. Dost thou shudder at hearing this? When I bid thee buffet me, dost thou shudder, and dost thou tear thy Lord and Master and not shudder? Dost thou pluck asunder the limbs of thy Lord and Master, and not tremble? The Church is our Father\u2019s house. \u201cThere is one body, and one Spirit.\u201d But dost thou wish to revenge thyself on me? Yet stop at me. Why dost thou revenge thyself on Christ in my stead? nay, rather, why kick against the nails? In no case indeed is revenge good and right, but to assault one when another has done the wrong is far worse. Is it I that wronged you? Why then inflict pain on Him who hath not wronged you? This is the very extreme of madness. I speak not in irony what I am about to say, nor without purpose, but as I really think and as I feel. I would that every one of those who with you are exasperated against me, and who by this exasperation are injuring themselves, and departing elsewhere, would direct his blows at me in my very face, would strip me and scourge me, be his charge against me just or unjust, and let loose his wrath upon me, rather than that they should dare to commit what they now dare. If this were done, it were nothing; nothing, that a man who is a mere nothing and of no account whatever, should be so treated. And besides, I, the wronged and injured person, might call upon God, and He might forgive you your sins. Not because I have so great confidence; but because when he who has been wronged, entreats for him who has done the wrong, he gains great confidence. \u201cIf one man sin against another,\u201d it is said, \u201cthen shall they pray for him\u201d 306 (1 Sam. ii. 25.); and if I were unable, I might seek for other holy men, and entreat them, and they might do it. But now whom shall we even entreat, when God is outraged by us?\nMark the consistency; for of those who belong to this Church, some never approach to communicate at all, or but once in the year, and then without purpose, and just as it may happen; others more regularly indeed, yet they too carelessly and without purpose, and while engaged in conversation, and trifling about nothing: whilst those who, forsooth, seem to be in earnest, these are the very persons who work this mischief. Yet surely, if it is for these things ye are in earnest, it were better that ye also were in the ranks of the indifferent; or rather it were better still, that neither they should be indifferent, nor you such as ye are. I speak not of you that are present, but of those who are deserting from us. The act is adultery. And if ye bear not to hear these things of them, neither should ye of us. There must be breach of the law either on the one side or the other. If then thou hast these suspicions concerning me, I am ready to retire from my office, and resign it to whomsoever ye may choose. Only let the Church be one. But if I have been lawfully made and consecrated, entreat those who have contrary to the law mounted the episcopal throne to resign it.\nThese things I have said, not as dictating to you, but only to secure and protect you. Since every one of you is come to age, and will have to give account of the things which he has done, I entreat you not to cast the whole matter on us, and consider yourselves to be irresponsible, that ye may not go on fruitlessly deceiving yourselves, and at last bewail it. An account indeed we shall have to give of your souls; but it will be when we have been wanting on our part, when we fail to exhort, when we fail to admonish, when we fail to protest. But after these words, allow even me to say that \u201cI am pure from the blood of all men\u201d (Acts xx. 26.); and that \u201cGod will deliver my soul.\u201d (Ezek. 3:19, 21.) Say what ye will, give a just cause why ye depart, and I will answer you. But no, ye will not state it. Wherefore I entreat you, endeavor henceforward both to resist nobly and to bring back those who have seceded, that we may with one accord lift up thanksgiving to God; for to Him belongs the glory for ever and ever. Amen.\n[\u201cThe \u1f15\u03bd \u03c3\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b1 means the totality of Christians as the corpus (Christi) mysticum; comp. Eph. 2:16, Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17. The \u1f15\u03bd \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b1 is the Holy Spirit, the spirit of the corpus mysticum; comp. Eph. 2:18, 1 Cor. 12:13. The explanation, \u2018one body and one soul,\u2019 is excluded, as at variance with the context by the specifically Christian character of the other elements, and rendered impossible by the correct supplying of \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03af (and not \u2018ye ought to be\u2019).\u201d\u2014Meyer.\u2014G.A.]\n103:284\n[Note the triad of trinities:\u2014\n103:285\n[\u201cBut (\u03b4\u03ad) forms the transition from the summary \u2018all,\u2019 \u2018all,\u2019 \u2018all\u2019 to \u2018each individual\u2019 among the Christians.\u201d\u2014Meyer.\u2014G.A.]\n103:286\n[\u201cHe quotes Ps. lxviii. 18, with the freedom of a Messianic interpretation of the words, and his exposition of the Hebrew words yielded essentially the sense expressed by him. So he took \u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05d7\u05b0\u05e7\u05b7\u05dc\u05b8 in the sense: \u2018Thou didst take away gifts to distribute them among men,\u2019 and then translated this in an explanatory way, \u1f14\u03b4\u03c9\u03ba\u03b5, &c.\u201d\u2014Meyer.\u2014G.A.]\n103:287\n[This view of Chrysostom is quite at variance with the context. Ellicott says: To evince still more clearly the correctness of the Messianic application of the words just cited, St. Paul urges the antithesis implied by \u1f00\u03bd\u03ad\u03b2\u03b7, namely, \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03ad\u03b2\u03b7, a predication applicable to Christ only, the tacit assumption being that He who is the subject of the citation is one whose seat was heaven. Compare John iii. 13.\u2014G.A.]\n104:288\nPaul was Bishop of Antioch A.D. 260\u2013269, when he was deposed for heresy. Very different accounts are given of his particular doctrines: St. Athanasius may be securely followed, however, who says that he denied the doctrine of our Lord\u2019s pre\u00ebxistence, asserted that He was a mere man, and that the Word of God was in Him. vid. Orat. i. 25, 38; ii. 13; iii. 51. De decret. 24, &c., &c. [See Schaff\u2019s History of Christian Ch., Vol. II., pp. 575, 576.\u2014G.A.]\n104:289\n[Both here and in Hom. xliv. on Acts (xx. 28) Chrysostom reads \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 instead of \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6. The latter is, however, the reading of \u05d0 B., and is adopted by W. & H. and the Rev. Ver. (as well as the textus receptus).\u2014G.A.]\n104:290\n[\u201cThe Apostles had an immediate call from Christ, a destination for all lands and a special power of miracles. Prophets: not only in the special sense, but also those who spoke under the immediate impulse of the Holy Spirit; Evangelists were subordinates of the Apostles who traveled about. Pastors and teachers, constituting one and the same class, were stationary, and probably included presbyters.\u2014Ellicott.\u2014G.A.]\n104:291\n[The proper relation of these prepositional phrases is brought out in Meyer\u2019s translation: He has, with a view to the full furnishing of the saints, given those teachers for the work of ministering, for the edification of the body of Christ. So Ellicott.\u2014G.A.]\n105:292\n[\u201cIt is not the figure of a building which Paul employs here, but of a ship abandoned to the breakers, on which figurative expression of restless passive subjection to influences, compare Jas. i. 6.\u201d\u2014Meyer.\u2014G.A.]\n105:293 105:294\n[\u201c\u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03cd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2: The common meaning, \u2018To speak truth,\u2019 is clearly unsatisfactory here. It means \u2018holding the truth.\u2019\u201d\u2014Ellicott. \u201cProfessing the truth,\u201d Thayer, Lexicon. Rev. Ver. has in margin \u201cdealing truly.\u201d Meyer says it means here, as always, \u201cspeaking the truth,\u201d and correctly.\u2014G.A.]\n105:295\n\u1f01\u03c6\u1fc6\u03c2, \u201cjoint,\u201d Eng. Tr. Theodoret, too, in loc. interprets touch, and considers that it stands for all the senses. S. Austin translates tactus in Psalm x. 7, de Civ. D. xxii. 18, but in the received meaning. [See Meyer.\u2014G.A.]\n105:296\n[\u201cMeyer still retains the interpretation of Chrysostom and Theodoret that \u1f01\u03c6\u1f74=\u03b1\u1f34\u03c3\u03b8\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2, \u201cfeeling,\u201d \u201cperception,\u201d and connects the clause with \u03b1\u1f54\u03be\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9: but the parallel passage, Col. ii. 19, leaves it scarcely doubtful that the meaning usually assigned is correct, and that the clause is to be connected with the participles.\u201d\u2014Ellicott. So Thayer, Lex., Rev. Ver.\u2014G.A.]\n105:297 105:298 106:299\n[The text fluctuates here. We have given that of Field, though neither it nor any of the other readings yields a satisfactory sense. Field\u2019s text is, \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03b8\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03b7, \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u1f74\u03bd \u03c7\u03bf\u03c1\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6. Another text, attested by three mss., has \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03b8\u03b5\u1f76\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03bc\u03ad\u03c3\u03b1, \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u1f74\u03bd \u03c7\u03bf\u03c1\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6. Savile\u2019s text, supported by three mss., has \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f10\u03ba\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03b8\u03b5\u1fd6 \u03c4\u1f70 \u1f40\u03c3\u03c4\u1fb6, \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03b6\u03c9\u1f74\u03bd \u03c7\u03bf\u03c1\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6. It will be noticed that this same expression occurs a little above, followed by a clause like that which follows here.\u2014G.A.]\n106:300\n\u201cWhat sacrifice do they believe they celebrate who are rivals of the Priests?\u201d \u201cIf such men were even killed for confession of the Christian name, not even by their blood is this stain washed out.\u2026He cannot be a Martyr, who is not in the Church.\u201d\u2014St. Cyprian, Treat. v. 12, p. 141.\n107:301\n[See Bingham, Ant. Bk. iv. ch. vi. sec. 11.\u2014G.A.]\n107:302\n\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd\u03af\u03b1\u03c2. At this time there were two orthodox successions in Antioch, that of Paulinus and Evagrius, who were successively representatives of the old line which the Arians had dispossessed, and which Western Christendom supported; and that of Meletius and Flavian, to which St. Chrysostom adhered, and the Eastern Church generally, being the Arian succession conformed to orthodoxy. The schism was terminated A.D. 392, on the death of Evagrius, though his party continued for twenty years longer.\n107:303\n[\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f04\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd, wanting in the text of Field, is attested by four good authorities, and yields the only sense that suits the context.\u2014G.A.]\n107:304\nExodus xxix. 9. Our translation has, \u201cThou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons\u201d; the margin gives the literal rendering, \u201cThou shalt fill the hands of Aaron.\u201d\n108:305\nSt. Chrysostom was eventually banished and brought to his end by the Empress Eudoxia. Women had taken a strong part with the Arians from the first, to which perhaps he alludes. When Arius began his heresy, he was joined by seven hundred single women. Epiphan. H\u00e6r. 69, 3; vid. also Socr. ii. 2, of the Court, Greg. Naz. Or. 48, of Constantinople, &c., &c.\n108:306\n[This is the reading of the Septuagint, as follows: \u1f02\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03cc\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f01\u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u1fc3, \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03b5\u03cd\u03be\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6. The Hebrew, however, is different, and reads, \u201cIf one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?\u201d So the Rev. Ver.\u2014G.A.]","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. XIII: The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and Ephesians.: Ephesians 4:4-7","type":"page"}