Lessons of obedience to superiors and mutual charity.
To yeld obedience and al other duties vnto Potestats: 8 to loue their neighbour vvhich is the fulfilling of the Lavv: 11 and specially to consider, that novv being the time of grace, vve must doe nothing that may not beseeme day light.
1Let every soul be subject to higher powers. For there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God.Ogni anima sia soggetta alle podestà superiori: imperocché non è podestà, se non da Dio, e quelle, che sono son da Dio ordinate.LET euery soul be subiect to higher powers, for there is no povver but of God. And those that are, of God are ordeined.Omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus subdita sit: non est enim potestas nisi a Deo: quæ autem sunt, a Deo ordinatæ sunt. 2Therefore, he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist purchase to themselves damnation.Per la qual cosa chi si oppone: alla podestà, resiste alla ordinazione di Dio. E que', che resistono, si comperano la dannazione:Therfore he that resisteth the povver, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, purchase to them selues damnatiō.Itaque qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit. Qui autem resistunt, ipsi sibi damnationem acquirunt: 3For princes are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good: and thou shalt have praise from the same.Imperocché i principi sono il terrore non delle opere buone, ma delle cattive. Vuoi tu non aver paura della podestà? Opera bene; e da essa avrai lode:for princes are no feare to the good worke, but to the euil. But wilt thou not feare the povver? Doe good: and thou shalt haue praise of the same.nam principes non sunt timori boni operis, sed mali. Vis autem non timere potestatem ? Bonum fac: et habebis laudem ex illa: 4For he is God’s minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God’s minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.Imperocché ella è ministra di Dio per te per il bene. Che se fai del male, temi: conciossiachè non indarno porta la spada. Imperocché ella è ministra di Dio vendicatrice per punire chiunque mal fa.for he is gods minister vnto thee for good. But if thou doe euil, feare. for he beareth not the svvord without cause. For he is Gods minister: a reuēger vnto vvrath, to him that doeth euil.Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum. Si autem malum feceris, time: non enim sine causa gladium portat. Dei enim minister est: vindex in iram ei qui malum agit. 5Wherefore be subject of necessity: not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.Per la qual cosa siate soggetti, come è necessario, non sol per tema dell'ira, ma anche per riguardo alla coscienza.Therfore be subiect of necessitie, not only for vvrath, but also for conscience sake.Ideo necessitate subditi estote non solum propter iram, sed etiam propter conscientiam.
6For therefore also you pay tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving unto this purpose.Imperocché per questo pure voi pagate i tributi: conciossiachè sono ministri di Dio, che in questo stesso lo servono.For therfore you giue tributes also. for they are the ministers of God, seruing vnto this purpose.Ideo enim et tributa præstatis: ministri enim Dei sunt, in hoc ipsum servientes. 7Render therefore to all men their dues. Tribute, to whom tribute is due: custom, to whom custom: fear, to whom fear: honour, to whom honour.Rendete adunque a tutti quel, che è dovuto: a chi il tributo, il tributo: a chi la gabella, la gabella: a chi il timore, il timore: a chi l'onore, l'onore.Render therfore to al men their devv: to vvhom tribute, tribute: to vvhom custom, custom: to whom feare, feare: to vvhō honour, honour.Reddite ergo omnibus debita: cui tribulatum, tributum: cui vectigal, vectigal: cui timorem, timorem: cui honorem, honorem. 8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law.Non vi resti con chicchessia altro debito, che quello dello scambievole amore; imperocché chi ama il prossimo ha adempiuta la legge.Ovve no man any thing: but, that you loue one an other. For he that loueth his neighbour, hath fulfilled the lavv.Nemini quidquam debeatis, nisi ut invicem diligatis: qui enim diligit proximum, legem implevit. 9For: Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness: Thou shalt not covet. And if there be any other commandment, it is comprised in this word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.Imperocché il non commetter adulterio: non ammazzare: non rubare: non dire il falso testimonio: non desiderare: e se alcun altro comandamento vi è, egli è rinnovellato in questo parlare: amerai il prossimo tuo come te stesso.For, Thou shalt not commit aduoutrie, Thou shalt not kil, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false vvitnes, Thou shalt not couet, and if there be any other commaundement: it is comprised in this vvord, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy self.Nam: non adultaberis: non occides: non furaberis: non falsum testimonium dices: non concupisces: et si quod est aliud mandatum, in hoc verbo instauratur: diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum. 10The love of our neighbour worketh no evil. Love therefore is the fulfilling of the law.La dilezione del prossimo non fa il male. La dilezione adunque è il complemento della legge.The loue of thy neighbour, vvorketh no euil. Loue therfore is the fulnesse of the lavv.Dilectio proximi malum non operatur. Plenitudo ergo legis est dilectio.
11And that, knowing the season, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.E ciò (fate) avendo riflesso al tempo: perché è già ora, che ci svegliamo dal sonno. Imperocché più vicina è adesso la nostra salute, che quando credemmo.And that knovving the season, that it is novv the houre for vs to rise from sleepe. For novv our saluation is neerer then vvhen vve beleeued.Et hoc scientes tempus: quia hora est jam nos de somno surgere. Nunc enim propior est nostra salus, quam cum credidimus. 12The night is passed And the day is at hand. Let us, therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.La notte è avanzata, e il dì si avvicina. Gettiam via adunque le opere delle tenebre, e rivestiamoci delle armi della luce.The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let vs therfore cast of the vvorkes of darknesse, and doe on the armour of light.Nox præcessit, dies autem appropinquavit. Abjiciamus ergo opera tenebrarum, et induamur arma lucis. 13Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy.Camminiamo con onestà, come essendo giorno: non nelle crapule, e nelle ubbriachezze, non nelle morbidezze, e nelle disonestà, non nella discordia, e nella invidia:As in the day let vs vvalke honestly: not in banketings and drunkennes, not in chamberings and impudicities, not in contention and emulation:Sicut in die honeste ambulemus: non in comessationibus, et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus, et impudicitiis, non in contentione, et æmulatione: 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ: and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences.Ma rivestitevi del Signore Gesù Cristo, e non abbiate cura della carne nelle sue concupiscenze.but doe ye on our Lord IESVS Christ, and make not prouision for the flesh in concupiscenees.sed induamini Dominum Jesum Christum, et carnis curam ne feceritis in desideriis.
13:1
Witham
Let every soul, or every one, be subject, etc.[Ver. 1. Non est potestas, exousia, nisi a Deo. St. Chrysostom, om. kg. p. 189. ouk eipen, ou gar estin archon ei me upo tou theou, alla peri tou pragmatos dialegetai legon, ou gar estin exousia.] The Jews were apt to think themselves not subject to temporal princes, as to taxes, etc. and lest Christians should misconstrue their Christian liberty, he here teacheth them that every one (even priests and bishops, says St. Chrysostom) must be subject and obedient to princes, even to heathens, as they were at that time, as to laws that regard the policy of the civil government, honouring them, obeying them, and their laws, as it is the will of God, because the power they act by is from God. So that to resist them, is to resist God. And every Christian must obey them even for conscience-sake. St. Chrysostom takes notice that St. Paul does not say that there is no prince but from God, but only that there is no power but from God, meaning no lawful power, and speaking of true and just laws. See hom. xxiii. (Witham)
13:8
But that you love one another. This is a debt, says St. Chrysostom, which we are always to be paying, and yet always remains, and is to be paid again.
Witham
He that loveth his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law. Nay, he that loves his neighbour, as he ought, loves him for God's sake, and so complies with the other great precept of loving God: and upon these two precepts (as Christ himself taught us, Matthew 22:40.) depends the whole law and the prophets. (Witham)
13:10
Witham
Love of the neighbour worketh no evil.[Ver. 10. Dilectio proximi malum non operatur, that is dilectio non operatur malum proximi, vel proximo, e agape to plesion kakon ouk ergazetai.] This, by the Latin, is the true construction; and not, love worketh no evil to the neighbour, as it might be translated from the Greek. (Witham)
13:11
Witham
Now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. Some will have the sense to be, that our salvation is now nearer, when the gospel is preached, and Christ offers us his graces, than when we believed the Messias was to come. Others expound it, that the more of our life is spent, we come nearer to the judgment of God, and to the salvation promised in heaven. (Witham)
13:12
Witham
The night is passed. That is, the night of sin and infidelity, in which you lived, before you began to serve Christ. (Witham)
Calmet
St. Paul is here addressing himself to Gentile converts. Before your conversion, you were in the darkness of infidelity: this time is past; now is the day, when the gospel has dissipated the darkness of idolatry, ignorance, and sin. Let us lay aside the works of darkness, by flying from sin, which hates the light, and seeks always to conceal itself; and let us put on the armour of light, the shield of faith, the breast-plate of justice, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. (Calmet)
13:13
Let us walk honestly as in the day. As men are accustomed to do in the light, without being afraid that their works come to light.
Witham
Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering,[Ver. 13. Non in cubilibus, me koitais, which may signify beds, chambers, or immodest actions.] not in beds and impurities, not in immodest disorders. (Witham)
Bible de Vence
The night of the present life full of darkness, of ignorance, and of sin, is already far advanced; and the day of eternity approaches: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness. (Bible de Vence)
13:14
Witham
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. To put on, is a metaphor used in the Scripture; as when it is said, put on the new man, etc. And make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscenses. That is, do not take care, nor pamper and indulge your appetite in eating and drinking, so as to increase your disorderly inclinations, but keep them in due subjection. (Witham)
Estius
The apostle does not forbid all care of the body, since he himself says in Ephesians 5. "No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it." But he forbids that care of the flesh, by which the desires and concupiscences of the flesh are strengthened and encouraged. This those are guilty of, who are always indulging in delights and voluptuousness. (Estius)
Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, enter into his sentiments, imitate his virtues, and indulge not the flesh in its inordinate desires.
13:1
1. Euery soul be subiect.] Because the Apostles preached libertie by Christ from the yoke of the Law and seruitude of sinne, and gaue al the faithful both example and commaundement to obey God more then men, and withal euer charged them expresly to be obedient and subiect to their Prelates as to them which had cure of their soules and were by the Holy Ghost placed ouer the Church of God: there were many in those daies newly conuerted, that thougt them solues free from. al temporal Botestats, carnal Lordes, and humane creatures or powers: wherevpon the bondman tooke him self to be loose from his seruitude, the subiect from his Soueraine, were he Emperour, King, Duke, or what other secular, Obedience to tēporal rulers, & in what cases. Magistrate so euer, specially the Princes of those daies being Heathens and persecutors of the Apostles, and of Christes religion. for which cause and for that the Apostles were vntruely charged of their Aduersaries, that they withdrevv• men from order and obedience to Ciuil lavves and Officers: S. Paul here (as S. Peter doth 1 Chap. 2.) cleereth him self, and expresly chargeth euery man to be subiect to his temporal Prince and Superior: Not euery man to al that be in Office or Superiority, but euery one to him whom God hath put in authoritie ouer him, by that he is his Maister, Lord, king, or such like: 〈Greek〉 either to them in matters of religion or regiment of their soules (for most part vvere Pagans, whom the Apostle could not vvill men to obey in matters of faith,) but to them in such things onely as 〈…〉, and what other causes so euer consist vvith Gods holy vvill and ordinance, Act. 4, 19, 3, 29. for against God no power may be 〈◊〉.
1. No povver but of God.] In what sense, al power or superioritie is of God. S. Chrysostome here noteth, that power 〈◊〉 & Superioritie, is Gods ordinance, Chrys. in ep. Ro. ho. 〈◊〉. but not of•somes al Princes: because to any may vsur 〈◊〉 who reigne by his permission onely, and not by his appointment: nor al actions that euery one doeth in and by his soueraine povver, as Iu•ians apostaste and 〈◊〉 of Catholikes, 〈…〉 oppression of the Israelites, Acha•s persecution of the Prophets, Neros executing of the Apostles, Herods and Pilats condemning of Christ: al which things God permitted them, by (he abuse of their power to accomplish, 〈◊〉 they vvere out of the compasse of his causing and ordinance.
Concordance Tit. 3, 7.
Concordance 1. Pet. 2, 13.
13:2
2. They that resist.] In things lawfully cōmaunded it is mortal sinne not to obey our Superiors. Vvhosoeuer resisteth or obeieth not his lavvful Superior in those causes vvherein he is subiect vnto him, withstandeth Gods appointment, & sinneth •oadly, and is vvorthy to be punished both in this vvorld by his Superior, and by God in the next life. for in temporal gouernement, and causes, the Christians vvere bound in conscience to obey their Heathen Imperours: though on the other side, they were bound vnder paine of de••ation to obey their Apostles and Prelates, and not to obey their kings or Emperours, in matters of religion. Vvhereby it is cleere that vvhen vve be commaunded to obey our Superiors, it is meant alvvaies and onely in such things as they may lawfully commaund, and in respect of such matters Vvherein they be our Superiors.
13:4
4. Beareth not the sword.] That the Apostle meaneth here specially of temporal povvers, vve may see by the svvord, The Apostle speaketh of tē poral powers. tribute, & external compulsion, vvhich he here attributeth to them. And the Christian men then had no doubt vvhether they should obey their Spiritual povvers. but novv the disease is cleane contrarie for al is giuen to the secular, povver, and nothing to the spiritual, vvhich expresly is ordained by Christ and the Holy Ghost: and al the faithful are commaunded to be subiect there vnto as to Christs ovvne vvord and vvill. Heresies against rule and Superioritie. There vvere Heretikes called Begardi, that tooke avvay al rule and Superioritie: The w••lefists vvould obey nor Prince nor Prelate, if he vvere once in deadly sinne. The Protestants of our time (as vve may see in al Countries vvhere the secular svvord is dravven against their Sectes) care neither for the one nor for the other, though they extol onely the secular vvhen it maketh for them. The obedience of Catholikes both to Spiritual and temporal Superiors. The Catholikes onely most humbly obey both, euen according to Gods ordinance, the one in temporal causes, and the other in Spiritual: in vvhich order both these States haue blessedly florished in al Christian countries euer since Christes time, and it is the very vvay to preserue both, as one day al the vvorld shal confesse vvith vs.
13:6
6. Ten giue tributes.] Though euery man ought to be ready to serue his temporal Prince vvith his goods, Hiero. in Mat. 17. by tributes of vvhat other lavvful taxes and subsidies so euer: yet they may exempt by priuileges vvhom they thinke good. The Clergie exempted from tribute. As in al countries Christian: Priests for the honour of Christ, whose Ministers they be, haue by the grauntes and auncient charters or kings be he excepted and exempted. Notvvithstanding they vvere neuer vnready to serue voluntarely their, soueraine, in al common causes, vvith vvhatsoeuer they had. See Annot. in Mat. 17, 26.
••. Not in 〈◊〉.] This vvas the very place vvhich S. Augustine, that glorious Doctor, S. Augustines conuersion. vvas by a voice from heauen directed vnto, at his first miraculous and happy conuersion, not only to the Catholike faith, but also to perpetual continencie, by this voice comming from heauen, Tolle, lege: Tolle, lege, Take vp and read, take vp and read. as him self telleth li. 8 Confesse. 12.
Concordance Mt. 22, 21.
13:7
In the liturgy The Epistle vpō the 4 Sunday after the Epiphanie.
13:8
Concordance Exo. 20, 13.
Here vve learne that the Law may be & is fulfilled by loue in this life: against the Aduersaries saying it is impossible to keepe the commaundements.
13:9
Concordance Leu. 19, 18.
13:11
In the liturgy The Epistle vpō the 1 Sunday in Aduent.
13:1
St Polycarp † AD 155 The Martyrdom of Polycarp 10
… for we are taught to give all due honour (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of God.
St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 4.36.6
… for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, the avenger for wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also; for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”
St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 5.24.1
… By me chiefs are raised up, and by me kings rule the earth.” Paul the apostle also says upon this same subject: “Be ye subject to all the higher powers; for there is no power but of God: now those which are have been ordained of God.”
Tertullian † AD 220 On Idolatry 15
… So strictly are we appraised with God in matters of this kind, even with regard to the discipline of our family. Therefore, as to what relates to the honours due to kings or emperors, we have a prescript sufficient, that it behoves us to be in all obedience, according to the apostle’s precept,
Tertullian † AD 220 Scorpiace 14
No doubt the apostle admonishes the Romans
Origen † AD 254 Origen Against Celsus 8.65
… For we read: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.”
Eusebius of Caesarea † AD 339 The Church History of Eusebius 4.15.22
22. The proconsul said, ‘Persuade the people.’ But Polycarp said, ‘As for thee, I thought thee worthy of an explanation; for we have been taught to render to princes and authorities ordained by God the honor that is due,
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 2.54
54. What of the laboriousness of his teaching? The manifold character of his ministry? His loving kindness? And on the other hand his strictness? And the combination and blending of the two; in such wise that his gentleness should not enervate, nor his severity exasperate? He gives laws for slaves and masters, rulers and ruled,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch 6.2
… for “the law is not made for a righteous man,” saith one. But the more numerous being viciously inclined, if they had no fear of these hanging over them, would fill the cities with innumerable evils; which Paul knowing, observed, “There is no power, but of God, the powers that be are ordained of God.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 15
For there are [these] species of rule; one, that whereby men rule peoples and states, regulating this the political life; which Paul denoting said, “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers; for there is no power but of God.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 60
… and thou wilt reason concerning that Judgment seat, reflecting that if among men there is so much forethought, and order, and terror, and threatenings, much more will there be with God. “For there is no power but from God.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 93.20
… “For there is no power but of God: whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; for rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 100
1. I would indeed that the African Church were not placed in such trying circumstances as to need the aid of any earthly power. But since, as the apostle says, “there is no power but of God,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 220.4
4. At the very time when we were full of joy that you had formed this resolution, you embarked on a voyage and you married a second wife. Your embarkation was an act of the obedience due, as the apostle has taught us, to the “higher powers;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Catechising of the Uninstructed 21
… For the doctrine of the apostles speaks also in this wise, that ‘every soul should be subject to the higher powers,’ and that there ‘should be rendered all things to all men, tribute to whom tribute (is due), custom to whom custom,’
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Continence 11
… But he is therefore said also to live after the flesh, when he so lives; because also when the flesh alone hath been named, man is understood, as we have already shown: just as when the soul alone hath been named, man is understood: whence it is said, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 22.75
… for in the trial of their patience, and the chastening of their spirit, and in bearing fatherly correction, they are rather benefited than injured. No one can have any power against them but what is given him from above. For there is no power but of God,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Concerning the Nature of Good, Against the Manichæans 32
Likewise because the power even of those that are hurtful is from God alone, thus it stands written, Wisdom speaking: "Through me kings reign and tyrants hold the land through me." The apostle also says: "For there is no power but of God."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist 2.31
Chapter 31.— 70. Petilianus said: "For there is no power but of God,"
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter 54
… or whether he believes not, if he shall have willed it. Such a position, indeed, is absurd (for what is believing but consenting to the truth of what is said? and this consent is certainly voluntary): faith, therefore, is in our own power. But, as the apostle says: “There is no power but comes from God,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 12.13
… Not so. Do ye again who are sick on this point, touch also that border of the garment? The Apostle himself saith, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God, the powers that be are ordained of God. He then who resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 105.2
… “As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to all that Thou hast given Him.” By all flesh, He meant every man, signifying the whole by a part; as, on the other hand, the whole man is signified by the superior part, when the apostle says, “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 116.5
… that is, in simplicity and innocence He opened not His mouth. Accordingly, where He made no answer, He was silent as a sheep; where He answered, He taught as the Shepherd. Let us therefore set ourselves to learn what He said, what He taught also by the apostle, that “there is no power but of God;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 104.37
… let him watch his head, on the part of the fear of the world, and of the lusts of the world. For it is hence that he suggesteth some object of fear or of desire; he trieth thy love, or thy fear. If thou fearest hell, and lovest the kingdom of God, thou wilt watch his head.…“There is no power but of God.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 119.21
… neither accuse any falsely: and be content with your wages”? Did not one of His soldiers, His most beloved companion, say to his fellow soldiers, the provincials, so to speak, of Christ, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers”?
13:2
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Letters 227
… impress this inception of the proceedings on your hearts and do your best to perfect it. Accept quietly and thankfully what has happened, with the conviction that all, who refuse to accept what is ordered in God’s Churches by the Churches, are resisting the ordinance of God.
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Ephesians 20
… (which, by the way, is what he says elsewhere, that, even though they do it not for the husband’s sake, yet must they primarily for the Lord’s sake;) or else he means, “when thou obeyest thy husband, do so as serving the Lord.” For if he who resisteth these external authorities, those of governments, I mean, “withstandeth the ordinance of God” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 87.7
… Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist 2.20
… If you say that it was right, then see what they ought to suffer at the hands of duly constituted authority, who, in resisting it, "resist the ordinance of God." Wherefore the apostle expressly says, "For he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath on him that doeth evil."
Early Popes (Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals) The Epistles of Pope Fabian 2.2
… because when any offence is committed in these matters by those put under them, His ordinance is withstood who set them before him, as the apostle says, “Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.”
13:3
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.39
In the Epistle of Paul to the Romans: “Wilt thou not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of it.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 23
… this, I say, is the work of God’s wisdom. Hence he does not say, “for there is no ruler but of God;” but it is the thing he speaks of, and says, “there is no power but of God.
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on First Corinthians 9
… (Fors. Exod. xix. 10, 20 . διαμαρτύραι , Sept. here διάστειλαι ,) and ordained as we have been unto the ministry of the word, we must give pain to our hearers, not willingly but on compulsion. Nay rather, if you will, we shall avoid giving you pain. For saith He, (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 2
… Is it because thou art not an object of fear to the many? May you never become so! For what pleasure is it that any should stand in dread and fear of thee? Is it because thou art afraid of others? But thou canst not be alarmed. For “wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same.” (
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.38
… Hence it is that Paul, when he considered that his weak hearer would either continue to do evil or rejoice in the reward of human praise for well-doing, said, Wilt thou not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same (
13:4
St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 5.24.1
… “Be ye subject to all the higher powers; for there is no power but of God: now those which are have been ordained of God.” And again, in reference to them he says, “For he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, the avenger for wrath to him who does evil.”
Tertullian † AD 220 A Treatise on the Soul 33
… The vengeance which is inflicted among men upon the homicide is really as great as that which is imposed by nature. Who would not prefer the justice of the world, which, as the apostle himself testifies, “beareth not the sword in vain,”
St Dionysius of Alexandria † AD 265 Containing Epistles, or Fragments of Epistles 11.6
6. Then he further indicates the exact time at which he wrote this account, as follows :—And it occurs to me again to review the days of the imperial years. For I see that those most impious men, whose names may have been once so famous, have in a short space become nameless. But our more pious and godly prince
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Letters 289
… The decision I have come to in my own mind is, not to surrender offenders to the magistrates; yet not to rescue those already in their custody, since it has long ago been declared by the Apostle, that the magistrates should be a terror to them in their evil-doings; for, it is said, “he beareth not the sword in vain.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 16
… Which thing Paul also doth, using both the future and the present to sway his hearer: as when, deterring from wickedness, he points out to him that is inclined to evil, the ruler armed: thus saying, “But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 23
… this, I say, is the work of God’s wisdom. Hence he does not say, “for there is no ruler but of God;” but it is the thing he speaks of, and says, “there is no power but of God.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist 2.84
… Who are they, however, that have enacted adverse laws by which your audacity could be repressed? Are they not those of whom the apostle says that "they bear not the sword in vain; for they are the ministers of God, revengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil?"
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 5
… they strike the heart more heavily who strike with the sword of the tongue; they shed blood more bitterly who, as far as they can, slay Christ in man. They seem to be in fear, as it were, of the judgment of the authorities. What does the authority do to thee if thou art good? but if thou art evil, fear the authority; “For he beareth not the sword in vain,”
13:5
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 23
Ver. 5 . “Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath but also for conscience sake.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on 1 Timothy 6
… as much as to say, Their safety is a security to us; as also in his Epistle to the Romans, he exhorts them to obey their rulers, “not for wrath but for conscience’ sake.” (
13:6
St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 5.24.1
… for they are God’s ministers, doing service for this very thing.”
Tertullian † AD 220 Scorpiace 14
… Then he goes on also to show how he wishes you to be subject to the powers, bidding you pay “tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom,”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on 1 Timothy 6
… as much as to say, Their safety is a security to us;
13:7
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.6
… “And He shall save the lowly in spirit.” Also to the Romans: “Render to all what is due: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour; owe no man anything, except to love another.”
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 6
… but He requires us to take pains to render Him His own fruits, as the blessed Paul saith; ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace .’ Having therefore this right resolution, and owing no man anything, but rather giving everything to every man, he was a teacher of the like rightness of principle, saying, ‘Render to all their dues
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 10
… and being conscious that an announcement like this is due from me, I have not delayed to discharge this duty, fearing to be condemned by the Apostolic counsel; ‘Render to every man his due
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose 57.12
… but in those matters in which it is fitting that petitions should be addressed to you. I also pay the deference due to authority, as it is written: “Honour to whom honour is due, tribute to whom tribute.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 67
Then that they might not say, Thou art subjecting us to men, He added, “And unto God the things that are God’s.” For it is possible both to fulfill to men their claims and to give unto God the things that are due to God from us. Wherefore Paul also saith, “Render unto all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 23
Ver. 7, 8 . “Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe (or ye owe) no man anything, but to love one another.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Ephesians 19
… Let no one have any other charge to make against you; but show all deference and obedience, whenever it does no harm to the message, whenever it does not stand in the way of godliness. For it is said, “Render to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute, custom to whom custom.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Colossians 11
… Now this he said, not wishing them to be crafty, nor hypocrites, (for this is not a part of wisdom, but of senselessness,) but what? In matters wherein they harm you not, he means, give them no handle; as he says also, when writing to the Romans, “Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, honor to whom honor.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Christian Doctrine 4.20
… Be of the same mind one toward another.” And how gracefully all this is brought to a close in a period of two members: “Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate!” And a little afterwards: “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
Anonymous The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs 1
Donata said: Honour to Cæsar as Cæsar: but fear to God.
13:8
Tertullian † AD 220 On Idolatry 8
… For how much more easily does he who delineates a statue overlay a sideboard! How much sooner does he who carves a Mars out of a lime-tree, fasten together a chest! No art but is either mother or kinswoman of some neighbour
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 To Castus, Valerius, Diophantus, Cyriacus, Presbyters of Antioch 1
… Hence I also in my turn am never satisfied with the measure of affection for me which you have attained, but am always seeking to make additions to your love-draught, and daily demanding the discharge of your love debt which is always being paid, and yet is always owing (for it is written, “owe no man anything but to love one another”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 2
… for see, being so loved he wished to be loved still more, for he who loves the object of his love, is willing to stay at no point of love, for it is impossible there should be a measure of so noble a thing. Paul desires that the debt of love should always be owing; “Owe no man any thing, save to love one another.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 192
… The love which I receive I still claim, and the love which I give I still owe. For we ought to obey with docility the precept of the One Master, whose disciples we both profess to be, when He says to us by His apostle: “Owe no man anything, but to love one another.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Holy Trinity 8.6
… not only discerning and saying that the mind is righteous which knowingly and of purpose assigns to every one that which is his due in life and behavior, but so likewise that they themselves may live righteously and be righteous in character, by assigning to every one that which is his due, so as to owe no man anything, but to love one another.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 19.27
… but that what the literal command failed in doing from the pride and disobedience of men, is accomplished by grace in those who are brought to repentance and humility. The fulfillment is not in additional words, but in acts of obedience. So the apostle says "Faith worketh by love;" and again, He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Nature and Grace 83
… or he has love, and then it is not grievous. But he possesses love if he does what is there enjoined on Israel, by returning to the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul. “A new commandment,” says He, “do I give unto you, that ye love one another;” and “He that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Grace and Free Will 33
… For this: Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Grace and Free Will 34
… only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” This is the same in effect as what he writes to the Romans: “He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 57.1
1. I Have not been unmindful of my debt, and acknowledge that the time of payment has now come. May He give me wherewith to pay, as He gave me cause to incur the debt. For He has given me the love, of which it is said, “Owe no man anything, but to love one another.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 5.7
… they that have it not, are not born of God. A mighty token, a mighty distinction! Have what thou wilt; if this alone thou have not, it profiteth thee nothing: other things if thou have not, have this, and thou hast fulfilled the law. “For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law,” saith the apostle: and, “Charity is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 84.11
… For in Scripture and in many writers four virtues are described useful for life: prudence, by which we discern between good and evil; justice, by which we give each person his due, “owing no man anything,”
13:9
Tertullian † AD 220 The Five Books Against Marcion 5.14
… it rather repressed any attempt thereat by the fear of a recompense. Very properly, then, did he sum up the entire teaching of the Creator in this precept of His: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 167.16
… “for this, thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shall do no murder; thou shall not steal; thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Christian Doctrine 1.30
… “For this, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Enchiridion 121
… For it is from these that we hear this voice: The end of the commandment is charity, and God is love. Wherefore, all God’s commandments, one of which is, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 15.4
… "For thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is contained in this word, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter 29
… and if there be any other commandment,”—such, of course, as was written on those tables,—“it is briefly comprehended,” says he, “in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter 36
… for instance, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” “Thou shalt do no murder,” “Thou shalt not covet,” “and whatsoever other commandment is briefly comprehended in the saying, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself.”
13:10
St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 4.12.2
… but He would undoubtedly have endeavoured by all means to bring down a greater one than this from the perfect Father, so as not to make use of that which had been given by the God of the law. And Paul in like manner declares, “Love is the fulfilling of the law:”
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Letters 92.1
… The fame of our condition has travelled to the ends of the earth, and you are not ignorant of it; nor are you without sympathy with brethren of like mind with yourselves, for you are disciples of the apostle, who teaches us that love for our neighbour is the fulfilling of the law.
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Letters 204.1
… The greatest and first is this, our Lord’s command, pointedly saying, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.” ] Again, the apostle clearly sets before us the good of charity where he tells us that love is the fulfilling of the law;
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Letters 227
What is so goodly and honourable before God and men as perfect love, which, as we are told by the wise teacher, is the fulfilling of the law?
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Treatise Concerning the Christian Priesthood 2.5
… And now the first question I wish to ask of you is this: do you know how great the power of love is? For omitting all the miracles which were to be wrought by the apostles, Christ said, “Hereby shall men know that ye are my disciples if ye love one another,” and Paul said that it was the fulfilling of the law,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 23
Ver. 10 . “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Ephesians 9
… And this indeed, that love springs from virtue, appears from hence, because our Lord when He saith, “because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold,” plainly tells us this. And that virtue springs from love, Paul tells us, saying, “He that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on 2 Timothy 7
… No envy, no calumny is there, where there is genuine love. We not only do not slander our friends, but we stop the mouth of slanderers. All is gentleness and mildness. Not a trace of strife and contention appears. Everything breathes peace. For “Love,” it is said, “is this fulfilling of the law.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 77
… For at one time He said, “On this the Law and the Prophets hang” ( Matt. xxii. 40 ); and at another, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” ( Matt. vii. 12 .) And, “Love is the fulfilling of the Law.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 19
[4.] This then let us “confirm” towards each other. “For love is the fulfilling of the law.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 55.38
… For there is no holy mystery, and no difficult passage of the word of God, in which, when it is opened up to me, I do not find these same commandments: for “the end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned;” and “love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 82.20
… to the law the apostle here pronounces to be the cause of their own condemnation, are those whom the law brings in guilty, as not fulfilling its requirements, and who, not understanding the efficacy of free grace, rely with self-satisfied presumption on their own strength to enable them to keep the law of God; for “love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 145.3
… But by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, so that the words of the same apostle, “Love is the fulfilling of the law,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 167.11
… Moreover, Job has shown, what is that useful knowledge by defining it where, after saying, “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom” he adds “and to depart from evil, that is understanding.” Why do we not then say that the man who has this virtue has all virtues, since “love is the fulfilling of the law?”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 188.13
… man are in any respect to be reckoned good, since “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” He affirms that God distributes to every man, and that we receive divine assistance to live piously and justly, not only by the revelation of that knowledge which without charity “puffeth up,” but by our being inspired with that “love which is the fulfilling of the law,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 189.2
… “For this is the love which,” as the apostle says, “is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.” This is “the fulfilling of the law;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 21.25
… For, while they continue in such things to the very end of life, they cannot be said to abide in Christ to the end; for to abide in Him is to abide in the faith of Christ. And this faith, according to the apostle’s definition of it, “worketh by love.” And “love,” as he elsewhere says, “worketh no evil.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Catechising of the Uninstructed 4
7. Moreover, what greater reason is apparent for the advent of the Lord than that God might show His love in us, commending it powerfully, inasmuch as “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”? And furthermore, this is with the intent that, inasmuch as charity is “the end of the commandment,” and “the fulfilling of the law,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Morals of the Catholic Church 26
50. Hear also what Paul says: "The love of our neighbor," he says, "worketh no ill."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 17.6
… From this Faustus argues that there can be no fulfillment of what is spoken of as so perfect that nothing can be added to it or taken from it. Faustus requires to be told that the law is fulfilled by living as it enjoins. "Love is the fulfilling of the law,"
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 3.19
… For He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill. But the fulfilling of the law is love.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter 36
What then is God’s law written by God Himself in the hearts of men, but the very presence of the Holy Spirit, who is “the finger of God,” and by whose presence is shed abroad in our hearts the love which is the fulfilling of the law,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter 46
… shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?” And therefore in the house of the true Israel, in which is no guile, they are partakers of the new testament, since God puts His laws into their mind, and writes them in their hearts with his own finger, the Holy Ghost, by whom is shed abroad in them the love which is the” fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Nature and Grace 18
… Whereas the fulfilling of the law is nothing else than love;
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Nature and Grace 83
… But he possesses love if he does what is there enjoined on Israel, by returning to the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul. “A new commandment,” says He, “do I give unto you, that ye love one another;” and “He that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law;” and again, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness 8
… for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Full righteousness, therefore, will only then be reached, when fulness of health is attained; and this fulness of health shall be when there is fulness of love, for “love is the fulfilling of the law;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness 21
He next quotes passages to show that God’s commandments are not grievous. But who can be ignorant of the fact that, since the generic commandment is love (for “the end of the commandment is love,” and “love is the fulfilling of the law”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin 1.10
What object, then, can this man gain by accounting the law and the teaching to be the grace whereby we are helped to work righteousness? For, in order that it may help much, it must help us to feel our need of grace. No man, indeed, is able to fulfil the law through the law. “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount 1.5
… Neither let schismatics promise themselves anything of that reward; for similarly, where there is no love, there cannot be righteousness, for “love worketh no ill to his neighbour;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount 2.13
… with a heavenly intent, having that end of love in view; for love is also the fulfilling of the law.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 75.10
10. Now who is he that fulfilleth the Law, but he that hath charity? Ask the Apostle, “Charity is the fulfilling of the Law.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 26.1
… A righteousness wrought of their own strength on which they presumed, and so declared themselves as if they were fulfillers of the law by their own virtue. But no man fulfills the law but he whom grace assists, that is, whom the bread that cometh down from heaven assists. “For the fulfilling of the law,” as the apostle says in brief, “is charity.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 83.3
… yet it is here declared to be the greatest only, and not the sole one. Accordingly, what a host of commandments are given us about faith, what a multitude about hope! who is there that could collect them together, or suffice to number them? But let us ponder the words of the same apostle: “Love is the fullness of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 10.5
… the coat, so as to be complete. Therefore in this sense take ye also this word, end, when the Psalm is read and ye hear it said, “On the end, a Psalm of David.” Ye are for ever hearing this in the Psalms, and ye should know what ye hear. What meaneth, “On the end”?—“For Christ is the end of the law unto every one that believeth.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 12.3
3. “He hath talked vanity each man to his neighbour” ( ver. 2 ). By neighbour we must understand every man: for that there is no one with whom we should work evil; “and the love of our neighbour worketh no evil.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 18.11
11. “And He mounted above the cherubim, and did fly” ( ver. 10 ). And He was exalted above the fulness of knowledge, that no man should come to Him but by love: for “love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 80.2
… yet, if thou wilt, thou wilt be Cherubin. For if Cherubin is the seat of God, hear what saith the Scripture: “The soul of a just man is the seat of wisdom.” How, thou sayest, shall I be the fulness of knowledge? Who shall fulfil this? Thou hast the means of fulfilling it: “The fulness of the Law is love.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 90.17
… The meaning of this verse, if we are to expound it, appears to me this, that all our good works are one work of love: for love is the fulfilling of the Law.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.3
… Be not disturbed; it is briefly told thee what thou hast, if thou dost wish to have the fulness of knowledge, and to become the throne of God: for the Apostle saith, “Love is the fulfilling of the Law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 119.6
… but this is not, “unto age, and age of age.” For it is better thus translated than as some copies have, “to eternity, and to age of age,” since they could not say, and to eternity of eternity. That law therefore should be understood, of which the Apostle saith, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 144.7
… But lest thou shouldest think that grace departeth from the law, whereas rather by grace the law is fulfilled, “upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing unto Thee.” Upon the law of ten commandments: therein may I sing to Thee; therein may I rejoice to Thee; therein may “I sing to Thee a new song;” for, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Early Popes (Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals) The Epistles of Pope Fabian 2.2
… neither ought there ever to be such among their followers or among believers: for the Lord says, “Do not that to another which thou wouldst not have done to thyself.” And He says also, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;” and,” Love worketh no ill to his neighbour.”
13:11
Aphrahat † AD 346 Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations 6.1
1. Expedient is the word that I speak and worthy of acceptance:— Let us now awake from our sleep ,
St Basil the Great † AD 379 De Spiritu Sancto 10
… How else could we be? And after recognising that this salvation is established through the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, shall we fling away “that form of doctrine” which we received? Would it not rather be ground for great groaning if we are found now further off from our salvation “than when we first believed,”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 12
For not only from the greatness of the blessings and His loving kindness, but also from the shortness of the time he urgeth them continually. Wherefore he saith also elsewhere, “For now is our salvation nearer.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 1
[2.] Well also said he, “at the end of the days,” for by this he both stirs them up and encourages them desponding of the future. For as he says also in another place, “The Lord is at hand, be careful for nothing” ( Philip. iv. 5, 6 ), and again, “For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 19
… Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” And again in other places, “The Lord is at hand; be careful for nothing.” ( Philip. iv. 5, 6 .) “For now is our salvation nearer: Henceforth the time is short.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 21
He then also hinting this, what does he say? ( Ver. 37 ) “Yet a little while and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” For lest they should say, And when will He come? He comforts them from the Scriptures. For thus also when he says in another place, “Now is our salvation nearer” (
St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 1.37
… that we may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. It follows that what He merely permits is neither good, nor acceptable, nor perfect. And he gives his reasons for this advice:
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 13.18
… because “old things have passed away,” and “behold all things are become new;” and “because our salvation is nearer than when we believed;”
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.39
… Hence it is said to the blessed Job, Who hath given understanding unto the cock? ( Job xxxviii. 36 ). For a holy preacher, crying aloud in time of darkness, is as the cock crowing in the night, when he says, It is even now the hour for us to arise from sleep (
13:12
Tertullian † AD 220 On Modesty 7
… albeit it had been “lost” in a house, as it were in the church; albeit “found” by aid of a “lamp,” as it were by aid of God’s word. Nay, but this whole world is the one house of all; in which world it is more the heathen, who is found in darkness, whom the grace of God enlightens, than the Christian, who is already in God’s light.
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on Matthew 11.6
… against the father of darkness and wickedness, the second watch against his son “who opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or thing that is worshipped,” and the third watch against the spirit that is opposed to the Holy Spirit, then we believe that when the fourth watch impendeth, when “the night is far spent, and the day is at hand,”
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on Matthew 12.37
… for before them is Jesus transfigured, and not to any one of those below. But when He is transfigured, His face also shines as the sun, that He may be manifested to the children of light, who have put off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light,
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On Jealousy and Envy 10
… let us therefore cast away the works of darkness, and let us put upon us the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in lusts and wantonness, not in strifes and jealousy.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 10
… But even if it were further off, we ought not even so to be emboldened, for the term of each man’s life is the end of the world virtually to him that is summoned. But that it is even at the doors, hear Paul saying, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand;”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14
… and we take not thought of the devil’s cunning, who by little things bereaves us of those great ones, and gives us clay that he may snatch from us gold, or rather that he may snatch Heaven from us, and showeth us a shadow that he may dispossess us of the reality, and puts phantoms before us in dreams (for such is the wealth of this world), that at daybreak
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 24
… and what is that which he says, “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep?” It is, that near is the Resurrection, near the awful Judgment, and the day that burneth as a furnace, near. Henceforward then we must be free from our listlessness; “for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 56
[3.] As also He said to others, “Believe while the light is with you.” ( c. xii. 36 .) Wherefore then did Paul call this life “night” and that other “day”? Not opposing Christ, but saying the same thing, if not in words yet in sense; for he also saith, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” (
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 60.6
6. Let me come then to my proper subject. I will not beat my breast with Jacob and with David for sons dying in the Law, but I will receive them rising again with Christ in the Gospel. The Jew’s mourning is the Christian’s joy. “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.” “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Christian Doctrine 4.20
… let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 35.8
… as the apostle says, “For ye were once darkness, but now light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” and he says elsewhere, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast away the works of darkness, and put on us the armor of light; let us walk honestly as in the day.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 7.19
… But now that sins are signified by darkness, so is it seen in the Prophet, who says, “And thy darkness shall be as the noon day:” and in the Apostle, who says, “He that hateth his brother is in darkness:” and above all that text, “Let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
13:13
Tertullian † AD 220 On Fasting 9
… It is not probable that a man should sacrifice to God half his appetite; temperate in waters, and intemperate in meats. Whether, moreover, the apostle had any acquaintance with xerophagies—(the apostle) who had repeatedly practised greater rigours, “hunger, and thirst, and fasts many,” who had forbidden “drunkennesses and revellings”
Tertullian † AD 220 On Fasting 17
… but of greater account is “love,” because that is the means whereby your young men sleep with their sisters! Appendages, as we all know, of appetite are lasciviousness and voluptuousness. Which alliance the apostle withal was aware of; and hence, after premising, “Not in drunkenness and revels,” he adjoined, “nor in couches and lusts.”
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on Matthew 12.37
… But when He is transfigured, His face also shines as the sun, that He may be manifested to the children of light, who have put off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, and are no longer the children of darkness or night, but have become the sons of day, and walk honestly as in the day;
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Hexæmeron 2.8
… May the Father of the true light, Who has adorned day with celestial light, Who has made the fire to shine which illuminates us during the night, Who reserves for us in the peace of a future age a spiritual and everlasting light, enlighten your hearts in the knowledge of truth, keep you from stumbling, and grant that “you may walk honestly as in the day.”
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 38
… let us not feast the eye, nor enchant the ear with music, nor enervate the nostrils with perfume, nor prostitute the taste, nor indulge the touch, those roads that are so prone to evil and entrances for sin; let us not be effeminate in clothing soft and flowing, whose beauty consists in its uselessness, nor with the glittering of gems or the sheen of gold
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 40
… that is, let us be made a quickening power to others. Let us lay hold of the Godhead; let us lay hold of the First and Brightest Light. Let us walk towards Him shining, before our feet stumble upon dark and hostile mountains. While it is day let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness,
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Duties of the Clergy 1.45
230. In our writings this is put somewhat more plainly. For David says: “The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with splendour.” And the Apostle says: “Walk honestly as in the day.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 5
Let us then not sleep. This is not the season of night, but of day. Let us therefore “walk honestly as in the day” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 8.12
… for there had I put down the volume of the apostles, when I rose thence. I grasped, opened, and in silence read that paragraph on which my eyes first fell,—“Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 22.2
… The words of the chosen vessel are these: “Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 22.7
… For to this pertains that word, “Let no man despise thy youth;” while he who said this says also in another place, “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 63.12
… Whosoever worketh evil things, in the night he worketh, not in the dawn; according to the Apostle, saying, “They that are drunken, in the night are drunken; and they that sleep, in the night do sleep; let us that are of the day, be sober.” He exhorteth us that after the day we should walk honestly: “As in the day, honestly let us walk.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 119.12
91. “Day continueth according to Thy ordinance” ( ver. 91 ). For all these things are day: “and this is the day which the Lord hath made: let us rejoice and be glad in it:” and “let us walk honestly as in the day.”
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.19
… 35 ). Let the latter hear, Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man ( Matth. xv. 11 ). Let the former hear, Meat for the belly, and the belly far meats; but God shall destroy both it and them ( 1 Cor. vi. 13 ). And again, Not in rioting and drunkenness (
13:14
St Ignatius of Antioch † AD 108 Epistle to the Tarsians 8
… Be ye sober. Lay aside, every one of you, all malice and beast-like fury, evil-speaking, calumny, filthy speaking, ribaldry, whispering, arrogance, drunkenness, lust, avarice, vainglory, envy, and everything akin to these. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Tertullian † AD 220 On Monogamy 17
… There are, too, who may judge us on the ground of absolute continence: the virgins of Vesta, and of the Achaian Juno, and of the Scythian Diana, and of the Pythian Apollo. On the ground of continence the priests likewise of the famous Egyptian bull will judge the “infirmity” of Christians. Blush, O flesh, who hast “put on”
Origen † AD 254 Origen De Principiis 2.3.2
… And do not be surprised if we speak of a perfect soul as the clothing of the body (which, on account of the Word of God and His wisdom, is now named incorruption), when Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Lord and Creator of the soul, is said to be the clothing of the saints, according to the language of the apostle, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 4
… And God is no longer known only in Judæa, but in all the earth, ‘their voice hath gone forth, and the knowledge of Him hath filled all the earth .’ What follows, my beloved, is obvious; that we should approach such a feast, not with filthy raiment, but having clothed our minds with pure garments. For we need in this to put on our Lord Jesus
St Gregory of Nyssa † AD 395 Against Eunomius 2.10
… we are taught that this “new man” was created —albeit of the Holy Ghost and of the power of the Highest—whom Paul, the hierophant of unspeakable mysteries, bids us to “put on,” using two phrases to express the garment that is to be put on, saying in one place, “Put on the new man which after God is created ,” and in another, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ
St Gregory of Nyssa † AD 395 Against Eunomius 3.2
… For the first way being destroyed, there must needs again be consecrated for the wanderers a new and living way , even I myself, Who am the way.” And this view, that the sense of “created me” has reference to the Humanity, the divine apostle more clearly sets before us by his own words when he charges us, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Exposition of the Christian Faith 3.1.5
5. But if the poet judged the enticement of worldly pleasure and licence destructive of men’s minds and a sure cause of shipwreck, what ought we to think, for whom it hath been written: “Train not the flesh in concupiscence”?
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch 11.15
15. That ye are desirous, indeed, to be rid of this impiety, I know well; but since each man may not be able easily to accomplish this by himself, let us enter into fraternities and partnerships in this matter; and as the poor do in their feasts,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 27
… vi. 12 .) For they fell over a precipice, in failing into luxury. “The widow,” he saith, “that liveth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth” ( 1 Tim. v. 6 ): and again, “The beloved waxed sleek, grew thick, and kicked” ( Deut. xxxii. 15 ): and again the Apostle, “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14
… And this he shows further on. For when he says, “Make not provision for the flesh,” he does not pause at this, but adds, “to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 24
Ver. 14 . “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Philippians 9
… 7 .); he then straightway adds, “And having food and covering, we shall be therewith content; but they that desire to be rich, fall into a temptation and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts.” ( 1 Tim. vi. 8, 9 .) You see that this is spoken to all; and how is it when he says again, “Make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Colossians 10
… I give thee not the regal ornaments, but I offer thee to put on the King Himself. And how can one put Christ on, doth any say? Hear Paul saying, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ, did put on Christ.” ( Gal. iii. 27 .) Hear the Apostolical precept, “Make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on 2 Timothy 1
… And if we see any one entering into a tavern indecently; nay, if we see him drunk, or guilty of any other unseemly action, we do not restrain him, we rather join him in it. Whence Paul has said: “They not only do these things, but have pleasure in them that do them.” ( Rom. i. 32 .) The greater part even form associations
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 1
… not as an actor of a play, not hiding his head with a mask, (for he hath another sort of words to speak,) nor mounting a platform, nor striking the stage with his foot, nor dressed out with apparel of gold, but he enters wearing a robe of inconceivable beauty. For he will appear before us having “put on Christ” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 7
[11.] What then are these things to us (one says) who are not monastics? Sayest thou this to me? Say it to Paul, when he says, “Watching with all perseverance and supplication” ( Eph. vi. 18 ), when he says, “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 13
Be not drunken, He says. For this very thing of itself, is it not a chastisement? He did not say, Put thy body on the rack, but what? Do not give it free rein so as to take away the authority of the mind: on the contrary “make not provision for the lusts thereof.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 29
[7.] Let us not then fatten the body, but listen to Paul saying, “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof,” (
St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 2.6
… Hence also the Apostle says: “When I am weak, then am I strong.” And “Though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.” And “I have the desire to depart and be with Christ.” And,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 130.7
… For the apostle himself says, “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Morals of the Manichæans 14
31. But, you reply, the apostle says, "It is good, brethren, neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine." No one denies that this is good, provided that it is for the end already mentioned, of which it is said, "Make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof;"
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 119.11
… and hence it ariseth that the righteousnesses of God do not slip from the memory, as long as we do not meditate apart from them; since what the Apostle saith is brought to pass: “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults 1.9
… And this we shall thus fulfil if, as the Apostle advises, we “make not provision for the flesh with its lusts.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults 5.8
… For even if one is weak in body, he can attain to a perfect virtue and one equal to that of those who are thoroughly strong and healthy, if with firmness of mind he keeps a check upon the desires and lusts which are not due to weakness of the flesh. For the Apostle says: “And take not care for the flesh in its lusts.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults 10.21
… “Every sluggard shall be clothed in torn garments and rags.” For certainly he will not merit to be adorned with that garment of incorruption (of which the Apostle says, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 5.19
… For the liking for delicacies and dainties will live on as something natural and innate in us, even though we take pains to cut off all superfluous appetites and desires, which, as they cannot be altogether destroyed, ought to be shunned and avoided. For of these we read “Take no care for the flesh with its desires.”
Theodoret of Cyrus † AD 458 Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, Bishop of Cyprus 147
… of the law, being made a curse for us,” and elsewhere “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized unto Jesus Christ were baptized into His death,” and in another place, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” and again “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof.”
Pope St Leo I the Great † AD 461 Sermons 71
… And so, when the Apostle says, “make not provision for the flesh in the lusts thereof
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 Register of the Epistles of St. Gregory the Great 13.1
… But if it is for bodily need, neither on the Lord’s day do we forbid it. For it is written, No man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth it and cherisheth it ( Ephes. v. 29 ). And again it is written, Make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof (
Pseudo-Clement The First Epistle of the Blessed Clement, the Disciple of Peter the Apostle 7
Those, therefore, who imitate Christ, imitate Him earnestly. For those who have “put on Christ”
13:1
1. LET EVERY SOUL (every man) BE SUBJECT TO THE HIGHER POWERS (that is, to princes and magistrates who are endowed with the power of ruling and commanding; for the abstract is put for the concrete, powers, that is, those endowed with power), — namely in those matters in which that higher and superior power is, and has right and jurisdiction, for example in temporal matters, let it be subject to the king and to civil power, which the Apostle properly intends here: for by power he understands civil power; but in spiritual matters let it be subject to Prelates, Bishops and the Pontiff. Note: For higher powers, in Greek it is ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις, supereminent or excellent powers, as Our author renders it in I Peter II: "Whether to the king as excelling." The Syrian renders it, powers endowed with dignity, that is, secular magistrates, who are endowed with the power of ruling, whether dukes, or governors, or Consuls, Praetors, etc. That the Apostle here understands secular magistrates is evident, because tributes and taxes are paid to these, which he himself commands to be paid to these powers, verse 7. Thus St. Basil, On the Constitution of Monasteries, cap. XXIII. A note from Clement of Alexandria, lib. IV of the Stromata, and St. Augustine on Psalm CXVIII, section 31: At the beginning of the Church, namely in the time of Christ and Paul, the rumor of objectors was that through the Gospel human polities, kingdoms and secular republics would be overthrown, as is now done by heretics claiming the freedom of the Gospel: whence Christ teaches the contrary and earnestly inculcates it, when he pays the didrachma, and when he commanded that to Caesar be rendered the things that are Caesar's, and the Apostles do likewise, and this lest the Christian religion be brought into hatred, and lest Christians abuse the freedom of faith for all wickedness. This rumor arose from the sect of Judas and the Galileans, of which in Acts V, at the end, who in defense of their freedom rejected all dominion of Caesar and tax, even with death proposed, concerning which Josephus, lib. XVIII of the Antiquities, I. Which sect flourished long among the Jews, and so much so that Christ and the Apostles were suspected of it, because they were Galileans by origin, and preachers of new things. These Galileans were followed by all the Jews, and in fact they rebelled against the Romans, saying that the people of God, being free, ought not to be subject and enslaved to the infidel Romans; and therefore they were destroyed by Titus. Hence also the same calumny was derived to Christians, who were by origin and were held to be Jews: whence the Apostles, in order to remove it, often teach that honor and tribute ought to be given to princes. Wherefore the Apostle here proves by eight arguments that obedience is owed to princes and magistrates. The first is in this verse: Because this is the ordinance of God and a divine precept. The second, verse 4: Because they are ministers of God, they exercise the place of God: therefore to them as to God's vicars reverence and obedience ought to be shown. The third, in the same verse: Because they bear the sword, to punish the disobedient. The fourth, verse 5: Because one must obey them on account of conscience: for this will become guilty of sin, if you are disobedient to them. The fifth, verse 2: Because God threatens damnation to those who resist them. St. Augustine on that passage of Psalm CXVIII, "At thy words my heart was afraid": "Princes," he says, "had their words: I kill, I proscribe, I send into exile. But these cannot be compared to this: He can send both body and soul into hell; on account of this at thy words my heart was afraid." Now it is the word and precept of God that we obey magistrates, even secular ones, under the penalty of damnation. The sixth, verse 6: Because this subjection and obedience are indicated by tributes, which subjects pay to magistrates: for by these tributes they testify and profess that they are subject to them. The seventh, verse 8: Because Christian charity demands this, namely, that we love each one according to his degree and manner: equals by loving as equals, superiors by reverencing as superiors and obeying them. The eighth, verses 13 and 14: Because Christian law is strict, it forbids revelries and lusts, it commands all discipline and holiness, so that we put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Much more therefore does it command obedience to the magistrate and to civil law, which regards only civil honesty and the common peace and concord of the republic. That this ought to be protected, and therefore that obedience is owed to magistrates, is dictated by the law of nature and the law of nations. By these reasons the Apostle proves that both the Gospel and Christianity do not overturn kingdoms and magistrates, but rather establish and strengthen them: because nothing so confirms kingdoms and princes as the good, Christian and holy life of their subjects. So much so that even now pagan princes of Japan and India love Christians, and grant them the opportunity to receive baptism and to embrace Christianity; because they experience Christian subjects to be more tractable and obedient than pagans, and their kingdoms to be more firmly established, pacified and flourishing through them. THERE IS NO POWER EXCEPT FROM GOD, that is to say, Principality and magistracy are not from the devil, nor from man alone, but from God and His divine ordinance and disposition they have been created and instituted: therefore obedience is owed to them. Note first: Secular power is from God mediately, because nature and right reason, which is from God, dictates and persuades men to place magistrates over the commonwealth, by whom they may be governed. But Ecclesiastical power is instituted immediately by God, because Christ Himself placed Peter and the Apostles over the Church. Note secondly: Nero, Diocletian, Domitian and others like them, who were legitimately created Emperors, although they ruled tyrannically, were nevertheless not tyrants, but true Emperors, and therefore received power from God, to whom all, even Christians, ought in conscience to obey: although they themselves abused this power against Christians, persecuting and killing them. Beautifully St. Augustine, book V of the City of God, chapter XXI: "Let us not ascribe," he says, "the power of giving kingdoms and empire to any save to the true God, who gives happiness in the kingdom of heaven to the pious alone, but gives the earthly kingdom to both pious and impious, as it pleases Him, to whom nothing displeases unjustly." And below: "He who gave it to Marius," he says, "gave it also to Caesar; He who gave it to Augustus gave it also to Nero; He who gave it to Vespasian or to his father or to his son, the most gracious Emperors, gave it also to Domitian the most cruel: and lest it be necessary to go through each one, He who gave it to Constantine the Christian gave it also to the Apostate Julian." BUT THE THINGS THAT ARE, ARE ORDAINED BY GOD. — Thus read the Roman, Greek and Syriac Bibles. In Greek αἱ δὲ οὖσαι is put for αἱ οὖσαι. The Apostle therefore says here first, that the powers even of the Gentiles, which are and exist, have been instituted and ordained by God, for this purpose namely, that they might restrain men from many sins, and that all might cultivate justice and peace, and not devour one another after the manner of fishes. Secondly, he asserts that these powers lack disorder, and are distributed and subordinated to one another in apt order by God, or under God: for the Greek ὑπὸ Θεοῦ signifies both. Thirdly, he affirms that this order of theirs is not merely instituted, but also commanded and sanctioned by God, so that it is not lawful to resist or oppose it. For the Greek τεταγμέναι, that is ordained, constituted, decreed, signifies not merely order, but also constitution, decree and command, and that stable and firm. These powers therefore are not ordained in the manner in which nature and the orders of natural things are created and ordained by God, for example, the appetite and societies of lions, wolves, bears, with which men must often do battle: but in the manner in which laws and sanctions are ordained, to which it is not lawful to resist: for magistracy is a certain living and holy law; just as conversely law is a magistracy indeed silent and mute. Or in the manner in which a commander arranges his soldiers: for he does not simply place them in order, but assigns to each his own place and duty, in which he must stand firm even unto death, from which no one except an enemy would dare to remove him. In like manner God, ordaining and subordinating these powers, assigns to each his own duty, to which no one, unless he wishes to be held an enemy of God, would dare to resist; so that their order and series is διάταξις, that is an ordinance, constitution and sanction firm and inviolable, to which all ought to listen and obey. Whence the Apostle, explaining this very thing, adds:
13:2
2. THEY THAT RESIST, PURCHASE TO THEMSELVES DAMNATION. — Damnation, both temporal from the power itself, and eternal from God in hell. Thus St. Chrysostom, Theophylactus, Oecumenius. Hence it is clear that it is a mortal sin to resist civil power. Thus St. Augustine, epistle 5, Ambrose, Bernard, book On Precept and Dispensation.
13:3
3. FOR PRINCES ARE NOT A TERROR (in Greek εἰς φόβον, are not into fear and terror) TO GOOD WORK, BUT TO EVIL. — Paul speaks of fear of punishment, not of reverence, which the common people call reverential fear. For the good have this, not the evil. WILT THOU NOT BE AFRAID OF THE POWER? DO THAT WHICH IS GOOD, AND THOU SHALL HAVE PRAISE FROM THE SAME. — Both because the punishment of the wicked which the magistrate inflicts is praise for the good; and because the same magistrate praises and rewards the good. Beautifully St. Gregory of Nazianzus, oration 17: "You hold empire with Christ, you administer this office with Christ: you have received the sword from Him, not so much that you should use it as that you should threaten and terrify: wherefore you must see to it that you keep it as a certain gift, pure and whole, to Him who gave it."
13:4
4. GOD'S MINISTER IS FOR YOUR GOOD, — so that he may provoke you to good things by law, praises and rewards, and may protect you against the impious and violent. IF YOU DO EVIL, FEAR: FOR HE DOES NOT BEAR THE SWORD WITHOUT CAUSE. — For the sword signifies that the magistrate has the power of life and death. For this reason, a naked sword is carried before those who have supreme power, and the Roman Consuls had lictors with bundles of rods and axes preceding them. FOR HE IS GOD'S MINISTER, AN AVENGER TO WRATH, — namely to wrath, that is, to exact punishment from evildoers. For the magistrate is instituted for this purpose, that he may preserve public peace and protect the honesty and society of common life; and therefore he punishes those who disturb it. By metonymy, wrath here signifies punishment, because punishment is the effect of wrath and vengeance.
13:5
5. THEREFORE BE SUBJECT BY NECESSITY (some read, to necessity); — that is to say, therefore it is necessary, therefore you ought to be subject to authority. Thus the Syriac and Greek versions, namely both on account of wrath, vengeance and the sword, which he bears and threatens; and on account of the obligation and divine ordinance, which also binds conscience to this subjection: whence follows: NOT ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF WRATH, BUT ALSO ON ACCOUNT OF CONSCIENCE. — Conscience not of others, whom you offend by scandal, as some recent interpreters explain; nor yet on account of conscience of benefits, which you receive from magistrates protecting public peace, and on account of which you pay taxes, as the Greek interpreters expound: but properly on account of your own conscience, lest namely it become guilty of disobedience before God. For the magistrate is God's minister, as has been said before. Whence conscience dictates that obedience is owed to him as to God's minister, and consequently he who does not obey him sins against God. Note from this passage against Gerson, that ecclesiastical laws, and against Almain, that civil laws, even of the Gentiles, impious and infidel princes, apart also from scandal, bind in conscience under mortal sin, if a grave matter is commanded by them with grave obligation or threat. For the Apostle speaks of the laws of the Roman Emperors, who were then infidels.
13:6
6. THEREFORE ALSO YOU PAY TAXES. — It is a new argument from a sign, by which Paul proves that obedience is owed to magistrates, that is to say, The tax, which you, O faithful, give and pay to kings and princes, is a sign both of your subjection and of their power, ministry, burden, and watchful labor. THEY ARE GOD'S MINISTERS, SERVING FOR THIS VERY THING, — wholly namely attending to this very thing. For the Greek προσκαρτεροῦντες, which St. Augustine, in book IV of On Christian Doctrine, chapter XXIX, translates as persevering, signifies continuous, diligent and intense care, so that they may be in the place of God for the protection of the good, for the vengeance of the wicked, and so that they may draw back those subject to them from evils, and advance them to virtues. Let princes note here that they are fed and hired by the republic with taxes, as it were with a wage, so that they may serve it and defend it.
13:7
7. RENDER TO ALL THEIR DEBTS: TO WHOM TRIBUTE (is owed), TRIBUTE (render); TO WHOM CUSTOM (is owed), CUSTOM (render). — Tribute, in Greek φόρος, is a tax or census of property and persons. Whence also in Latin tribute is said from tributing, or contributing. Custom, in Greek τέλος, is that which is paid for goods imported or exported. Thus from Strabo according to Budaeus. Whence in Latin custom is said from carrying, because it is paid from those things which are brought in or carried out, for the security and restoration of roads, bridges, embankments, etc. TO WHOM FEAR (is owed, to him render) FEAR, — that is, reverence, and thence the consequent obedience. Thus St. Chrysostom and Theophylactus. It is a metalepsis. Thus elsewhere it is often said: "Fear the Lord," that is, revere the Lord.
13:8
8. OWE NO MAN ANY THING, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER — that is to say, Pay your debts promptly, free yourselves immediately from all debts, except the debt of charity, which can never be paid off, both toward equals and toward Superiors and parents, whom you ought always to love, honoring and obeying them. For this debt always remains, so that you are never so much in the position of having paid it that some debt does not still remain outstanding. Thus St. Chrysostom, Augustine and Fulgentius, sermon On Charity. Hear St. Augustine, epistle 62 to Celestine: "Always," he says, "I owe charity, which alone even when repaid keeps the debtor bound." And again: "Mutual charity I gladly repay and joyfully receive; what I receive, I still seek to repay; what I repay, I still owe." Therefore the Anabaptists and Trinitarians have nothing here by which to abolish magistrates and judges and courts among Christians, by which the debts of civil justice are recovered. For charity and the debt of charity dictate that the debt of justice must be paid first of all, if there be any, as I have already explained; for otherwise this verse would overturn all the preceding verses, by which the Apostle sanctioned and confirmed civil power, judges and courts. HE THAT LOVETH HIS NEIGHBOUR, HATH FULFILLED THE LAW. — "The law," namely that which concerns the neighbour, which the Apostle subjoins, saying: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Note: For "neighbour," here in Greek it is τὸν ἕτερον, that is, the other. By the law of charity, therefore, every other man is to be loved, whether he be friend or enemy; whether domestic or foreign; whether faithful or unfaithful. That this is so is evident from the fact that to steal, kill, or covet the property of any barbarian or pagan is against the law of charity of the second table, which concerns the neighbour and the social life of men. That this is the genuine sense of this passage is evident from the reason which the Apostle subjoins, when he says:
13:9
9. For: Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is comprised in this word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. — You see how here he recounts only the precepts of the second table which concern the neighbour, and asserts that all of them are concluded in the one precept of love of neighbour. Since therefore he leaves it to be inferred from this that "he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law," there is no doubt that he understands the same law, namely only the second table, which concerns the neighbour: for he speaks of the same law in the consequent as he spoke of in the antecedent. Secondly, however, St. Augustine, book VIII of On the Trinity, chapter VIII, explains it thus: "He who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law;" the law, namely the whole of both the first and the second table. And the reason is, because the love of neighbour includes and presupposes the love of God, as its cause and source. For the neighbour is to be loved on account of God; the neighbour therefore cannot be truly loved by charity unless at the same time, indeed first, God is loved. Whence St. John the Elder preached this alone through all his exhortations: "Little children, love one another;" when asked the reason, he replied: "Because it is the commandment of the Lord; and if this alone be done, it suffices." St. Jerome is witness to this, in chapter VI of the epistle to the Galatians. By a beautiful similitude of circle and centre, Blessed Dorotheus declares the same thing, volume III of the Library of the Holy Fathers, doctrine 6, at the end: The circle, he says, is the world, the centre is God, the lines drawn from the circumference to the centre signify the various inclinations, actions and loves of man; just as therefore the lines, the more they are distant from the circumference and the more they approach the centre, the more they approach one another, and finally meet in the centre: so our love, the more it is drawn away from the flesh and the world, and the more it approaches God, the more it also approaches the neighbour, and finally meets and is united in God himself. "For the more," he says, "we recede from the love of God, the more we are also distant from the love of the neighbour: but as much as we adhere to the charity of God, so much also to the neighbour; and as much as to the neighbour, so much also are we joined to God." Likewise most excellently St. Augustine, in tractate 7 on the first epistle of St. John: "Once," he says, "a brief commandment is given to you: Love, and do what you will, whether you be silent, be silent in love; whether you cry out, cry out in love; whether you correct, correct in love; whether you spare, spare in love: let the root of love be within, nothing but good can come forth from this root." The same, book I of On Christian Doctrine, XXII: "But when," he says, "with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, with thy whole mind, he left no part of our life which ought to be empty, and as it were to give place, as if he wished to enjoy something else; but whatever else comes to mind to be loved, let it be carried there, where the whole impulse of love runs: whoever therefore rightly loves his neighbour, ought to do this with him, that he himself also love God with his whole heart, with his whole soul, with his whole mind. For thus loving him as himself, he refers the whole love of himself and of him to that love of God, which permits no stream to be drawn from itself outside itself, by the diversion of which it might be diminished." AND IF THERE BE ANY OTHER COMMANDMENT. — "Any other;" namely of the second table touching the neighbour; Paul here omits the first commandment of the second table, namely: Honour thy father and mother; and he does this because he has hitherto treated of the duty concerning the honour of parents, namely Superiors, whom we ought to honour as parents. IT IS COMPRISED IN THIS WORD (instauratur). — St. Augustine, epistle 29, reads, is recapitulated, that is, is comprehended in summary, for this is the Greek ἀνακεφαλαιοῦται, is brought back to the head, to the sum, to the compendium. And this perhaps Ambrose wished to convey in translating, is consummated: our Interpreter understands the same thing, when he translates, is comprised. For thus in Ephesians I, 10, he translates the same Greek word, and says that all things are comprised in Christ, both those which are in heaven and those which are on earth; because namely all these things are brought back to Christ, as it were to their head. Although Salmeron thinks that our Interpreter here read in the Greek ἀνακαινοῦται, that is, is comprised, is renewed, from the verb κενόω. Rightly, says Tertullian, book V Against Marcion, chapter XIV, he concluded the whole discipline of the Creator in its principal precept: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. — The Apostle cites Leviticus XIX, 18, where it is written: "Thou shalt love thy friend as thyself." From which place the Jews by a contrary sense were collecting and inferring: therefore enemies are to be hated, as Christ relates in Matthew V, 43. But that inference is altogether invalid: for neither does the consequence hold, nor is the antecedent true, as they understood it. For friend does not signify here one who is well-disposed toward us, but every neighbor. This is evident from the Septuagint, which renders τὸν πλησίον, that is, neighbor; and from the Chaldee, which renders חברך chabrach, that is, thy companion. Thus also the Hebrew רע rea signifies not only a friend properly so called, but also by a metaphor customary among the Hebrews, is transferred to him who is joined to us in any way whatsoever, or with whom any matter of business passes between us. But such is every man; for at the very least every man is friend and joined to every other by common creation and likeness to God, as also by common origin from the first parent, common redemption, common Church and Sacraments, common grace, charity, ordinance and course toward eternal life. Thus Augustine, Jerome and Theophylactus in Matthew V, 43. For that the love of enemies was commanded to the Jews is evident from Exodus XXIII, 4. Whence here St. Paul, verse 8, as I have said, renders this precept of Leviticus into Greek, ἀγαπήσεις τὸν ἕτερον, thou shalt love the other. Although Salmeron very probably thinks that for ἕτερον φίλον should be read. For thus the Hebrew, Septuagint and Chaldee have it, as I have already shown. Note: This precept, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," is explained by two things, first, by the affirmative, Matthew VII: "All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them." Second, by the negative, Tobias IV, 16: "Whatsoever thou hatest to be done to thee by another, see that thou dost not do to another." Whence it is evident that τὸ sicut does not signify equality of love (for by ordered charity man ought to love himself more than his neighbor), but likeness and manner, as if to say: Show to thy neighbor those offices of charity, and in that manner, which and how thou showest to thyself and desirest to be shown, especially that from charity thou lovest him with sincere love of friendship, not of concupiscence; that is, that thou wishest for thy neighbor the good that is honest, useful, pleasant, not because it is this for thee, but because it is this good and advantageous for him; just as thou desirest these same goods for thyself, not for another's sake, but for thy own good and advantage. Thus Cajetan. Thus τὸ sicut is understood in Deuteronomy XVIII, 13; John XVII, 21; Malachi III, 4.
13:10
10. LOVE OF NEIGHBOR WORKS NO EVIL, — indeed it works many good things, especially those already mentioned in verse 8 and thereafter: [charity] indeed fulfills the whole law, and preserves civil society and human intercourse, and procures for the neighbor the good things it can. It is a meiosis. THEREFORE THE FULLNESS OF THE LAW IS LOVE. — "Fullness," that is completion; the Syriac [version], fulfillment, as if to say. From what is said in verses 8 and thereafter it is clear that the total fulfillment and full observance of the law is love, and that he who loves his neighbor fulfills all those laws which concern the neighbor, and which rightly order us toward him. Thus also he who loves God fulfills the precepts of the first table, which concern God. Just as therefore hatred and the lack of charity is the dissolution of the whole law; so on the contrary charity is the principle, and the efficient and commanding cause, that all other laws may be fulfilled. It is an argument from proportion: If love of neighbor fulfills the law respecting the neighbor, therefore love simply fulfills the law; so that without it the law cannot be fulfilled at all, but with it and through it is wholly fulfilled, as St. Augustine often teaches and asserts from this and other places. Secondly, Toletus: "fullness," he says; that is the end and aim, "of the law is love:" the whole law intends to lead us to charity. Thirdly, "the fullness of the law is love," because charity impels man to fulfill the law perfectly; for he who lacks charity fulfills the law imperfectly, and often falls short of it and goes astray. Whence St. Augustine, in Sentences, no. 223: "The fullness," he says, "of the law is charity, because through charity the law is fulfilled, not through fear. For the commandments of justice are accomplished to the extent that the spirit of grace assists." Fourthly, "the fullness of the law is love," because he who fulfills the law from charity has merit; he who lacks it lacks both merit and reward. These expositions are true and moral; but the first which I have given is the literal, genuine one and from the mind of the Apostle. From this place note that the law is not fulfilled by faith alone, by believing, but besides faith there is required the work of charity, as the Apostle here explains himself; for he says: "The fullness of the law is," not faith, but "love." To this Pauline statement Aristotle agrees, book VIII of the Ethics, and after him Cicero, in the book On Friendship: "Friendship," he says, "holds cities together, and if men are friends, there is no need of justice: but if they are just, they need friendship; and what is most just pertains to friendship." And this is what St. Augustine says, in the book On Nature and Grace, VII: "Charity begun is justice begun; charity advanced is justice advanced; but charity from a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned." The same, book XV of the City of God, chapter XXII, thus says: "A brief and true definition of virtue is the order of love. Whence the Bride: He ordered," she says, "charity in me." The same, in the book On the Morals of the Church, chapter XV, wishes every virtue to be defined through charity, just as Socrates once defined all virtues through prudence. Saint Chrysostom also: "Charity," he says, "is the principle and end of virtues; it is the root, foundation and pinnacle." Hence first, Marcion erred, when from this place he argued thus against the Old Testament: The old moral law has altogether ceased, because charity is the fullness of the law: therefore that law is no longer necessary. He erred, I say, for charity is called the "fullness of the law," that is its completion, compendium, and, as Origen says, its epilogue: just as therefore an epilogue does not remove the preceding parts of the discourse, which rather it sums up; so also charity does not remove the law, but includes it. For the law is the object of charity, because charity inclines man to regard the law, as the rule of life, always and to fulfill it; the precepts of the law are therefore the precepts of charity. For love of God dictates that the precepts of the first table are to be kept, love of neighbor the precepts of the second. Secondly, from this place it is clear that our Novations err, who say that the law cannot be fulfilled in this life. For the Apostle does not exhort us here to fulfill the law, as if to some Platonic idea, or a future one in heaven, but as to a thing which we can accomplish in this life according to our weakness; for the complete and most full fulfillment of the law, so that you never sin even venially against the law, is not commanded here, but in the future. Thus the Council of Trent, session VI, canon 18.
13:11
11. AND THIS (namely what I have already said, let us perform) KNOWING THE TIME: BECAUSE IT IS NOW THE HOUR FOR US TO RISE FROM SLEEP. — "And this," is an emphasis, as if to say, Pay your debts, love your neighbors, as I have already said (for Paul here refers back to verse 8 and following), "and this knowing," that is, and this while we know, "the time," in Greek καιρόν, that is the opportunity, which the Gospel brings to us, namely for loving our neighbors, for paying all their debts, for fulfilling the whole law, is already at hand, and because it is now the time and hour to rise from the sleep of sins. Let us therefore use this time and this opportunity, while we have it: for soon we shall not have it. For, as the Poet sings: Opportunity has hair on her forehead, but is bald behind; so that after she has passed by, she cannot be grasped and recalled. BECAUSE IT IS NOW THE HOUR FOR US TO RISE FROM SLEEP. — "Hour," namely of the day, as if to say, Night, blindness, ignorance, dissimulation, excuse of infidelity and sins before Christ has passed away. Behold the time and opportunity, namely the hour of the day of grace, of faith and of the law of Christ is now at hand, in which Christ himself the sun has begun to scatter rays and light of faith throughout the world, with the darkness of errors driven away. Therefore it is time that we rise, in Greek ἐγερθῆναι, that we be aroused and awakened from the sleep of sins. Morally from this St. Chrysostom infers, homily 62 to the People: "We ought therefore," he says, "to be prepared and ready to sail forth from here, and to say: My heart is ready, O God; for we are in war in the world: the wicked walk about in a circle, sinners (as Christ shows in Matthew v), and finally from vices and sins, from which they could not be freed except by the rising of the sun, namely Christ the Lord, who has dispersed this night and illuminated all those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death." Otherwise St. Chrysostom explains this passage, as if Paul said: The more we grow in age, equally in faith and merits, the nearer we approach now to the end and to eternal beatitude than when we began to believe. For what else is our life than a race and a swift running toward death, and through death to immortality? Let us run therefore, our brothers, with swift running to this goal: for a great way remains for us, and the time of running is short.
13:12
12. THE NIGHT IS PASSED. — St. Cyprian, in the book On Zeal and Envy, and the Syriac translator render it, has passed away, and St. Jerome in Matthew xxvi reads, has gone by. The Greek προέκοψεν properly signifies has proceeded, as St. Augustine reads it in epistle 80, and thus St. Chrysostom and Theophylactus explain it. The interpreter of Origen, homily 35, renders it, has advanced, that is, has progressed, tends toward the end, and has almost already passed away. But all these come to the same thing and illuminate one another. Now the sense can be: First, the night of this life προέκοψεν, that is, has proceeded and tends toward the end, because the day draws near, namely of judgment and resurrection: therefore let us live honorably in fear and hope of it. Thus Athanasius in Questions to Antioch, Question XC; St. Chrysostom here; St. Augustine, epistle 80 to Hesychius, and St. Basil on chapter xiii of Isaiah. Second, St. Gregory, book XXIX of the Morals, chapter ii: "Night, he says, is the time before Christ, day is the day of resurrection, dawn is the time of the Gospel: this is nearer to day than to night: therefore salvation and day are nearer to us than to those who were before Christ." Third, Anselm and Origen: "Night, they say, is this life; day is life after death, which is nearer to each one the more death approaches by day." Fourth and best, night is the time before Christ, full of the darkness of infidelity and sins; day is the present time of the Gospel, in which the sun Christ spreads the rays of his light, that is, of his grace and faith, throughout the whole world, as if to say: Now that Christ is present and the light of the Gospel shines, the night of sins has departed; the day of grace, justice and salvation is at hand: therefore in this day we ought to cast off the works of darkness and walk honorably and live as Christians. Thus St. Cyprian, in the book On Zeal and Envy; Ambrose, on Psalm XLV; St. Augustine and Theodoret here. Note here: The Apostle speaks here generally and confusedly of those things which preceded Christ. Whence he has woven in here some things which are more fitting for Jews, others which are more fitting for Gentiles. The phrase τὸ credidimus is fitting for Jews; for almost only Jews believed and hoped for the coming Messiah. But the phrase τὸ nox praecessit is more fitting for Gentiles, namely the night of paganism, idolatry and all vices: although Jews too had their own night of ignorance, ceremonies, Judaism (which was as a veil of the new law) errors and Pharisaic traditions (as Christ showed in Matthew v). NOW INDEED (in the day and light of the Gospel) OUR SALVATION (justice and glory) IS NEARER (and present), THAN WHEN WE BELIEVED, — that is, than it was before the coming of Christ, when by faith alone we believed in and hoped for the absent Christ and grace and future salvation. That this is the sense is clear from what follows and precedes. LET US CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS, — namely sins, which seek darkness and flee the light of God and men; for, as the Poet says: Night and love and wine counsel nothing moderate; That lacks shame; The free man and lover, fear. And Job xxiv, 15: "The eye of the adulterer observes darkness, saying: No eye shall see me, and he covers his face: he digs through houses in darkness, as they had agreed with themselves in the day, and they knew not the light. If suddenly the dawn appears, they think it the shadow of death; and thus they walk in darkness as in light." Let us remember, brethren, that the time is short and judgment is at the doors. And below he urges this watchfulness by the example of a soldier, fisherman, farmer and shepherd, saying: "Vigilance is necessary, beloved; for even a soldier sleeps not in a bed but on the ground; a fisherman does not sleep while fishing, standing sometimes he spends the night; a farmer watches lest he see his property harmed; and a shepherd standing in the open air spends the night, guarding the flock, as Jacob said: I was consumed with heat and frost, and sleep fled from my eyes. And what was the reason for his watchfulness? lest any sheep be devoured by a beast. If therefore such care is taken for an irrational animal, what care ought to be taken for a rational soul? For this reason Jacob the worker placed a stone under his head while sleeping, so that he might more easily awake; whence he saw a ladder reaching to heaven. The Lord wishes us to be prepared, therefore he made our end uncertain, so that we might continually watch and fight." St. Augustine also beautifully explains this, from whom we ought to seek this vigilance by which we awake from this sleep, in that passage of Psalm LXII, O God, my God, to thee do I watch from the light: "What is it," he says, "to watch? Surely not to sleep; what is it to sleep? There is a sleep of the soul and there is a sleep of the body; the sleep of the body we all ought to have, otherwise man fails." And further on: "But we ought to beware lest our very soul itself sleep: for the sleep of the soul is evil. The sleep of the soul is to forget one's God. Whatever soul shall have forgotten its God, has slept. Your life and your conduct ought to watch in Christ, so that others, the Gentiles sleeping, may feel it, and at the sound of your vigils may themselves be awakened, shake off sleep, and begin to say with you in Christ: O God, my God, to thee do I watch from the light." Concerning this hour see what is said I Corinthians vii, 29, and Ephesians v, 15. LET US PUT ON THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT. — "The armour of light" are the works of faith, grace and virtues, by which as it were by arms against three enemies, the world, the flesh, the devil, we fight both offensively and defensively. Paul therefore tacitly admonishes that the Christian life is a warfare, and suggests to it against the aforesaid enemies these arms of light. Secondly, the Greeks sometimes take ὅπλα, that is, arms, more broadly. Whence also Homer takes ὁπλίζεσθαι, that is, to arm, for εὐτρεπίζεσθαι, that is, to prepare, to make ready. Here therefore ὅπλα, that is, arms, are the habit, clothing, apparatus by which men in the day and light clothe and adorn themselves, as if Paul were saying: The day of the Gospel has shone upon us; therefore it is fitting that we put on the arms of light, that is, the habit and clothing which befit light and day. Whence it follows:
13:13
13. AS IN THE DAY, — in which honest men are solicitous about covering their nakedness, and about the honest and decent appearance and dress of the body, but not at night, when they are seen by no one. HONESTLY, — εὐσχημόνως, in an orderly manner, decorously. LET US WALK, — let us conduct ourselves, so that all our gait, movement, gesture, speech, and action may be such as it is fitting to be in the day and light of the Gospel, in which we have been made a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. NOT IN REVELRIES AND DRUNKENNESS. — Revelries are banquets which are held not for the sake of propriety, but for the sake of gluttony. Note: Chamos was an idol of Moab, to whom Solomon built a temple, III Kings xi, 7. From this the Greeks derive κῶμος, which was the god of drunkenness, namely from Bacchus according to Philostratus. Whence κωμάζειν signifies to revel. From this comes the Latin comessari, and comedy. For from drunkenness, says Athenaeus, lib. II On the Banquets of the Wise, comedy and tragedy were invented in Icaria, a city of Attica, and at the time of its vintage. Whence also Trygoedia was called so from the beginning. Perhaps Chamos, as Stuckius notes, lib. I Convival., cap. x, is derived from the Syro-Chaldaic כמס camas, that is to conceal, to hide, so that by Chamos is understood Bacchus νυκτέλιος, or one to whom sacred rites were performed at night through revelries, and the consequent unbridled lusts, as testified by Plutarch and Pausanias. And to this the Apostle alludes, when he says: "Not in revelries and drunkenness (which are carried on at night), but as in the day let us walk honestly." Whence also κωμάζειν were said of those who, crowned and well drunk, burst into another's banquet, not without a flute-player. Hence κῶμοι are also called dances, and, as the Syrian translator renders it, lascivious songs. All these things therefore κῶμος, or revelry, either signifies or implies. NOT IN BEDS. — That is, not in fornications, which are committed in beds and brothels: this is a metonymy. AND IMPURITIES. — That is, in other more foul species of lust. For the Greek ἀσέλγεια is lasciviousness, that is, a more wanton lust. These words settled the dispute and struggle of chastity and lust in Augustine. "I," says he himself in lib. VIII Conf., cap. ult., "spread myself under a certain fig tree I know not how, and let loose the reins to tears, and the floods of my eyes burst forth, an acceptable sacrifice to Thee. And not indeed in these words, but in this sense I said many things to Thee: And Thou, O Lord, how long? How long wilt Thou be angry unto the end? Remember not our old iniquities. For I felt myself held by them, and I cast forth miserable voices: How long, how long, tomorrow and tomorrow? Why not now? why not in this very hour an end to my shame?" Let young men hear these things, who struggle with their concupiscences, let them hear and imitate. "I was saying these things, and weeping with the bitterest contrition of my heart. And behold I hear a voice from a neighboring house, singing and frequently repeating as if a boy or girl, I know not which: Take up and read; take up and read, etc. I had heard of Anthony, that from the reading of the Gospel, which he happened to come upon, he was admonished, as if what was being read were said to him: Go, sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me; and by such an oracle he was immediately converted to Thee. Accordingly I returned to the place where Alipius was sitting; for I had laid the book of the Apostle there when I rose from it. I seized it, opened it, and read in silence the chapter upon which my eyes first fell: Not in revelries and drunkenness, not in beds and impurities, not in contention and emulation, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences. I wished to read no further, nor was there need." Behold the sudden change in Augustine. "Immediately, indeed, at the end of this sentence, as if by a light of security poured into my heart, all the darkness of doubt fled away, etc. Thou hast broken my bonds asunder, I will sacrifice to Thee a sacrifice of praise. How sweet did it suddenly become to me to be without the sweetness of trifles! And what I had feared to lose, now it was a joy to cast away; for Thou didst cast them out from me, Thou true and highest sweetness, Thou didst cast them out and enter in their place with a sweetness surpassing all pleasure." See how easy and pleasant Augustine found chastity and celibacy through the grace of Christ, which he had previously dreaded as most difficult, indeed had deemed impossible. The same thing St. Cyprian felt and experienced, lib. II, epist. 2, and Lactantius, lib. III Instit., cap. xvi. Alas! therefore Luther, who teachest that intercourse is as necessary to man as food. The same thing today not one, but many thousands of celibates experience, who, invoking the grace of God and cooperating with it, live a life in virginity and celibacy as sweet as it is happy and holy. NOT IN CONTENTION AND EMULATION. — Contention is a striving for glory and honor, to which emulation, that is, envy of another's good, is always joined. Behold these are three capital vices to be avoided by a Christian, namely gluttony, lust, quarreling and envy, concerning which see St. Augustine, epist. 64.
13:14
14. BUT PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, — namely that Jesus, that is the spirit of Jesus, grace, virtue, life, may shine forth in you. See Can. 37. Put on therefore and adorn yourselves with the virtues of Christ, especially so that from your external life and profession, as if from a garment, all may recognize you to be servants of Christ. Thus St. Chrysostom. It is a Hebraism: for the Hebrews say לבש labas, that is, to put on someone with shame, honor, salvation, justice, curse, that is to be filled with these things, to be abundantly adorned, or disgraced. Clothing therefore signifies an abundance poured around on all sides. Cyril, book IX on Genesis, thinks that Paul here alludes to that passage of Isaiah LXI: "I will rejoice exceedingly in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, and with the robe of justice he hath covered me." Or, as the Septuagint translates: "He hath clothed me with a garment of salvation, and a tunic of gladness." Or, as others translate: "He hath clothed me with Jesus as a garment," that is he hath clothed me with Jesus, as with a garment, and as with a tunic of gladness. Beautifully St. Basil in Psalm XLIV, explaining that passage, "All the glory of the king's daughter is within, in golden fringes, surrounded with variety": "Put on," he says, "the Lord Jesus, not according to the outward man, but let our mind be wrapped around with the memory of God. For I think a spiritual garment is then woven, when action as a companion is woven together with the word of doctrine. For just as a cloak is woven to cover the body when the woof is interlaced with the warp: so when the word holds the first place in the weaving, if immediately actions consonant with the word are woven in, then the most fitting and most honorable garment for adorning the soul can be made: the soul, I say, which fulfills its life according to virtue both in word and in deed," that is to say, Just as the weaver interlaces the woof with the warp, so the Christian teacher interlaces a life consonant with his teaching: and thus he weaves for himself the garment of Christ, by which he is covered and adorned on all sides. Note: The word put on signifies much: for first, to put on Christ is to express Christ's virtues in oneself, and that abundantly and perfectly. Second: He puts on Christ, says St. Thomas, who imitates Christ, because just as a man is contained in clothing, and is seen under its color: so in him who imitates Christ, Christ alone and the color of his garment, that is holiness, appears. Whence St. Chrysostom: "To put on," he says, "Christ, is for Christ to be visible in us on all sides through holiness and gentleness. For a man clothed appears to be what he is clothed with: let Christ therefore appear in us." A Christian therefore ought to be as it were a living image, a living form, a living habit of Christ, indeed almost another Christ, so that in his life, bearing, habit and manners all may think they see Christ. Indeed, as many as are Christians, so many ought there to be also of Christ. Consider what and how great was in each word and deed of Christ modesty, temperance, circumspection, charity, patience, grace; how great the sweetness, gravity and decorum of his manners: put on these, express these in your manners, and you will put on Christ, you will express Christ, you will be Christ. Third, just as garments cover the whole body, so the virtues of Christ ought to extend to all our actions and adorn and form them, so that we may reflect and express Christ in every work and word. Fourth, when we are commanded to put on Christ, we are warned by this very thing to put off the old man, Colossians iii, 9. Fifth, just as precious clothing not only covers the body but also adorns it: so the virtues of Christ adorn the soul. Sixth, he who puts on garments does not feel their weight, as he does who carries them wrapped up in a bundle: so he who has Christ not wrapped up in speculation, but unfolded in action and imitation, does not feel the difficulty of Christ's virtues. Morally see St. Chrysostom, how Christ in all things, both internal and external, is our fullness, adorning us on all sides with garments, crowning us. For Christ is our man, our way, our spouse, our drink, our food, our life, our priest, our teacher, our father, our brother, our heir, our house, our guest, our friend; so that we may rightly say to him: "My love, my Jesus, and all things." AND DO NOT MAKE PROVISION FOR THE FLESH IN ITS DESIRES, — to fulfill desires, and, as it is in Greek, ἐπιθυμίας, that is, cupidities, namely intemperant and immoderate ones of the flesh; because, as that Philosopher used to say: "Excessive care of the flesh and body is great neglect of the soul and virtue." Whence another also said: "I was born for greater things than to make myself a slave to my body." See St. Gregory, book VI of the Morals, chapter xl. For otherwise the Apostle praises moderate care of the flesh, that is, of the body, Ephesians v, 29, saying: "No man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it." Most effectively St. Bernard, On Conversion to the Clergy, chapter xiii: "Whence," he says, "comes this great pusillanimity and such miserable abjection, that an excellent creature capable of eternal beatitude and the glory of the great God, inasmuch as it was created by His inspiration, marked by His likeness, redeemed by His blood, endowed with faith, adopted by His Spirit, does not blush to bear servitude under this putrefaction of bodily senses? Deservedly indeed it cannot even attain those things which, abandoning such a Spouse, it pursues such lovers; deservedly it hungered for husks and received them not, which preferred to feed swine rather than to be satisfied with the father's feasts. Truly insane labor, to feed the barren one who does not bear, and to be unwilling to benefit the widow; to neglect the care of the heart, and to exercise care of the flesh in desire; to fatten and cherish a putrid corpse, which shortly after will undoubtedly become food for worms."
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
13:1
Postquam apostolus ostendit qualiter se debeat homo exhibere Deo, utendo donis gratiae eius hic ostendit quomodo debeat se exhibere proximo: et primo quantum ad superiores; secundo quantum ad omnes, ibi nemini quicquam debeatis, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit. Primo inducit homines ad subiectionem quam debent superioribus; secundo ad exhibendum subiectionis signum, ibi ideo et tributa praestatis, et cetera. Circa primum tria facit. Primo proponit documentum; secundo rationem assignat, ibi non enim est potestas, etc.; tertio infert conclusionem intentam, ibi ideoque, et cetera. Circa primum considerandum est quod quidam fideles in primitiva Ecclesia dicebant terrenis potestatibus se subiici non debere propter libertatem, quam consecuti erant a Christo, secundum illud Io. VIII, v. 36: si filius vos liberaverit, vere liberi eritis. Sed libertas per Christum concessa, est libertas spiritus qua liberamur a peccato et morte, sicut supra VIII, 2 dictum est: lex spiritus in Christo Iesu liberavit me a lege peccati et mortis. Caro autem adhuc remanet servituti obnoxia, sicut supra dictum est. Et ideo tunc nulli subiectioni homo, per Christum liberatus, erit obnoxius, nec spirituali scilicet, nec carnali. Unde dicitur I Cor. XV, 24: cum tradiderit Christus regnum Deo patri, et evacuaverit omnem principatum et potestatem. Interim autem dum corruptibilem carnem gerimus, oportet nos dominis carnalibus subiacere. Unde dicitur Eph. VI, 5: servi, obedite dominis carnalibus. Et hoc est etiam quod hic apostolus dicit omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus subdita sit. Potestates autem sublimiores hic dicuntur homines in potestatibus constituti, quibus secundum iustitiae ordinem subiici debemus. I Petr. II, 23: subditi estote omni humanae creaturae propter Deum, sive regi quasi praecellenti, sive ducibus, tamquam ab eo missis, et cetera. Dicit autem indefinite potestatibus sublimioribus, ut ratione sublimitatis officii eis subiiciamur, etiam si sint mali. Unde I Petr. II, 18 subditur: subiecti estote non tantum bonis et modestis, sed etiam dyscolis. Quod autem dicitur omnis anima, per synecdochen intelligitur omnis homo, sicut et Gen. XVII, 14: delebitur anima illa de populo suo. Utitur autem hoc modo loquendi, quia subiectionem superioribus debemus ex animo, id est ex pura voluntate, secundum illud Eph. c. VI, 6 s.: non ad oculum servientes, quasi hominibus placentes, sed ex animo cum bona voluntate. Deinde cum dicit non est enim potestas, etc., ponit rationem admonitionis praemissae. Primo quidem ex parte honesti; secundo ex parte necessarii, ibi qui autem resistunt, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit. Primo praemittit duo principia; secundo ex eis concludit, ibi itaque qui resistit, et cetera. Primo enim praemittit originem potestatis, dicens non est enim potestas nisi a Deo. Quicquid enim communiter de Deo et creaturis dicitur, a Deo in creaturas derivatur, sicut patet de sapientia, Eccli. I, 1: omnis sapientia a domino Deo est. Potestas autem de Deo et de hominibus dicitur. Iob c. XXXVI, 5: Deus potestates non abiicit, cum ipse sit potens. Unde consequens est, quod omnis humana potestas sit a Deo. Dan. c. IV, 14: dominabitur excelsus in regno hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, dabit illud. Io. XIX, 11: non haberes potestatem adversum me ullam, nisi tibi datum esset desuper. Sed contra hoc esse videtur, quod dicitur Osee VIII, 4: ipsi regnaverunt, et non ex me: principes extiterunt, et non cognovi. Ad hoc dicendum est, quod regia potestas, vel cuiuscumque alterius dignitatis potest considerari quantum ad tria. Uno quidem modo quantum ad ipsam potestatem, et sic est a Deo, per quem reges regnant, ut dicitur Prov. VIII, 15. Alio modo potest considerari quantum ad modum adipiscendi potestatem, et sic quandoque potestas est a Deo: quando scilicet aliquis ordinate potestatem adipiscitur, secundum illud Hebr. V, 4: nemo sibi honorem assumit, sed qui vocatur a Deo tamquam Aaron. Quandoque vero non est a Deo sed ex perverso hominis appetitu, qui per ambitionem, vel quocumque alio illicito modo potestatem adipiscitur. Amos VI, 14: numquid non in fortitudine nostra assumpsimus nobis cornua? Tertio modo potest considerari quantum ad usum ipsius: et sic quandoque est a Deo, puta cum aliquis secundum praecepta divinae iustitiae utitur concessa sibi potestate, secundum illud Prov. VIII, 15: per me reges regnant, et cetera. Quandoque autem non est a Deo, puta cum aliqui potestate sibi data utuntur contra divinam iustitiam, secundum illud Ps. II, 2: astiterunt reges terrae, et principes convenerunt in unum adversus dominum, et cetera. Dubitatur etiam de potestate peccandi, utrum sit a Deo. Ad quod dicendum est quod ipsa potentia qua peccatur, a Deo est. Eadem enim potentia est qua peccatur et qua recte agitur: sed quod in bonum ordinetur, a Deo est; quod autem ordinetur ad peccandum, est ex defectu creaturae, inquantum est ex nihilo. Secundo ponit, quod ea quae sunt, a Deo ordinata sunt, cuius ratio est quia Deus omnia per suam sapientiam fecit, secundum illud Ps. CIII, 24: omnia in sapientia fecisti. Est autem proprium sapientiae ordinate omnia disponere. Sap. VIII, 1: attingit a fine usque ad finem fortiter, et disponit omnia suaviter. Et ideo oportet effectus divinos ordinatos esse. Iob XXXVIII, 33: numquid nosti ordinem caeli, et pones rationem eius in terra? Duplicem autem ordinem Deus in suis effectibus instituit: unum quidem quo omnia ordinantur in ipsum, Prov. XVI, 4: universa propter semetipsum operatus est Deus, alium vero quo effectus divini ordinantur ad invicem, sicut dicitur Deut. IV, 19 de sole et luna et stellis, quod fecit ea in ministerium cunctis gentibus.
13:2
Deinde cum dicit itaque qui resistit, etc., ex duabus praemissis concludit propositum. Si enim potestas principum, inquantum talis est, a Deo est, et nihil est a Deo sine ordine, consequens est, quod etiam ordo, quo inferiores potestatibus superioribus subiiciuntur, sit a Deo. Itaque qui contra hunc ordinem resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit. I Reg. VIII, 7: non te abiecerunt, sed me, ne regnem super eos. Lc. X, 16: qui vos spernit, me spernit. Resistere autem divinae ordinationi contrariatur honestati virtutis. Unde contra virtutem agit quicumque potestati resistit, in eo quod pertinet ad ordinem suae potestatis. Deinde cum dicit qui autem resistunt, etc., ostendit huiusmodi subiectionem non solum esse honestam, sed necessariam. Et primo proponit quod intendit; secundo probat propositum, ibi nam principes, et cetera. Dicit ergo primo: dictum est, quod qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit, quod quidem secundum se est vitandum, tamquam contrarium virtuti. Multi tamen sunt, qui amorem virtutis non habentes, ea quae sunt contraria virtuti non detestantur. Unde tales cogendi sunt ad vitationem malorum per poenas, et quantum ad hoc subdit qui autem resistunt, scilicet divinae ordinationi, sibi damnationem acquirunt, contra potestatis ordinem agendo. Quod quidem potest intelligi, uno modo, de damnatione aeterna, quam merentur qui potestatibus subiici nolunt in eo quod debent. In cuius exemplum Dathan et Abiron, qui Moysi et Aaron restiterunt, sunt a terra absorpti, ut habetur Num. XVI, 20 ss. Alio modo potest intelligi de damnatione poenae, quae per ipsos principes infertur. Prov. XX, 2: sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocant eum, peccant in animam suam. Sed contra hoc videtur esse quod apostoli et martyres principibus et potestatibus restiterunt et ex hoc non damnationem a Deo sed praemium acquisiverunt. Sed dicendum est quod apostolus hic loquitur de eo qui resistit potestati inferiori, secundum quod est a Deo ordinata. Habet autem hoc divina ordinatio ut potestati inferiori non obediatur contra superiorem, sicut etiam in rebus humanis ut proconsuli non obediatur contra imperatorem, nec balivo contra regem. Et omnis potestas humana sub potestate Dei ordinatur et nulli potestati humanae est contra Deum obediendum, secundum illud Act. V, 29: oportet obedire magis Deo quam hominibus. Deinde cum dicit nam principes, etc., assignat rationem eius quod dixerat. Et primo proponit rationem; secundo ex ratione posita quoddam utile documentum trahit, ibi vis autem non timere potestatem, et cetera. Tertio huius documenti necessitatem assignat, ibi si autem malefeceris, et cetera. Dicit ergo primo: dictum est quod qui resistunt potestati, sibi damnationem acquirunt, nam principes, qui hic potestates dicuntur, non sunt timori, id est in timorem, boni operis, id est propter bonum opus, sed mali, id est propter malum. Quod quidem videtur esse intelligendum secundum causam instituendi principes. Ad hoc enim sunt instituendi principes, ut illi qui amore virtutis non provocantur ad vitandum malum et faciendum bonum, cogantur ad hoc timore poenae. Prov. XX, 8: rex qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
13:3
Et secundum hoc dicitur quod principes non sunt timori boni operis sed mali, quantum ad id quod principi ex officio competit, sicut et Is. XXXII, 8 dicitur: princeps ea quae sunt digna principe cogitabit. Potest autem hoc referri etiam ad malos principes, qui non sunt timori boni operis sed mali: quia et si interdum iniuste persequuntur bene operantes, non tamen illi qui bene operantur, causam habent timendi, quia hoc ipsum, si patienter sustinent, in eorum bonum cedit, secundum illud I Petr. III, 14: si quid patimini propter iustitiam, beati: timorem autem eorum ne timueritis, ut non conturbemini. Ex hoc autem quod hic dicitur, assignari potest ratio quare qui potestati resistunt, sibi damnationem acquirant: sive intelligatur de damnatione punitionis, qua principes rebelles puniunt, sive de damnatione qua homines puniuntur a Deo. Si enim principes sunt timori mali operis, consequens est quod si aliquis potestati resistat, male operetur; et ita ipse homo, male agendo, est sibi causa punitionis temporalis et aeternae. Deinde cum dicit vis autem non timere, etc., ex eo quod dixerat quoddam utile documentum tradit, scilicet vitandi timorem principum. Et primo insinuat sua interrogatione hoc esse desiderabile, dicens vis non timere potestatem? Quasi dicat: hoc debet homini esse placitum. Prov. XX, 2: sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis. Secundo docet medium ad hoc perveniendi, dicens bonum fac; quia, ut dicitur Prov. XVI, 13: voluntas regum, labia iusta; et in Ps. c, 6: ambulans in via immaculata, hic mihi ministrabat. Tertio ostendit huius effectum, dicens: et si benefeceris, non solum timorem vitabis, sed etiam habebis laudem ex illa, scilicet potestate; quod planum est si accipiatur secundum finem, ad quem institutae sunt potestates. Ad hoc enim institutae sunt ut non solum a malis timore poenarum retrahant sed etiam ut ad bonum per praemia alliciant, secundum illud I Petr. II, 14: sive ducibus tamquam ab eo missis ad vindictam malorum, laudem vero bonorum. Verificatur hoc etiam de malis principibus, quorum iniustam persecutionem, dum boni patienter sustinent, laudantur. Iac. V, 11: ecce beatificamus eos qui sustinuerunt.
13:4
Quarto rationem assignat, dicens Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum. Quod quidem manifeste patet, quantum ad debitum ordinem principum. Sunt enim sub regimine Dei, quasi supremi principis, tamquam ministri ordinati. Sap. VI, 3: cum essetis ministri regis illius, et cetera. Ad idem autem tendit minister et dominus. Eccli. X, 2: secundum iudicem populi, sic et ministri eius. Et ideo sicut Deus operatur in bonum his qui bonum agunt, ita et principes si recte ministerium suum impleant. Sed et mali principes ministri Dei sunt, secundum ordinationem Dei ad inferendas poenas, licet hoc sit praeter intentum eorum; secundum illud Is. X, 5: Assur virga furoris mei, et baculus ipse in manu mea est. Ipse autem non sic arbitrabitur. Et Ier. XXV, 9: assumam universam cognationem Aquilonis, et Nabuchodonosor regem Babylonis servum meum, et adducam eos super terram istam, et super habitatores eius, et cetera. Et quia tales mali principes, interdum, Deo permittente, bonos affligunt, quod in bonum eorum cedit, secundum illud supra VIII, 28: diligentibus Deum, et cetera. Deinde cum dicit si autem male, etc., ostendit necessitatem praemissi documenti. Dictum est enim quod benefaciendo non timebis potestatem, si autem malefeceris, time: quia causam timoris habes. Prov. c. X, 29: pavor his qui operantur malum. Sap. XVII, 10: cum sit timida nequitia, data est in omnium condemnationem. Secundo assignat rationem dicens non enim sine causa gladium portat. Loquitur autem secundum consuetudinem principum, qui quasi insignia suae potestatis deferebant instrumenta puniendi, puta fasces virgarum ad verberandum, et secures vel gladios ad occidendum. Iob XIX, 29: fugite a facie gladii, quoniam ultor iniquitatum est gladius. Tertio rationem exponit dicens portat, inquam, gladium, quia est minister Dei, vindex, id est vindictam exercens, in iram, id est, ad exequendam iram Dei, id est iustum iudicium eius, ei qui malum agit, id est, contra malefactorem. Ez. XVII, 37 ss.: ecce ego congregabo omnes amatores tuos, et iudicabo te in iudiciis adulterorum, et dabo te in manus eorum, et cetera. Prov. XVI, 12: abominabiles regi qui impie agunt, quoniam iustitia firmatur solium. Ex quo patet quod non solum est licitum sed etiam meritorium principibus, qui zelo iustitiae vindictam exercent in malos. Unde dicitur Ez. XXIX, 19 s.: erit merces exercitui illius, et operi quo servivit mihi adversus eam.
13:5
Deinde cum dicit ideoque necessitate, etc., infert conclusionem principaliter intentam, dicens: ideoque, propter praedictas rationes, subditi estote principibus ex necessitate, quia scilicet hoc est ex necessitate salutis, vel subditi estote voluntarie necessitati, quae vobis imminet potentia principum, ut faciatis de necessitate virtutem; non solum propter iram, id est vindictam vitandam, quod pertinet ad secundam rationem, sed etiam propter conscientiam bonam conservandam, quod pertinet ad primam rationem, quia qui potestati resistit Dei ordinationi resistit. Tit. III, 1: admone illos principibus et potestatibus subditos esse. Deinde cum dicit ideo enim et tributa praestatis, etc. inducit homines ad exhibendum suis superioribus signum subiectionis. Et primo ponit signum subiectionis; secundo inducit ad eius exhibitionem, ibi reddite ergo, et cetera. Circa primum duo facit. Primo ponit subiectionis signum, dicens ideo enim, scilicet quia debetis esse subiecti, et tributa praestatis, id est, praestare debetis, in signum scilicet subiectionis. Et ideo conquerendo dicitur Thren. I, 1: princeps provinciarum facta est sub tributo. Dicuntur autem tributa, eo quod subditi dominis ea tribuunt.
13:6
Secundo assignat rationem, dicens ministri enim Dei sunt, in hoc ipsum, id est, pro ipso, scilicet tributa recipiendo, servientes, scilicet Deo, et populo. Quasi dicat: unusquisque de suo ministerio vivere debet, secundum illud I Cor. IX, v. 7: quis, pascit gregem et de lacte eius non edit? Et ideo cum principes nostri suo regimine Deo ministrent, a populo debent tributa suscipere, quasi stipendia sui ministerii, non autem ita quod hoc debeant sibi computare pro praemio. Proprium enim praemium principis est laus et honor, ut philosophus dicit in V Ethic. Et cum hoc non sufficit, tyrannus fit. Sed hoc non est intelligendum de laude humana solum vel honore, quia tale praemium esset vanum, sed de laude et honore divino, qui principibus bene gubernantibus exhibetur. Sap. VI, 22: o reges populi, diligite sapientiam, ut in perpetuum regnetis. Huiusmodi autem tributa recipiunt ad sustentationem, laborant autem principes ad omnium pacem. Unde dicitur I Tim. II, 1 s.: obsecro primum omnium fieri obsecrationes pro regibus, et omnibus qui in sublimitate sunt constituti, ut quietam ac tranquillam vitam agamus. Baruch I, 11 s.: orate pro vita Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis, ut vivamus sub umbra eius. Ab hoc tamen debito liberi sunt clerici ex privilegio principum, quod quidem aequitatem naturalem habet. Unde etiam apud gentiles liberi erant a tributis illi qui vacabant rebus divinis. Legitur enim Gen. XLVII, v. 20-22, quod Ioseph subiecit Pharaoni totam terram Aegypti praeter terram sacerdotum, quae a rege tradita fuerat eis, quibus et statuta cibaria ex horreis publicis praebebantur. Et infra dicitur quod in universa terra Aegypti, quinta pars solvitur absque terra sacerdotali, quae libera erat ab hac conditione. Hoc autem ideo aequum est, quia sicut reges sollicitudinem habent de bono publico in bonis temporalibus, ita ministri Dei in spiritualibus, et sic per hoc quod Deo in spiritualibus ministrant, recompensant regi quod pro eorum pace laborat. Sed attendendum est: cum tributa dicat regibus esse debita quasi laboris stipendium, dupliciter peccare possunt principes accipiendo tributa. Primo quidem si utilitatem populi non procurent sed solum ad diripiendum eorum bona intendant. Unde dicitur Ez. XXXIV, 3: lac comedebatis et lanis operiebamini, et quod crassum erat, occidebatis, gregem autem meum non pascebatis. Alio modo ex eo quod violenter diripiunt supra statutam legem, quae est quasi quoddam pactum inter regem et populum, et supra populi facultatem. Unde dicitur Mich. III, 1: audite principes Iacob, et duces domus Israel. Et postea subdit: qui violenter tollitis pelles eorum desuper eis, et carnes eorum desuper ossibus eorum. Deinde cum dicit reddite ergo, etc., monet ad reddendum praedictum subiectionis signum. Et primo quidem in generali, dicens: ex quo tributum debetur principibus, tamquam Dei ministris, reddite ergo omnibus debita. Ex quo patet quod ex necessitate iustitiae tenentur subditi sua iura principibus exhibere. Matth. XVIII, 24: oblatus est regi unus qui debebat decem millia talenta. Et Matth. XXII, v. 21: reddite quae sunt Caesaris, Caesari, et cetera. Secundo specificat, et, primo, ea quae sunt exteriora, dicens cui tributum, scilicet debetis, reddite tributum, quia scilicet principi tribuitur pro generali regimine, quo patriam in pace et quiete gubernat. Gen. c. XLIX, 15: vidit requiem quod esset bona, factusque est tributis serviens. Cui vectigal, scilicet debetis, reddite vectigal, quod scilicet redditur principi in aliquibus certis locis de mercimoniis, quae deferuntur pro reparatione viarum et custodia. Vel vectigal dicitur, quod datur principi, quando per patriam devehitur, sicut sunt procurationes et alia huiusmodi. Secundo ponit ea quae sunt interius exhibenda. Est autem considerandum quod principi debetur et timor et honor: timor quidem, inquantum est dominus, sua potestate malos coercens a malis. Mal. I, 6: si ego dominus, ubi est timor meus?
13:7
Et ideo dicit cui timorem, scilicet debetis, reddite timorem. Prov. XXIV, 21: Deum time, fili mi. Inquantum autem quasi pater providet bonis quae sunt in laudem eorum, debetur illi honor. Mal. I, 6: si ego pater, ubi honor meus? Et ideo subdit, cui honorem, scilicet debetis, reddite honorem. I Petr. II, 17: regem honorificate. Sed contra est quod dicitur Lev. XIX, 15: non honores vultum potentis. Sed hoc est intelligendum quantum ad hoc ut pro eo a iustitia non declines. Unde subditur: iuste iudica proximo tuo.
Supra apostolus ostendit qualiter debeant fideles ad superiores iustitiam observare, hic ostendit quid debeant omnibus communiter exhibere. Et circa hoc duo facit. Primo ponit quod intendit; secundo reddit rationem, ibi qui enim diligit, et cetera. Dicit ergo primo: dictum est reddite omnibus debita, non quidem particulariter, sed integraliter, et hoc est quod subdit nemini quidquam debeatis. Quasi dicat: ita plene omnibus omnia debita persolvatis, ut nihil remaneat, quod solvere debeatis. Et hoc quidem propter duo. Primo quia in ipsa mora reddendi peccatum committitur, dum homo iniuste detinet rem alienam. Unde dicitur Lev. XIX, 13: non morabitur opus mercenarii tui apud te usque mane. Et eadem est ratio de aliis debitis. Secundo quia quamdiu aliquis debet, est quodammodo servus et, cui debet, obligatur. Prov. XXII, 7: qui accipit mutuum, servus est foenerantis. Sunt tamen quaedam debita, a quibus homo numquam potest se absolvere. Et hoc contingit dupliciter. Uno quidem modo propter excellentiam beneficii, cui aequivalens recompensari non potest: sicut philosophus dicit de honore qui exhibetur Deo vel parentibus, secundum illud Ps. CXV, 12: quid retribuam domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi? Alio modo propter causam debendi, quae semper manet; vel etiam propter hoc quod illud quod redditur, numquam exhauritur sed semper in reddendo crescit. Et propter has causas debitum dilectionis fraternae ita solvitur, quod semper debetur. Primo quidem quia dilectionem proximo debemus propter Deum, cui sufficienter recompensare non possumus. Dicitur enim I Io. IV, 21: hoc mandatum habemus a Deo, ut qui diligit Deum, diligat et fratrem suum. Secundo quia causa dilectionis semper manet, quae est similitudo naturae et gratiae. Eccli. XIII, 19: omne animal diligit sibi simile, sic et omnis homo proximum sibi. Tertio quia charitas in diligendo non deficit sed proficit. Phil. I, 9: hoc oro, ut charitas vestra magis ac magis abundet.
13:8
Ideo dicit nisi ut invicem diligatis, quia scilicet dilectionis debitum ita semel redditur, ut tamen semper maneat sub debito praecepti. Io. XV, 12: hoc est praeceptum meum, ut diligatis invicem. Deinde cum dicit qui enim diligit, etc., assignat causam eius quod dixerat, debito dilectionis nos numquam absolvi, quia scilicet in dilectione tota legis impletio consistit. Unde circa hoc tria facit. Primo proponit quod intendit; secundo manifestat propositum, ibi nam non adulterabis, etc.; tertio infert conclusionem intentam, ibi plenitudo ergo legis, et cetera. Dicit ergo primo: ideo dictum est quod non intendamus nos expedire a debito dilectionis, sicut ab aliis debitis, qui enim diligit proximum, legem implevit, id est tota impletio legis ex proximi dilectione dependet. Sed hoc non videtur verum. Dicitur enim I Tim. I, 5: quod finis praecepti charitas est. Unumquodque enim perficitur cum ad finem pervenit: et ideo tota legis perfectio in charitate consistit. Sed charitas duos habet actus, scilicet dilectionem Dei et dilectionem proximi; unde et dominus dixit Matth. XXII, v. 40 quod tota lex et prophetae pendet in duobus mandatis charitatis: quorum unum est de dilectione Dei, aliud de dilectione proximi. Non ergo videtur quod qui proximum diligit, impleat totam legem. Sed dicendum est quod illa dilectio proximi ad charitatem pertinet, et legem implet, qua proximus diligitur propter Deum; et ita in dilectione proximi includitur dilectio Dei, sicut causa includitur in effectu. Dicitur enim I Io. IV, 21: et hoc mandatum habemus a Deo, ut qui diligit Deum, diligat et fratrem suum. Et, e converso, dilectio proximi includitur in dilectione Dei, sicut effectus in causa; unde ibidem dicitur: si quis dixerit quoniam diligo Deum, et fratrem suum odit, mendax est. Et inde est quod in sacra Scriptura quandoque fit mentio solum de dilectione Dei, quasi sufficiat ad salutem, secundum illud Deut. X, 12: et nunc, Israel, audi, quid dominus Deus tuus petit a te, nisi ut timeas dominum Deum tuum, et ambules in viis eius, et diligas eum. Quandoque autem fit mentio solum de dilectione proximi. Io. XV, v. 12: haec vobis mando, ut diligatis invicem. Deinde cum dicit nam non adulterabis, etc., probat propositum. Primo quidem per inductionem; secundo vero per medium syllogismi, ibi dilectio proximi, et cetera. Circa primum, more inducentium, enumerat quaedam praecepta, quae dilectionem proximi implent. Et quia praecepta tria primae tabulae immediatius ordinantur ad dilectionem Dei, non facit mentionem hic de eis, quamvis et ipsa impleantur in dilectione proximi, prout dilectio Dei includitur in dilectione proximi. Enumerat autem mandata secundae tabulae, praetermittit tamen praeceptum affirmativum tantum quod est de honore parentum, in quo etiam intelligitur, ut omnibus reddamus quae debemus. Enumerat autem praecepta negativa, per quae aliquis prohibetur malum proximis inferre. Et hoc duplici ratione. Primo quidem, quia praecepta negativa sunt magis universalia, et quantum ad tempora et quantum ad personas. Quantum ad tempora quidem, quia praecepta negativa obligant semper et ad semper. Nullo enim tempore est furandum et adulterandum. Praecepta autem affirmativa obligant quidem semper, sed non ad semper, sed pro loco et tempore; non enim tenetur homo, ut omni tempore honoret parentes, sed pro loco et tempore. Quantum ad personas autem, quia nulli hominum est nocendum, non autem sufficientes sumus, ut unus homo possit omnibus hominibus servire. Secundo quia magis manifestum est quod per dilectionem proximi implentur praecepta negativa quam affirmativa. Qui enim diligit aliquem, magis abstinet a nocumento illius, quam ei beneficia impendat, a quo quandoque homo impeditur per impotentiam. Tripliciter autem aliquis nocumentum proximo inferre potest. Uno modo, facto; alio modo, verbo; tertio, desiderio. Facto quidem tripliciter. Uno modo quantum ad personam ipsius proximi, et hoc prohibetur cum dicitur non occides. In quo etiam intelligitur prohiberi omnis iniuria in personam proximi illata. I Io. III, 15: omnis homicida non habet vitam aeternam in seipso. Secundo quantum ad personam coniunctam, scilicet uxorem, et hoc prohibetur cum dicitur non adulterabis. In quo etiam intelligitur prohiberi fornicatio et omnis illicitus usus genitalium membrorum. Hebr. ult.: fornicatores et adulteros iudicabit Deus. Tertio quantum ad res exteriores, quod prohibetur, cum dicitur non furaberis. In quo etiam prohibetur omnis iniusta subtractio rei alienae, sive per vim, sive per dolum. Zach. V, 3: omnis fur, sicut ibi scriptum est, iudicabitur. Nocumentum autem, quod quis proximo infert verbo, prohibetur, cum dicitur non falsum testimonium dices. Quod non solum prohibetur in iudicio sed etiam extra iudicium, sive per modum detractionis, sive per modum contumeliae. Prov. XIX, 5: testis falsus non erit impunitus, et qui mendacia loquitur, non effugiet. Nocumentum autem quod quis infert proximo, solo desiderio, prohibetur cum dicitur non concupisces rem proximi tui. Ubi etiam intelligitur prohiberi concupiscentia uxoris; supra VII, 7: nam concupiscentiam nesciebam, scilicet esse peccatum, nisi lex diceret: non concupisces. Ponuntur autem haec mandata Ex. XX, 17 ss.
13:9
Enumeratis autem pluribus praeceptis, colligit omnia alia in communi dicens et si quod est aliud mandatum, affirmativum vel negativum, vel ad Deum, vel ad proximum pertinens, per modum supra dictum, instauratur, id est perficitur et impletur, in hoc verbo: diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum. Quod quidem ponitur Lev. c. XIX, 18; ubi nos habemus: diliges amicum tuum sicut teipsum. Quod autem dicit proximum tuum, referendum est ad omnem hominem et etiam ad sanctos Angelos, ut Augustinus probat in I de doctrina Christiana. Nomine enim proximi intelligitur quicumque facit alicui misericordiam, secundum illud Lc. X, 36: quis tibi videtur illi proximus fuisse, qui incidit in latrones? Et ille dixit: qui fecit misericordiam, et cetera. Et quia proximus est proximo proximus, consequens est quod etiam ille, qui ab aliquo misericordiam recipit, proximus ei dicatur. Sancti autem Angeli nobis misericordiam impendunt, et nos omnibus hominibus misericordiam debemus impendere et ab eis, cum necesse fuerit, recipere. Unde patet quod et sancti Angeli et omnes homines proximi nobis dicuntur, quia beatitudinem, ad quam nos tendimus, vel iam habent, vel ad eam nobiscum tendunt. Ex quo patet quod Daemones non sunt secundum hanc rationem proximi nobis, nec sub hoc praecepto eorum dilectio nobis iniungitur, quia sunt totaliter a dilectione Dei exclusi et non sunt computandi in numero proximorum, sed in numero hostium. Quod autem dicit sicut teipsum, non est referendum ad aequalitatem dilectionis, ut scilicet aliquis teneatur diligere proximum aequaliter sibi: hoc enim esset contra ordinem charitatis, quo quilibet plus tenetur suam, quam aliorum salutem curare. Cant. II, 4: ordinavit in me charitatem. Sed est referendum ad similitudinem dilectionis, ut scilicet similiter diligamus proximum sicut nosipsos. Et hoc tripliciter. Primo quidem quantum ad finem dilectionis, ut scilicet nos et proximum diligamus propter Deum. Secundo quantum ad formam dilectionis, ut scilicet sicut aliquis seipsum diligit, quasi sibi volens bonum, ita aliquis proximum diligat, quasi ei bona volens. Qui autem diligit proximum ad hoc solum ut eius utilitate vel dilectione potiatur, non vult bonum proximo, sed ex proximo vult sibi bonum. Quo quidem modo homo amare dicitur res irrationales, puta vinum vel aquam, ut scilicet eis utatur. Tertio quantum ad effectum dilectionis, ut scilicet aliquis necessitati proximi subveniat, sicut sibi, et quod nihil illicitum, propter amorem proximi, committat sicut nec propter suum amorem. Deinde, cum dicit dilectio proximi, etc., manifestat propositum medio syllogismi per hunc modum: qui diligit proximum, nullum malum operatur ad ipsum. Sed ad hoc tendit omne legis praeceptum, ut abstineatur a malo. Qui ergo diligit proximum, legem implevit. Quod autem dilectio proximi malum non operetur, habetur I Cor. XIII, 4: charitas non agit perperam, et cetera. Quocumque autem modo accipiatur hic malum, vel pro malo transgressionis, vel etiam omissionis, poterit hoc referri non solum ad praecepta negativa sed etiam ad affirmativa. Inquantum vero dilectio proximi includit dilectionem Dei, intelligitur quod dilectio proximi excludit malum, non solum quod est contra proximum, sed etiam quod est contra Deum. Et sic includuntur etiam praecepta tabulae primae.
13:10
Ultimo autem infert conclusionem principaliter intentam, dicens plenitudo ergo legis est dilectio, id est, per dilectionem lex impletur et perficitur. Eccli. XXIV, 16: in plenitudine sanctorum detentio mea. Col. c. III, 14: charitatem habete, quod est vinculum perfectionis.
13:11
Postquam apostolus ostendit quomodo homo debet se Deo exhibere pium, convenienter eius donis utendo, et proximo iuste ei debita reddendo, hic ostendit quomodo in seipso debeat honestatem conservare. Et circa hoc duo facit. Primo proponit temporis congruitatem; secundo exhortatur ad honestatem operum, ibi abiiciamus ergo, et cetera. Circa primum tria facit. Primo ponit temporis congruitatem; secundo assignat rationem, ibi nunc enim propior est, etc.; tertio adhibet similitudinem, ibi nox praecessit, et cetera. Dicit ergo primo: dictum est quae debetis observare et hoc, non solum propter ea quae dicta sunt, sed etiam scientes hoc tempus, id est per hoc quod debetis considerare huius temporis conditionem, quia ut dicitur Eccle. VIII, 6: omni negotio tempus est et opportunitas. Ier. VIII, 7: milvus in caelo cognovit tempus suum, turtur, et hirundo, et ciconia custodierunt tempus adventus sui, populus autem meus, et cetera. Ad quid autem congruum sit hoc tempus ostendit, subdens quia hora est iam nos de somno surgere. Quod quidem intelligendum est non de somno naturae, qui quandoque dicitur mors, secundum illud I Thess. IV, 12: nolumus vos ignorare de dormientibus, quandoque autem est quies animalium virtutum, secundum illud Io. XI, v. 12: si dormit, salvus erit. Nec enim intelligendum est de somno gratiae, qui quandoque dicitur quies aeternae gloriae, secundum illud Ps. IV, 9: in pace in idipsum, etc., quandoque autem est quies contemplationis etiam in hac vita. Cant. V, 2: ego dormio, et cor meum vigilat. Sed intelligitur de somno culpae, secundum illud Eph. V, 14: exurge, qui dormis, et exurge a mortuis, etc., vel etiam negligentiae, secundum illud Prov. c. VI, 9: usquequo, piger, dormies? Tempus ergo est surgendi a somno culpae per poenitentiam Ps. CXXVI, 2: surgite, postquam sederitis, etc., a somno vero negligentiae per sollicitudinem bene operandi Is. XXI, 5: surgite, principes, accipite clypeum. Eccli. XXXII, 15: hora surgendi non te tristet. Deinde, cum dicit nunc enim, etc., assignat rationem eius quod dixerat, dicens nunc enim propior est salus nostra, quam cum credidimus. Quod quidem secundum intentionem apostoli intelligitur de salute vitae aeternae, de qua dicitur Is. LI, 8: salus autem mea in sempiternum erit. Ad hanc autem salutem homo ordinatur, primo quidem, per fidem. Mc. ult.: qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, salvus erit. Sed semper magis ac magis homo accedit ad eam per bona opera et charitatis augmentum. Unde dicitur Iac. IV, 8: appropinquate Deo, et appropinquabit vobis. Hoc est ergo quod apostolus dicit: ideo hora est iam nos de somno surgere, nunc enim, quando scilicet per opera bona et per charitatis augmentum profecimus, propior, id est propinquior, est, scilicet nobis, nostra salus, scilicet vitae aeternae de qua dicitur Is. LI, 8: salus autem mea in sempiternum erit; quam cum credidimus, id est quam cum a principio fidem accepimus. Et potest hic intelligi duplex propinquitas. Una quidem secundum tempus, qua viri sancti, in operibus iustitiae proficientes, magis appropinquant ad terminum vitae huius, in quo mercedem accipiunt. Alia vero est propinquitas dispositionis vel praeparationis, quia per augmentum charitatis et operationem iustitiae homo praeparatur ad illam salutem. Matth. XXV, 10: quae paratae erant, intraverunt cum eo ad nuptias. Sed secundum quod Ecclesia haec verba adventus tempore legit, videntur haec verba esse referenda ad salutem quam Christus fecit in suo primo adventu, ut intelligamus apostolum loquentem quasi ex persona omnium fidelium qui fuerunt ab initio mundi. Appropinquante enim iam tempore incarnationis Christi, quo vaticinia prophetarum crebrescebant, quod tempus repraesentat Ecclesia, poterit dici: nunc propior est nostra salus scilicet Christus, quam cum credidimus, id est cum homines a principio credere coeperunt Christi adventum futurum. Is. LVI, 1: iuxta est salus mea, ut veniat, et iustitia mea, ut reveletur. Posset etiam assumi ad tempus misericordiae, quo quis incipit velle a praeteritis peccatis discedere. Tunc enim magis appropinquat suae saluti, quam a principio, dum haberet fidem informem. Iac. IV, 7 s.; resistite Diabolo, et fugiet a vobis; appropinquate Deo, et appropinquabit vobis, et cetera.
13:12
Deinde, cum dicit nox praecessit, dies autem appropinquavit, etc., ponit ad propositum similitudinem. Quod quidem secundum intentionem apostoli sic videtur esse intelligendum ut totum tempus vitae praesentis nocti comparetur propter ignorantiae tenebras, quibus praesens vita gravatur. Iob XXXI, 1: omnes quippe involvimur tenebris, et cetera. Et de hac nocte dicitur Is. XXVI, v. 9: anima mea desideravit te in nocte. Diei autem comparatur status futurae beatitudinis propter claritatem Dei, qua sancti illustrantur. Is. LX, 19: non erit tibi amplius sol ad lucendum per diem, nec splendor lunae illuminabit te, sed erit tibi dominus in lucem sempiternam. Ad quem diem refertur quod dicitur in Ps. CXVII, 24: haec dies, quam fecit dominus, exultemus et laetemur in ea. Alio modo potest intelligi quod status culpae nocti comparetur propter tenebras culpae, de quibus dicitur in Ps. LXXXI, v. 5: nescierunt, neque intellexerunt, in tenebris ambulant. Et de hac nocte dicitur Sap. c. XVII, 20: solis autem illis superposita erat gravis nox, imago tenebrarum, quae superventurae erant illis. Dies autem dicitur status gratiae propter lumen spiritualis intelligentiae, quod iusti habent sed impiis deest. Ps. XCVI, 11: lux orta est iusto. Sap. V, 6: sol intelligentiae non est ortus nobis. Tertio modo potest intelligi quod comparetur nocti tempus praecedens Christi incarnationem, quia nondum erat manifestata, sed sub quadam caligine. II Petr. I, v. 19: habetis propheticum sermonem, cui benefacitis attendentes quasi lucernae lucenti in caliginoso loco. Et de hac nocte dicitur Is. XXI, 11: custos, quid de nocte? Unde, sicut in nocte apparent umbrae ita etiam illo tempore eminebant legalia, quae sunt umbra futurorum, ut dicitur Col. II, 17. Tempus autem ab incarnatione Christi comparatur diei propter potentiam spiritualis solis in mundo, de quo dicitur Mal. ult.: vobis timentibus nomen meum orietur sol iustitiae. Unde et ipse dominus dicit Io. IX, 4: me oportet operari opera eius qui misit me, donec dies est. Et postea subdit: quamdiu in mundo sum, lux sum mundi. Quod ergo dicitur nox praecessit, indifferenter accipi potest pro qualibet praedictarum trium noctium. Iam enim praecesserat eos quibus scribebat, et magna pars temporis huius vitae, et, quod verius est, praecesserat nox culpae; praecesserat etiam tempus legis, quod fuit ante Christum. Quod autem subdit dies autem appropinquavit, videtur secundum intentionem apostoli referendum esse ad diem futurae gloriae, qui licet nondum advenisset fidelibus Christi quibus scribebat, tamen in propinquo erat eis. Secundum praedicta posset etiam intelligi tempus gratiae Christi, quod etsi iam advenerit secundum temporum cursum, appropinquare tamen nobis dicitur per fidem et devotionem, sicut et Phil. IV, 5 dicitur: dominus prope est, et in Ps. CXLIV, 18: prope est dominus omnibus invocantibus eum. Potest etiam hoc congruere his qui de peccatis poenitere incipiunt, quibus dies gratiae appropinquat. Deinde, cum dicit abiiciamus, etc., concludit exhortationem de honestate vitae. Et primo ponit exhortationem; secundo exponit eam, ibi non in comessationibus, et cetera. Circa honestatem vitae tria tangit. Primo quidem remotionem vitiorum concludens ex praemissis: si nox praecessit, ut dictum est, abiiciamus opera tenebrarum, quia, ut dicitur Eccle. VIII, 6, omni negotio tempus est et opportunitas. Unde, recedente nocte, cessare debent opera noctis. Dicuntur autem opera tenebrarum opera peccatorum: primo quidem, quia in seipsis privata sunt lumine rationis, quo illustrari debent humana opera, Eccle. II, 14: sapientis oculi in capite eius, stultus in tenebris ambulat, secundo, quia in tenebris aguntur, Iob XXIV, v. 15: oculus adulteri observat caliginem, tertio, quia per ea homo ad tenebras ducitur, secundum illud Matth. XXII, 13: mittite eum in tenebras exteriores. Secundo inducit ad assumendas virtutes, quasi dicat: ex quo dies appropinquavit, assumentes ea quae congruunt diei, induamur arma lucis, id est virtutes, quae et arma dicuntur, inquantum nos muniunt. Eph. ult.: induite vos armaturam Dei, ut possitis stare adversus insidias Diaboli. Et dicuntur lucis arma, tum quia lumine rationis decorantur et perficiuntur, unde dicitur Prov. IV, 18: iustorum semita quasi lux splendens procedit, tum quia lucis examen requirunt, Io. III, 21: qui facit veritatem, venit ad lucem, tum quia per opera virtutum alii illuminantur, Matth. V, 16: sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus, et cetera.
13:13
Tertio exhortatur ad usum virtutum et profectum, cum dicit sicut in die honeste ambulemus. Haec enim duo videntur diei congruere. Primo quidem honestas. Nam in die unusquisque seipsum studet componere, ut coram aliis honestus appareat. In nocte autem non sic. Unde dicitur I Thess. c. V, 7: qui dormiunt, nocte dormiunt: et qui ebrii sunt, nocte ebrii sunt: nos autem qui diei sumus, sobrii simus. Unde I Cor. c. XIV, 40 dicitur: omnia honeste et secundum ordinem fiant in vobis. Secundo homo in die ambulat, non in nocte. Unde dicitur Io. XI, 10: qui ambulat in nocte offendit. Et ideo, quia dies est, oportet quod ambulemus, id est de bono in melius procedamus. Unde dicitur Io. XII, 35: ambulate, dum lucem habetis. Deinde, cum dicit non in comessationibus, etc., exponit quod dixerat. Et, primo, exponit quomodo sunt abiicienda opera tenebrarum, quae sunt opera peccatorum, de quibus quaedam enumerat. Primo ponens ea quae pertinent ad corruptionem concupiscibilis, cuius corruptio est intemperantia, quae est circa delectationes tactus et circa cibos. Unde, primo, excludit intemperantiam ciborum, cum dicit non in comessationibus. Dicuntur comessationes superfluae et nimis accuratae comestiones. Prov. c. XXIII, 20: noli esse in conviviis peccatorum, nec in comessationibus eorum qui carnes ad vescendum conferunt. Quod quidem potest esse peccatum mortale ex hoc quod secundum legem pro hac culpa aliquis damnatur ad mortem. Dicitur enim de filio protervo Deut. XXI, 22: comessationibus vacat, et luxuriae atque conviviis; lapidibus eum obruet populus, et cetera. Dicitur autem aliquis vacare comessationibus atque conviviis, non quidem si comedat magnifice secundum statum suae dignitatis, sicut dicitur, Esther II, 18, quod Assuerus iussit praeparari convivium magnificum propter coniunctionem Esther, iuxta magnificentiam principalem; sed quando aliquis hoc facit praeter decentiam sui status, et praecipue si ad hoc principalis eius cura existat, sicut illi de quibus dicitur infra ult.: huiusmodi Christo domino non serviunt, sed suo ventri; et Phil. III, 9: quorum Deus venter est. Secundo excludit intemperantiam circa potum, cum subdit et ebrietatibus, quae pertinent ad superfluitatem potus extra mensuram rationis hominem ponentis. Eccli. XXXI, 35: vinum in iucunditate creatum, et non in ebrietate. Et est considerandum quod ebrietas ex suo genere est peccatum mortale, cum scilicet homo ex proposito inebriatur, quia videtur praeferre delectationem vini integritati rationis. Unde dicitur Is. V, 22: vae qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum, et viri fortes ad miscendam ebrietatem. Si vero aliquis inebrietur praeter intentionem, non ex proposito, puta quia ignorat virtutem vini, vel quia non aestimat se tanto potu inebriandum, non est peccatum mortale, quia non per se inebriatur sed per accidens, id est praeter intentionem, quod quidem non potest contingere in his, qui frequenter inebriantur. Et ideo dicit Augustinus in sermone de Purgatorio, quod ebrietas est peccatum mortale, si assidua fuerit. Unde signanter hic apostolus in plurali numero dicit: non in comessationibus et ebrietatibus. Tertio excludit intemperantiam circa corporalem quietem, cum dicit non in cubilibus id est non in superflua dormitione, quam convenienter post comessationem et ebrietatem prohibet, quia sequitur ex illis. Et potest esse in hoc peccatum mortale, quando propter quietem corporalem et somnum omittit homo quae facere debet et inclinatur ad aliqua mala facienda. Mich. II, 1: vae qui cogitatis inutile, et operamini malum in cubilibus vestris. Potest etiam quod dicit non in cubilibus vestris, referri ad apparatum luxuriae. Unde dicitur in persona meretricis Prov. VII, 17: aspersi cubile meum myrrha, et cetera. Gen. XLIX, v. 4: ascendisti cubile patris tui. Et ideo convenienter, quarto, excludit intemperantiam circa venerea, cum subdit et impudicitiis, id est quibuscumque venereis actibus, qui dicuntur impudici, quia non cavent id quod est maxime pudore vel confusione dignum: tum quia omnes delectationes tactus, gulae et luxuriae sunt communes nobis et brutis. Unde qui eis inordinate insistit, brutalis efficitur. Ps. XXXI, 9: nolite fieri sicut equus et mulus, quibus non est intellectus, et cetera. Tum etiam quia specialiter in actibus venereis ratio hominis totaliter absorbetur a delectatione, ut non possit homo tunc aliquid intelligere, sicut Aristoteles dicit in libro Ethicorum. Unde et Osee IV, 11 dicitur: fornicatio, et ebrietas, et vinum auferunt cor. Apoc. IX, 21: non egerunt poenitentiam super immunditia et fornicatione et impudicitia, quam gesserunt. Deinde excludit ea quae pertinent ad corruptionem irascibilis, cum dicit non in contentione. Quae quidem, ut Ambrosius dicit, est impugnatio veritatis cum confidentia clamoris. Potest autem intelligi quod per hoc prohibetur omnis rixa, non solum verborum, sed et factorum, quae ut plurimum a verbis incipit. Prov. XX, 3: honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus. Solet autem contentio ex invidia generari, et ideo subdit et aemulatione. Unde Iac. III, v. 16 dicitur: ubi zelus et contentio, ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum. Secundo exponit quomodo debeamus induere arma lucis, dicens sed induimini dominum Iesum Christum, in quo scilicet abundantissime fuerunt omnes virtutes, secundum illud Is. IV, 1: apprehendent septem mulieres virum unum. Induimus autem Iesum Christum, primo quidem, per sacramenti susceptionem. Gal. c. III, 27: quicumque in Christo baptizati estis, Christum induistis. Secundo, per imitationem. Col. III, 9: expoliantes vos veterem hominem cum actibus suis, et induentes novum, et cetera. Et Eph. IV, 24: induite novum hominem, qui secundum Deum creatus est in iustitia, et cetera. Dicitur autem induere Christum qui Christum imitatur, quia, sicut homo continetur vestimento et sub eius colore videtur, ita in eo, qui Christum imitatur, opera Christi apparent. Per hoc ergo induimur arma lucis, quando induimur Christum.
13:14
Tertio exponit quod dixerat sicut in die honeste ambulemus, per hoc quod subdit et carnis curam ne feceritis in desideriis. In hoc enim pulchritudo honestatis consistit ut homo non carnem spiritui sed spiritum praeferat carni. Supra VIII, 12: debitores sumus non carni, ut secundum carnem vivamus. Sed notandum quod non dicit simpliciter carnis curam ne feceritis, quia quilibet tenetur ut carnis curam gerat ad sustentandam naturam, secundum illud Eph. V, 29: nemo umquam carnem suam odio habuit, sed nutrit et fovet, et cetera. Sed addit in desideriis, ut scilicet inordinata carnis desideria, id est concupiscentias, non sequamur. Unde dicitur Gal. V, 16: spiritu ambulate, et desideria carnis non perficietis.
13:1
Non est enim potestas nisi a Deo. Potestatis nomine superioritas ipsa, qua quis alii vel aliis regendis praefectus est, hoc loco intelligitur; ut est regum, principum, magistratuum; item episcoporum, parentum, dominorum. Potestas autem usurpata, cujusmodi est tyrannorum et latronum, non est absolute potestas, nec superioritas, sicut et leges inutiles ac malae non sunt leges, tametsi et hoc genus potestatis suo modo a Deo sit, et illi praesentem sententiam interdum accommodet Augustinus, docens, eam potestatem, qua daemones et mali homines affligunt et vexant bonos, datam illis esse a Deo. Neque enim, inquit, habet in eos quisquam ullam potestatem, nisi cui data fuerit desuper. Non est enim po~ testas nisi a Deo sive jubente, sive sinente. Sic ille lib. 22. contra Faustum cap. 75. Similiter accommodat Ub. de natura boni cap. 32., et in enarrat. Psalm. 32. conc. 2., ac alibi. Cujus quidem doctrinae explicatio pertinet ad ultimam dist. lib. 2. sent. Est autem omnis potestas, id est, superioritas, a Deo instituta tanquam necessaria ad ordinem et pacem humanae conversationis. Quae potestas cum sit duplex, saecularis et ecclesiastica, saecularis quidem potestas mediate est a Deo, per homines, qui instinctu legis naturae sibi praeficiunt eos, a quibus in commune regantur. Hic enim instinctus a Deo est; ut propterea vere et proprie dicatur, hanc potestatem non esse nisi a Deo, sicut et ab Ecclesiastico dictum est cap. 17., quod Deus in unamquamque gentem praeposuitrcctorem. Ecclesiastica vero potestas aDeoinstitutaestimmediate;quiaChristu3 ipse suos Apostolos, et imprimis Petrum ejusque successores ecclesiae suae rectores constituit. Ex quo discrimine liquet, ecclesiasticae potestati non minus, sed magis ac potius quam saeculari, obedientiam a fidelibus deberi; quemadmodum pulchre ratiocinatur et coUigit S. Basilius in lib. de constit. monach. cap. 23. Quod vero Graeci commentatores annotant, non dixisse Apostolum, omnes principes institutos esse a Deo, sed ipsam potestatem, eo quod, etsi potestas a Deo sit, non tamen sit autor, ut exempli causa Nero, Domitianus aut Diocletianus principatum gerat; ne contrarium videatur apertis Scripturis, quae docent, etiam malos principes non ahunde quam a Deo principandi potestatem habere, exponendum reor, vel de mala adeptione potestatis, vel de malo ejus usu. De quo debet intelligi, quod apud Osee Prophetam cap. 8. dicit Dominus: Ipsi regnaverunt et non ex me: principes extiterunt, et non cognovi. Rectius autem S. Thomas in commentario haec omnia docte et accurate distinguit, pote.statem ipsam, modum adipiscendi potestatem, et usum potestatis: docens quid horum et quatenus a Deo sit, quid et quatenus a Deo non sit. Ad quem te, lector studiose, remitto. Certe de ipsis principibus potestate praeditis agit sententia sequens.
Quae autem sunt, a Deo ordinatae sunt. Quod in multis codicibus legebatur, ordinata sunt, neutro genere, merito correctum a Romanis, reposito foeminino ordinatae sunt. Sic enim habent meliores codices mss. Nec aliter verti potuit ex Graeco, ubi plenius sic legitur: al dk oboai l^oQoiai, uno tou ^bou TSTayjuevai ■£tO''v. Id est: quae autem sunt, sive existunt potestates, a Deo ordinatae sunt. Nec secus habet Syriaca translatio. Sensus igitur est: Quaecumque sunt po-' testates, id est, quicumque sunt homines potestate praediti, ut principes ac magistratus, ii sunt ordinati atque mstituti, et, ut Petrus loquitur 1. epist. 2., missi a Deo, dante potestatem et volente, ut eis tanquam suis in ea potestate vicariis obediatur: quomodo si rex quispiam det provinciae aut civitati vicarium gubernatorem suis mandatis instructum. Falluntur autem, qui illud a Deo construunt cum parte praecedenti: quasi sensus sit, potestates, quaecumque a Deo sunt, ordinatas esse. Quod etsi verum, non tamen hic significatum est. Tantum dicit Apostolus, omnes potestates esse ordinatas a Deo. Igitur haec sententia a superiore, qua dixit: Non est potestas nisi a Deo, fere non alio differt, quam quod illic abstracte de potestate loquatur Apostolus; hic sensu concretivo. Cujus argumentum est, quod utatur plurali numero, quemadmodum et ibi: Omnis anima potestatibus etc. Sed propterea de potestatibus, id est, princibus repetere voluit, quod abstractive de potestate dixerat, ne quis excusaret et diceret, se potestatem quidem ipsam venerari, sed ea fungentes malos esse, proindeque indignos quibus obediatur. Quam excusationem Apostolus hac parte exchisit, affirmans ipsos principes a Deo cum potestate institutos esse.
13:2
2. Itaque qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit. Pro verbo resistit secundo loco legendum putat Cajetanus restitit, et mox pro resistunt, restiterunt, sed imperite, secutus malum interpretem; ubi et Erasmus lapsus est. Nam quod G-raece est dvf^eoTrjxsv et dvO^saTrjxoTSC, significationem habet praesentis temporis, perinde ut simplex soTrjxsv. De quo vide, quae dicta sunt ad illud cap. 11. Tu autem fide stas. Concludit Apostolus ex praecedentibus, eum qui potestati atque ipsis potestatibus, id est, principibus potestate fungentibus resistit, ordinationi divinae, adeoque ipsi Deo resistere, a quo ordinatae sunt potestates. Collectio formam habet syllogismi: Potestates ordinatae sunt a Deo: iste potestati resistit, igitur Dei ordinationi resistit. Porro resistunt potestati, quicumque resistunt, id est, obedire nolunt legi sive edicto, quod a potestate procedit. Nam sicut ipsa potestas, sic et proprius ejus effectus, id est, lex et praeceptum a Deo est. Qua etiam ratione Dei praeceptum vocari potest: licet distinctionis ac doctrinae gratia dicantur Dei praecepta, quae Deum ipsum habent legislatorem, id est, a Deo profecta sunt immediate. Docet ergo hic locus, in Deum peccare, quicumque legem transgreditur humanam, a quacunque potestate, modo legitima, positam; ut etiam in potestate civili locum habeat, quod de ecclesiastica dictum est: Qui vos audit, me audit: et qui vos spernit, me spernit, Luc. 10. Sed ea res amplius patebit ex sequentibus. Caeterum injustis legibus, quoniam a legitima potestate seu potestatis usu non procedunt, aut non obedire, aut etiam adversus earum vim sese tueri, non est potestati resistere. Quanquam Id vel ob metum majoris mali, vel ne scandalum detur infirmis, saepe non expedit.
Qui autem resistunt, ipsi sibi damnationem acquirunt. Ipsi sibi, graece eauToTg xpTjjia ATJtj^ovTai _, sibi ipsis judicium accipient, utique judicium damnationis ac supplicii: quomodo frequenter in sacris literis judicium sumitur. Itaque sensus est, eos, qui potestati resistunt, sibi ipsis damnationem seu poenam juste inferendam accersere, eamque pro merito suae inobedientiae recepturos esse. Sic ad Galat. 5.: Qui conturbat vos, portabit judicium. Damnationem vero intelligit xVpostolus vel aeternam a Deo inferendam in futuro saeculo, quia dixerat: Dei ordinationi resistit. Quem sensum tradunt commentator Ambrosius, Hervaeus et Cajetanus, atque etiam Augustinus in epist. 54. Ex quo commentario sequitur, eos mortaliter peccare, qui resistunt potestati. Id quod verum est de iis, qui praecepto per inobedientiam sese opponunt. Alioqui contra leges humanas, sicut et contra divinas, contingit peccari tantum venialiter. Quo si extendatur hic locus, nomine damnationis comprehendetur etiam poena temporalis infligenda a Deo. Qua generali significatione capiebatur supra cap. 8. in 19 * illis verbis: Nihil ergo nunc damnationis est iis, qui sunt in Christo. Vel damnationem intelligit, poenam a potestate, cui resistitur, inferendam. Quae poena non nisi temporalis est; de qua dicebat ille: neque tu times Deum, quod in eadem. damnatione es, Luc. 23. Ita sensus est: Qui resistunt potestati, provocant eam adversum se, ut ab ea secundum leges puniantur. Quae tacita est fideJium admonitio, ne dent occasionem principibus adversum se durius agendi. Sensum hunc excluso priori tradit Haimo in comment., S. Thomas utrumque sensum refert ut bonum. Conjungunt autem ambos simul Chrysostomus ejusque sequaces, duplex intelligentes judicium: quod, qui potestati resistunt, a Deo puniendi sint et ab hominibus. Pro posteriori sensa multum faciunt verba Apostoli subsequentia:
13:3
3. Na7n principes non sunt timori boni operis, sed mali. Graece: non sunt timor bonorum operum, sed malorum. Interpres sensum conatus est exprimere, quem clarius et plenius ita reddas: Nam principes (ut quidem tales sunt) non sunt timendi bene agentibus, sed male: non intentant poenas et supplicia bonis, eed malis. Dico, ut tales, id est, in quantum principes sunt et ab ordine suae potestatis a Deo acceptae non recedunt. Nam profecto, quo tempore haec scripsit Apostolus, quidam principes usum potestatis suae pervertentes, terrori erant bonis Christi fidelibus, in quibus bonum opus, id est, Christi cultum edictis et suppliciis persequebantur.
Vis autem non timere potestatem? Suggerit consilium, quo fiat, ut non timeant potestatem, id est eos, qui potestate funguntur. Timorem intellige supplicii: nam timorem illum, qui alio nomine reverentia vocatur, omnis subditus suo debet superiori. Unde de eo paulo post dicit: Cui timorem, timorem. Nominat Apostolus potestatem; quia quod ad ipsam potestatem attinet ejusque legitimum usum, boni non habent causam timendi. Secus de iis, qui potestate male utuntur, ut ante dictum est.
Bonum fac, et habebis laudem ex illa. Id est: justitiam cole, et legibus obtempera. Sic fiet, ut laudem referas ex potestate: vel quia ad potestatem pertinet non solum suppliciis afficere malos, verum etiam praemiis honorare bonos; vel saltem, ut Cajetanus exponit, malorum comparatione. Dum enim mala opera puniuntur, laudantur bona. Nam ipsa punitio malorum, laus est bonorum. Priori intellectui convenit, quod dicit Petrus 1. epistolae 2., principes esse datos ad vindictam malefactorum, laudem vero bonorum. Notat Augustinus serm. 94. de tempore cap. 5. Paulum non dixisse ab illa, sed ex illa. Aut enim juste agis, inquit, et justa potestas laudabit te; aut juste agentem, etiamsi potestns injusta damnet, Deus justus coronabit. Ac per hoc, sive damnet, sive absolvat, habebis laudem ex illa. Tale quid annotat etiam serm. 111. de diversis cap. 13. et in expositione praesentis loci: ac post eum Beda, transcriptis illius verbis partim in hujus loci collectanea, partim in comment. prioris epist. Petri ad locum jam citatum capitis secundi. ';,^ Verum Graeci interpretes nihil ejusmodi observant: et qui ex Graeco vertunt, pro eodem habent, ex illa et ab illa laudem habere. Considerat enim Apostolus non tam eos, qui potestatem tenent, ut dixi, quam in his potestatem ipsam, ut a Deo est instituta, qua continet ac disponit ordine congruenti res humanas per homines etiam malos: quamvis et per eosdem interdum affligi sinat bonos, utique ad eorum salutem. Quod utrumque Petrus complexus est his verbis 1. epist, 3. Et quis est qui vobis noceat, si boni aemulatores fueritis? Sed et si quid patimini propter justitiam, beati.
13:4
4. Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum. Refen-i potest hoc vel ad principem vel ad potestatem. Utrumque enim praecessit. Si ad potestatem, quod magis apparet, vertendum esset: Deienim ministra etc. Atque ita legit Tertullianus in Scorpiaco cap. 14. Etenim ad utrumque genus commune vocabulum est Siaxovoc;, et in foeminino legitur ultimo capite hujus epistolae. Sensus tamen unus et idem est. Potestas, id est, qui potestate fungitur a Deo instituta, princeps scilicet aut magistratus, eo ipso Dei minister est ac Deo subservit, in bonum tuum; scilicet ut et juste ac tranquille vivas, imo laudem etiam ac praemia consequaris, si non ab hominibus, certe a Deo, cujus ille minister est. Observa probationem a rei definitione, quam paulo post complet dicens: Dei enim minister est, vindex etc. Recte enim definias magistratum, publicum esse ministrum Dei in bonum ei, qui bonum agit, vindicem autem in iram ei, qui malum facit.
Si autem malum feceris, time. Dicens time, non praecipit, sed denunciat. Cum enim dixisset: Vis non timere potestatem? bonum fac: nunc declarat quid expectandum sit ei, qui consilium illud contempserit, ac.si dicat: Si vero quid mali commiseris, ut furtum, adulterium, homicidium, est quod timeas. Unde sequitur:
Non enim sine causa gladium portat. Sine causa, graece s,Ixt], frustra. Dicitur autem id frustra, quod non habet usum. Itaque sensus est: Princeps sive potestas non frustra gladium gestat; sed ut eo utatur, ut eum stringat in malefactores. Nomine gladii comprehende etiam caetera publicae potestatis instrumenta ad puniendos legum violatores, uti sunt carceres, ignes, patibula etc. Quorum usum ostendunt verba sequentia.
Dei enim minister est. Vel ministra est, ut ad potestatem referatur, quemadmodum supra.
Vindex in iram ei, gui malum agif. Gladium, inquit, gestat, sive potestas sive principes, tanquam Dei minister, a quo gladium accepit, ut sit vindex in iram, id est, ut ejus vice ac nomine justitiam exerceat vindicativam in puniendis iis, qui malum agunt, vel pacem publicam turbantes, vel honestatem vitae communis laedentes. Ad hoc enim instituta est potestas saecularis, ut et pacem publicam conservet, et vitae communis honestatem tueatur.
13:5
5. Ideo necessitate subditi estote. Quidamcodiceshfihent necessitati, sed plures ac meliores necessitate, quod editio Romana probavit. Ita namque etiam legunt Augustinus, Pelagius, Primasius, Hervaeus, Rickelius; tametsi neutrum legitur apud Ambrosiastrum, sed hoc solum: ideoque subditi estote. Quae lectio sine dubio defectuosa est. Porro Graeca sic habent: dib avayxTj OTKjxdGjso^ai, ideo necessitas, subdi. Cujus paraphrasim Syrus interpres hanc dedit: Et propter hoc necessitas nobis, ut subdamur. NonnulH tamen Graeci codices permodico ab aliis discrimine Latinae lectioni respondent, et quidem utrilibet, ita legentes: 8i6 avd^y.-q u7iOTa'aa£a&£. Caeterum tam Latinae quam Graecae lectionis idem sensus est: Propter hoc, inquit, quia princeps seu magistratus Dei minister est in ulciscendis malefactis, oportet vos ei subditos esse, id est legibus et edictis ejus obtemperare: oportet, inquam, necessitate praecepti. Atque hujus necessitatis rationem rursus explicat, haec addens:
Non solum propter iram, sed etiam propter conscientiam. Graeci conscientiam hic intelligunt beneficiorum, quae populo a principibus publicam pacem et quietem tuentibus proveniunt. Et huc referunt id quod subjungitur: ideo enim et tributa praestatis; scilicet iu testimonium beneficiorum, quae ab illis accipitis. Verum si respiciamus ad id, qucd proxime praecessit, et ex quo pericopeu hanc totam infert Apostohis, illud inquam: Dei enim minister est etc, nec non ad consuetam significationem vocabuli conscientiae (neque enim usquam in scripturis sic accipitur, quomodo Graeci interpretantur) multo certe probabilior, imo vera omnino deprehendetur aliorum expositio, scilicet oportere nos principibus subditos esse, non solum propter iram, id est, poenam evadendam, quam leges minantur, de qua jam dixerat: vindex in iram ei qui malum agit- sed etiam et maxime propter conscientiam, id est, quia animus noster lege naturali ac divina informatus hoc nobis dictat et loquitur, principibus obediendum esse tanquam Dei ministris et vicariis; ac proinde nos in Deum peccare, si minus illorum dictis et imperatis audientes fuerimus. Ex hoc loco sic intellecto (qui sensus est omnium fere Latinorum, idemque planus et obvius) manifeste sequitur, omnem legem et omne praeceptum, quod proficiscitur ab humana legitima potestate, sive politica, de qua nunc agitur, sive ecclesiastica, subditos obligare in conscientia, id est, coram Deo, et non tantum in foro, ut loquuntur, exteriori. Id enim esset propter iram, et non propter conscientiam subditum esse. Sane contraria huic doctrina, scilicet esse aliqua praecepta legitimae potestatis, quae conscientiam subditorum non teneant obstrictam, non modo falsa est et a sensu scripturarum aliena, verum etiam noxia et pietati inimica; quippe quae homines reddat hypocritas, et quod alibi vituperat Apostolus, ad oculum et non ex animo servientes. Eph. 6. Col. 3.
13:6
6. Ideo enim et tributa praestatis. Graece TeXeTxs^ penditis, solvitis. Hanc partem, quo referant Graeci tractatores, et quomodo interpretentur, jam dictum est. At vero secundum Latinos, quod est longe probabilius, novumhic argumentum adfert Apostolus, quo doceat principibus parendum esse. Nam solutio tributorum subjectionis est professio. Novae probationis indicium est copulativa conjunctio causali postposita.
Ministri enim Dei sunt, in hoc ipsum servientes. Servientes, graece Trpcigxap- TepoDvT£g_, instantes, incumbentes cum assiduitate. Hoc enim significat vox Graeca, qua eadem usus est superiori capite: orationi instantes. Eadem vis est Syriacae dictionis hoc loco. Caeterum Augustinus lib. 4. de doctrina Christiana cap. 20. legit: In hoc ipso perseverantes. Sensus est: Jure penditis tributa principibus. Sunt enim ministri Dei in conservanda vobis pace et honestate publica; et in hoc ipsum ministerium, in hanc curam assidue et toti incumbunt, toti vobis et vestris commodis serviunt. Loquitur de principibus ut tales sunt, quod jam ante admonui.
13:7
7. Reddite ergo omnibus debita. Omnibus, id est, tam principibus, quam aUis quibuscumque. Transit enim ad doctrinam generalem, qua praecipit, non solum principibus ac magistratibus hujus saeculi, sed omnibus omnino tam ecclesiasticis quamsaecularibus, tam privatis hominibus quam publica potestate fungentibus, debita cujuscumque generis esse reddenda. Quod est justitiae praeceptum.
Cui tributum, tributum: cui vectigal, vectigal. Id est: Cui debetis tributum, ei reddite tributum. Cui vectigal debetis, ei vectigal reddite, solvite. Haec autem debita sunt principibus, ut dictum est. Inter tributum et vectigal, graece ^opov xal T£/o<^^ ita grammatici distinguunt, quod illud pro regione seu praediis, hoc pro mercibus exportandis importandisve pendatur.
Cui timorem, timorem. lis nempe, qui praesunt. Timorem intelligit reverentiam. Haec enim est debitum quoddam, quod omnis subditus debet suo rectori. Ita praecipit Ephes. 5. Uxor timeat virum suum. Et cap. 6. Servi obedite dominis carnalibus cumtimore et tremore. Timorem vero supplicii proprie subditus superiori suo non debet, sed magis sibi ipsi; ut per hujusmodi timorem refraenetur a peccando. Ex quibus patet hanc partem non esse contrariam illi quod dixerat: Vis non timere potestatem? honumfac; quoddetimore supplicii diximus accipiendum. Cajetanus haec aliter conciliare conatur, de eodem timore intelligens utrumque. Sed ejus solutio coactior est, nec satis accommodata menti Paulinae. Quapropter et aliam adhibet ab hac nostra non multum diversam: scilicet ut hic locus accipiatur de timore offensae.
Cui honorem, honorem. Videlicet omnibus quidem, secundum id quod dictum est capite praecedenti: Honore invicem praevenientes; sed maxime principibus ac praefectis: in quibus agnoscere et venerari debemus excellentiam potestatis, quam Deus eis contulit, et qua funguntur ut Dei vicarii, licet ipsi forte moribus sint improbi. Qaum enim propter hanc potestatem honorantur, Deus in eis honoratur: sicut e contrario, dum illi contemnuntur, Deus contemnitur. Hinc Moses ad filios Israel: Non contra nos est murmur vestrum, sed contra Dominum. Exod, 16. Et Dominus ad Samuelem: Non te abjecerunt, sed me, ne regnem super eos. 1 Reg. 8. Porro cum Apostoli in hoc loco doctrina, sicut dixi, sit generalis, nihil vetat, hic etiam contineri praeceptum de honorariis episcoporum et presbyterorum, quos, si bene praesint, duplici honore dignos haberi vult. 1 Tim. 5.
13:8
8. Nemini quidquam debeatis, nisi ut invicem diligatis. Graece: ci jjitj t6 ayaTiav aAATgAou';^ nisi hoc, quod est diligere invicem; id est, nisi dilectionem mutuam. Et debeatis graece 6<petA£Tc debete, quod et debetis verti potest, etsi incongruenter hoc loco. Sub nomine debiti percommode transitum facit Apostolus ad commendandum generale praeceptum dilectionis, tanquam debiti cujusdam perpetui. Sensus est: Reddite cuique quod debetis, sic ut non amplius debeatis, uno debito caritatis excepto. Quod debitum reddere quidem vos jubeo: sed ita ut sciatis, vos semper hujus debiti (quod est invicem diligere) manere debitores. Nam caetera debita, tributum, vectigal, commodatum, mutuum, depositum, ita redduntur, ut cum dederis, jam liber sis a debito, quod proprie est solvere debitum: at mutuae dilectionis officium, quantumcunque fuerit impensum, semper adhuc debetur: ac proinde redditur quidem hoc debitum, sed nunquam solvitur; quippe manente semper obligatione, quae nos ejus perpetuos facit debitores, ut loquitur. August. epist. 135., illudadjiciens, quod eam tanto magis debemus, quanto amplius impenderimus. Testatur idipsum Fulgentius in sermone, cui titulus de caritate, in quo haec Apostoli verba late pertractat. Exstat ejusdem Augustini brevis, sed insignis ad Coelestinum diaconum epistola num 62., qua sententiam banc apostolicam versat, docta et quae tota caritatem spiret, explicatione. Dicet aliquisnon solum amorem, verum etiam honorem omnibus, et timorem superioribus semper deberi. Respondet Dionysius Carth., nomine dilectionis comprehendi etiam aliarum virtutum officia erga proximos; quae omnia a caritate diriguntur, ac revera non debentur, nisi quantum dictat caritas semper omnibus debita.
Qui enim diligit proximum, legem implevit. Proximum, gra.ece: tov STcpov^ alterum. Et ita citat Aug. lib. de grat. et lib. arb. cap. 17. et Tract. 5. in 1. S. Joann. epist. Ex quo intelligitur, quam generalis sit proximi significatio in praecepto dilectionis proximi; ita nimiium, ut significetur omnis alter homo, sive amicus sit sive inimicus, sive propinquus sive extraneus, sive fidelis sive infidelis. Quod etiam ex specialibus praeceptis ad proximi dilectionem spectantibus, quorum hic aliquasubjicit Apostolus, evidenti argumento colligitur. Nam si vel unus quispiam homo proximi appellatione non comprehenderetur; non peccaret contra praeceptum diligendi proximi, qui rem ei furaretnr, aut eum occideret, aut falsum testimonium adversus eum diceret: quod repugnat doctrinae hujus loci. Denique ut intelligas, Paulo eundem esse proxinnim et alterum: quem hoc loco vocat £Tcpov_, alterum, paulo inferius semel et iterum vocat TOV TiArjocov proximum. Nam quod Faber annotat, alterum latius patere (\u?im proximum, quia Deus alter a nobis sit, non tamen proximus noster: alienum id esse constat a mente Pauli, qui verbis consequentibus referens sola praecepta dilectionis proximi, satis declarat, quem hic alterum intelligat. Ita Jacobus Apostolus epistolae suae cap. 4. Tu quis es, qui judicos proximum? Graece: tov STepov. Igitur hortatur Apostolus tam Judaeos quam Graecos ad mutuam dilectionem, proposito ingenti fructu hujus operis, quem sine eo consequi non possent, qui est legis impletio; de qua tam gravis inter illos extiterat altercatio. Qui enim, inquit, diligit proximum, supple ex Evangelio et ex ipso mox Apostolo, sicut seipsum, — legem implevit, postquam id fecerit. Vel implevit, pro implet, id est, perficit. Cum qua sententia Paulina pulcre consonat illud, quod Joannem Apostolum dixisse memorat Hieronymus in commentario epistolae ad Galat. cap. 6. Cum enim aetate jam decrepitus non posset longiorem ad discipulos facere sermonem, hoc tantum per singulas collectas dicebat: Filioli, diligite alterutrum. Qua de re monitus a discipulis taedio affectis, quod somper eadem audirent, et rogantibus, quare semper hoc loqueretur, respondit sententiam se dignam: Quia praeceptum Domini est; et, si solum fiat, sufficit. Nempe hoc idem est, quod Paulus dicit: legem implevit. Porro legem implere et perficere is dicitur, qui totam legem opere praestat: adeo ut ne unum quidem legis praeceptum transgrediatur. Qui enim bffendit in uno, factus est omnium reus. Jac. 2. Quaeritur ergo, quomodo, qui diligit proximum, legem impleat, id est, totam observet, cum non sola debiti erga proximum oflicii praecepta lex contineat, sed etiam, et imprimis, erga Deum? Unde et diligendi Dei maximum et primum mandatum a Christo vocatur. Matth. 22. Secundum autem diligendi proximi, simile illi. In quibus duobus mandatis, inquit, universa lex pendet et prophetae. Cajetanus respondet, Apostohim loqui de lege relata ad homines. Quoniam, inquit, tractat de debitis homini. Cujus signum esse vult, ([uod non adferat nisi praecepta debitorum hominibus, cum de dilectione et cultu Dei jam superius, hoc est praecedenti capite, docuisset. Quae Cajetani responsio etiam aliis quibusdam non immerito probatur. Subjungit tamen ipse et aliam solutionem: idcirco recte dictum quod, qui proximum diligit, legem implevit, quia dilectio Dei in dilectione proximi includitur, vehit causa in effectu. Quae eadem est responsio S. Thomae in commentario, consentanea verbis S. Augustini dicentis in epistola 95. scripta ad lunocentium papam: quoniam nisi diligat Deum, nemo diligit seipsum. Neque enim vera dilectione quisquam diligit proximum, nisi quem in Deo et propter Deum diligit. Unde necesse est, ut ipsum Deum principaliter et summe diligat. Quod item declaratur hac ratione: quia nemo diligit proximum sicut seipsum, nisi seipsum diligat. Seipsum autem nemo diligit ut oportet, nisi summum suum bonum, quod est Deus, diligat eo modo, quo diligi debet, id est, ut summum ac super omnia.
13:9
9. Nam: non adulterabis, non occi~ des, non furaberis, non falsum testimonium dices. Graece t6 yap^ ou |i,ot/£6a£tg^ etc. Nam hoc, non adulterabis. Erasmus: Siquidem illa, non moechaberis etc, Futura modi indicativi pro imperativis Hebraeo more posuit Apostolus, sicut habentur in ipsa lege. Probat enim id, quod dixerat, enumeratione praeceptorum decalogi, quibus ordinatur homo ad proximum. Et haec quidem, quae recenset, negativa sunt, prohibentia ab injuriis proximo inferendis: sed quae omnia tamen impleri nequeant, nisi per veram dilectionem. Breviter haec praecepta explicemus. Adulter est, non solum qui alienum torum violat, sive conjugatus, sive sohitus, seu vir seu mulier: verum etiam qui conjugatus cum sit, cum muliere soluta commiscetur, quamvis hoc adulterii genus legibus apud ethnicos puniri non soleat. Homicida est, quisquis absque justa autoritate hominem, sive nocentem sive innoxium interficit. Furatur, quisquis alienum invito domino aut accipit aut detinet; sive clam, sive palam ac per vim id faciat. Falsustestis est, quicumquesciens falsurb dicit testimonium, praesertim in judicio, et in nocumentum proximi. Quod postremum lex expressit addens: contra proximum tuum. Cur Apostohis ordinem mutaverit, qui est in decalogo Exod. 20. et Deut. 5., ubi praeceptum: Non occides, anteponitur praecepto: Non moechaberis, ratio non occurrit, nisi forte propterea adulterium posuit in capite, quod de eo fugiendo vel imprimis Romanos putaverit admonendos. Nam peccata carnalia, quae omnia ad hanc prohibitionem revocantur, Romae et alibi inter gentiles quam maxime regnabant.
Non concupisces. Neque uxorem, neque rem proximi tui. Nam uno verbo complexus est duo postrema decalogi praecepta; quorum alterum inhibet concupiscentiam uxoris alienae ad concubitum, alterum concupiscentiam rei alienae ad possidendum.
Et si quod est aliud mandatum. Ut primum secundae tabulae: Honorapatrem et matrem; quod solum in secunda tabula affirmativum est. Hoc autem ideo fortasse non expressit, quia satis continetur in eo, quod jam ante dixerat: Cui honorem, honorem. Dicit autem: si quod est aliud etc., non quasi de eo dubitet vii" legis peritissimus, sed ut supponens rem notam, ac si dicat: et quodcumque est aliud mandatum. Ita Dominus Malach. 1. Si pater ego sum, ubi est honor meus? Et ipse Paulus alibi: Et si quid aliud sanae doctrinae adversatur. 1 Tim. 1.
In hoc verbo instauratur: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum. Cum hoc loco prorsus idem est, etsi brevius expressum, quod scribit ad Gal. 5. Omnis lex in uno sermone impletur: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum. Instauratur, graece avaxecpaAatoijTa^ recapitulatur; ut legit August. epist. 29., id est, summatim comprehenditur, huc velut ad caput, summam, compendium redigitur ac revocatur: ad hunc, inquam, sermonem: Diliges proximum tuutn sicut teipsum. Nam in Graeco repetitur, Iv T(tT ayaTTigastg, quod Erasmus vertit: nempe, diliges. Habetur hoc praeceptam Levit. 19. et a Christo cum insigni commendatione repetitur in Evangelio M?tth. 22. et Marci 12. Nam quod Hieronymus in Levitico vertit: Diliges amicum tuum sicut teipsum; nihil diversum significare voluit. Sunt quidem in Hebraeo vocabula diversa n^!3\J ®^ n>"l) q^orum alterum Hieronymus verf it proximum, alterum amicum; sed in eodem capite Levitici et alibi passim usurpantur ut synonyma, quod etiam ex ipsa Hieronymi versione facile est ostendere, pro eadem voce rn>"1 nunc amicum, nunc proximum reddentis. Siquidem et LXX. interpretes utrumque vocabulum non aliter transtulerunt quam Tov TzXrpiov, id est, proximum. Quem tamen etiam amicum vocare liceat, non qui amet, sed qui ametur aut amari debeat. Quo sensu dictum est a Christo Joan. 15. Majorem hac dilectionem nemo habet, ut animam suam ponat quis pro amicis suis. Quamquam alii pro amico socium malunt, apto sane ad rem praesentem vocabulo. Nam, ut ait Augustinus epistola 52. de hoc ipso dilectionis praecepto disserens: proximus hoc loco non sanguinis propinquitate, sed rationis societate pensandus est; in qua socii sunt omnes homines. Nam si pecuniae ratio socios facit; quanto magis ratio naturae, non negotiandi, sed nascendi lege communis? Sic ille. Porro quid sit proximum sicut se ipsum diligere, satis ostendunt duo generalia legis naturae praecepta, itidem in Scripturis expressa; alterum affirmativum Matth. 7.: Quaecunque vuJtis, ut faciant vobis homines, et vos facite illis; alterum negativum Tob. 4.: Quod ab alio oderis tibi fieri, vide ne tu alteri facias. Ex quibus intelligitur, ea parte sicut te ipsum non exigi dilectionis aequalitatem; non enim dicit quantum te ipsum, sed similitudinem et formam, secundum quam proximus a nobis diligendus sit et officia dilectionis ei impendenda, sic nimii-ura, ut dilectio nostri proposita nobis sit tanquam typus, exemplnra et regula dilectionis proximi. Sensus hujus praecepti ad literam est, ait Cajetanus, ut diligas proximum eo modo, quo diligis te ipsum, hoc est amore amicitiae, quod est velle illi bonum, honestum, utile, delectabile, propter illum, non propter te: sicut vis tibi ipsi haec bona propter te ipsum.
13:10
10. Dilectio proximimalum non operatur. Declaratio est ejus, quod dixerat, omnia praedicta mandata concludi in uno praecepto dilectionis proximi. Nam dilectio proximi malum non operatur, id est, incitat ad malum aliquod inferendum proximo; imo nec patitur ei malum inferri, sed ubi potest, procurat ei bona sicut sibi ipsi. Notandum est enim, Apostolum minus dicendo plus significare voluisse. Nonnulli codices latini cum graecis ferme omnibus eorumque interpretibus (nam sola nobiscum facit editio Complutensis) legunt proximo, casu dandi; quibus et Byriaca versio favet, ut regatur dativus ille a verbo operatur. Caeterum utraque lectio proba est, et in eundem recurrit sensum.
Plenitudo ergo legis est dilectio. Plenitudo Graece iiXigpiofjia^ id est, impletio, complementum, consummatio, et ut ita dicam, totalis observatio. Potest autem istud vel secundum superiora limitari ad dilectionem proximi hoc sensu: Legis impletio, qua parte nos ordinat adproximum, habetur per dilectionem proximi, et sic conclusio erit ex illa propositione interim probata: Qui diligit proximum, legem implevit. Vel generaliter accipi potest de totius legis impletione, deque dilectione tam Dei quam proximi, ut sensus sit: Si, ut ostensum est, dilectio proximi implet legem, quoad oificia debita proximo; igitur dilectio simpliciter implet legem simpliciter et quoad omnia. Quod est argumentum a proportione. Voco dilectionem simpliciter, qua unumquodque diligitur, id est, tam Deus quam proximus, quomodo diligi debet. Est autem sententia praecise et cum exclusione accipienda. Sentit enim Apostolus, sic per dilectionem impleri legem, ut sine ea impleri non possit; secundum id, quod dicit Joannes 1. epist. 3.: Qui non diligit, manet in morte. Estque ea B. Augustini doctrina multis locis, adeo ut in enarratione Psalm. 89. tractans illud extremum: et opus manuum nostrarum dirige, pronuntiet, quod omnia bona opera nostra unum opus est caritatis. Nam, ut ait Gregorius in homilia 27. super Evangelia: Omne mandatum de sola dilectione est, et omnia unum praeceptum sunt: quia quidquid praecipitur, in sola caritate solidatur. Porro discimus ex hoc loco, legem Dei in hac vita a nobis impleri posse, quod negant haeretici; cum utique negare non possint, multos esse, qui proximum diligant; ex quo secundum Apostolum evidens et certa consequentia est, eos legem implere.
13:11
11. Et hoc scientes tempus, quia hora est jam nos de somno surgere. Verbum est de suo supplet interpres. Surgere J Graece lyepbrjvai, id est, excitari, ex- * pergisci. Pronomen hoc non potest referri ad tempus, quia genus non convenit, sed referendum ad superiorem admonitionem de implendo praecepto mutuae dilectionis. Estque etiam hic supplendum verbum, ut sit sensus: Et hoc, quod dixi de mutua dilectione exercenda, vel ob id agere debemus, quod sciamus jam tempus esse et horam, qua evigilemus e somno peccati. Hunc enim somnum intelligi, ostendit, quod sequitur de abjiciendis operibus tenebrarum. Et locus alter 1 Cor. 15.: Evigilate justi, et nolite peccare. Notandum autem, Apostolo non fuisse satis, ut diceret, tempus esse, graece xatp6v_, id est, tempus opportunum: sed addidisse, quod jam hora sit, id est, tempus quam maxime opportunum, idemque breve, ut proinde, quod agendum est, jam non ultra differri debeat.
Nunc enim projnor est nostra salus, quam cum credidimus. Propior Graece eyyuTspov propius, adverbium. Potestque sic verti: nunc enim propius nobis adest salus, ut genitivus Tjfxoiv ab adverbio regatur juxta Graecam syntaxin, non a nomine i] ocoTT^pia, tametsi potest ab utrohbet. Salus, inquit, futurae gloriae, quam exspectamus, nunc vicinior nobis est, postquam in fide Christi magna pars vitae nobis peracta est, quam tunc erat, quando primum credere cepimus, quando baptizati sumus, et per baptismum numero fidelium aggregati. Quocirca tanto majori nunc opus est vigiJantia, quanto magis tempus, quo salutem exspectamus, appropinquare novimus. Hoc dicit, quod in fidei primordiis, uti post Chrysostomum annotant Theophylactus et Oecumenius, ferventiores et ad opera bona alacriores fuissent fideles, temporis autem progressu refriguissent, quos monet, ut spiritum illum priorem alacritatis et fervoris in se resuscitent, adeoque vehementius incendant.
13:12
12. Nox praecessit. Graece Tiposxotpsv, idest, processity progressa est. Et in eum sensum enarrant hunc locum Graeci commentatores Chysostomus et Theophylactus. Item processit apud Augustinum legitur epist. 80. Ruffinus etiam in interpretando Origene vertit, nox promovit, id est, processit. Apud Hieronymum lib. 1. advers. Jovin. cap. 22. et in epistola ad Nepotianum ambigua lectio est variantibus exemplaribus. Sed nec omnino constat, quomodo noster interpres verterit, cum proclive sit oscitanti librario literam pro litera scribere. Pro nostra tamen lectione facit codicum MSS. consensus, quodque etiam apud veteres Latinos idem verbum aut aliud fere synonymum habeatur. Nam Cyprianus sermone de zelo et livore legit, nox transivit. Hieronymus in cap. 26. Matthaei, nox praeteriit. Commentator Ambrosii titulo, nox jjraecessit. Non aliter ipse Ambrosius lib. 5. de sacrament. cap. 4. et serm. 52. Quo posteriore loco verba ejus sunt: Praecessit nox, non sequitur. Ubi subjungens, nonsequitur, satisdeclarat se legisse praecessit, non processit. Denique Syriaca versio sic habet: Nox nunc praeteriit. Quanquam ista verba praeteriit, transivit, etiam ad alteram lectionem accommodari facile possunt. Quod enim longe processit, ut pene recesserit, id jam praeteriisse etiam vulgo dicimus. Hoc igitur est, quod dicit Apostolus: Nox hujus saeculi plena tenebris errorum et peccatorum longe jam progressa est, ad finem properat, ac ferme jam praeteriit.
Dies autem appropinquavit. Id est, tempus exspectatae salutis et gloriae, quod est perpetua dies sine nocte, expers errorum et peccatorum, jam prope accessit, propinquum est, instat, non longe abest. Id enim significat verbum praeteriti temporis '^yytXcVj appropinquavit: quemadmodum et in Evangelio, quoties auditur illud: Appropinquavit regnum coelorum, ut Matth. 3. et 4. Non enim significatur, jam adesse, sed vicinam esse, paulo post adfuturum. Ita quoque de mundi consummatione et adventu Domini loquuntur Petrus 1. epist. 4. et Jacobus cap. 5.: Omnium finis appropinquavit. Adventus Domini appropinquavit. Jam et hic sensus arguit, in membro praecedenti potius vertendum fuisse processit, quam praecessit. Hujus loci Paulini peculiarem commentarium adfert Erasmus tam in paraphrasi, quam in adnotationibus. Noctem enim interpretatur tempus legis Mosaicae, quo veritas erat velata; diem vero, tempus gratiae per Christum revelatae. Eodem pertinere vult ea, quae praecedunt: Nunc enim propior est nostra salus, ut sensus sit: Posteaquam Christus jam advenit, propinquiores sumus saluti, quam eramus olim sub Mose. Nunc enim omnibus illucescit Evangelium, quod olim sub umbris tectum, et figuris cognitum, credebamus aliquando exhibendum. Sic enim intelligit illud, quam cum credidimus, scilicet olim sub Mose nos Judaei. Commentarium hunc refert Adamus, et non improbat. Toletus etiam rationes adfert, quibus probet. Mihi certe nimis coactum videtur, fidem adscribere statui legis Mosaicae, quod Paulus nusquam facit. Nec dicendum fuisset: dies appropinquavit, id est, vicinus est, sed jam dudum illuxit. Quocirca magis placet prior expositio, quae eodem Adamo teste fere omnium est interpretum.
Abjiciamus ergo opera tenebrarufn et induamur arma lucis. Quoniam, inquit, nox finem accipit et dies illucescit, abjicienda sunt nobis opera noctis et tenebrarum, id est peccata, quae lucem fugiunt, quia qui male agit, odit lucem, Joan. 3., et assumenda sunt arma lucis, id est, bona opera, quae clara die sine pudore possunt ostendi. Ea vocat arma, quia non solum tegunt ut vestimenta, verum etiam tanquam arma defendunt ac tutum reddunt hominem adversus impugnationes diaboli; simul ut submoneat vitam christianam esse militiam quandam spiritualem.
13:13
13. Sicut in die honeste ambulemus. Sicut, graece oiQ ut, tanquam, proinde ne dividas, quemadmodum nonnulli, sic ut. Sensus: Quoniam dies jam affulget, quae luce sua omnia detegit, honeste, composite, et, ut legit Cyprianus loco paulo ante citato, decenter ambulandum, conversandum nobis est, more eorum, qui illucescente die vestes sumunt honestiores, i. e. ea opera exercenda, quae lucem non reformident.
Non in comessationibus et ebrietatibus. Repete verbum, ambulemus. Enumerat aliquot opera tenebrarum, quae dixerat abjicienda; scilicet ea, de quibus amplius necessarium putavit admonendos esse Romanos. Abest in Graeco tribus hisce membris praepositio in, tametsi non incommode addita ab interprete. Comessationes dicuntur convivia seu potius symposia, repctia, epulae, quae fiunt nulla necessitatis aut honestatis ratione postulante, sed tantum voluptatis etgulae causa. Ambrosius in commentario et post eum Beda scribens in illud Luc. 14.: Cum facis prandium aut coenam, comessationes definiunt luxuriosa convivia, quae sic aguntur, ut neminem pudeat, inhoneste aliquid dicere aut facere: dum scilicet ad hoc convenitur, ut foeda illic gerantur et copia vini incitetur libidinis diversa voluptas. Sed ea definitio plus exigit, quam velit Paulus. Involvit enim impudicitias, quas ille a comessationibus distinguit et collocat in sequenti membro: quemadmodum et videre est Galat. 5. ebrietates et comessationes in catalogo operum carnis seorsum a peccatis impudicitiae commemorari, nec non a Petro 1. epist. 4.; tametsi verissimum est, hoc gulae vitio quam maxime homines ad libidines inflammari, praesertim ubi ad ebrietatem progreditur, hoc est, ad superfluitatem potus extra mensuram rationis hominem ponentis, ut loquitur Thomas in commentario, docens, ebrietatem propterea suo genere peccatum mortale esse, quod, qui sciens inebriatur, videatur praeferre delectionem vini integritati rationis. Sed et ea definitio fortasse contractior est quam pro significatione, quam habet ebrietatis vitium in Scriptura sacra: secundum quam potius, ni fallor, ebrietates interpretabimur vinolentias, etsi non usque ad deliquium rationis procedant. Qua de re plenius acturi sumus ad illud 1 Cor. 5.: aut ebriosus.
Non in cubilibus et impudicitiis. Secundum expositio est prioris. Unde Syrus vertit: non in cubili immundo. Nam quod Aquinas cubilia interpretatur, vel superfluam dormitionem vel apparatum luxuriae, rem profecto non attigit. Etenim Paulus honesto vocabulo rem inho nestam significare voluit. Impudicitiis, graece aasXystaiQ^ Tertulliano libidinibus, in fine libri de jejuniis. Similiter Hentenio. Nomen est comprehendens omne genus turpium voluptatum.
Non in contentione et aemulatione. Contentio est concertatio pro gloria et honoribus adipiscendis, cui semper conjuncta est aemulatio, id est, invidentia boni alieni. De triplici isto vitiorum genere eorumquecurationevide, quaescribit Augustinus docte et graviter in epist. 64., quae est ad Aurelium episc. Carthag.
13:14
14. Sed indidmini Dominum Jesum Christum. Quidam codices induite, quod idem valet. Metaphora frequens apud Apostolum et ab Hebraeis accepta, qua Christum, novum hominem, et virtutes Christianas, misericordiam, benignitatem, hiiniilitatem, modestiam, patientiam induere dicimur, ut Galat. 3., Ephes. 4. et 6., Col. 3. et 1 Thess. 5. Nec dissimile illud 1 Cor. 15. induere incorruptionem et immortalitatem. Qua locutione sunt, qui copiam tanquam rei undique circumfusae significari putent, velut illo versiculo Psalm. 64.: Induti sunt arietes ovium, et valles abundabunt frumento, ubi in Hebraeo est: Induerunt se campi pecore, et valles operuerunt se frumento. Quibus verbis abundantiam significari testatur verbum abundabunt, quod LXX. reddiderunt, metaphoram explicantes. Quo referri possunt, quae in Judam proditorem scripta sunt Psalm. 108.: 7nduit maledictionem sicut vestimentum. Et: Fiat ei vestimentum, quo operitur, et sicut zona, qua semper praecingitur. Et infra de Judaeis: Induantur, qui detrahunt mihi, pudore, et operiantur sicut diploide confusione sua. Adfertur et illud Apoc. 19., quod de sponsa agni dicitur: Datum est illi, ut cooperiat se byssino splendenti et candido, quae justificationes sunt sanctorum. Igitur existimant ex sententia Pauli eos induere Christum, qui virtutibus Christianis acquirendis ita student, ut iis quasi totos sese cooperiant: quemadmodum et usu linguae latinae hominem flagitiis coopertum dicimus eum, qui totus flagitiosus est. Alii tamen ea phrasi non plus significatum putant, quam assumptionem, qua fiat, ut quid arcte sit homini conjunctum; quomodo vestis, qua quis sese induit, arcte ei conjuncta est, et per totum diem adhaeret: ut Christum induere dicantur, qui Christum sibi assumunt et applicant, seque ei conformant, adeoque Christum in se quodammodo repraesentant, imitatione virtutum ejus ac bonarum actionum, quae in illo velut capite perfectissime refulserunt. Hunc enim sensum caetera loca ex Apostolo citata, praesertim ex ejus Epist. ad Coloss., ubi virtutes aliquot nobis induendas, abjectis vitiis contrariis, ordine recenset, exigere videntur. At sive priore modo, sive posteriore exponas, liquet, quam nihil faciat hic locus pro justitia, quam commenti sunt novi haeretici, imputativa et externa. Notandum est autem, respicere Paulum ad id, quod dixit, dies autem appropinquavit. Qua scilicet appropinquante solent homines honeste se induere. Ex quo monet, ot assumamus indumentum honestatis ipsum Christum, id est, virtutes Christi. Et quoniam loquitur de die salutis, quae eadem erit dies aeternitatis, cui nox nulla succedet; consequenter intelligi vult, ita Christum nobis induendum esse, ut nunquam deinceps exuatur.
Et carnis curam ne feceritis in desideriis. Curam, graece Ttpovoiav^ providentiam. In desideriis graece ad desideria, seu concupiscentias. Non simpliciter prohibet curam seu providentiam carnis, id est, corporis, cum ipse alibi dicat: Nemo carnem suam unquam odio habuit, sed nutrit et fovet eam, Ephes. 5. Verum prohibet, ne carnis curam agamus in desideriis, id est, ad satisfaciendumconcupiscentiis et voluptatibus carnis. Quod faciunt, qui praetextu cin'audi corporis delicias et voluptates sibi indulgent.
13:3
3. nam principes non sunt timori boni operis, sed mali. Vis autem "20a AYXjevzxn (3. 05 vàz Glyest:s ox t€ zó£e i0 3yxÜo ivo. 32à iQ non timere potestatem? Bonum fac : et habebis laudem ez iila :
13:4
4. Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum. Si autem ma- lum | feceris, tine : non enim sine causa | zi; azaljóv. iX» 9i lo xx£ü nudi, 2üío9" gladium portat. Dei enim minister est : | o9. yàg six c» udyawaw coc: — OzoU vindez in iram ei qui malum agit. 5. | yàp Ouizovós ia:t» fx2txog tli Ópy*w 1G t5 Ideo mecessitate. subditi estote, non so- | xxxow z2i730vit. 0. d dyiyxrm Uxoliclum propter iram, sed etiam propter con- | ocoÜx, o2. uóvov à zv Ózyre, 4ÀXk xai scientiam, 6. Ideo enim et tributa prae- | &:x Zw sovizroi. 6. Qià coüt0 qào xai statis : ministri enim Dei sunt, in hoc | 9 AirfouzYyo: Xo O:oó sisi ipsum servientes. 7. Reddite ergo omnibus | tig a0zo zoüzo z200z22::20977t6, 7. drott debita : cui tributum, tributum ; cui vec- | ziotv cài ópzAig, 29 z0v pópov tov Qópov, tigal, vectigal : cui timorem, timorem : | z& zh ciXo; c0 cÉAo, cQ bv oó5ov €ui honorem, honorem. Tov gófow, - ch. Ttudw Thw udjv!. Simili plane modo, quo S. Petrus ab operibus bonis, quibus in privàta sua vita Christiani ethnicos aedificare et ad veri Dei cognitionem laudemqne trahere teneantur, commendandis ad obedientiam magistratibus debitam inculeandam transit (2 Petr. 2,11-15), Paulus quoque nunc, postquam caritatis officiis enumeratis in privata vita coram omnibus omnino hominibus bona provideri iussit (cfr ad 19,17), neophytos romanos docere aggreditur, quid in publica vita potissimum eis praestandum sit. Gravi quippe oratione praecipit, ut magistratibus omnibus obediant, idque quia a Deo ipso sint instituti, ita ut qui eis resistat , divinae ordinationi resistat sibique ipsi poenam attrahat (1. 9), siquidem divinitus constituti sint ad bonos quidem tuendos, sed ad malos quoque reprimendos (3. 4). Ulterius deinde obedientiam, ut conscientiae macula evitetur, necessariam esse colligit (v. 5) atque hanc doctrinam ex eo confirmat, quod magistratibus tamquam Dei ministris tributa solvi soleant (v. 6). Argumentationem vero suam terminat singulis reddi iubens quae eis competant (v. 77). cepti universalitas ex verbis clare apparet; etenim locutione omnis anima (v5375» xàca doy cfr 2,9 ; Act. 9,43; 3,93) nonsignificatur, «subiectionem superioribus deberi ez animo seu ex pura voluntate » (uti vult Thom. cfr Tol. Ag. eic.), sed neminem ab illa subiectione eximi. « Sive apostolus sit, sive evangelista, sive propheta, sive quivis alius » (Chrys.), omnes nullo excepto subditi sint oportet potestatibus sublimioribus. « Indefinite autem, inquit Thom., dicit potestatibus sublimioribus (Eovciats 0xepsyodoaxs sine artic.), ut ratione sublimitatis officii eis subiiciamur, etiamsi sint mali (cfr 1 Petr. 2,18) ». Recte quoque Salm. monet, per potestates sublimiores vel potius eminentes hic intelligi « homines publica auctoritate praeditos omnes, sive reges sint sive principes sive duces sive magistratus quicumque »; neque enim inter magistratus summos et inferiores sed inter homines auctoritate praeditos et privatos epitheto óz:p£ycocak distinguitur. Similiter Apostolorum princeps praecipit : « Subiecti estote omn? humanae creaturae (scil. quae potestate praedita est cfr Est. Iust. i. h. l., seu : omni humano instituto zácy àvy0puzivr, x:icet) propter Deum, sive regi quasi praecellenti (óc ózspfyovs) sive ducibus tamquam ab eo missis » etc. (1 Petr. 2,13). Per se porro patet, subiectionem hanc magistratibus deberi, in quantum sublimiores sunt, i. e. ius iurisdictionemque vere possident. Neque immerito S. Aug. (expos. n. 72) addit, « eum modum servandum esse, quem Dominus ipse praescripserit, ut reddamus Caesari quae Caesaris sunt et Deo quae sunt Dei ». Quas limitationes Paulus indicat addita ratione, cur omni potestati civili, de qua proxime ac directeagit (cfr vv. 3. &. 6), subiectio debeatur : non est enim potestas, nisi a Deo; quae autem sunt (scil. potestates), a Deo ordinatae. sunt!. Duplicem autem affert rationem , siquidem et potestatem ipsam seu in abstracto, uti dicitur (c yap &cxvv ££oucía attende ad singul.) et potestatem definite in eis qui eam tenent consideratam (ai 32 scil. i22cía: attende ad plur.) a Deo esse declarat. « Propterea autem, inquit Es£ius, de potestatibus, i. e. de principibus, repetere voluit, quod abstractive de potestate dixerat, ne quis excusaret et diceret, se potestatem quidem ipsam venerari, sed eos qui illa fungantur malos esse proindeque indignos, quibus obediatur; quam excusationem hac parte exclusit affirmans ipsos principes a Deo cum potestate institutos esse ». Ab hac explicatione, quae fere communis dici potest, Chrys. cum sua schola recedit, quum malos principes a Deo potestatem accepisse negans utramque sententiam de potestate ipsa ita interpretetur, ut in secunda varías eius species (potestatem viri in mulierem, patris in filios, principis in subditos etc.) divinitus institutas dici declaret. Sed recte iam Ori4. : « Quid ergo? et illa potestas, quae servos Dei persequitur, fidem impugnat, religionem subvertit, a Deo est? Ad hoc breviter respondebimus. Nemo est qui nesciat, quod et visus nobis a Deo datus est et auditus et sensus; quum ergo a Deo haec habeamus, in potestate tamen nostra est, ut visu vel ad bona velad mala utamur, similiter et auditu et motu manuum et cogitatione sensus; et in hoc est iustum iudicium Dei, quod his quae ille ad bonos usus dedit nos abutimur ad impia et iniqua ministeria; ita ergo et potestas omnis a Deo data est ad vindictam quidem malorum, laudem vero bonorum (vv. 3.4); erit autem iustum iudicium Dei erga eos, qui acceptam potestatem secundum suas impietates et non secundum divinas temperant leges ». Alia ratione S. 4v4. (de civ. Dei V. 21) rem considerans eandem interpretationem sequitur : « Non tribuamus dandi regni atque imperii potestatem nisi Deo vero, qui dat felicitatem in regno coelorum solis piis, regnum vero terrenum et piis et impiis, sicut ei placet, cui nihil iniuste placet... Qui Mario, ipse Caio Caesari; qui Augusto, ipse et Neroni; qui Vespasianis vel patri vel filio, suavissimis imperatoribus, ipse et Domitiano crudelissimo; et ne per singulos ire necesse sit, qui Constantino christiano, ipse apostatae Iuliano... Haec plane Deus unus et verus regit ac gubernat, ut placet; et si occultis causis, numquid iniustis »? Accuratius 7om. totam quaestionem perpendit : « Regia potestas , inquit, vel cuiuscumque alterius dignitatis potest considerari quantum ad tria : uno quidem modo quantum ad ipsam potestatem, et sic est a Deo, per quem reges regnant (Prov. 8,13); alio modo quantum «d originem potestatis , et sic quandoque potestas est a Deo, quando scilicet aliquis ordinate eam adipiscitur ( Hebr. 5,4), quandoque vero non est a Deo, sed ex perverso hominis appetitu, qui per ambitionem vel quocumque alio illicito modo eam adipiscitur (Am. 6,13); tertio modo quantum ad. usi potestatis, et sic quandoque est a Deo, puta quum quis iuxta praecepta divinae iustitiae utitur potestate sibi concessa ( Prov. 8,15 per me legum conditores iusta decernunt), quandoque autem non est a Deo, puta quum aliqui data sibi potestate utuntur contra divinam iustitiam (^s. 2,2) ». Quae quamvis bene sint dicta, attendatur tamen oportet, Apostolum de modo, quo aliquis potestatem adipisci possit aut adeptus sit, hic non loqui, sed de potestate ipsa eaque iam constituta, i. e. de iis, qui re potestatem tenent (ai 2$ cüsx quae autem sunt potestates), neque eum postulare, ut neophyti, antequam magistratibus obediant, inquirant, num illi legitime potestatem adepti sint. Sive legitimi sive illegitimi sint principes, eorum potestas, quam re tenent, iuxta Pauli doctrinam, quam Dominus ipse haud obscure iam insinuaverat (cfr loan. 19,11), est a Deo eisque obediatur oportet, quia potestas, quam exercent, a Deo est. Similiter fieri quoque potest, ut ii qui re potestatem tenent aliquid contra divinam iustitiam praecipiant finesque potestatis sibi concessae transgrediantur; quamvis vero in his « Deo obedire oporteat magis quam hominibus » (Act. 5,29), abusus tamen potestatis non efficit, ut potestas ipsa non amplius sit a Deo aut ut potestates quae sunt non amplius dici possint a Deo constitutae. Ex duobus principiis praemissis Apostolus nunc concludit, eos qui potestatem constitutam agnoscere recusant reos esse peccati et poenae : 2. taque qui resistit ($ xvsxzxss:9525) potestati, Dei ordinationi (x3; x23 Oecó Suxzar) resistit (vel potius : se opponit &vÜ£ovrxsv) ; qui autem resistunt (vel : se opponunt aYbsscaiii), ipsi. sibi. damnationem (xeiyz) acquirunt. Sensus sententiae, in qua Apostolus, uti saepe, paronomasiis indulget, clarus est. Quodsi potestatibus sublimioribus subditi esse (922:3060 «502: debemus quia a Deo ordinatae sunt (2:2x 1 9.£va« eiotv), rite colligitur, eum, qui illis resistit (3 àvsvcaccópe vc), divinae ordinationi (21:217) adeoque ipsi Deo se opponere. « Resistere autem divinae ordinationi, inquit 7Ao»i., contrariatur honestati virtutis; unde contra virtutem agit, quicumque potestati resistit in eo quod pertinet ad ordinem suae potestatis ». Ergo non tantum contra principes sed etiam contra Deum peccat sibique sententiam damnatoriam (xeiya cfr ad 2,9. 3 etc.) poenamque et a Deo et a principibus attrahit. Haud sine vi rebellis s/^/ ?pse damnationem acquirere dicitur, quatenus ordo rebellione ipsius turbatus restitui debet. lamvero quum fieri nequeat, ut pro sua iustitia Deus rebelles impunitos abire permittat, Paulus hac assertionis parte praetermissa statim probare aggreditur, magistratus quoque pro suo officio posse ac debere punire rebelles utpote male agentes : 3. n«n principes non. sunt. timori boni operis sed mali, vel accuratius iuxta graecum : non sunt (mor (i. q. timorem non incutiunt s. timendi non sunt) /ono operi sed malo (25x. eisiw gites 36 dryaO Ep X0x 20 *x*0). Qua in sententia perpulchre per metonymiam abstractum 222:; (timor) pro concreto gz£::i (timendi) et per prosopopoeilam quandam «£ iyxüz» (zaxiv) foyov (bonum s. malum opus) pro 3 «» &yafí»» (xxxiv) fzycv ip[atipivog (bene s. male operans) ponitur. Recte autem interpretes monent, Apostolum hic ex fine, ad quem magistratus instituti sint, et ex iure argumentari , quod vi officii sui eis competat. Quoniam enim ad bonum promovendum et malum arcendum a Deo potestatem accipiunt, ius eis est subditos suos poenae timore a malo faciendo retinere maleque operantes punire, uti etiam eos ad bonum faciendum adducere beneque operantes laudibus praemiisque ornare. Idem ctiam S. Petrus declarat, quum duces missos esse asserit « ad vindictam (i. q. punitionem zz3&x2v) malefactorum, laudem vero bonorum (1 Petr. 2,14). Haud male autem, licet ad sententiae explicationem directe non pertineat, Thom. cum S. Aug. (expos. n. 73; serm. 13 n. 6; 302 n. 12 etc.) addit, verba nostra etiam ad malos principes referri posse. « Etsi enim mali principes interdum iniuste persequantur bene operantes, hi tamen causam non habent timendi, quia hoc ipsum (sc. iniusta persecutio), si patienter sustinent, in eorum bonum cedit iuxta illud S. Petri : Quis est qui vobis noceat, si boni aemulatores (29 2029 (r4ozai) fueritis? sed et si quid patimini propter iustitiam, beati; timorem autem eorum ne timueritis (1 Petr. 3,13 sq.) ». Ad illud igitur respiciens, quod magistratibus vi officii et acceptae potestatis competit, Paulus utramque sententiae praecedentis partem exponit, ac primum quidem relate ad bonos : vis autem non timere potestatem? Bonum fac et habebis laudem ez illa; &. Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum (sci; xo à205»). Utrum primum membrum interrogative cum Vülg. Clem. et antiquioribus Latinis legamus. an cum Graeciset plerisque modernis pro elliptica conditione habeamus (i. q. si autem vis non timere potestatem), ad sensum nihil refert; iuxta utramque interpunctionem Apostolus ostendit viam, quam homo ingredi debet, qui magistratuum timore vacare velit. Si bonum agit, non tantum non habet, cur eos timeat, sed etiam ab eis approbatur laudemque ab illis exspectare potest; ad hoc enim a Deo sunt instituti, ut etiam approbatione ac laude praemiisque subditos suos ad bonum faciendum incitent. Aliter autem sese res habet relate ad malos : s: autem male feceris , time; non enim sine causa (sixz) gladium portat ; Dei enim minister est, vindex in iram ei, qui malum egit. Pro suo officio magistratus tamquam ministri Dei probos quidem homines approbant tuenturque atque vitam eorum securam et tranquillam reddunt (cfr 1 Tim. 2,2), malos autem terrent ac puniunt gladio; hoc enim insigne iuris necis ac vitae non temere acceperunt et gestant, ut illud semper in vagina condant, sed ut illud in male agentes stringant. « Si ergo princeps, inquit CArys., et quum punit et quum approbat, Dei minister est virtutem vindicans, malitiam abigens, sicuti Deo placet, cur cum illo (sc. cum principe) contenditis. qui tanta vobis affert bona viamque paravit? Nam multi, qui prius propter principes virtutem exercuerunt, postea etiam ob Dei timorem eam amplexi sunt; crassiores enim non tam futuris quam praesentibus moveri solent. Qui ergo multorum animos vel timore vel praemiis praeparat, ut ad sacrae doctrinae verbum recipiendum aptiores fiant, minister Dei iure merito vocatur ». Neque tamen haec unica aut praecipua appellationis ratio est; minister enim Dei est princeps, quia ab eo tamquam eius vicarius potestatem accepit (v. 1). Postquam magistratibus ius puniendorum rebellium competere ostendit, Paulus ad praeceptum ab initio propositum (onmis anta potestatibus sublimioribus subdita. sit) vevertens illud duabus quas exposuit rationibus velut necessarium commendari concludit :
13:5
5. 1d^o necessitate subditi estote (vel melius cum Orig. interpr. iuxta graecam lectionem : ideo necesse est subditos esse b àvaqwr, xszácstcüm. cfr VV. LL.) non solum propter iram sed etiam propter. conscientiam. Coniunctione &5 (ideo) ad totam praecedentem argumentationem respicit, duabus autem locutionibus ài c» 3py4v (propter iram) et à Th» cuve?zow (propter conscientiam), quae iuxta graecum textum immediate ad &v&yxv àox(v (necesse est) pertinent et iuxta Vulgatam velut appositio quaedam ad ablativum necessitate considerari possunt, ea comprehendit, quae et de magistratuum iure puniendi (vc. 3. 4) et de divina origine potestatis civilis (vv. 1*. 2) exposuit. Itaque ad evitandam quidem iram, i. e. iustitiam ultricem magistratuum, praecipue vero ad satisfaciendum conscientiae dictanti, magistratibus utpote a Deo ordinatis obedientiam deberi, omnes potestatibus sublimioribus subditos esse necesse est. « Propter iram, inquit Oecum., pravi etiam nolentes subduntur, propter conscientiam probi sponte et cum animi alacritate subdi debent ». Haud recte tamen iuniores Graeci (Theoph. Oecum. Euthym.) cum Chrys. Paulum locutione propter conscientiam ad. beneficia, quae magistratus subditis suis subministrent, alludere censent, quasi nos subditos esse iubeat, « ne ingrati erga benefactorem esse videamur ». Etenim in superioribus beneficia, quae magistratus probis suis subditis praestant, obiter tantum commemorantur, ut ex eorum oppositione clarius magistratuum ius puniendi innotescat, fuse autem et magna cum vi origo divina potestatis civilisasseritur. Quapropter cum Latinis fere omnibus iuxta contextum conscientiam hic intelligendam esse tenemus, quae nos docet, eos qui contra legitimas potestates rebellant ordinationi divinae resistere et in Deum ipsum peccare (1^. 2. 4). Unde sequitur, leges a legitima potestate sive civili, de qua hic proxime et directe agitur, sive ecclesiastica /eg2time latas subditos in conscientia obligare earumque transgressores sicuti coram humanis iudicibus ita etiam et praecipue coram supremo iudice Deo culpae poenaeque reos esse. Contraria autem doctrina, iuxta quam legitima praecepta potestatis legitimae conscientiam subditorum non ligent, non tantum falsa et & Scripturarum sensu aliena est, quia omni humanae auctoritati propter Dominum subiici debemus (1 Petr. 2,13), sed noxia quoque et virtuti inimica, quia homines reddit hypocritas vel iuxta Apostolum (Eph. 6,6; Col. 3,22) « ad oculum et non ex animo servientes » (Est. cfr lust. Lap. ete.). Novo deinde argumento eoque obvio, quum ex ipsa fidelium ratione agendi sit desumtum, Paulus praecedentem conclusionem conficmans docet, non tantum ad poenam humanam sed potissimum ad conscientiae maculam evitandam eos magistratibus obedire debere :
13:6
6. ideo (&x 2912) enim et tributa praestatis ; ministri (&ewovpyot) enim Dei sunt in. hoc ipsum servientes, vel iuxta graecum textum accuratius : in hoc ipsum assidue incumbentes (eiq a)s5 voü:0 wposxapzepoovisg cÍr 12,12). Sunt quidem, qui particulam & «25:o (ideo) praecedenti ài (v. 5) parallelam habeant eamque, praetermisso v. 5, immediate ad vv. 1-5 referant, quasi doceatur, cui fini tributa soluta inserviant (« ideo, scilicet ut magistratus mandatu Dei homines maleficos puniant proborumque saluti prospiciant, tributa solvitis » Fritzsche); at satis superflue Apostolus hic finem tributorum omnibus notum commemorasset neque ulla prorsus est ratio, cur nexum cum sententia immediate praecedente ab omnibus fere admissum et aptissimum relinquamus. Eo ipso videlicet, quod fideles verbo Domini obedientes (Mat/A. 22,91) magistratibus non tantum reverentiam debitam sed et tributa ab eis imposita praestant, aperte profitentur, se eis obedientiam debere. Ex facto igitur manifesto omnibusque noto Paulus argumentatur; vim vero argumenti sui non parum auget et corroborat, quum tributa magistratibus tamquam Dei ministris pendi addit, et quidem ideo, quia in munere divinitus sibi commisso assidue versantes (si; aj:2 23:0 mpeoxapspo)v:s;) subditorum curam gerant ac publico bono consulant. De magistratibus enim loquitur, quatenus potestatem, quam a Deo acceperunt, iuxta Dei voluntatem exercent. Hanc ob causam etiam eos, quos antea 3ix5vou; «o5 appellavit (v. &), hie Aeoupyos; «25 significantius appellat (latinus interpres ob linguae suae penuriam utroque . in loco nomen ministri Dei minus accurate posuit). Non minus enim sacram quam publicam esse indolem muneris, quo magistratus civiles funguntur, hac appellatione docet; quin etiam tributa propter conscientiam pendenda esse insinuat, quum eos in tributorum imponendorum et exigendorum ratione sacerdotibus in sacrario operantibus et de sacrario edentibus vel etiam apostolicis operariis (15,16) Evangelium annuntiantibus et de Evangelio viventibus (cfr 1 Cor. 9,13. 14) &equiparat. Cfr quae de nominis Astzcopz:s affiniunique vocabulorum usu et significatione in Novo Test. diximus in Comment. in 2 Cor. p. 250 sq. Ex tota demum expositione praecepta quaedam specialia derivat (c3v ergo cfr VV. LL.). Ea nimirum quae dixit etiam ad inferiores quidem magistratus pertinere monet, pro diverso tamen eorum gradu ac munere diversam eis deberi obedientiam, idque in illis solis, quae ad eorum munus spectant eorumque dignitati conveniunt. Unde sequitur, magistratibus singulis limites potestatis sibi commissae transgredi non licere neque illimitatam omnimodamque obedientiam eos postulare posse.
13:7
7. Reddite ergo omnibus debitas cui tributum, tributum (xà «5v e$pov, oipcov); cti vectigal (*9 «5 «£Aoz), tectigal; cut timorem (xà xov q55zv), timorem; cui honorem (sà «X» -X»), honorem. Contextu vox omnibus (zzow) ad. solos magistratus restringi, plerique recte tenent; si qui vero illam latissimo sensu de omnibus hominibus explicant Apostolumque generale iustitiae praeceptum proponere censent (cfr Est. Nat. Pic. etc., Reith. M Ev. Sch. etc.), proximis membris iam refelluntur, quibus eum de variis magistratuum classibus loqui apparet. Recte porro CArys. adnotat, eum non dixisse : 22xe zaow (date omnibus) sed àz23o:« (reddite) ac praeterea addidisse : «à; 2oexas (debita), ut se de iustitiae officio loqui significaret. « Ex iustitiae enim necessitate, inquit hom. , subditi principibus iura sua exhibere tenentur ». Neque vero omnibus magistratibus eadem sunt iura; regibus utique seu summis magistratibus omnia, quae quatuor sequentibus membris velut exempla proponuntur, deberi clarum est; inferioribus autem pro muneris dignitatisque ratione unum alterumve solum competit. Quare Apostolus quaedam singillatim enumerat, ut ex iis, quid aliis debeamus, ipsi diiudicemus. Ellipsis quatuor membrorum ex generali membro praemisso facile suppletur : in latino textu supplendum esse patet : cui tributum deóetis, tributum reddite etc. ; in graeco autem, in quo pro pronomine relativo habetur articulus, suppleatur oportet participium àzaccoovst (&xaccety enim est 1. q. àure poscere) : tà sz» g5pov àxavt60vtt tb9. gipov àmo32cs xi^ (tributum zwre poscenti tributum reddite etc.). Inter g3psv (tributum) et -£x:; (vectigal) ea intercedit differentia , quod tributum pro capite aut fundis, vectigal pro mercibus importandis exportandisve solvatur; de inferioribus igitur magistratibus, de quaestoribus vel potius de quaestorum ministris et de publicanis seu teleonariis agitur, qui aliud sibi ius vindicare non possunt, nisi ut tributa et vectigalia a summis magistratibus imposita exigant. Duo alia membra ad superiores magistratus pertinent, quibus utique singularis quaedam reverentia (2252 timorem hic idem esse quod e2Aá6siav reverentiam graeci interpretes cum CArys. recte adnotant) ac singularis quaedam observantia ob altiorem, qua insigniuntur, dignitatem debetur. Haud dissimili sensu sententiam nostram antiquus iam auctor videtur intellexisse quum dicit (Constit. apostol. VII. 16) : « Regem vereberis (cz$rf/cr) sciens a Deo eum esse constitutum; magistratus eius honorabis («wyosiz;) tamquam sacros Dei ministros (7.::22927725; 0:22); quibus grato animo exsolvite vectigal (zixzz), tributum (2322») omneque stipendium impositum (xai zàsav c£ 1. — Carilas, qua tola lex implelur, semper etl nunc quam maxüine colenda est (13,8-14). Ab obedientia magistratibus debita S. Paulus ad caritatem inculcandam revertitur. Antea quidem (12,9-21) eam iam commendavit, sed nunc addit, ab ea colenda fidelibus desistere non licere, quia hac dilectione Lex tota impleatur (v. 8), omniaque decalogi mandata uno caritatis praecepto summatim contineantur (9. 10); eo magis autem eam nunc colendam esse, quoniam diem Domini iam instare sciant (11. 12^). Unde ad hortationem transiens eos in totius sectionis epilogo acriter urget, ut omnibus pravis operibus depositis piam vitam secundum Christi doctrinam agant (12*-14).
13:8
8. Nemini quidquam debeatis, nisi ut invicem diligatis. Asyndete iterum (cfr 19,9; 13,1) quartam hanc expositionem exorditur, sed dubium non est, quin eam praecedenti arcte subiungat, quoniam prioribus suis verbis (uz2evt ux3iv éosíAszs) primum superioris sententiae praeceptum generale ( àz532:€ zàsw zx; 29:042) forma negante repetit ac denuo inculcat. Neque tamen veram ac propriam habemus illius membri repetitionem ; etenim ibi dativus zxzv (omnibus) ad solos magistratus contextu restringitur, hic autem dativum yxz:vi (nemini) de omnibus omnino hominibus intelligendum esse, membrum alterum ostendit , quo mutuae caritatis, ad quam omnes erga omnes obligantur, debitum perpetuum esse neque unquam exstingui scite et acute insinuatur. Nam omnia, quae cuicumque debeamus, nos accurate et integre solvere iubens Apostolus declarat, nos debita iustitiae ita persolvere posse, ut ad nihil ultra teneamur (nemini quidquam debeatis); generalis autem huius praecepti exceptionem statuens (nisi «£ invicem diligatis) officia caritatis eiusmodi esse significat, ut ab iis nunquam nos liberare possimus. Quamquam igiturilla solvimus, semper manebimus debitores caritatis exhibendae, « quam, inquit S. 4ug. (ad Sever. epist. 110,1), tanto magis debemus, quanto amplius impenderimus ». Continuam ergo postulat dilectionem proximi, sicut etiam S. Petrus praecipit, ut « ante « simplici ex corde nos invicem diligamus continuo » (ix::vàg pro quo Vulg. minus recte : attentius cfr 1 Petr. 4,8; 1,92). Egregie nostrum in locum Zhom. : « Sunt quaedam debita, a quibus homo nunquam potest se absolvere, et hoc contingit dupliciter : uno quidem modo propter excellentiam beneficii, cui aequivalens recompensari non potest, sicut Pbilosophus dicit de honore, qui exhibetur Deo vel parentibus; altero modo propter causam debendi, quae semper manet, vel etiam propter hoc, quod illud quod redditur non exhauritur sed in reddendo semper crescit. Propter has causas debitum dilectionis fraternae ita solvitur, ut semper debeatur; primo quidem quia dilectionem proximo debemus propter Deum, cui sufficienter recompensare non possumus (1 Zoan. 4,21); secundo quia dilectionis causa semper manet, quae est similitudo naturae et gratiae ( £ecli. 13,19); tertio quia caritas in diligendo non deficit sed proficit (Phil. 1,9). Ideo dicit : nisi ut invicem diligatis, quia scilicet dilectionis debitum ita semel redditur, ut tamen semper maneat sub debito praecepti ». Ultimam rationem clarius Dion. exprimit » quia dilectio, quotiescumque alteri impenditur, permanet iugiter praecepta ». Idem recte quoque addit, « per dilectionem hic intelligi omnes actus virtuosos, quos unus alteri debeat », ita ut obiici nequeat, nos praeter amorem etiam honorem etc. aliis semper debere. - Cur vero « debitum hoc (fraternae caritatis) et quotidie solvere et semper debere nobis expediat » (Orig.) Paulus explanat addens : qui enim. diligit proximum (vel uti iuxta graecam lectionem «zv &:gzv S. Aug. de gr. et lib. arb. 17,35 etc. legere solet : a/terum), legem implevit (zszydpuxsv). Eo ipso igitur, quod aliquis alterum hominem ii. e. prosimum suum, quicumque et qualiscumque est, sive propinquus sive extraneus, sive amicus sive inimicus, sive fidelis sive infidelis; iuxta divinam voluntatem sicut se ipsum diligit, non solum caritatis praeceptum implet, sed totam legem iam implevit, quoniam fieri nequit, ut perdurante dilectione mandata reliqua mosaicae Legis, de qua proxime agitur (cfr v. 9), non impleantur; unde pro impletis merito iam habeantur oportet!. Eodem modo (Gal. 5,14) « totam legem in uno hoc sermone : Diliges proximum tuum sicut te ipsum, impletam esse » (z3; 5 vópog... «ez ^ fpwrat) dicit. Ad quem locum cum S. Aug. adnotavimus, ex duobus praeceptis dilectionis, Dei et proximi, ab Apostolo solum secundum nominari eoque impleto reliqua omnia mandata impleta dici, quia vera proximi dilectio absque Dei dilectione non habeatur. sed eam necessario supponat ac sua sponte ex ea profluat; namque « ex una eademque caritate Deum proximumque diligimus, sed Deum propter Deum, nos autem et proximum propter Deum » (5. Aug. deTrin. VIII, 8,12; — cfr Comment. in 2 Cor. et Gal. p. 576 sq.; Comm. in 1 Cor. p. 392. 397). Similiter nostrum in locum Thom., quum sibi ipsi obiecerit, iuxta Dominum in duobus praeceptis dilectionis Dei et proximi totam Legem et Prophetas pendere (Matth. 22,40), Apostolum ergo minus accurate locutum esse, respondet : « Dicendum est, quod dilectio illa proximi ad caritatem pertinet et Legem implet, qua proximus diligitur propter Deum; et ita in dilectione proximi includitur dilectio Dei, sicut causa includitur in effectu. Dicitur enim : Et hoc mandatum habemus a Deo, ut qui diligit Deum diligat et fratrem suum (1 /oan. 5,91); et e converso dilectio proximi includitur in dilectione Dei, sicut effectus in causa , unde dicitur : Si quis dixerit, quoniam diligo Deum, et fratrem suum odio habet, mendax est (ibid. v. 20). Et hinc est, quod in S. Scriptura quandoque fit mentio solum de dilectione Dei, quasi sufficiat ad salutem (Deut. 10,12), quandoque autem solum de dilectione proximi (Joan. 15,17) ». Quodsi iuniores nonnulli ad difficultatem illam non tam solvendam quam evitandam, praeeunte Cai., Apostolum eam solam Legis partem, quae officia iustitiae erga proximum continet, dileclione fraterna impletam dicere arbitrantur, non satis attendunt, in loco parallelo (Ga/. 5,14) totam Legem diserte nominari. A vero autem moderni nonnulli acath. plane aberrant, qui Paulum de mosaicae Legis, utpote quam alibi abrogatam esse fidelesque non amplius obligare asserat, impletione hic loqui potuisse negant ( Weiss etc.). Nusquam enim moralia Legis mosaicae praecepta , quae pleraque decalogo continentur, abrogata esse neque amplius fideles ad suam impletionem obligare docet; contra vero ubique eorum obligationem supponit, licet utique asserat, fideles non amplius esse sub Legis dominio, quum eis iam praesto sit gratia, qua adiuti eam implere possint (cfr ad 6, 15; 7,1 sqq. etc.). Totam porro Legem moralem ab eo, qui proximum diligit sicut se ipsum, revera impleri inductionis argumento probat : v. 8 qui enim diligit, Legem iam ?»y/levit), dilectionem ergo esse quasi « Legem impletam » seu Legis impletionem iam factam. Postquam assertum suum, mutuae caritatis debitum nunquam exstingui sed semper solvendum esse, quasi per parenthesin vel digressionem quandam (vv. 8'-10) explicavit confirmavitque, ad totum praeceptum ab initio v. 8 propositum revertitur, ut illud fidelibus ob temporis quo degunt rationem diligentissime observandum esse moneat :
13:9
9. nam (illud :5) Non adulterabis, Non occides, Non furaberis, (Non falsum testimonium dices), Non concupisces, et si quod est aliud mandatum, in hac uno verbo instauratur (melius graecum ivxxszx^av52:: cum S. ug. ad Hieron. epist. 167 n. 16 redditur : recapitulatur, i. e. repetitur et summatim comprehenditur) : Diliges proximum tuum sicut te ipsum icfr Levit. 19,18). Utrum octavum mandatum (non falsum testimonium dices) cum Vulg. Clem. et graeco teztu rec. inseramus, an cum antiquioribus graecis latinisque testibus praetermittamus (cfr VV. LL.', per se nihil interest. lllo enim membro, quo enumerationem terminat (et si quod est aliud mandatum), Apostolus completam enumerationem sibi curae non fuisse satis declarat, assertum igitur suum de omnibus decalogi praeceptis et de aliis similibus, qualia ex. gr. Levit. 19,9-18 habentur, eodem modo valere. In mandatis autem recensendis ordinem decalogi (rod. 20,13 sqq.; Deut. 5,17 sqq.) sequitur, nisi quod sextum (non adulterabis) primo in loco ponat quintoque (non occides) praemittat, id quod similiter Luc. 18,20 (text. gr.) et Marc. 10,19 (at non item Mat/A. 19,18) fecerunt. Cuius inversionis nonnulli eam afferunt rationem, quod Paulus « de adulterio fugiendo imprimis Romanos putaveritadmonendos ». At de admonendis Romanis hic non agitur atque simplicius rectiusque dicemus, eum aeque atque Lucam et Marcum suorum codicum alexandrinorum ordinem secutos esse. Nam satis multa exemplaria versionis alexandrinae, inter quae duo antiquissima (B x), in utraque decalogi recensione, uti etiam PAilo (de decal. 12. 32 etc.) et Clemens Alex. (Strom. VI. 16 M. 9,377), eandem duorum praeceptorum inversionem exhibent. Mirum videri potest, quod sola praecepta negativa Paulus enumeret, quamvis is qui proximum vere diligit affirmativa quoque sitimpleturus; neque enim tantum ea, quae nobis ab aliis fieri nolumus, eis facere prohibemur (To. 5,16), sed etiam ea, quae nobis fieri volumus, eis facere iubemur (Matth. 7,12). Ac profecto omnia praecepta ad dilectionem referuntur, quum teste Apostolo finis Legis sit caritas (1 Tim. 1,5); uti negativa nos ab ea violanda retinent, ita affirmativa nos ad eam exercendam, augendam, perficiendam adducunt. Nihilominus ex solis negativis hic argumentari voluit idque ideo, ut videtur, quia negativa aftirmativis universaliora recte existimantur, ita ut ex eorum observatione, utpote continua et universali, clarius cognoscatur, nos semper mutuae caritatis debitum (rv. 8) agnoscere. Namque singulis temporis momentis negativa mandata erga omnes homines impleri debent, neque ullo momento ullam iniuriam cuiquam inferre licet; affirmativa vero, quamvis nos semper obligent, non nisi data occasione impleri possunt, neque singulis temporis momentis actio praecepta a nobis exigitur (cfr Thom. etoc.).. Paucis deinde verbis praecedentem sententiam repetit, ut manifestior sit conclusio, quam ex ea derivare vult :
13:10
10. dilectio prorimi (vel iuxta. graecam lectionem zó «752i» accuratius : proximo) malum non operatur : plenitudo ergo legis est dilectio (zkípogax cDv vpisa d; àyxz). In priore membro nomen dilectio (f, x;iz*) per prosopopoeiam pro ipso diligente ponitur; eius sensus autem evidens est. Quoniam uno enim dilectionis fraternae mandato omnia decalogi ac Legis universae praecepta compendiose summatimque sunt contenta, fieri plane nequit, ut is qui hoc unum vere observat proximo ullam iniuriam inferat; e contra omni qua potest ratione illius, sicut suum ipsius, bonum promovere studet. Etenim caritas iuxta Apostolum utilis est (yprozs2s:z« cfr ad 1 Cor. 13,5), quia diligens omnia quae habet bona cum aliis libentissime communicat. Unde sua sponte sequitur, dilectionem esse Legis imple- (onem (zifpoopz), uti illius est finis (1 Tim. 1,5), idque eo magis, quia simul ad singula eius praecepta observanda nos impellit atque efficit, ut eadem perfecte ac fructuose impleamus. Omnia videlicet nostra in caritate fieri Paulus vult (cfr 1 Cor. 16,154), siquidem deficiente caritate opera nobis non prosunt (cfr 1 Cor. 13,1 sqq.). Cum plerisque z»5poya (plenitudo) hicidem quod z752c (/mpletio) valere censemus ; addendum tamen videtur, Paulum nomen hoc, quamvis illa significatione rarius usurpetur, ideo hic elegisse, ut in dilectione omnia quae Lex postulat iam impleta inveniri insinuaret (cfr
13:11
11. et Aoc (xai «23:2), scientes tempus (si25xeg «3v wanpov) , quia hora est iam nos de somno surgere (i::01»2:). Antiquiores Latini plurimi, quum ad primigenium textum non attenderent, pronomen Aoc (2232:2) ad nomeu £empus (z» xa») erronee traxerunt (cfr Abael. Herv. Lomb. Thom. Lyr. etc.); sed graecum xat «22:2, quod 7/Aeod. hie zai 27:222. (el maxime) apte interpretatur, latino idque (i. q. et praesertim) omnino respondet, quo aliquid ad aggravandam augendamque sententiam addi solet (cfr 1 Cor. 6.6. 8; similiter «x: za9za cfr Hebr. 11,12). Hoc autem in loco ad initium v. 8. immediate referatur oportet (yx2:vi p2iv $qifAiti, S5 o9 XA c0. XqanuW, WXi o0x0 sijieg zw *xip^v) , neque opus est, ut cum nonnullis ellipsim Statuamus imperativumque suppleamus TN 2952 mois its ei25csq tov xatp2v et hoc facite scientes tempus). Quamvis autem iuxta nostram constructionem zx: ::9:9 non minus quam participium zi2:::; cum imperativo 2z2:4ezs grammatice connectenda sint, sensu tamen utrumque ob contextum, qui de continua caritate exhibenda potissimum agit, ad alteram praecepli partem (si p, 59 a*^«4^co xyxzi) iure merito trahitur, ita ut significetur : mutuae caritatis debitum continuo solvite, et id quidem praesertim , quia cognitam habetis (:22::::) temporis rationem. Quam vero temporis rationem lectoribus suis cognitam csse supponat, Paulus explicat epexegetice addens, horam iam de somno surgendi advenisse. Quibus in verbis eum metaphora sozini ethnicam infidelitatem impietatemque non designare evidens est, quum non tantum fideles alloquatur sed etiam iuxta probatiorem lectionem (hora est iam ^os de somno surgere cfr VV. LL.) semetipsum dormientibus quasi adiungat. Statum potius socordiae et ignaviae ergo vel, si mavis, tepiditatis cuiusdam designat, in quem etiam apostolico tempore haud paucos fideles post primum fervorem relapsos esse ex omnibus fere eius epistolis satis constat. Lectores igitur hominibus assimilat, qui ex alto gravique sopore, quo antea tenebantur, excitati iterum leviter obdormiscunt neque tamen sui conscientiam plane iam amiserunt; eos enim scire dicit, horam surgendi iam advenisse. Unde totius sententiae sensus est, nunc praesertim mutuam caritatem esse colendam, quia temporis quo degunt ratio postulet, ut omnis iam excutiatur somnolentia ct socordia. « Quia verisimile erat, inquit CArys., illos ab initio, vigente nempe primo illorum desiderio, studiosiores fuisse, tempore autem procedente totum illorum ardorem emarcuisse , contrarium faciendum esse monct; neque enim procedente tempore languescere licet, sed vires magis sunt exserendae ». Cur autem nunc praesertim caritas, qua tota Lex impletur, omni excussa tepiditate sit colenda, sequens sententia declarat : nune. enin propior est nostra salus (vel iuxta graecum lextum : v2» zXxz izyótipo» dpi» f; cerrpíz accuratius, ut videtur, et melius : ac entis propius a nobis abest salus), quam quum credidimus /izitiizxaiw ; 02. nor praecessit (vectius cum multis codd. latinis : process! zzzizzio, dies autem appropinquavit. Quae in verba iterum bene CAhrys. : « Quando regis instat adventus, tunc magis nos appavemus oportet: quanto propinquius est bravium, tanto magis ad ceríamina nos excitare debemus; id enim et cursores faciunt, qui ad curriculi terminum appropinquantes bravio iam vicini nervos enixius contendunt ». Atqui bravium, ad quod fidelibus anhelandum est. s«/«s eaque completa est , quae in secundo Christi adventu cis continget, quando a mortuis gloriose resurgent, ut corpora quoque eorum mortalia et corruptibilia immortalitatem et incorruptionem induant (1 Cor. 15.53). Tam cito autem tempus transvolat, ut ab eo momento, quo Evangelium praedicari coeptum est et Apostolus pariter ac primi epistolae lectores fidem receperunt (izists2oxysv credidimus i. q.. credere incepimus efr ad 10, 15 p. 559 n.), haud parva pars spatii, quo ab ultimi iudicii et universalis resurrectionis die separantur, iam praeterierit et salutem completam eis nunc viciniorem esse Paulus iure merito dixerit. Quin etiani id eo rectius dicere potuit, quia singulis ad bravium illud merendum salutemque suam operandam non nisi breve vitae tempus concessum est. quo peracto ad Christum iudicem pervenient, ut ab eo ad praecipuam bravii partem iam admittantur et in beatifica Dei visione securi et quieti mercedis suae complementum, i. e. corporis redemtionem (8, 23), exspectent. Porro uti priore, ita eliam altero membro, quo similitudine somni resumta noctem processisse, «iem autem appropinquasse dicit, ob temporis, quod eis ad mercedem acquirendam supersit, brevitatem socordiam negligentiamque omnem deponendam esse monet. Nocte enim huius saeculi tempus tenebris ignorantiae et caligine peccatorum obscuratum, de autem futuram vitam salutemque completam designat, qua beati post mortuorum resurrectionem in claritate Dei perpetuo fruentur. Attamen nox illa, quae a protoparentum lapsu initium sumsit, Christo redemtore adveniente ad finem vergere coepit, ita ut fideles nunc quasi sub aurora degentes pleno diei, quem Christus iudex adventurus adducet, viciniores sint. Bene Herv., quamvis latinam lectionem minus accuratam claramque (nox praecessit) sequatur : « Qui post discessum noctis non iam venisse sed appropinquasse diem insinuat, procul dubio ante solem post tenebras adhuc aurorain esse demonstrat. Nondum enim in splendore suae claritatis apparuit sol iustitiae, Christus, sed iam vicinus eius instat adventus; et ideo nondum perfectum diem, sed adhuc diluculum et auroram habemus. Vita enim fidelium, quae in hoc saeculo et in hac carne ducitur, in comparatione vitae infidelis et impiae non irrationabiliter quidem lux et dies appellatur; verum in comparatione illius diei, quo aequales angelis facti videbimus Deum sicuti est, adhuc nox est ». " quae noctem non praecessisse, i. e. iam transiisse, sed processisse, i. e. adhuc perdurare, ad linem autem vergere signilicat, neque contextui satis congruunt. Cum multis acath. etiam nonnulli moderni cath. (cfr Mai. Bisp.) ex vv. 11. 19 colligunt, Paulum secundum adventum Christi iam prope instare erronee putasse. Quam temere ac falso hic error Apostolo affingatur, saepe iam demonstravimus (cfr Comment. in 4 Cor. pp. 451. 200. 310; Comment. in 3 Cor. pp. 431. 146 sq. etc.), ita ut pauca tantum hic addere opus sit. Quomodo aliquis sibi persuadere possit, in nostra epistola eum erroneam illam opinionem supposuisse aut secutum esse, profecto nos non intelligere fatemur. Praeprimis enim nihil aliud hic asserit, nisi fideles saluti completae viciniores iam esse diemque, quo illam consecuturi sint, appropinquasse; id quod, uti iam adnotavimus, eo maiore cum iure urgere potuit, quia singulis dumtaxat exiguum reliquae vitae spatium supererat, ut ad eam sese praepararent. Deinde sicuti Corinthiis scribens varias fore aetatis christianae periodos declaravit (cfr Comment. in 4 Cor. p. 983 sq.) et Thessalonicenses diem Domini nondum instare diserte docuit (cfr 2 Thess. 2,4 sqq.), ita Romanis mysterium de gentium Israelisque plenitudine in Ecclesiam ingressura revelans (cfr ad 11,95 p. 611 sq.) apertissime, opinor, significavit, eos ad completam salutem non tam cito esse perventuros. Sibi ipsi igitur diserte contradixisset suamque ipsius doctrinam destruxisset, si hoc in loco adventum Christi iudicis iam vicinum esse supposuisset. Itaque eadem plane ratione, qua Dominus ipse iudicii universalis, cuius diem et boram nemo praeter patrem sciret, descriptione Apostolos omnesque , qui per eos credituri erant, ad continuam vigilantiam exhortatus est, ne dies Domini sicut fur in nocte adveniens cos nondum praeparatos inveniret (cfr Matth. 24,36 sqq.: Luc. 21,34 sqq.), Paulus futurae resurrectionis completaeque salutis commemoratione Romanos ad socordiam omnem tepiditatemque excutiendam exhortatur. Quamvis enim dies et hora, qua illius participes fient, ab eis ignoretur, dubium tamen non est, quin quotidie ad illam appropinquent, neque minus certum est, haud multum temporis eis reliquum esse, quo illam cum gratia cooperantes sibi merere possint. Eandem retinens similitudinem Apostolus lectores epistolae directe iam exhortatur, ita tamen ut se ipsum quasi includens communicativa quae dicitur orationis forma verba satis aspera quae dicturus est quodam modo mitiget : abiiciamus (melius : deponamus àzz805s0a !) ergo opera tenebrarum et induamur arma lucis. « Quando videmus noctem, inquit CArys., ad diluculum properare et canentem.iam audimus hirundinem, alter alterum excitamus, licet nox nondum abscesserit. Quando vero in eo est ut abeat, urgemus nos invicem dicentes : Iam dies est, et diurna opera aggredimur, assumtis vestibus, excussis somniis somnoque depulso, ut nos paratos dies inveniat, ac solis radiis nondum exortis surgere incipimus et manus operi admovere. Quod in saecularibus rebus facimus, id etiam nunc faciamus (in vita spirituali) : phantasias deponamus, a praesentis vitae somniis nos liberemus, somnum excutiamus, et pro vestimentis induamur virtute : haec omnia B. Apostolus postulat dicens : deponamus opera tenebrarum et induamur arma lucis ». Opera tenebrarum vocantur peccata (cfr v. 13), non tantum quia in tenebris perpetrari solent et ab hominibus quantum fieri potest occultantur (cfr Job 25,13; Ioan. 3,20), sed etiam quia ex luce gratiae neglecta exoriuntur (Ep. 5,11), huic saeculo rectoribus tenebrarum subiecto conveniunt (EpA. 6,12) etad aeternas tenebras adducunt. Arma lucis autem, i. e. arma (6z2) quae advenienti regno lucis congruunt, non tam sunt bona opera (cfr Theod. A'* Pel. ctc., Herv. Thom. etc., Tol. Est. Picon. etc., Beel. M Ev. Ag. etc.), quam ipsae « virtutes et dona S. Spiritus, quae animum roborant ac defendunt contra insidias daemonis et contra iacula vitiorum » (cfr Dion) quibusque tenebrarum regnum impugnatur ac debellatur (cfr CArys. Theoph. Euth. etc., Haym. Abael. Lyr. etc., Reith. Mai. Bisp. etc.), et quae ab Apostolo alibi fusius describuntur (cfr 1 Tess. 5,8; Eph. 6,11 sqq. ; 2 Cor. 10.4 sqq.). Bona enim opera ornamentis vel vestimentis lucis rectius quam armis assimilari videntur. Haud sine ratione autem haec metaphora , licet praecedenti nomini proprio (opera tenebrarum) minus apte opponatur, electa recte dicitur, quoniam vitam fidelium debere esse continuam militiam clarius significat. Utrumque monitum Paulus sequentibus vv. 13. 15 diligentius exponit ac primo quidem quae tenebrarum opera intellexerit exemplis illustrat :
13:13
13. szcut n (ie honeste (soognpzvo;) ambulemus, non in comessattonibus (yy, xou) et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus et impudicitiis (ust, woizxts vat àoskysiaz) , non in contentione et aemulatione (vel eodem quidem sensu sed minus recte, ut videtur : non in contentionibus et aemulationibus cfr VV. LL.). Quia nocte iam progressa ante solis ortum fideles vivere significavit (r. 19), apte eos exhortatur, ut sicut zn die (o; i $yfox), i. e. quasi iam plenus dies advenerit, vivant. Quid vero velit, adverbio :j:;7525:voz accuratius explicat, quod secundum suam etymologiam (:j et z;zva) idem valet quod pulchre ac decore neque tam id quod dumtaxat Aonestum est, quam illud quod splendore ac decore insigne ac perfectum est designat (cfr ad 1 Cor. 1,35). Ad decorem quippe homines per diem maxime attendunt ideoque eo tempore ab iis se abstinere solent, quibus decor ac pudor modestiaque violantur, a comessationibus et ebrietatibus, i. e. ab omnibus gulae vitiis (de accurata nominis x52 comessationts vel comissationis significatione cfr Comment. in 2 Cor. et Gal. p. 385), a cubilibus et impadicitiis, i. e. ab omni luxuriae libidinisque specie (»zi-v, c«óile enim hic concubitum cfr ad 9.10 cumque ?//egitimum cfr. Sap. 3,13. 16, àcf^;sx autem. effrenem liiruriam cfr ad Gal. 5,19 significat), a coatentione et aemulatione , vel uti alii legere malunt a contentionibus et aemulationibus (de quorum nominum significatione cfr ad 1 Cor. 3,3; 2 Cor. 12,90; Gal. 5,20). Altero deinde membro brevissime declarat, quid armorum lucis nomine intellexerit :
13:14
14. sed induimini Dominum Iesum Christum , et carnis curam ne feceritis in desiderüis (vel potius : in desideria seu in libidines eig iz7gía; cfr VV. LL.). Baptismo utique neophyti iam induunt Christum, 1. e. in eum transformantur, ita ut eiusdem cum illo formae facti quasi a/teri Christi sint neque quidquam in eis appareat nisi quod sit Christi (cfr Comment. in 2 Cor. et Gal. p. 516 sq.). Hanc autem conformitatem cum Christo continua virtutum eius imitatione fideles quotidie non tantum conservare sed etiam augere oportet; unde eum semper denuo induere recte dicuntur. « Dicitur autem, inquit Thom., induere Christum, qui eum imitatur; quia sicut homo continetur vestimento et sub eius colore videtur. ita in eo qui Christum imitatur opera |vel rectius : mores ac virtutes| Christi apparent ; per hoc ergo induimur arma lucis, quando induimur Christum ». Hoc monito, quo omnia officia vitae christianae continentur, Paulus exhortationem terminare potuit. Ad illud tamen non ?» comessalionibus etc. respiciens addendum censuit, eam debere nos habere carnis curam, qua prava desideria non excitentur (vel iuxta Vulgatam : quae inordinata desideria non sequatur). C«rnis nomine hic proxime quidem corpus designatur, quod utpote mortale sustentatione per cibum etc. indiget, simul vero sensualitas inferioresque animae facultates intelliguntur (cfr ad 7,18), quae lascivire incipiunt, si carni nimis indulgetur. Itaque Apostolus, « sicut non bibere, sed inebriari, neque uxorem ducere sed libidinose vivere prohibuit, ita neque curam gerere coeporis prohibet, sed a« concupiscentias (sig iz224x:) tantum, ne necessitatem praetergrediamur » (Chrys. cfr. N.. Greg. M. Moral. XXX. 18, 61-63, qui fuse haec verba exponit). Cum caritatis, quae Legis est plenitudo, commendatione (12,9 sqq. ; 13,8 sqq.) nova tractatio arcte connexa est, qua S. Paulus, ut discordiam, quam in ecclesia romana variae de ciborum maxime distinctione opiniones provocarant, componat concilietque, id quoque ad genuinum amorem íraternum pertinere demonstrat, ut in rebus per se indifferentibus Christiani varietatem sententiarum toleranter ferant, illi autem praesertim, qui fide sint firmi, imbecilliores suos fratres, omni eorum scandalo studiose vitato, benigna cum indulgentia tractent. Inter romanos enim neoph ytos duas fuisse quasi classes ex nostro loco apparet, quum alii ob contaminalionis metum ab omni carnium vinique usu sese abstinerent certosque dies sollicitius observarent, alii nullum omnino ciborum dierumque discrimen agnoscerent (cfr 14,2 sq. 5 sq. 20 sq.). Priores, quos Apostolus i»/irmos in fide (xs0sv25vxas 51, zioni 15,1. 2) seu invalidos (332»2:29z 15,1) appellat, plerosque ex Iudaeochristianis, alios vero /iriiiores (seu validos 2253 2vvaz22; 15,1), quos inde a 15,13 solos alloquitur, qui igitur numero plures praecipuam ecclesiae partem constituisse iure censentur, fere omnes ex Ethnicohristianis fuisse, sententia inde a Patrum aetate communis tenet, idque recte. Nam Paulus ipse infra (15,7 sqq.), ut firmiores ad infirmos suos fratres suscipiendos permoveat, eis in memoriam revocat, ludaeos propter divinas quas acceperant promissiones proprio quodam iure, gentiles vero, quia eiusmodi promissionibus careant, ex sola divina misericordia in. Ecclesiam esse admissos. Cur vero infirmi ludaeochristiani illam vivendi rationem sibi adoptandam esse duxerint, diserte quidem non tradit; lenitate tamen et indulgentia, qua cum eis agit aliosque agere vult, satis ostendit, eos a iudaizantium illorum opinionibus longe abfuisse, quos tamquam Evangelii adversarios et destructores, quia mosaicae Legis iugum et ipsi retinere et gentilibus imponere, ut perfecti ac genuini fierent filii Abrahae, volebant, tam acriter aliis in epistolis impugnat (cfr Ga/. 1,6 sqq. ; 3,1 sqq.; 5.5 sqq. ete.). Nihileminus haud pauci antiquiores et moderni. (cfr. Org. Chrys. Theod. elc., AC*" Prim?. Haym. Herc, Thom. ete. Cat. Est. Nat. etc., Brel. M Ev. Dr. Ag. etc.) eos ita egisse putant saltem ob reverentiam quandam antiquae Legis, quam ceu divinam a pueris venerari didicerant atque nunc quoque a Christianis ierosolymitanis sedulo observari (Ac/. 21,20) sciebant. At Legis mosaicae ne levissima quidem in toto tractatu invenitur mentio, ritus autem, quos infirmi tenebant, non erant mosaici. Neque enim omnium, sed immundorum tantum animalium carnes Lex vetabat (Lev. 11,2 sqq. ; Deut. 15,3 sqq), atque vini usum omnibus concedebat , solis exceptis nasiraeis (Num. 6,2) et sacerdotibus in templo ministrantibus (Lev. 10,9). Arbitrarie autem cum CArys. nonnulli coniecerunt, infirmos sibi omnium carnium usum interdixisse, nea sola porcina sese abstinentes pro Iudaeis haberentur; revera Apostolus aliam abstinentiae rationem eis fuisse indicat (15,15). Haud minus arbitrarie multi moderni acath. eos suam vivendi rationem a Neopythagoreis (cfr Eichh. etc.) aut ab Ebionitis (cír Baur etc.) aut ab Essenis (cfr Sen. Ew. Ritschl, Mey. Weiss etc.) transumsisse arbitrantur. Rectius sentire existimo Patres nonnullos, qui eos sabbatha et festa quidem religiose iuxta Legem celebrasse, sed a carnibus et vino se abstinuisse tenent, « ne vel nescientes inciderent in ea, quae idolis sacrificabantur ; omnis enim tunc immolatitia caro in macello vendebatur, et de primitiis vini sui libabant gentiles simulacris suis et quaedam in ipsis torcularibus sacrificia faciebant » (S. Aug. expos. n. 18; cfr Clem. Alez. Paed. Il. 1. M. 8,392 sq.; S. Basil. reg. brev. tract. 65, Pel. Primas. Sed.). luniores modernique aliqui hanc explicationem cum prima, quam exposuimus, coniungere malunt (cfr To/. [ust. Lay. Reith. Mai. Bisp. Sch. etc.); sed quo cum iure id fiat, non video, quum sola sufficiat. Addi tamen licet, severiorem vel potius scrupulosiorem interpretationem decreti apostolici, quo Ethnicochristiani aó idolothytis et sanguine et suffocato sese abstinere iubebantur (Act. 15,29). aliquid contulisse, ut infirmi Iudaeochristiani in suo idolothytorum sanguinisque horrore confirmarentur et aliqui Ethnicochristiani sollicitiores eundem adoptarent. Quoniam enim vix fieri posse videtur, ut sanguis & carnibus plane separetur, admodum mirum non est, quod timidiores completam carnium vinique abstinentiam sibi imposuerint. Quidquid de ultima hac coniectura est, qua Pauli indulgentia ac lenitas erga infirmos illos facilius explicari videtur, similis procul dubio quaestio hic agitatur et in priore epistola ad Corinthios (cfr Convent. in 1 Cor. p. 218 sqq.). Eadem utroque in loco est Apostoli clementia atque eadem quoque cum prudentia et sollicitudine praecavet , ne aut infirmorum scrupulositatem timiditatemque augeat aut libertatem christianam, quam firmiores iure sibi vindicabant, ultra iustos limites extendi permittat. Accuratius tamen Corinthiis, a quibus hac de rec iào 6 Kópt ox) ajtóv. 5. € piv minvev ofaü6oizat Oi, QQuvalub xplvtt fuéoav zap' fufonv, 0; Ob xpiv aisav fufpav: Exxocog dv r6 dle vol fAnpoyoptis0w. 6. 6 cpovüv iv fufpav Kupie opovti. xat $ io0lov Kugio ioüikc tüyaputst yàp c Gub xai 6 uy is0iv Kuplo oüx io0íst xai cbjapiozi( t0 Qcó. 7. oXócl; yàp fuv iav TZ, xai o5: Íxut) dzofvíaxs. 8. idv t: yàp Vopiv. t Koplo (Gutv, idv tt. dro viianouiv, t Kupíe dmoüvjoxou:v. dáv c& oj» T>v, idv c: 9. tig frotv, puto2n. 10. ob ài gov; 7| xal acu ri lbouücrvei; züv 36sÀzOv üroüvícxeuiv, o0 Rhuzios isuífv. - Vv (va xal vrazw xxi Méetew xu- , 800; mávttQ — yàp rapxsinaóuiüx — i6 Páuatt :o0 Ocov. l0. yiyoazix Yap Zà i, Àyes BRógse; (Gu lue £awvyn miv qóvo, xai ibouoloyra:x: z33x Y^9231 Prima sua sententia Apostolus Chrisüanis illis, quibus postea (cfr 15,1) tamquam firmioribus perfectioribusque semet ipsum accenset, benignam indulgentiam erga fratres infirmiores praecipiens quasi inscriptione quadam principale totius huius tractatus argumentum indicat (v. 1). Verum ut ad illud explanandum viam sibi aperiat, antea utrosque ad concordiam exhorlatur. Duplici enim quaestione, quae ecclesiae pacem haud levi periculo obiiciebat, paucis explicata cavere eos iubet, nc alii alios iniquis iudiciis lacessant (2-5). Quod monitum ut corroboret, praeprimis iudicia illa esse iniusta docet, quia utrique suam agendi rationem eo consilio sequantur, ut Christo Domino placeant (v. 6); Christo enim cuncti fideles vivere ac mori debent (rv. 7.8), utpote qui morte sua supremum vivorum ac mortuorum dominium sibi acquisiverit (v. 9). Deinde soli Deo iudicium competere addit (vv. 10. 11), coram cuius tribunali suarum ipsius tantum actionum rationem unusquisque redditurus sit (v. 12). Unde sua sponte derivatur conclusio, mutua iudicia diligenter eis esse vitanda (v. 13^). Ab omnibus neophytis romanis, quibus caritatem mutuam ob temporis quo dezerent conditionem maiore cum diligentia servandam esse inculcavit, Paulus ad eos se convertit . qui praecipuam ecclesiae illius partem constituebant, ut singulare quoddam amoris fraterni officium eis commendet :
13:1
ψυχή ne désigne pas l'âme par opposition au corps, ni tous les vivants, y compris les animaux. Il s'agit de tous les hommes quelle que soit leur dignité. Jésus n'avait-il pas été soumis au jugement de Pilate (lo. xrx, 44)? Les puissances étaient alors l'Empereur, le Sénat, les proconsuls ou les gouverneurs de provinces, les magistrats municipaux. Paul les qualifie de ὕπερεχούσαις (cf. Sap. vi, 5 etc.). On doit leur être soumis d’abord pour une raison de principe, parce qu’il n’est pas de puissance qui ne vienne de Dieu, source de tout pouvoir, et, quant aux puissances qui détiennent actuellement le pouvoir (ai οὖσαι), parce que cette situation de fait elle-même est réglée par Dieu. — Cf. pour l'idée, mais à propos d’une personne, ἔριον. Enchir. 22 : οὕτως ἔχον, ὡς ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ τεταγμένος εἰς ταύτην τὴν γώραν. La solution de Paul est très absolue; elle doit cependant être bien comprise, et en elle-même et dans son opportunité historique. L'ancien droit sémitique regardait la divinité, le Dieu de la cité, comme son véritable souverain; le roi n'était que son vicaire, nommé par décret nominatif pour faire observer avant tout la règle religieuse (Daorue, La religion assyro-babylonienne, p. 146 5s.). Ce principe était aussi celui des Israélites, non seulement à l'égard des rois désignés par lahvé οἱ oints par ses prophètes, mais pour tous les rois en général : δι’ ἐμοῦ βασιλεῖς βασιλεύουσιν (Prov. vi, 15), même pour les rois païens : ὅτι ἐδόθη παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἣ χράτησις ὑμῖν καὶ ἡ δυναστεία παρὰ ὑψίστου. Les Esséniens se tenaient à cette règle (Jos. Bell. IX, vu, 7), et aussi les Pharisiens; si le pouvoir de fait était regardé comme tyrannique, il fallait l'accep= ter comme un châtiment de Dieu (Jos. Ant. XIV, 1x, 4). Cependant cette doctrine était menacée de deux côtés. L'ancien droit romain, religieux et sa= cerdotal, cédait la place à un droît fondé sur la raison humaine ; le souverain, à la fois législateur et juge, tenait ses pouvoirs du peuple qu'il représentait. L'idée qu'on péchait contre la divinité en refusant l’obéissance au prince s'affaiblissait de jour en jour. D'autre part, chez les Juifs, le pouvoir de Dieu était le seul reconnu parmi ceux des Pharisiens qui formèrent la secte des Zélotes ; on en vint à regarder comme une apostasie religieuse de se soumettre à un pouvoir purement humain, surtout à des païens. S. Jérôme a mème pensé (ὑπ Tit. im, 1) que Paul répondait aux idées fausses de Judas le Galiléen qui inter caetera hoc quasi probabile proferebat ex Lege, nullum nisi solum Deurn debere dominum vocari, et eos qui ad templum decimas deferreni Caesari tributa non reddere. Cette opinion pouvait encore plus facilement prendre pied parmi les chrétiens, citoyens du règne de Dieu à venir, vivant déjà d’une vie nouvelle; Thomas : quidam fideles in primitiva Ecclesia dicebant, terrenis potestatibus se subiici non debere, propter libertatem quam consecuti erant a Christo. Paul lui-même avait semblé décliner la compétence des tribunaux païens pour juger les procès entre chrétiens (1 Cor. vi, 1-8); mais ce n'était qu'un yœu pour une meilleure observation de la charité. Let il pose le principe. D'abord, contre ceux qui opineraient pour une origine humaine du droit de commander et de juger, en d'autres termes du pouvoir souverain, direct ou délégué, il affirme qu'il ne saurait exister d'autorité si ce n’est de la part de Dieu, c'est-à-dire au sens positif que l'autorité a droit à l’obéissance parce qu'elle a quelque chose de divin. Mais les chrétiens qui admettaient ce principe pouvaient se dire que des païens hostiles à Dieu et à son Christ étaient déchus du pouvoir. Or l'autorité est annulée si l'on peut mettre en doute le droit de ceux qui l’exercent. Paul ne le permet pas. L'obéissance est due à l'autorité, et tout magistrat en fonction, juge ou chef d’État, représente l'autorité. Tel est le principe. Il suppose la possession paisible du pouvoir. D'ailleurs les situations de fait n'eurent pas de contrepoids dans l'empire romain qui ne connut jamais le principe d'un droit légitime. Le souverain légitime ne se distinguait du tyran que par la victoire; le Sénat se mettait toujours de son côté. Paul n'a évidemment pas l'intention de trancher les questions qui se posèrent par la force des choses, en cas de compétitions, de pouvoir douteux, ou contesté les armes à la main. Il ne prétend pas non plus qu'une situation de fait soit toujours légitime. Aussi s. Thomas n’a pas hésité à distinguer le principe qui paraît si absolu. Rappelant Osée vur, 4 : ipsi regnaverunt, et non ex me; principes extiterunt, et non cognovi, Thomas ajoute Ad hoc dicendum, quod regia potestas, vel cuiuscumque alterius dignitatis, potest considerari quantum ad tria. Uno quidem modo quantum ad ipsam potestatem : et sic est a Deo... Alio modo... quantum ad modum adipiscendi potestatem; et sic quandoque potestas est a Deo, quando scilicet aliquis ordinate potestatem adipiscitur…. quandoque vero non est a Deo, sed ex perverso hominis appetitu, qui per ambitionem, vel quocumque alio illicito modo potestaiem adipiscitur.… Tertio modo potest considerari quantum ad usum ipsius et sic quandoque est a Deo, puta cum aliquis secundum praecepta divinae lustitiae utitur concessa stbi potestate.… quandoque autem non est α Deo, puta cum aliqui potestate sibi data utantur contra divinam iustitiam... Mais ces points sont plutôt réservés que résolus par le principe de s. Paul. On ne peut assez admirer la décision avec laquelle, uniquement occupé qu'il est des intérêts religieux des fidèles, il donne au pouvoir une base religieuse, et reconnaît cependant sa légitimité propre, en dehors de l'organisation chrétienne. Ce fait, absolument nécessaire à la société, Paul le reconnaît comme un fait divin, que les chrétiens doivent respecter dans la personne des détenteurs de l'autorité. Maïs il suppose aussi, la suite l’indique assez, qu'il s'exerce normalement, pour le bien de la société ellemême et sans s'insurger contre Dieu dont il dépend. Il n'a pas plus réglé les cas de conflits entre l'autorité et l'Église qu'entre les pouvoirs de fait et les pouvoirs légitimes. Il ne met en présence que les fidèles et une autorité normale. L'Apôtre, ayant appuyé sa solution sur le principe de l'ordination divine, lui attribuait donc une valeur perpétuelle, et n'y a point été amené par la considération opportuniste des circonstances. Mais il y a aussi le ton. S. Pierre, qui enseigne la même doctrine (1 Pet. n, 18 ss.), sait très bien que le pouvoir n'est pas juste pour les chrétiens. Paul n’en parle qu'avec sympathie. Peut-être faut-il attribuer cette confiance à l'estime que lui inspirait alors le pouvoir. Il écrivait sous le règne de Néron, mais l'administration, de 54 à 62, fut entre les mains de Sénèque, qui avait de généreuses intentions. Avant lui l'influence appartint à Narcisse, celui probablement qui avait des chrétiens dans sa maison (xvi, 11). Quoi qu'il en soit de cette nuance, Paul rompt ici avec les préjugés les plus ardents du nationalisme juif. Quelle différence entre cette soumission religieuse, en vue de Dieu, et la passion des livres apocryphes contre les maîtres d'Israël, Psaumes de Salomon et Hénoch, pour ne citer que les plus anciens! La Sagesse ellemême ne parle aux princes de leur droit venu de Dieu que pour leur rappeler le compte sévère qu'ils en rendront (Sap. vi, 1 ss.). La Vg. ἃ la bonne leçon, et bien ponctuée : quae autem sunt, a Deo ordi= natae sunt. La leçon quae autem sunt, a Deo ordinata sunt est une très ancienne erreur des textes latins (Ambrst., Aug. une fois, Thomas etc.).
13:2
διαταγή, mot peu connu jusqu'à ces derniers temps; cf. Deissmann, Licht vom Osten, p. 56 s., citant de nombreuses inscriptions. L'action de la personne qui dispose paraît plus que dans διάταγμα, — κρίμα « un jugement défavorable », une condamnation, de la part de la puissance (d'après ce qui suit) mais une condamnation qui est aussi ratiliée par Dieu. Ceux qui résistent ne pourront s'en prendre qu'à eux-mêmes et n'auront pas la ressource de dire qu'ils ont servi la cause de Dieu contre un pouvoir ennemi de Dieu. — ἑαυτοῖς datif iëncommodi. Soden écrit λήψονται, la forme λήμψονται étant égyptienne. Ce verset n’est que la conclusion tirée du précédent, à laquelle se joint la considération de ce qu'il en coûte de résister. Il va sans dire que Paul suppose une puissance civile s’exerçant dans ses propres limites; si elle prétendait “at: tenter aux droits de Dieu elle sortirait de son domaine, ou comme “dit s. Thomas : λαοὶ autem hoc divina ordinatio, ut potestati inferiori non obediatur contra superiorem. Acquirent serait plus conforme au futur grec que acquirunt (Ve.).
13:3
96606, « objet de crainte »; cf. αὐτὸς ἔσται σου 96606 (15. vin, 13). Ce ne sont pas seulement les puissances, notion un peu abstraite, qui sont en scène avec les opposants; ce sont les gouvernants; et, par un renversement de la figure de rhétorique, c'est maintenant le bien et le mal qui sont personnifiés. Puis Paul interpelle vivement un simple particulier par une interrogation qui remplace une tournure conditionnelle. Le pouvoir n'est pas seulement le gendarme qui poursuit le crime, il s'occupe encore de promouvoir le bien. Ordinairement ce n’est guère d’ailleurs que par des paroles flatteuses, ἔπαινον, distinctions honorifiques etc. La traduction non sunt timori rend bien l'idée (contre Corn. qui préfère le trop littéral mor); mais ensuite, au lieu de bont operis, sed mali (Vs:.), il faudrait bono operi sed malo avec plusieurs mss. de l’anc.-latine, etc.
13:4
Le pouvoir est au service de Dieu; Paul envisage toujours ce qu'il doit être. La mème idée figurait dans Sap. vi,,5 comme un sévère avertissement : ὅτι ὑπηρέται ὄντες τῆς αὐτοῦ βασιλείας οὐχ ἐχρίνατε ὀρθῶς, — Le pouvoir est dans l'intérêt de chacun, σοί. --- μάχαιρα, ἃ l’origine un sabre recourbé, était devenu synonyme de ξίφος, gladius, l'épée droite à deux tranchants. C'était le symbole du pouvoir suprème; quand Antoine porta le glaive à son côté on comprit qu'il se posait en émperator (Diox Gass. XLII, 27). Quoique les gouverneurs des provinces sénatoriales ne le portassent pas, n'ayant pas de troupes à commander, ils avaient le jus gladii, c'est-à-dire le droit de vie et de mort. Trajan a bien marqué le noble oflice du glaive quand il dit au préfet du prétoire : « Reçois ce glaïive pour me défendre si je gouverne bien, pour me tuer si je gouverne mal » (Dion Cass. LXVIIT, 16; cf. gladius, dict. de Saglio). Paul devait périr par le glaive. Combien de fois l'Église, toujours le plus ferme appui du pouvoir, n'a-t-elle pas pâti de ses injustices! Aussi s. Pierre ouvrait déjà une perspective plus sombre, sans rien retirer des principes (I Pet. m1, 14. 17; 1v, 15 5.).
13:5
Le grec est clair. διύ se rapporte au principe posé au v. 1 et à l'affirmation deux fois répétée que le pouvoir remplit son rôle comme ministre de Dieu. Par conséquent il est nécessaire, c’est une obligation inéluctable de se soumettre. — ὀργή n'est pas la colère divine (Æühl}, mais, comme au v. 4, le châtiment qui frapperait toute désobéissance. Il faut donc obéir non seulement, comme on dit vulgairement, par crainte des gendarmes, mais par un principe de conscience. Règle fondamentale qui comprend l’obéissance aux lois, l'acceptation des jugements, même la soumission aux mesures prises par l'autorité. — Il est clair que ἀνάγχη n’est point employé ici au sens philosophique comme une nécessité opposée au libre arbitre, mais presque au sens logique de conclusion nécessaire, d’après ce qui précède. Cependant quelques-uns ont pu s’y méprendre, et c'est peut-être pour cela que ἀνάγχη a disparu de quelques mss. d'origine occidentale ou de l’ancienne latine. Dès lors ὑποτάσσεσθαι devenait ὑποτασσεσθε, à l'impératif. La Κρ. adoptant l'impératif a lu ἀνάγκῃ, d'où la leçon necessitate subditi estote, difficile à expliquer, et qui serait avantageusement remplacée par necesse est subditos ou subiectos esse (Orig.-int.). WW. lisent et au lieu de etiam.
13:6
Dans διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ ai, quelques-uns insistent beaucoup sur le sens causal de γάρ. Le sens serait : « vous-mêmes, qui payez le tribut, vous reconnaissez donc que vous êtes tenus en conscience à obéir » (Corn., SH., KHühl}: Mais Zahn a objecté justement que le fait de payer le tribut ne révèle pas le sentiment dans lequel on le paye. Les fidèles auraient pu dire : « nous payons parce que nous y sommes contraints ». Zahn en conclut que τελεῖτε esta l'impératif : « Puisque vous êtes tenus en conscience, payez, par exemple, les tributs ». Mais dans ce cas le sens de γάρ disparaît tout à fait, et on ne voit pas du tout pourquoi il y ἃ καί, Je pense donc que Paul fait appel à la pratique des auditeurs, non pas pour en arguer comme d'un fait révélateur, mais pour leur révéler à eux-mêmes le sens de cette pratique : « Remarquez que c’est pour cela même, pour remplir une obligation de conscience, que vous payez les tributs, parce que c’est contribuer d’une façon rationnelle à un service nécessaire et en quelque façon divin ». Le second yép aura donc toute sa force causale; le premier, avec διὰ τοῦτο, suppose presque « je pense» sous-entendu; cf, Éricr. 1, xvit, 6 : διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ οἶμαι. Les λειτουργοί ne peuvent être que les ἄρχοντες (v. 3). Pour suppléer au déficit des impôts, les cités grecques chargeaient les citoyens riches de pourvoir à certains services, flotte, cavalerie, chœurs tragiques, pompes religieuses, Ceux qui étaient investis de ce soin étaient des λειτουργοί (076. 11, 2881, 13; 2882, 7; 2886, 1; Pap. Ox. IV, 792, cités par Lietz.). Lietzmann et Zahn veulent que Paul ait eu en vue ce sens normal du mot. L’addition de ὑεοῦ indiquerait seulement que ces λειτουργοί sont des fonctionnaires au service de Dieu. — Mais, s’il en est ainsi, il est impossible d'expliquer pourquoi on paie le tribut aux λειτουργοί, — C'est, dit Zahn, pour remplir leur caisse. — Sans doute, mais le principe de la liturgie était précisément que tous les frais portaient sur des particuliers qui n'avaient aucun droit de se compenser. — D'autres (Corn., Kühl) pensent que les λειτουργοί sont iei des ministres sacrés; appliqués à l'administration, ils remplissent une sorte de sacerdoce. C'est bien le sens plus loin (xv, 16), maïs alors il s'agit d'un office apostolique. Il serait étrange que Paul ait investi les fonctionnaires impériaux d’un sacerdoce même métaphorique. IE semble que le sens du mot, emprunté au grec profane, a été nuancé dans 5. Paul par le droit qu'avaient les ministres du Temple de recevoir des tributs (Num. xvinr, 21). Au lieu de tout donner du leur, les liturges de Paul sont de véritables collecteurs, des intermédiaires qui d’ailleurs ne ramassent pas l'argent pour eux; Phil. 11, 25; cf. IL Cor. ix, 42. Disons donc des fonctionnaires au service de Dieu qui ont droit à prélever des impôts pour remplir leur charge. C'est cette charge qui est désignée par εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, à rattacher {avec Vg.} à προσχχρτεροῦντες qui sans cela se trouverait trop isolé. Les fonctionnaires s'appliquent assidûment à leur devoir; servientes est trop faible; lire assidue incumbentes ([Corn.) ou perseverantes (Aug).
13:7
Conclusion non liée, conforme à la doctrine de Jésus (Mt. xxn, 45 ss.). πᾶσιν, dans ce contexte, ne peut s'entendre que des fonctionnaires. Après τῷ, sous-entendre ἀπαιτοῦντι. Il faut d'abord payer les impositions; φόρος, tributum, répond en gros à l'impôt direct; τέλος, vectigal, à l'impôt indirect. Les fonctionnaires qui les perçoivent n'ont guère droit à des honneurs spéciaux. Mais il en est de plus élevés dans la hiérarchie, auxquels on doit l'expression d'une crainte révérencielle et des marques d'honneur. Le mot 56404 qui n'était guère honorable chez les Grecs avait pris dans les LXX une certaine dignité sous la forme de crainte du Seigneur, gd6os Κυρίου δόξα at χαύψημα. C'est peut-être pour mettre les choses tout à fait au point que la Je Petri dit (ur, 17) : τὸν θεὸν φοδεῖσθε" τὸν βασιλέα τιμᾶτε. Supprimer ergo avec WW. conformément au grec.
13:8
Le paiement des impôts est une obligation de justice. Mais ce n’est qu'un cas de la justice; il faut rendre à chacun ce qu'on lui doit, de sorte qu'on ne doive plus rien à personne : μηδενί s'entend d'une négation universelle. Il n'y a aucune raison de penser que Paul, qui vient de parler des dettes envers l'État païen, ne s'occupe plus désormais que de la communauté. Or il est une dette qui n’est jamais soldée, et qu'on doit toujours regarder comme due, c'est la charité, et envers tous les hommes, puisque c’est d'eux tous qu'il est question au début du verset. A cela Lietz. a objecté que ἀλλήλους restreignait le concept aux seuls fidèles, qui ne peuvent s'attendre à être aimés des païens. Il en résulte seulement que Paul ne s’adresse pas aux païens; il dit aux chrétiens qu'ils sont toujours redevables de la charité aux autres, à ceux auxquels ils ont déjà payé ce qu'ils devaient en justice, c'est-à-dire à tous. L'idée est admirable, l'expression charmante. On peut avoir acquitté toutes ses obligations envers une personne, on peut, on doit toujours l'aimer et lui rendre les bons offices de la charité. Et la preuve qu'on n'est pas quitte, c'est qu'aimer comme il faut serait avoir déjà rempli la loi. Or qui peut se flatter d’avoir rempli la loi? C'est toujours le ton du mächäl hébreu (cf. RB. 1909, 342 ss.) qui pique la curiosité par une forme légèrement paradoxale : la charité n'est point le paiement d’une dette; la charité, spontanée et partant du cœur, ne ressemble guère à l'obéissance due à une loi. Cependant celui qui aime a déjà par le fait accompli (πεπλήρωχεν) la loi, et comme sans s'en douter, car le mobile de l'amour n’est point de remplir un devoir. — τὸν ἕτερον est le prochain, mais dans un sens très large; cf. n, 1; 1 Cor. iv, 6; χιν, 17, comprenant tous les hommes. Il est étrange que Zahn préfère lier τὸν ἕτερον à νόμον, « le reste de la loi »; d'autant que la loi, même mosaïque, n'a pas toujours l’article. Quant à νόμον (séparé de τὸν ἕτερον), c'est bien la Loi mosaïque, ainsi que le prouve le verset suivant, non pas comme obligatoire par elle-même, mais comme largement accomplie dans ses éléments essentiels et permanents par la charité. L'amour de Dieu n’est pas nommé avant celui du prochain comme il l'avait été par Jésus (Mc. χη, 28 ss.). Mais les Romains ne pouvaient avoir oublié les effusions du ch. vu (v. 28 ss.); l'amour pour les hommes ne pouvait se concevoir sans l'amour du Père, ni l’accomplissement de la morale sans l'action de l'Esprit en Jésus (vin, 4). Paul s'en tient donc ici à son sujet,
13:9
Ge verset prouve le v. 8b. Les principaux commandements du Décalogue — et on peut en dire autant des autres — sont résumés dans le commandement de la charité. C'est un écho de la parole du Seigneur (Mt. xxn, 39), en développant l'argument. Le texte massorétique de Ex. xx, 18 ss. comme celui de Dt. v, 17 58. ἃ l'ordre : « tu ne tueras point, tu ne commettras point d'adultère, tu ne voleras point ». Mais le ms. B a, sur Dt. v, 17 ss., l'ordre de Paul, et c'est aussi l'ordre du papyrus Nash (RB. 1904, p. 246), de Philon (De Decalog., pass), de Clém.-AL. (Strom. VI, 16). C’est donc à tout le moins l'ordre égyptien qui est peut-être primitif. De toute façon Paul n'aurait pas changé l’ordre qu'il avait dans la mémoire pour mettre plus en relief la défense de l’adultère. — où ἐπιθυμήσεις est encore de circonstance parce que les désirs interdits en termes exprès par le Décalogue sont relatifs à la femme ou au bien du prochain. Paul ne se soucie pas de réciter tout le Décalogue; sans parler de ce qui regarde Dieu, les autres commandements passés sous silence sont celui d’honorer les parents et de ne pas rendre de faux témoignage. Il est clair qu'ils rentrent dans le grand précepte positif, « tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même » (Lev. χιχ, 18). La question était de savoir qui était le prochain (cf. sur Me. xn, 31); d'après le contexte de Paul, ce sont tous les hommes. — ἀναχεφαλαιοῦται rappelle Philon (De Septenario, Mang. p. 282), δύο τὰ ἀνωτάτω χεφάλαια, précisément à propos des deux grands commande- Instauratur est moins précis que recapitulatur (f & Orig. int., Jér., Aug.\, Ou summatim comprehenditur (Erasme). Non falsum testimonium dices, addition d'après quelques mss. grecs, doit être omis avec WW.
13:10
Le v. 105. ἃ une sorte de sel attique. Certes ce n’est point un éloge suffisant de la charité que de dire qu'elle ne fait pas de mal au prochain (ef. 1 Cor. xm1, 1 ss.). Mais c’est ici tout ce qu'il fallait démontrer, et à vrai dire c'est déjà beaucoup. Le v. 10b tire la conclusion générale que 80 faisait déjà pressentir. — πλήρωμα est-il πλήρωσις émpletio ou, selon son sens normal, plenitudo ? Dire seulement que la charité est l'accomplissement de la loi serait l’envisager strictement comme commandée, et elle l'est en effet, d'après Lev. ΧΙΧ, 18 qui vient d’être cité. Mais, d’après le v. 8, Paul a plutôt déclaré que ce commandement n'est jamais rempli sans qu'il demeure encore à remplir. Son idée est donc que la charité, si elle était parfaite, ne serait pas seulement l’accomplissement d’un précepte, mais quelque chose qui comprend la plénitude de tous les préceptes et de toutes les œuvres; Euthym. : ὡς ἔχουσα καὶ τῶν ἀγαθῶν τὴν ἐργασίαν, χαὶ τῶν χαχῶν τὴν ἀπογήν, ὑπὲρ ὧν πᾶσαι αἱ ἐντολαὶ τοῦ γόμου νενομοθέτηνται. La Vg. dilectio proximi risque d'égarer sur le sens du grec qui est délectio proximo (malum non operatur).
13:13
Paul n'insiste pas sur l'idée de bataille, et demande maintenant qu'on garde la tenue décente qui convient au jour. Plus encore que de notre temps; on se croyait tout permis chez les Romains durant la nuit. Ceux-là mêmes que leur condition obligeait durant le jour à plus de réserve se déguis saient tout autrement que εὐσχημόνως pour courir les aventures. Le χῶμος était un banquet licencieux, où l'ivresse était prévue, et qui se terminait dans la rue en de bruyants cortèges, en quête de débauche, suivi de scènes de querelles et de jalousie. C'est ce que Suétone raconte de Néron : post crepusculum statim adrepto pilleo vel galero popinas inibat circumque picos vagabatur ludibundus..… ac saepe in eius. modi rixis oculorum et vitae periculum adiit, a quodam laticlavio, cuius uxorem adtrectaverat, prope ad necem caesus (Nero, xxvi); cf. sur Lucius Verus, Capitol. IV, 6. Les désordres sont rangés deux par deux, chaque paire ne formant guère qu'une idée (hendiadyn) : banquets où l'on s'enivre, couches où l'on pratique la débauche, querelles fomentées par la jalousie. Alors même que Paul n'aurait pas eu en vue de pareils déportements réunis, ses expressions sont cependant trop fortes pour s'appliquer à la vie morale d’une communauté normale de chrétiens, encore moins à ces Romains dont il louait la foi (1, 8); ce sont là les vices du paganisme. La comparaison du jour et de la nuit ne peut être ici que l'opposition entre le christianisme et la vie immorale des païens ; Théodoret (III, 139; Scnurze, Catene, 468, 17, cité par Liets.) : καὶ γὰρ οἱ τὸν παράνομον ἀσπαζόμενοι βίον ἐκεῖνα ἐν νυχτὶ ὁρῶντες μεθ᾽ ἡμέραν τὸ τῆς εὐκοσμίας περιτίθενται σχῆμα. Βούλεται τοίνυν, ὡς τῆς νυχτὸς διελθούσης καὶ τῆς ἀγνοίας ληξάσης, τῶν προτέρων ἡμᾶς ἀπηλλάχθαι xaxüv. Thom. distingue trois sortes de nuit et de jour : C'est tout le temps présent, comparé à l’état de béatitude; l'état de faute, comparé à celui de grâce; le temps antérieur à l’Incarnation, comparé au christianisme. Au lieu de choïsir entre ces explications, il faut reconnaître que la pensée de l’Apôtre ἃ évolué; exactement comme dans 1 Thess. v, 1-8, il passe du jour du Seigneur (ν. 2) à l'idée du grand jour dans lequel vivent les chrétiens. Parlant à des chrétiens de vieille date, il faisait allusion au jour de l’avénement du Seigneur. Mais le jour [αἱ déjà, et c'est alors le christianisme avec ses obligations morales qui succède à la nuit de l'immoralité païenne. 1%) Il faut revêtir Jésus-Christ. C'était déjà fait par le baptême (Gal. τι, 27), mais il dépend du chrétien de collaborer à ce qu'a fait la grâce, et ce travail doit durer toujours. Néanmoins il y a dans l'expression une allusion à la profession récente du christianisme, qui s'accorde parfaitement avec l'explication donnée plus haut du v. 13. Anciens et nouveaux convertis, les Romains doivent oublier les vices du paganisme et revêtir Jésus-Christ; cf. Col. ur, 9; Eph. 1v, 24. Thom. : dicitur autem induere Christum qui Christum imitatur; quia sicut homo continetur vestimento, et sub eius colore videtur; ita in eo qui Christum ümitatur, opera Christi apparent. Per hoc ergo induimur arma lucis, quando induimur Christum. Revêtez le Christ, c'est une autre manière de dire : vivez dans son Esprit, ne vivez pas selon la chair (γπι, 12 ss.). C'est bien ce que Paul ajoute ici. S'il avait voulu dire que nous devons n'avoir soin du corps que pour autant que les mauvais désirs n’en soient pas excités (Corn., Zahn), il eût écrit τοῦ σώματος et non τῆς σαρχός (cf. vint, 13). La chair qui est dans le langage de l’Apôtre un principe mauvais va à la satisfaction de ses désirs : il ne faut point en tenir compte (Lips., Kühl, Jül., SH.); ef. Gal. v, 16 : καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν σαρχὸς οὐ μὴ τελέσητε. — πρόνοιαν ποιοῦμαι est fréquent dans les inscriptions (Roufjiac, p. 72, Ὡ. 1). La Ve. in desidertis, ἐν ἐπιθυμείαις (F G); in desideria rendrait mieux εἰς ἐπιθυμίας.
13:1
The motto of St. Paul: non est potestas nisi a Deo (Rom. 13:1) and other explicit and implicit references in the same sense, contained in the deposit of revelation, served as a guide to the new conception of the origin of authority, which may …
… that Christians could not accept (cf. L. Cerfaux, Le titre de Kyrios et la dignité royale de Jésus, in Revue des sciences philosophiques et théologiques, 25 [1923], pp. 146-47). With Baptism a Christian did not renounce the authority of the State (Rom. 13, 1-5), but he made his own the words of St. Paul: «there are many who receive the title of god, both in heaven and on earth; for us there is one God, the Father, and one Lord [κύριος] Jesus …
Ecclesiastical Authorities, Crimes Against
… Itaque qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit » (Rom. 13, 1-2), the constant teaching of Catholic morality, according to which « Oboedientiam abicere, et per vim multitudinis rem ad seditionem vocare est crimen maiestatis, neque humanae tantum, …
… Hence the Apostles, who labored to have it accepted, did not think at all of contesting for this reason the authority of the established powers: these too are willed by God and are feared only by evildoers (1 Pet. 2, 12-17; Rom. 13, 1-7). The same, moreover, Jesus Christ had already formally taught beforehand: if one must give to God what is God's, one must also give to Caesar what is Caesar's. …
The civil legislator can, first of all, issue laws that bind in conscience; for every authority comes from God and is exercised in the name of God. Classic on this point is the passage of St. Paul (Rom. 13:1-7), preceded by Prov. 8:15 ff. and Wis. 6:2-5, and confirmed by Pt. 2:13 ff., by the doctrine of the Church (cf. Leo XIII, Immortale Dei, 1 Nov. 1885; Libertas, 20 June 1888; …
… He invites his readers to respect the law of the State; but even in this field he points to a higher authority, God, to whom everything must be subordinated, including every human dignity (cf. Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:2; Titus 3:1).
Religions, Comparative Study of
Christ for his part ordered his disciples, "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mt. 22, 21; cf. Rom. 13, 1-7). His ministers, it is true, have several times favored the game of the Caesars in exchange for the support demanded from them; emperors and kings have meddled directly in doctrinal …
The famous texts of Revelation: "Reddite Caesari, quae sunt Caesaris" (Lk. 20:26) and "Cui tributum, tributum, cui vectigal, vectigal" (Rom. 13:1-7) positively confirm this natural right. …
13:2
… One of the unifying elements of the State is authority, which, although it cannot come from any source other than God (Rom. 13, 2), nevertheless expresses itself in various forms of government, which, if they follow the law of divine justice, cannot be reproved by the Church. …
… If it concerns a particular thing, it admits of slightness of matter; if it concerns the superior as invested with authority (not for other considerations), it is always grave (cf. Rom. 13, 2), even if the transgression be in a light matter. …
13:4
… Nor in the New Testament has God withdrawn this delegation given to the public powers, as is evident from certain texts that presuppose the death penalty (Mt. 26, 32; Rom. 13, 4). It is not, however, an unlimited power: St. Thomas holds it to be lawful to kill a malefactor if and insofar as such killing is ordered to the salvation of the whole community, …
13:7
… In the New Testament there is no - if one excludes Rom. 13:7 (Reddite ergo omnibus debita) - explicit affirmation of the obligation of restitution. …
13:8
… St. John delights in fusing them into a single commandment (1 Jn. 4:20-21), while St. Paul recapitulates the whole substance of the Christian law in the second precept (Gal. 5:14; 6:2; Rom. 13:8).
… 12:31), who said that by supernatural charity his true disciples will be recognized (Jn. 17:21). Charity indeed holds the primacy in the spiritual life (I Cor. 12:31; I Tim. 1:5), is the bond of perfection (Col. 3:14), the fullness of the law (Rom. 13:8-10), and every other virtue, if it is not accompanied by charity, is "nothing" (I Cor. 13:1-13).
… XIV, pp. 543-707), and above all from the Monopanton, seu reductio omnium epistolarum beati Pauli in unam, requested by the same cardinal, which in 73 chapters logically groups together what St. Paul wrote on each virtue (for example, ch. 7 De Caritate is composed thus: Rom. 5:5; 8:28, 35-39; 13:8-10; 12:9-11; I Cor. 6:17; 8:3, 11; 10:24; 12:31; 13:1-8, 13; 14:1; 16:14, 20, 22, 24; II Cor. 6:11-13; 8:24; 11:2; Gal. 5:13-14; Eph. 5:1; Col. 3:14; I Thess. 4:9-10; I Tim. …
13:11
… Hence the importance of "being prepared," of "watching," so as not to fear this "day of the Lord," this "coming" of his (v. FABUSIA) which for us is sudden inasmuch as it is absolutely unknown (Matt. 24:37-51; 25:1-30; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:16-21, 35-46; 17:26-35; 21:24-36; Rom. 13:11-14; 14:10 f.; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 7:20-32; 10:1-12; Phil. 2:15 f.; etc.) and the desire of the just man to "die to be with Christ" (2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 1:21-26, etc.; cf. Bonsirven, pp. 311-15).
GLAGOLITIC, SCRIPT - Example of a Glagolitic Missal of Kiev, fol. 1 (9th cent.); text of Rom. 13:11-14 and version of the oration "Protege" of the Mass of the Annunciation.
economy, has ceased (II Cor. 5:17; Heb. 8:13); we are near the "end of all things" of the world (Heb. 10:25, 37; Jas. 5:8; I Pet. 4:7; I John 2:18). When the Apostles proclaim "the Lord is near" (Phil. 4:5; Rom. 13:11; Jas. 5:8; Rev. 3:20), it is a matter of a spatial-spiritual nearness rather than a temporal one; it is the presence of Jesus already living among his own (Matt. 18:20; 28:20; John …
13:12
… spirit, the virulence of concupiscence (v.), the effort imposed on the Christian to re-establish the disturbed equilibrium, painfully stripping himself of whatever belongs to the "flesh of sin" and putting on the new man modeled on Christ (Rom. 7:14-24; 13:12-14; Col. 3:5-8). Hence the Christian must be ready for the fight like a soldier armed cap-a-pie (Eph. 6:10-18), like the athlete, accustomed to harsh exercises, who strikes the enemy …
13:14
The Christocentric idea of his theology also dominates the ethics of P., who loves to speak of moral "death" and "resurrection" (Rom. 6:4, 6, 11; Col. 2:20-3:8), of the necessity of "putting off" the old personality (= Adam) in order to "put on" the new (= Christ; cf. Rom. 13:14; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11). Just as in Christology P. dwells at length on liberation from the tyranny of the flesh, so in the moral field he insistently demands the renunciation of …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Rheims 1582), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.