Cyprian : They believed that they might escape according to their faith, but they added, "and if not," that the king might know that they could also die for the God they worshipped. For this is the strength of courage and of faith, to believe and to know that God can deliver from present death, and yet not to fear death nor to give way, that faith may be the more mightily proved. The uncorrupted and unconquered might of the Holy Spirit broke forth by their mouth, so that the words which the Lord in His Gospel spoke are seen to be true: "But when they shall seize you, take no thought what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." — Epistle LV Hippolytus of Rome : I will dare to say something and I will not venture to say something else while speaking. These boys, having read the contents of Scripture, saw what was spoken by the prophet, that it was written concerning them. For how else did the contents of Scripture say to Babylon, "I shall make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know me," [Psalms 87:4] except if it foresees by the Spirit the mysteries of the economy there? For these, having seen all men worshiping the image and heeding the prescription of the king, settled their minds to speak. This is not idly written, brothers, this is similarly fulfilled in us now. For behold, it happened that even every family received our captives and they became slaves to the Babylonians. Nebuchadnezzar, just as the great devil, tyrannizes against us and having made a golden image compels people to idolatry. We the faithful stand fast unto death, lest we disgrace our teacher, Moses, or lest we permit our family to be ridiculed. Let us, as the three boys, conquer all the power of the Babylonians. God will deliver us from the hand of the king, as he rescued our forefathers from the hand of Pharaoh. Let us recall what happened long ago in the land of Egypt. When the sea was struck with a staff, it was put to flight and the Jordan River, when it saw the Ark, was turned back to its source, and Rahab the prostitute, when she was found faithful in the city of Jericho, she was preserved from the slaughter of the sword. And now God is able to easily quench the fire of the furnace. If you are threatened with the sword, let us submit to death; if thrown to wild beasts let us not cower before the beasts. Let not the crowd of the Babylonians prevail in that faithful day. Urging one another on as living combatants, the three young boys were led on by the Spirit to the pit, contending before myriads of unbelieving men. — Commentary on Daniel 2.19.1-8 Hippolytus of Rome : But what is better for you O man, having testified to depart from this world in glory, or having been rescued here and waiting patiently to keep sinning? For we have seen many who have confessed before the tribunal who were, through some pretext against the design of God, destroyed, and we have seen they who lived a sufficient time and being found in transgressions, also were destroyed. How does a confession to God aid them? For it is better for them rather that they are taken from this world as pure, having a heavenly crown, then remaining here to heap up sins for themselves concerning which they have to render an account. Therefore let the one who is brought forth on account of the Name pray that at some time having testified in such a way, to depart. For this one will never in any way be judged, but he will judge "having his own share in the first resurrection." [Revelation 20:6] And so be firm O man, never stammering in faith, and whenever you are called to testify obey willingly, so that your faith may be shown. It has happened that God has tested you as he tested Abraham, when he demanded Isaac. Having been brought forward, perhaps he wills to deliver you, and in this you glorify God. And you mimic the three boys and understand their faith! For they said to the king, "God is able to release us, but if he does not will, we are under the authority of God, we would rather gladly die than do what is prescribed by you." [Daniel 3:18] Whom then Nebuchadnezzar also seeing the pure and blameless boys coming out from the furnace was astounded and amazed. For neither was their hair singed nor their cloaks changed nor was the smell of fire in them. — Commentary on Daniel 2.37.1-7 Jerome : Verse 18. "But if He does not will to do so" - phrasing which admirably avoids the idea, "If He is not able," which would be inconsistent with what they had just asserted, "He is able to deliver us" - but rather they say, "If He does not will to do so." Thereby they indicate that it will not be a matter of God's inability but rather of His sovereign will if they do perish. "Be it known to thee, O king, that we do not serve thy gods and do not worship the golden statue which thou hast set up." Whether we wish to read "statue" as Symmachus does, or "golden image" as the other authorities have rendered it, those who reverence God are not to worship it. Therefore let judges and princes who worship the statues of emperors or idols realize that they are doing precisely the thing which the three youths refused to do and thereby pleased God. And we should observe the proper significance of the issue involved: they assert that worshipping the mere image is equivalent to serving the false gods themselves, neither of which things is befitting to the servants of God. — St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER THREE Theodoret of Cyrus : Far from serving our Lord for payment, we are motivated by affection and longing, and at the same time we prefer the service of our God to everything. Hence, instead of asking for relief from the troubles unconditionally, we embrace the Lord's planning and providence; and without knowledge of what will be of benefit, we leave the helm to the pilot, no matter what he wishes, understanding clearly that he is able to free us from the threatened evils. Whether he wishes to do so, we do not know; but we leave it to him, wise governor as he is, and accept his verdict, confident that it is to our benefit. Whether he rescues us or not, therefore, we shun worship of your statue and your gods. — COMMENTARY ON Daniel 3:18