Caesarius of Arles : In addition, if grief and trouble, even perils and reproaches from an unlearned people are stirred up as the result of a spirit of animosity, bear them with courage and constancy. Look rather to our Lord and Savior, the true shepherd who condescended to suffer, not only tribulation but even death, for the sake of the sheep. It is necessary for you to bear many adversities, if you want to preserve right doctrine and continuously to preach the word of God as it is expedient to do. The precepts of justice are always bitter to those who lead a wicked life. For this reason I exhort you today in the sight of God and his angels, and I declare with the voice of the apostle, "Devote yourself to the reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching." — SERMONS 230.4 John Chrysostom : In what else did this blessed saint excel the rest of the apostles? and how comes it that up and down the world he is so much on every one's tongue?… Is it not from the power of his epistles? whereby not only to the faithful of to-day, but from his time to this, yea and up to the end, even the appearing of Christ, he has been and will be profitable, and will continue to be so as long as the human race shall last. For as a wall built of adamant, so his writings fortify all the Churches of the known world, and he as a most noble champion stands in the midst, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.… For his writings are not only useful to us, for the overthrow of false doctrine and the confirmation of the true, but they help not a little towards living a good life.… From all this it is evident that St. Paul had given himself to the study of which we have been speaking with great diligence and zeal. Hear also what he says in his charge to his disciple: "Give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching," and he goes on to show the usefulness of this by adding, "For in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee." — Treatise on the Priesthood, Book 4 John Chrysostom : What equal to Timothy? tell me that: and yet to him says Paul, "Give attention to reading, to exhortation. (1 Tim. iv. 13.) For it is not possible, I say not possible, ever to exhaust the mind of the Scriptures. It is a well which has no bottom." For the more one dwells on them, the more insight does he get, the more does he behold the pure light. — Homily on the Acts of the Apostles 19 John Chrysostom : "Till I come give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." Even Timothy is commanded to apply to reading. Let us then be instructed not to neglect the study of the sacred writings. Again, observe, he says, "Till I come." Mark how he consoles him, for being as it were an orphan, when separated from him, it was natural that he should require such comfort. "Till I come," he says, give attendance to reading the divine writings, to exhortation of one another, to teaching of all. — Homily on 1 Timothy 13 Oecumenius : Until I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders. Until I come, give attention to reading. It was likely that Timothy himself, as if deprived of Paul, wished for him. Therefore, he comforts him in two ways, both with the promise of his coming and with the consoling Scriptures. But notice that Timothy is instructed to read, which we ought to do. to exhortation. To the people. Do not neglect the gift that is in you. This is, the teaching or the office of a bishop. For the grace of God was that the young man was worthy to become a pastor. which was given to you through prophecy. For bishops were appointed by the command of the Spirit, and not randomly. But there is also a kind of prophecy that speaks of the present; as is said, "Separate for me Barnabas and Saul." (Acts 13:2) with the laying on of the hands of the elders. Paul says that the bishops are elders. For the elders would not have ordained the bishop. — COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY Origen of Alexandria : Now "every scribe who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder who brings forth out of his treasury things new and old." Therefore, it clearly follows by "conversion of the proposition," as it is called, that every one who does not bring forth out of his treasury things new and old is not a scribe who has been made a disciple for the kingdom of heaven. We must endeavor, therefore, in every way to gather in our heart, "by giving heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching" and by "meditating in the law of the Lord day and night." We must observe not only the new oracles of the Gospels and of the apostles and their revelation but also the old things in the law "which has the shadow of the good things to come" and in the prophets who prophesied in accordance with them. — COMMENTARY ON Matthew 10.15