{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-6527","native_reference":{"book_number":650,"chapter_from":11,"chapter_to":11,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":6,"verse_to":6},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: It is necessary to \"believe that He is,\" not \"what He is.\" If \"that He is\" needs Faith, and not reasonings; it is impossible to comprehend by reasoning \"what He is.\" If that \"He is a rewarder\" needs Faith and not reasonings, how is it possible by Reasoning to compass His essence? For what Reasoning can reach this? For some persons say that the things that exist are self-caused. Seest thou that unless we have Faith in regard to all things, not only in regard to retribution, but also in regard to the very being of God, all is lost to us?<br/><i>— Homily on Hebrews 22</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: Wherefore they who say that all things are ruled and governed of themselves, and do not expect a reward, are not well-pleasing; as neither are the heathen. For \"He becomes a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him\" by works and by knowledge.<br/><i>— Homily on Hebrews 22</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: Since then we have \"a rewarder,\" let us do all things that we may not be deprived of the rewards of virtue. For indeed the neglecting such a recompense, the scorning such a reward, is worthy of many tears. For as to \"those who diligently seek Him,\" He is a rewarder, so to those who seek Him not, the contrary.<br/><i>— Homily on Hebrews 22</i></p><p><b>Oecumenius</b>: \"But without faith, it is impossible to please Him.\" For if someone does not believe in the payment of good deeds and evils, he would not please. For who would tread the laborious path of virtue, not being convinced that there are rewards?<br/>\"For he who comes to God must believe that He is.\" It is not about what it is, nor about examining His essence, but one must only believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek it.<br/><i>— The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews</i></p><p><b>Philoxenus of Mabbug</b>: \"He that would draw nigh to God is bound to believe that He is, and [that] to those who seek Him He will be a rewarder;\" this law hath Paul committed to the man who wisheth to draw nigh to God, and this obligation of rewarding [him] is laid upon God. He must believe only that God is, and whosoever believeth that He is, from what time and in what manner [He existeth] he will not enquire. So also is it with His will, if he heareth [it], and His word, and His doctrine; that it is the will of God Himself he will be sure, and the voice and commandment of God he will hearken unto and believe. That he should judge why, and in what form, and for what reason [He is] thus is the insolent investigation of the soul which hath not perceived God.<br/><i>— 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith</i></p><p><b>Philoxenus of Mabbug</b>: Observe then how great is the power of faith, for all the spiritual things which are would, without it, be as if they existed not; and not only living works or spiritual countries, but that Being which is, would be, if we had no faith, as if He existed not. For this reason Paul looked upon the mystery of our doctrine, and said, \"He that would draw nigh to God is bound to believe that He is;\" he commanded the disciple [first] to take faith upon himself, and then to draw nigh to the discipleship of Christ. For Paul knew that the spiritual nature could not fall under the bodily senses, and that it could not be known, for not even one of the bodily senses could subjugate it, and for this reason he commanded us in his doctrine to believe only that He is.<br/><i>— 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith</i></p><p><b>Philoxenus of Mabbug</b>: And none of the righteous pleased God without faith, even as the teaching of Paul testifieth, who, beginning with Abel, repeated all their names one after the other coming down unto the manifestation of Christ, and he showed that they all pleased God by faith. And setting a definite limit for all disciples he said, \"Without faith man cannot please God.\"<br/><i>— 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 3 -- On Faith</i></p><p><b>Philoxenus of Mabbug</b>: This then is the beginning of thy going forth from the world, O thou that wouldst begin the journey of the way of heaven! And thou must cast away from thee by faith the garment of error of the mind which is bound to the things of this world, and which erreth and considereth that which is not as if it were. Take heed then that thou becomest not changed in thy faith, remembering at all times the word of Paul, by which thou wilt increase thy faith, and cleanse thy thoughts from the filth of error, even as he said, \"He that would draw nigh unto God is bound to believe that God is.\"<br/><i>— 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 3 -- On Faith</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"cee07844f9d8fd0c5d769fbfee5db06ca89e65d24443fb9efe6fc246c179e4db","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":6527,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"3753db8ce5e3374a0a2e12ff969072fb59217b393a7d153a77f8f8f1818e8a0c","translator":null,"work":null}