Послесловие (2Кор. 13:11–13)

2 Cor. 13:11. Otherwise, brothers, rejoice, be complete, be comforted, be wise, have peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. “What does it mean, “otherwise, brethren, rejoice”? You saddened, frightened, plunged into sorrow, made you tremble: how can you command us to rejoice? “Therefore,” he says, “I command you to rejoice.” For if you, on your part, conform to what I am obliged to do on my part, then there will be no obstacle to joy. And on my part, everything was done: I endured for a long time, hesitated, did not excommunicate you, convinced, exhorted, intimidated, threatened, in order to somehow produce in you the fruits of repentance. Now you must do your job, and your joy will not be darkened” (St. Chrysostom). If they correct themselves, then they will take the path of virtue; “those who succeed in virtue are characterized by spiritual joy” (Theodoret), regardless of external well-being. Perhaps this is why he says: “rejoice”, because not everyone was faulty, and therefore not everyone was afraid of the threat. To everyone who is serviceable, it goes very well: “Rejoice.” Rejoice that you are Christians, you have believed in the Lord, received remission of sins, received the grace of the Spirit, sanctifying you and strengthening you for all good, and have the undoubted hope that, being faithful to the Lord, you will inherit the ever-blessed kingdom of heaven. How can you not rejoice, taking all this to heart?! "Be accomplished." “Be perfect, and make up for what is lacking” (St. Chrysostom). This is the purpose of life! One who has entered the court of Christ, into His flock, cannot help but rejoice, looking at what he receives and what he still hopes to receive. But, having entered into such a rank of life, you cannot sleep. Much has been given, much more will be given incomparably. But the first is an unconditional gift, the second is a conditional gift. We must bring in labor, directing it towards cutting off the imperfect and adding the perfect to one another. This is self-improvement. "Be comforted." “Since there are many temptations and great dangers, seek consolation in each other and in us, and in your own correction. For if your joy comes from a clear conscience and if you are perfect, then nothing is enough for your complacency and consolation, for nothing brings so much consolation as a clear conscience, even if you are surrounded by countless temptations” (St. Chrysostom). “Be wise too”: “be more closely united by like-mindedness, all adhere to the same way of thinking” (Theodoret). “He asked about this at the beginning of the first letter” (St. Chrysostom). Perhaps this is the main thing in the last brief instructions. For out of empty passion for certain individuals they began to diverge from each other and group themselves into parties. The first message sobered them up. They decided to improve. It was necessary to record this decision, which is what the Apostle does here. "Have Peace". “It happens that people also become wise, but do not have peace; for example, when they agree on the dogmas of faith, but are at enmity with each other. On the contrary, the Apostle Paul demands here both unanimity and agreement” (St. Chrysostom). - “Have peace.” Ειρηνευετε, be at peace, can also have a comprehensive meaning, that is, be at peace both within yourself and with God, and not just with others. Theodoret writes: “Have peace” both with us and with each other, and above all with God who saved you.” “And the God of love and peace will be with you.” “For seeing this prosperity, God will make you worthy of every providence, because He is the Lawgiver of everything” (Theodoret). “He not only exhorts and advises to have peace, but also prays to God for it. For he either prays here (that is, may the God of peace be with you), or predicts the future (that is, what will happen to you for the kindnesses shown); or rather, both together. If, he says, you do this, that is, be wise and have peace among yourself, then God will be with you. Because God is a God of love and peace. In this He rejoices (that is, in love and peace), and in this He rejoices. From here, from His love, there will be peace in you. Hence the deliverance from all evils. This love saved the universe; she stopped the ancient enmity on earth, she united earth with heaven, she made people angels. Let us also love her, for love is the mother of countless blessings. By her we were saved, through her we received unspeakable blessings” (St. Chrysostom). 2 Cor. 13:12. Kiss each other with a holy kiss. You all kiss the saints. ““Kiss each other with a holy kiss”; that is, unflatteringly, chastely, like each other’s members and the body of Christ” (Theodoret). “What does it mean: “holy”? - Not feigned and flattering, as Judas kissed Christ. For that is the purpose of the kiss, so that it arouses love, so that it ignites sincere affection, so that we love each other as brothers of brothers, as children of fathers and fathers of children, or even more: for this love is natural, and ours is spiritual. Therefore, when we return from travels, we kiss each other when our souls come into mutual communication. For the lips especially express the disposition of the soul. What is it? We are the church of Christ, through which Christ entered and enters us. when we partake of the sacraments, do you understand what I say? Your lips who receive the Body of the Lord are honored with no simple honor. Therefore, at this time, let those who shamefully kiss each other hear this, and let them be horrified at the thought of how they defile their lips! (Saint Chrysostom). “You kiss all the saints.” “In one composition with them he united all those who believed in the universe” (Theodoret). “Do you see how he unites with each other all those who are far and near, the former through Scripture, and the latter through kissing?” (Saint Chrysostom). 2 Cor. 13:13. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. The salvation of each and every one is accomplished by the inseparable action of the Most Holy Trinity. The Word of God calls different actions in the production of our salvation by different names and refers them sometimes to one, sometimes to another, sometimes to the third Person of the Most Holy Trinity, which shows that it does not distribute them among the Persons so that one belongs exclusively to one, the other to another. So here, too, “the Apostle did not express himself this way to mean separation, and he did not assign other things to Christ the Lord, another to the Father, and another to the Spirit, for he repeatedly attributed love to the Spirit, fellowship to the Son, grace to God the Father. So in the first letter, having attributed the action to the Father (1 Cor. 12:6), after a few words he attributes it to the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11). He placed the Persons in a different order, not perverting the order indicated by the Lord (Matthew 28:19), but teaching that a different order of names does not mean a difference in nature, or strength, or a difference in merits” (Theodoret). “So everything that belongs to the Trinity is inseparable! And where the communion of the Spirit is, there is the communion of the Son, and where the grace of the Son is, there is the grace of the Father and the Holy Spirit. I say this not as one who confuses the Hypostases; not at all: on the contrary, I know both how they differ and are separated, and the unity of their essence” (St. Chrysostom). “Let us both maintain these dogmas with all accuracy and attract the love of God to ourselves. For He loved us first, while we still hated Him; and reconciled us to Himself while we were still His enemies; and now wants to love us, who already love Him; Let us constantly love Him, so that He also loves us. And if, taking advantage of the love of strong people, we are terrible for everyone, then all the more so when we are in the love of God. If out of love for Him we need to give up our property, our body, even our very soul, we will not spare it. For it is not enough to testify to your love for Him only in words, you need to show it in deeds. For He Himself showed His love for us not only in words, but also in deeds. Show this in reality and do what is pleasing to Him. In this case, you yourself will again benefit, because He does not need anything from us. This serves as a special proof of His sincere love for us, that, without needing our love, He does everything so that we love Him. Therefore, Moses said: “For whatever the Lord God seeks... from you, just... love Him, and be ready to follow in His footsteps” (Deut. 10:12). Therefore, when he commands you to love Him, then most of all he shows that he loves you. For our salvation is never so reliable as when we love Him” (St. Chrysostom). “Let us also pray that we may be worthy of the apostolic blessing and receive the promised benefits through the grace and love of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. With Him to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, be glory and splendor, now and always, and forever and ever! Amen" (Theodoret). You might be interested in: