Discourses on the Epistle to the Romans

Conversation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Constantly listening to the reading of the epistles of Blessed Paul, every week twice, and often three and four times, when we commemorate the holy martyrs, I rejoice, enjoy the spiritual trumpet, and admire. I am inflamed with desire, recognizing the voice that is dear to me, and it almost seems to me as if he has appeared and is present before me, and I see how he is talking. But, on the other hand, I grieve and lament that not everyone knows this man as they should know, and some are in such ignorance that they do not clearly know the number of his messages. And this happens not because of a lack of teaching, but because they do not want to constantly talk with this blessed one. And we understood what we know (if, indeed, we know anything), not with the help of natural ability and sharpness of mind, but due to the fact that we were constantly close to this man and zealously followed him. Those who love know the affairs of their loved ones more than anyone else, since they truly care about them. And blessed Paul, showing this, said to the Philippians: “for... It is right for me to think this wisely concerning you all, for I have you in my heart, in my bonds, and in the answer and announcement of the gospel” (Phil. 1.7). Thus, if you want to diligently listen to the reading, you will not need anything else, because the word of Christ is not false, Who said: “Seek and you will find: press and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7.7). But since most of us gathered here have taken upon themselves the care of raising children and taking care of their wives and taking care of the house and, as a result, cannot agree to devote themselves entirely to this work, then at least try to accept what others have collected and pay as much attention to listening to what is said here as to collecting property. True, although it is a shame to demand only this from you, it will be nice if you do not refuse this. After all, from here, from ignorance of the Scriptures, countless disasters arose: from here grew the great infection of heresies, from here - careless lives, useless labors. Just as those deprived of this light cannot walk straight, so those who do not look at the ray of divine Scripture are forced to sin much and often, since they truly walk in the deepest darkness. To prevent this from happening, let us open our eyes to the radiance of the apostolic verbs; After all, the language of the Apostle Paul shone brighter than the sun, he surpassed all others with the word of teaching and received the abundant grace of the Spirit, since he worked more than others. And I affirm this not only on the basis of messages, but also on deeds. If somewhere there was a convenient opportunity for preaching, they gave him everywhere; that is why even unbelievers called this apostle Hermes - for his perfection in speech. Those who intend to begin this epistle must also say something about the time in which it was written. Contrary to the opinion of many, it is not the first of all the other epistles, but, being composed earlier than those written from Rome, it is later than the others, although not all. Thus, both letters to the Corinthians were sent earlier than this. And this is clear from what he wrote at the end of the letter, saying the following: “Now I am coming to Jerusalem to serve the saints. It was good for Macedonia and Achaia to create some kind of fellowship for the poor saints living in Jerusalem” (Rom 15.25–26). And in his letter to the Corinthians, speaking about those who had gathered to bring alms to Jerusalem, he wrote: “If it is worthy for me to go, they will go with me” (1 Cor 16.4). From this it is clear that when Paul wrote to the Corinthians, his journey was still in doubt, but when he wrote to the Romans, it was already decided. Having agreed with this, we must conclude that the letter to the Romans was written after the letter to the Corinthians. And in my opinion, the letter to the Thessalonians was written before the letter to the Corinthians. Having previously written his letter to the first, he spoke about alms like this: “But do not demand brotherly love, but let it be written to you, for you yourself are taught by God to love one another: for do this to all the brethren” (1 Thess. 4.9–10). And then he wrote to the Corinthians, as can be seen from the words: “For I know your zeal, in which I boast about you among the Macedonians, because Achaia was prepared from the summer that passed by: and even from you jealousy provoked many” (2 Cor 9.2). From this it is clear that the Thessalonians were told about this before. But although the epistle to the Romans is later than these, it is written earlier than those sent from Rome. He had not yet arrived in the city of Rome when he wrote this message, as is revealed from the words: “I desire to see you, so that I may give you some spiritual gift” (Rom. 1.11). Paul wrote to the Philippians from Rome, which is why he says: “You kiss all the holy things, especially those who belong to Caesar’s house” (Phil 4:22). And it is written to the Hebrews from the same place, which is why it is said that everyone from Italy welcomes them (Heb. 13.24). Paul also wrote his letter to Timothy from Rome, while in prison. It seems even to me that it is the last of all his messages, as can be seen from what was said at the end: “for I am already eaten, and the time of my departure has come” (2 Tim. 4.6). Everyone knows that Paul ended his life in Rome. And the letter to Philemon is also one of the last, since Paul wrote it in deep old age, as he himself says: “like Paul an old man, now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1.9). But, of course, it was written before the letter to the Colossians, which is again evident from what was said at the end of the letter, since Paul in the letter to the Colossians writes: “Tychicus will tell you all things...whom he sent...with Onesimus as his faithful and beloved brother” (Col 4.7-9). This Onesimus was the same one about whom Paul wrote the letter to Philemon, and not another of the same name, which is proven by the name of Archippus, to whom Paul, in his letter to Philemon, entrusted the work of interceding with him on behalf of Onesimus, and whom in his letter to the Colossians he encourages with these words: “Cry to Archippus: observe the ministry that you have accepted,... that you may complete it” (Col. 4.17). It also seems to me that the epistle to the Galatians was written before the epistle to the Romans. If the epistles of Paul have a different order in the books, then this is not at all surprising, since the twelve prophets are arranged sequentially, in a certain order of the books, although in time they do not follow one another, but are separated from each other by a large period of time. So Haggai, Zechariah and others prophesied after Ezekiel and Daniel, and many after Jonah, Zephaniah and all the others; however, in books they are united together with those from which they are so removed by time. Let no one consider this work unnecessary or recognize such research as a matter of empty curiosity, because the time of the messages helps us a lot to explain them. Thus, I notice that Paul writes about the same thing in Romans and Colossians, but in different ways. He writes to the Romans with great condescension when he says: “But receive him who fails in faith, not with doubting thoughts. For he who believes eats all the food, but the one who is exhausted eats... he eats” (Rom. 14.1–2). And to the Colossians the apostle expresses the same thing differently and with greater freedom, namely, he says: “If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why do you contend with those who live in the world? Do not touch, nor taste, nor touch: which are all for corruption through use,... not for the sake of honor, but for the satiety of the flesh" (Col 2.20-23). I find the reason for such a difference in nothing other than the circumstances of the time. In the beginning you had to be lenient, but after that it was no longer necessary. Paul will be found to have done the same thing on many other occasions. This is what doctors and teachers usually do. The doctor will treat differently those who have just fallen ill and those who are already recovering; Likewise, the teacher will treat children who are beginning to learn differently, and differently with those who require the most perfect lessons. So, Paul wrote letters to others, prompted by some reason and purpose (this is what he points out when he says to the Corinthians: “and about these they wrote to me” (1 Cor 7.1), and to the Galatians he explains the same thing, both in the preface and throughout the letter). Why and for what reason did he write to the Romans? After all, he clearly testifies about them that they are full of goodness, full of all understanding and able to teach others (Rom. 15.14). So why did he write a letter to them? “For the grace,” he says, “given to me from God, while I was a servant of Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15.15–16). That is why at the beginning of the letter he said: “I am obliged... according to my zeal, to preach the good news to you who are in Rome” (Rom. 1.14–15). And the fact that the Romans can teach others, this and other similar things are said more in praise and encouragement, since they also had a need for correction through the message. And since Paul himself has not yet been to Rome, he corrects men in two ways - both with useful writings and with anticipation of his arrival. Such was the holy soul of Paul; she embraced the entire universe and contained everyone within herself, considering kinship in God to be the highest. Paul loved everyone as if he himself had given birth to them, or rather, he showed love more than any father. Such is the grace of the Spirit: it conquers bodily illnesses and creates the most ardent love. This can be especially seen in the soul of Paul, who, as if having received wings, under the influence of love, tirelessly walked around everyone, did not hesitate or stop anywhere. He knew that Christ, having said to Peter: “Do you love Me?.. Feed My sheep” (John 21.15), indicated the highest degree of love, and therefore he himself discovered it in abundance in himself. So, we, competing with Paul, will edify, if not the whole world, not entire cities and nations, then at least each one - his own home, his wife, his children, friends, neighbors. And let no one say to me: I am unskilled and ignorant. There is no one more unlearned than Peter, and no one more unskilled than Paul. He himself admits this and, without shame, says: “Even if he is ignorant in word, but not in understanding” (2 Cor 11.6). However, the ignorant Paul and the ignorant Peter defeated thousands of philosophers, silenced countless speakers, having accomplished all this with their own zeal and the grace of God. What excuse can we find for ourselves when we find ourselves unable to teach even twenty people and be useful to those living with you? This is an empty excuse and an empty excuse. It is not lack of learning, not lack of education, but laziness and sleep that prevent us from teaching. Therefore, having shaken off this dream, let us take care of our own members with all diligence, so that, by instructing our neighbors in the fear of God, we here too enjoy complete tranquility, and thus become participants in countless blessings, by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: