Беседа 5

Col. 1:26–28. The mystery which was hidden for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints, to whom God has been pleased to show what are the riches of glory in this mystery to the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching him in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. The mystery of the incarnation and its consequences. - Against those who reject the resurrection. 1. Having said what we have received, and showing from the greatness of the blessings given to us the love of mankind and the glory of God, (Paul) adds another addition - that before us no one knew this (mystery). He does the same in the letter to the Ephesians when he says: neither angels, nor principalities, nor any other created power, but only the Son of God knows (Rom. 8:38–39). That’s why he didn’t just say “hidden” (κεκρυμμένον), but “mystery” (άποκεκρυμμένον), both because, although it has now been accomplished, it is ancient, and because God long ago wanted it and ordained it so. But why, he doesn’t talk about this yet. “Hidden from centuries,” he says, “and generations.” And he rightly called a mystery what no one knew except God. Where is the “secret”? In Christ, as he says in the letter to the Ephesians, or, as the prophet once said: “from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Ps. 89:3). “Now revealed,” he says, “to His saints.” So, all this is the work of God’s economy. “Now,” he says, “open.” He did not say: it was finished, but: “Revealed to His saints.” If she appeared only to the saints, then it means that she is still hiding. Let them (the heretics) not deceive you: they do not know why (the apostle) said (only to those) “Whom he favored.” See how he warns their questions everywhere. “Whom,” he says, “God has been pleased to show”; and His will is not unreasonable. He said this so that they would be more submissive to grace and would not become proud of their good deeds. “What riches are the glory of this mystery to the Gentiles.” He spoke thoughtfully and intensified his speech, seeking from an abundance of feeling for explanation after explanation. This very vague speech: “The riches of glory in this mystery are for the Gentiles” also contains an explanation, because glory appears most of all in the Gentiles, as he says elsewhere: “But for the Gentiles it is out of mercy, so that they may glorify God” (Rom. 15:9). And in others the great glory of mystery appears; but there is much more to them. People more insensitive than stones to suddenly be elevated to the dignity of angels, solely through unartificial words and faith alone, without any labor - this is truly the glory and wealth of the mystery, just as if someone suddenly made a dog, dying of hunger and scab, vile and disgusting, no longer able to move and abandoned, into a man and showed it on the royal throne. Look: they worshiped stones and earth, considering them better than the sky and the sun, thinking that the whole world served them, they were captives and prisoners of the devil, and suddenly they stepped on his head, and began to command them and scourge him. Servants and slaves of demons became the body of the Lord of angels and archangels. Those who did not even know that God existed suddenly became co-throners of God. Do you want to see the countless steps they have crossed? They needed, firstly, to learn that stones are not gods; secondly, that they are not only not gods, but also lower than people; thirdly, below the dumb; fourthly, below the plants; fifthly, that they (the pagans) mixed completely opposite objects, that not only stones, but neither earth, nor animals, nor plants, nor man, nor heaven, nor that which is higher than heaven (is not God); again - that neither stones, nor animals, nor plants, nor the elements, nor the things above, nor those below, nor man, nor demons, nor angels, nor archangels, nor any other of those higher powers should be worshiped by human nature. As if drawing from some depth, they had to know that the Lord of all is He is God, that He alone must be served, that the wondrous structure of life is good, that real death is not death, and real life is not life, that the body rises, becomes incorruptible, ascends to heaven, is granted immortality, is settled with the angels, and is transmigrated. The man who stood so low, after he had stepped over all these (steps, Christ) seated him in heaven, on the throne; He placed the one who was lower than stones above angels, archangels, thrones, dominions. Indeed, he said well: “What is the riches of glory in this mystery”? It's like if someone suddenly turned stupid into a philosopher. It’s better to say that no matter what you say, you won’t explain anything, because even Pavlov’s words are vague. “What,” he says, “is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you”? It was also necessary to know that the One who is above all, who rules over the angels and has power over all other powers, descended to the ground, became a man, endured countless torments, was resurrected and ascended. 2. All this was the result of the mystery, and Paul solemnly proclaims this when he says: “which is Christ in you.” If He is in you, then why do you seek teachers from among the angels? "In this secret". There is another secret; but this is primarily a secret that no one knew, which is wonderful, which no one expected, and it was hidden. “Which is Christ in you,” he says, “the hope of glory, whom we preach,” having received Him from above. “Which we (preach)”, and not the angels, “admonishing and teaching,” and not commanding and not forcing: after all, the fact that people are brought to God not by force is a work of God’s love for mankind. Since “teaching” is a great word, he added: and “admonishing,” which is more characteristic of a father than a teacher. “Whom,” he says, “we preach, admonishing every man and teaching” every man in “all wisdom,” that is, with all wisdom and understanding, or speaking everything in wisdom. Therefore, all wisdom is needed here, since not everyone can know this. “To present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” What do you say – “every person”? Yes, he says, we take care of it. What if this did not come true? Still, blessed Paul tried to make him perfect. So, this is perfection, and that is imperfect. Therefore, whoever does not have all wisdom is imperfect. “Perfect in Christ Jesus”: not about the law, and not about angels, because this is imperfect. “In Christ”, that is, in the knowledge of Christ. He who knows what Christ did has comprehended more than the angels. “In Christ Jesus; For this reason I labor and strive” (Col. 1:28–29). I don’t just try, he says, not how it happened; but “I labor and strive” with great diligence, that is, with great vigilance. If I am so awake for your good, then you yourself should (be awake) much more. Then, to show that this is the work of God, he says: “It is His power that works mightily in me” (Col. 1:29). Shows that this is God's work. He who gives me the strength to do this obviously wants it. That is why at the beginning he said: “It is the will of God” (Col. 1:1). So (the apostle) said this not only out of humility, but also in truth. “And I strive.” With this word he showed that many were fighting against him. Then (expresses) great love. “I desire that you know what struggle I have for your sake and for the sake of those who are in Laodicea” (Col. 2:1). So that it would not seem that the reason for this desire was their weakness, he added others, and did not yet reproach (them). "Who has not seen my face in the flesh." Here he clearly shows that they constantly saw him in spirit, and testifies to them his great love. That’s why he added: “That their hearts might be comforted, united in love for all the riches of perfect understanding, to know the mystery of God the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2-3). Now he is in a hurry and takes care to move on to the teaching, both without blaming them and without freeing them from accusation. “I have a feat,” he says. For what purpose? To connect. This means: so that they stand firm in the faith. But he does not say so, eliminating everything that tends towards accusation. This is so that they unite out of love, and not out of necessity or violence. He, as I said, taught them tirelessly and constantly. That’s why he says: “I strive,” because I want (this to be done) out of love and voluntarily. I want not only that there be a meeting, not only lips, but “so that their hearts may be comforted, united in love for all the riches of perfect understanding,” that is, so that they do not doubt anything, so that they are convinced of everything. He talks about the conviction that comes from faith. Conviction also occurs as a result of inferences; but it has no value. I know he says that you believe; but I want you to be convinced not of wealth alone, but “for all wealth,” so that you are convinced of everything and firmly. Look at the prudence of Blessed Paul. He did not tell them: you are doing something bad because you have no conviction; he did not accuse them; but: you don’t know how concerned I am that you are convinced rationally and not unconsciously. Since he spoke about faith, he adds: do not think that I spoke simply and thoughtlessly; no, - wisely, with love. "To know the mystery of God and the Father and Christ". Therefore, attraction (to the Father) through the Son is the mystery of God. “And Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” If they are in Him, then He has come today (to earth) in wisdom. Why do some foolish people accuse us? Look how he says to people with little knowledge: “in whom are all treasures hidden”: He knows everything. "Leading". Do not think that you already have everything: “knowledge” is from the angels, not only from you. This means that one must ask Him for everything; He gives wisdom and knowledge. So, with the word “treasures” he shows multitudes, with the word “all” - that He (everything) knows, and with the word “knowledge” - that He alone knows. “I say this so that no one will deceive you with subtle words” (Col. 2:4). 3. You see, he says, I said this so that you would not seek (knowledge) from people. “Deceived,” he says, “with insinuating words.” What if (someone) speaks convincingly? “For although I am absent in body, I am with you in spirit” (Col. 2:5). Consistency would require saying: although I stand in the flesh, nevertheless I know deceivers; but now he ends with praise. “Rejoicing and seeing your prosperity and the strength of your faith in Christ” (Col. 2:5). He calls landscaping a rank. “And the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” This is the greatest praise. And he did not say: faith, but “firmness,” as if he were saying to warriors standing tall and firmly. He who is firm will not be shaken by deception or temptation. You, he says, not only did not fall; but no one has upset your rank. He placed himself between them so that they would fear him, even if he were with them, because through this rank (good order) is preserved. Cohesion comes from hardness. Solidity occurs when you, having collected many (things), glue them together tightly and inseparably; then hardness occurs, as, for example, in a wall. Love does the same. When it tightly couples and connects people living separately, it makes them solid. Measure does the same when it does not allow reflection to dominate us, because just as reflection divides and shakes, so faith strengthens and confirms. Since God has given us blessings that exceed human understanding, He rightly requires faith, because one who seeks explanations cannot be firm. All our most important (dogmas) are alien to speculation and are accessible only to faith. God is nowhere and everywhere: what is more incomprehensible to the mind than this? Both contain a lot of inexplicable things. He is not contained in a place, and there is no place in Him. He did not originate (from anyone), nor did He create Himself, and did not begin His existence. What mind would accept this if there were no faith? And wouldn't it seem funny? And to have no end—isn’t that more difficult than any riddle? He is beginningless, unborn, indescribable and limitless - and this is also incomprehensible. Can't we at least explain His incorporeality with our minds? Let's see. God is incorporeal. What is incorporeal? One bare word; the mind does not extract anything from it, and does not imagine anything. If he had imagined something like that, he would have moved on to the material, to that from which the body is formed. This means that when the mouth speaks about the incorporeal, the mind does not understand what they are talking about, or only understands that the incorporeal is not the body. What am I saying about God? What is the incorporeality of our soul, which has a beginning, is contained (in a body), and is described? Tell me, show me! But you can't. Is she air? But air is a body, although not solid; from many phenomena it is clear that he is a liquid body. Is she fire? But fire is a body; and the action of the soul is incorporeal. Why? Because it penetrates everywhere. If it is not a body, then it is incorporeal in a (certain) place; therefore it is describable; what is being described has a figure; the figure consists of lines; the lines are the belonging of the bodies. Again, what does formless mean? Having no form, no form, no image. See how confused the thought is! Also: the nature (of God) is not inherent in evil; but everyone is good only of their own free will; therefore, evil is inherent in her. But this cannot be said, and it won’t happen! Also: does (God) exist by will, or by captivity? But this cannot be said either. Also: does He limit the universe, or not? If he does not limit, then he himself is limited by it; if it limits, then He is infinite by nature. Also: does He limit himself? If He limits, then it means that He is beginningless not in relation to Himself, but in relation to us; therefore it is not beginningless by nature. Everywhere we come to contradictory conclusions. You see how dark it is and how faith is needed everywhere! She alone is solid. But, if you want, let's move on to smaller items. The Being (God) acts. What is the activity in it? Any movement? In this case, it is not changeable, because something moving changes, from a state of immobility it passes into a state of movement. However, (the being of God) moves and is never stationary. What is driving this, tell me? We have seven different movements: down, up, in, out, right, left and around. In addition, there are: increase, decrease, birth, destruction, change. But that movement is not similar to any of these movements, but occurs similar to the movement of the mind? It’s not at all like that - it won’t be - because the mind sometimes moves stupidly. Is (God's) action a desire? But He wants all people to be virtuous and saved: why is this not being fulfilled? So desire is not the same as action? In this case, desire alone is not enough for action. But what does Scripture say: “He does whatever he wants” (Ps. 113:11)? Just like the leper says to Christ: “If you want, you can cleanse me” (Matthew 8:2)? I'll say something else if you want. How did the existent come from the non-existent? How does it turn into nothing? What's higher than the sky? And again: what is higher than that highest? And what is higher than this? And what's next? And so on ad infinitum. What's below the ground? Sea. What's below it? And below that again, what? And to the right, to the left - isn’t it the same unknown? 4. But this is invisible. Do you want me to talk about visible objects, about what happened? Tell me how Jonah was in the belly of the beast and did not die? Is this in accordance with reason? Is it not in vain (to try) to explain this? How did (the whale) spare the righteous man? How did the heat not suffocate him? How did it not rot? If it is difficult to be only in the depths of the sea, then it is much more difficult to be in the entrails (of a whale) and in such heat. How did Jonah breathe there? How was there enough inhaled air for two living beings? How did the (whale) cast out the prophet unharmed? What did (Jonah) say? How did he become self-aware and pray? Is all this likely? If we investigate with our minds, it is incredible; if by faith, then it is very likely. I'll say something more than that. The grain in the bowels of the earth rots and rises. Look, (there are two) opposite miracles, and one is more amazing than the other. It is also surprising that the grain does not rot, and it is also surprising that what is rotting rises. Where are those who disbelieve the resurrection and say: how will this bone be united with this one? and introducing similar fables? Tell me: how did Elijah ascend in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11)? Fire tends to burn, not to exalt. How does (Elijah) live (in heaven) for so long? What location is it in? Why did this happen? Where did Enoch move to? Does he eat the same food as us? What's stopping him from being here? But he doesn't eat our food? Why was he taken from here? See how God gradually teaches us. He translated Enoch; this is not very important: Elijah showed us the same thing in the ascension. He imprisoned Noah in the ark; but this is not very important: he taught us the same thing by imprisoning the prophet in a whale. Likewise, Old Testament events needed forerunners and prototypes. Just as in a ladder the first step leads to the second, but one cannot step from it onto the fourth, and this one (is related) to that one so that it serves as a path to this one, and before the first one one cannot step on the second, so it is here. Notice the signs of the signs and you will see it in the ladder that Jacob saw. Above, they say, the Lord established himself, and below, angels ascended and descended. This foreshadowed that the Father has a Son. You had to believe it. Where can I show you signs of this? How do you want it: top down or bottom up? It was necessary to show that (the Father) would give birth dispassionately; and at first she gave birth to a barren woman. Better yet, let's start from the top. It was necessary to believe that (the Son is born) from the Father. So what? This too was (foreshadowed), although it was unclear, as if in image and shadow, but it was; and over time it becomes somewhat clearer. The wife (Eve) is one person and he remains whole. In addition, there had to be some sign of a virgin birth. The barren woman gives birth, and not once, but twice, thrice and many times. So, the barren woman was a type of the virgin birth and encourages our mind to believe. (Birth from a barren woman) was also a sign that God (the Father) alone can give birth. If man, the most perfect being, is born without him (dispassionately), then even more so is he born from a being that is more perfect (man). There is another birth, which is the image of the truth, our (birth) from the Spirit. Barren was also an image of this birth, because it was not from blood. And this (birth from the Spirit) is an image of the highest birth (Son from the Father). That birth showed dispassion, and this one - that one can be born from one (God the Father). Christ is the Lord, above all; it was necessary to believe it. This is shown in the (image of) the earth during the (creation of) man: “Let us create,” it is said, “man in Our image [and] according to Our likeness, and let them rule over... all dumb” (Gen. 1:26). Thus (God) taught us not in words, but in deeds. Paradise showed the difference in nature and the superiority of man over all (creatures). Christ had to be resurrected - look, how many prototypes of this: Enoch, Elijah, Jonah, the youths in the oven, the flood in the days of Noah, seeds, plants, birth, like ours, since (doubt) about the resurrection could endanger everything, the resurrection had many prototypes - much more than everything else. That everything happens not without providence can be concluded from the way it happens with us: with us nothing is left without supervision; both for the herd and for everything else it is necessary for someone to manage. And that it was not by chance that everything happened is shown by Gehenna, the flood under Noah, the fire, the drowning of the Egyptians, (miracles) that took place in the desert. Much was needed that would serve as a foreshadowing of baptism; and (the omens) were: what was done in the water, and many other things that were in the Old Testament, what was in the font, the cleansing of the sick, the flood itself, the baptism of John. It was necessary to believe that God would deliver his Son to death: man did this in advance. Who is this? Patriarch Abraham. Thus, we will find types of all this if we want, if we look in the Scriptures. But let's not tire ourselves; Let's limit ourselves to this; Let us have a firm lie, and we will try to correct our lives, so that, thanking God for everything, we will be rewarded with the blessings promised to those who love Him, by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, power, honor, now and ever, and to 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: