Interpretation of the prophet Malachi

“Interpretation of the Prophet Malachi” is part of the “Interpretation of the 12 Minor Prophets,” written by Blessed. Theodoret of Cyrus in the 30-40s. V century at the request of friends. He uses a typological method of interpretation and pays sufficient attention to clarifying the chronology of the prophet's life. The commentary is a sequential presentation of all 4 chapters of the Book of the Prophet Malachi. Blzh. Theodoret emphasizes that Holy Scripture is absolute truth, like the word of God himself. The Holy Spirit speaks through the prophets: “The great lawgiver Moses, the first of all, left us the words of God in writing; and the godly Malachi, after all those who wrote prophecies, committed divine prophecies to writing” (see Preface). The interpretation examines the main themes of the Book of the Prophet Malachi - a call to sincere worship of God, condemnation of hypocrisy and lack of faith among the Israelis, the need to return to true spiritual values, negligence in priestly service. Particular attention is paid to the messianic predictions of the prophet Malachi, especially the expectation of the Messiah. The great lawgiver Moses was the first of all the words of God to leave us in writing; and the godly Malachi, after all those who wrote prophecies, committed divine prophecies to writing. Like other Prophets, he did not indicate the time of writing, but by the very thing he prophesied, he made it clear that after the creation of God’s church and the pacification of the Jewish people, he was granted this grace. For he does not accuse the Jews of negligence about the building of the church, like the blessed Haggai and Zechariah, but reminds them of God’s blessings, and accuses, partly the priests, and partly others, putting to shame the iniquities they committed. He predicts both the coming in the flesh of the Lord Christ and the salvation that the human race has benefited from as a result; foreshadows the calling of the pagans and the unbelief of the Jews, and moreover, the second coming of our God and Savior. He is called Angel in Greek, and Malachi in Hebrew, and the prophecy begins like this: