Philoxenus of Mabbug

In his own words on 1 Kings

• 1 Kings 11:5

  Now this is the first lust which conquered the world, and because of it the first transgression of the law took place. And by its exceeding dainties Solomon also was led into the error of idols. And even to-day it corrupteth every thing, for because of it the world is exhausted, and for its pleasure creation runneth its course; for its sake all the children of men work slavery, and it seemeth as if the door could be shut in the face of all wickedness if it did not exist.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence

• 1 Kings 17:1

  Faith is a command, and its command ruleth; it prayeth with confidence, and according to its confidence its prayer is straightway perfected into works. There are instances in which faith doth not even offer up prayer and then give a command concerning something; but it speaketh with authority like unto God. And as there is nothing which is able to resist the command of God, so also can nothing resist the command of faith. There are instances in which faith prayeth and in which it revealeth itself in its prayer; and there are instances in which while it prayeth not it giveth the command authoritatively, and it is answered. Elijah did not pray before Ahab and then was heard, but the faith which was in him gave the command authoritatively, and what he commanded immediately stood firm. And his word had more power over all natures and created things than the command of a king concerning the provinces of his dominion. "As the Lord, the mighty One, liveth, before Whom I stand this day, there shall not be rain or dew these three years until I speak." It is not written that he prayed [first], and then spake, but immediately creation heard his word it bowed itself under the nod of his command. All things hearkened unto the command of a mortal man as if it had been the word of God. The clouds were obedient unto him, he called the earth and it answered him, he commanded the air, and it did not appear in its variable forms. All creation became a submissive handmaid before the word of Elijah's faith.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith

• 1 Kings 17:4

  Now although this meat is a burden unto the wise and prudent, yet was it given by promise unto Noah, and it was sent unto Elijah in a gift, and Abraham received God and His angels thereby, and Isaac was pleased to pour out blessings upon Jacob thereby, and Samuel offered this gift beforehand to Saul as to a king, and David and all the righteous kings made use of such meat, and it was employed by all the righteous; and they were not blamed therefor, because they were superior to lust.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence

• 1 Kings 17:6

  It was because they lusted that they were condemned and not because they ate flesh, for behold Elijah did not ask for food with lust, but the ravens fed him with bread and flesh, evening and morning, and he drank water from the brook; and when flesh was sent unto the prophet by the Giver, he by the power of his freedom received it like a meal of garden herbs. And thou must in another way understand that it is lust which is reprehensible, for every day, morning after morning, the people gathered the manna which came down, and so long as they gathered it according to the command they were not reprehended or condemned; but when they lusted to gather it in too great a quantity, it swarmed with worms and stank, to the shame of the lust which gathered it.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence

• 1 Kings 17:17

  And again when he raised the widow's son, he prayed, and prostrated himself, and then raised him. And in this prayer also faith made its appearance. For if he had not believed that he could raise him, he would not have taken the boy from his mother, and have carried him up [to his chamber] and have cast him upon the bed.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith

• 1 Kings 18:36-37

  Now when he was offering up sacrifices on Mount Carmel in the sight of Ahab and of all Israel, "Answer me, Lord, answer me, Lord," he cried out, "that all this people may know that thou art the Lord, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done everything by Thy command;" and until he had prayed he was not answered and no fire came down. And the reason why in one case they prayed, and in another gave commands with authority is manifest; in the one their feebleness was apparent, and in the other the power of God towards them was revealed. For while they were praying and making entreaty they appeared like the feeble children of men; but while they were giving commands and being obeyed without prayer, it was recognized that it was the power of God which was with their command. In the one place they spoke like children of men, and in the other like the servants of God, that is to say like gods of flesh, for the faith which was in them made them heavenly gods.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith

• 1 Kings 18:42

  Now in other places it is written that faith prayed and was afterwards heard, according to that which is written, "And he bowed himself, and put his face between his knees, and he sent his disciple to look by the way of the sea." And the reason why in one case they prayed, and in another gave commands with authority is manifest; in the one their feebleness was apparent, and in the other the power of God towards them was revealed. For while they were praying and making entreaty they appeared like the feeble children of men; but while they were giving commands and being obeyed without prayer, it was recognized that it was the power of God which was with their command. In the one place they spoke like children of men, and in the other like the servants of God, that is to say like gods of flesh, for the faith which was in them made them heavenly gods.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith

• 1 Kings 19:8

  And so also Elijah, after his fast of forty days and forty nights, received the sight of God in Mount Horeb, and he was alone in the wilderness, and in addition to the protracted fast he bore also the labour of the journey of the way; and besides these he was shut off from the children of men, and lived in silent contemplation, and he was in pure prayer, and after these things he heard the voice of God speaking with him.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence