Philoxenus of Mabbug

In his own words on 2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 4:2

  Now the blessed Paul also wisely rejected cunning, saying, "We walk not in craftiness, and we handle not the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth we shew ourselves before all the consciences of the children of men." And behold, Paul also hath taught thee that deceit is closely joined to cunning and that it is the vessel of all wickednesses, and for this reason he also fled therefrom. And who is the disciple who will not reject it if the apostle rejected it and cast it forth, and made it a thing alien to the pure doctrine of Christ, which befitted him not? For as wickedness is the opposite of good, so also is cunning the opposite of simplicity.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity

• 2 Corinthians 4:18

  And Paul revealed unto us the greatness of this exchange in one little word, and shewed us how inferior are the things which we have, and how great are those of God in one short verse, saying, "The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are unseen are eternal." Who then would not exchange the things of time for those of eternity, except ourselves, and fools like unto us?

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 9 -- Second Discourse on Poverty

• 2 Corinthians 4:18

  Do thou then, O disciple, make use of faith in its fair order, and turn it not into error; and believe by it in God and in His promises, and believe not in the world and in its delights therewith. Everything which is seen is temporal, and everything which is unseen is eternal, even as Paul also taught; believe then in God, and hope that everlasting blessing will be given to thee by Him, and let faith be the beginning of the way of thy instruction. If thou believest not in these things which are invisible thou canst not forsake the things which are visible; and if thou believest not that the promise of Christ is sure and also in the blessings which were promised by Him to all those who should go forth after His Gospel, thou wilt not forsake that of which thou hast possession, and wilt not run after the good things which He promised to thee.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 3 -- On Faith

• 2 Corinthians 6:10

  And while in this world in which we live we possess nothing, we hold everything in that which is ours, also according to the words of the Apostle, "As having nothing, yet possessing all things;" and to speak briefly, no one thing of ours can be seen in this life without the eye of faith which alone can see it.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 3 -- On Faith

• 2 Corinthians 6:14

  It is the same now with us who are baptized: neither the wetness of the water in which we are baptized nor the oiliness of the oil with which we are anointed remain with us after our death. But the Holy Spirit, who is mingled in our souls and bodies through the oil and the water, does remain with us, both in this life and after our death.

  ON THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

• 2 Corinthians 6:15

  The Holy Spirit is our true baptism, and for this reason we remain always baptized, for he is in us always, and nothing can deprive us of our baptism apart from the denial of God and consorting with demons. In such cases the Holy Spirit really does depart, because he cannot agree to remain in a place where Satan dwells. "For what fellowship does Christ have with Satan or the believer with the unbeliever, or God's temple with that of demons?"

  ON THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

• 2 Corinthians 9:10

  And again Paul himself prayed for those who give that the fruits of their righteousness might be increased, and that they might distribute gifts to the needy with simplicity, "May that God Who giveth seed to the sowers, and bread for food, multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; that ye may be enriched in everything in all simplicity, which perfecteth by our hand thanksgiving to God." And behold here also in simplicity Paul prayeth for his disciples that they may be enriched, and that therefrom, he saith, thanksgiving towards God may increase and wax strong.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity

• 2 Corinthians 9:11

  And again Paul himself prayed for those who give that the fruits of their righteousness might be increased, and that they might distribute gifts to the needy with simplicity, "May that God Who giveth seed to the sowers, and bread for food, multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; that ye may be enriched in everything in all simplicity, which perfecteth by our hand thanksgiving to God." And behold here also in simplicity Paul prayeth for his disciples that they may be enriched, and that therefrom, he saith, thanksgiving towards God may increase and wax strong.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity

• 2 Corinthians 9:13

  And again Paul saith, "Ye have become obedient to the confession of the Gospel of Christ, and ye have become subject with them and with every man in your simplicity."

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity

• 2 Corinthians 10:3

  The rule and conduct of the life here is the similitude of that of spiritual beings, and the dwelling here is a type of that of heavenly beings. The conversation of you who are clothed with the body is a copy of that of those celestial and incorporeal beings. It is seemly for you to say that which Paul proclaimed, "Although we live in the flesh, we do not war according to that which is in the flesh." Being corporeal beings ye may be seen with the eyes, but your warfare is wholly spiritual; O corporeal beings, ye are angels, and spiritual beings clothed with flesh.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 5 -- Second Discourse on Simplicity

• 2 Corinthians 11:3

  And again Paul saith, "I fear lest, as the serpent led Eve astray in its guile, your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is towards Christ;" and here again he teacheth us that whosoever believeth in Christ, it is meet for him to abide in His doctrine. And he sheweth us also by his words that until Eve had forsaken simplicity towards the commandment of God she did not receive the guile of the cunning of the Tempter.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity

• 2 Corinthians 11:6

  For the wisdom of God flourisheth not by these things, that is the study and care of earthly thoughts, but all its meditation is upon spiritual things, and its motions and thoughts are above the world, even as the Apostle himself testified concerning himself, "I am a fool to the wisdom of the world, but by my knowledge I possess the wisdom which is above the world."

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity

• 2 Corinthians 11:27

  And he was occupied in fasting and prayer during the whole of the remaining period of his life after his election, even as he himself testifieth everywhere concerning his fasting, and his prayer, and his many tribulations which he bore for the sake of the Gospel, and with all his other labours and afflictions he reckoned frequent fasting, saying, "In fasting often, in watching often, in hunger often, in cold and in nakedness."

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence

• 2 Corinthians 12:10

  Whosoever, then, seeketh to find his soul, must deliver his body unto the destruction of all afflictions, and behold, he will find his soul in the destruction of his body, and the health of the man of the spirit in the sickness of the carnal man, even as Paul also testifieth, saying, "When I am sick, it is then that I am strong."

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence

• 2 Corinthians 12:16

  And in another place Paul writeth to his disciples, "Peradventure like a crafty man I have carried you off with guile;" and here also he closely uniteth guile with cunning.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity