Philoxenus of Mabbug

In his own words on Philippians

• Philippians 2:7

  The Apostle Paul considered Him as one "of no reputation", and the crucifiers considered Him to lack understanding, and His enemies accounted Him to be without knowledge and intelligence, and concerning Jesus Paul spake against them, "The foolishness of God is wiser than the children of men." For in order that it may not weigh heavily upon thee to be thought contemptible in thy simplicity by the children of men, God Himself hath shewn Himself to be of "no reputation", in that He stood before His questioners without answering a word; and He was thought by them to be an ignorant man because He returned them not an answer. Wherefore do thou also persist in the power of thy soul, and transgress not the law of simplicity, even though thou be considered to be a fool by every man, and art esteemed to be without knowledge and instruction.

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

• Philippians 2:7

  It is written that Jesus "took the form of a servant, and He became the likeness of the children of men, and He was found to be in form like unto a man," and He was truly as we are. But in one thing, which is outside of us, He did not participate, that is to say, He did not possess on this earth riches, and possessions, or mammon, or wealth, or buildings, or estates, or vineyards, for Jesus possessed none of these things in order that He might teach His own disciples that they should not possess them; and that Being Who was free took no care for them, that He might free us also from care for them. And He was not bowed beneath the yoke of bondage to the world, that He might also take from off us the heavy yoke of the bondage of the world; and He was not fettered by human affairs that He might loose from off us the fetters thereof; and carking care did not chain Him, that He might raise His disciples above the care and anxiety concerning all the things which are visible. The free Man dwelt in creation in freedom in order that He might teach us in very deed also to live therein in freedom. Whosoever then wisheth to become a disciple to that Master let him regard the sojourn of His Master in the world, and as He was, even so let him himself be in creation. The Lord of the world was a stranger and an alien in the world, and as was the Lord, even so it is meet that the servants should be.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 8 -- First Discourse on Poverty

• Philippians 3:19

  For if we are not able to serve at one time both God and mammon, according to the word of Christ, it is evident that we cannot serve both the belly and God, for it also was called "god" after the manner of mammon, and as Jesus called mammon "master," even so also did His Apostle call the belly god in the words, "Whose god is their belly, and whose glory their shame." And the word of God mocketh those who lay fast hold upon their art, who have hired themselves unto Christ for their belly's sake and not because of love for Him, even as there are also today many who are clothed with the precious garb of discipleship, and who feign to be teachers and good servants of God, not for love's sake, nor through discretion and fear, but only that they may minister unto their belly, which they have made a god unto themselves, and unto which they minister. Now the Apostle of God teacheth us plainly that the heaviness of the belly boweth down the gaze of the soul from heaven to earth, saying, "Their whole mind is set upon earth." And he set forth first the words, "Whose god is their belly, and whose glory their shame," and afterwards he said, "Their whole mind is set upon earth," in order that he might make known that the reason why they were fettered unto earth, and why their mind was contaminated with the dust, was because they possessed the lust of the belly; and as the lust thereof chained them to the earth, even so also will it bind whosoever ministereth thereunto. For in what particular is the man who is befouled with the lusts of the belly different from the worms which crawl about in filth, or from the swine which wallow in the mire? For in this case also the service of this loathsome lust must needs be called loathsomeness, and filth, and mire, and shame, and if Paul called it so, how can we help calling it so likewise?

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 10 -- On Gluttony

• Philippians 3:20

  Now therefore it is seemly that every disciple who goeth forth from the world should follow after this part, for this is our inheritance, and in this country is our conversation also, according to the teaching of Paul, who said, "Our conversation is in heaven; from whence we wait for our Vivifier, our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change the body of our humility, and Who shall make it a counterpart of His glorious body, according to His great power by which everything hath been made subject unto Him." But as I have said, so long as a man is shut up in the womb of the world he perceiveth not this conversation, neither is he able to perceive it if he goeth forth from the world in the things which are manifest, and doeth it not in the things which are hidden; for this conversation cannot be experienced in the body, but the spiritual understanding tasteth it when it hath been purified from the thoughts and from the cares of the body.

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

• Philippians 3:21

  And again he saith, "He shall change the body of our humility, and shall make it like unto His glorious body, according to His great power through which all things are subject unto Him." Now therefore unto this greatness will the disciple attain if he travelleth completely in his Master's footsteps.

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

• Philippians 4:12

  And again he saith, "I am trained in everything, both in fulness, and in hunger, in abundance, and in want." And to how much in want and poverty he was testify the fact that once until he had sold his clothing they were not able to buy food for him and for those who were with him, and the constant labour which he did with his hands at nights, in order that he might be a burden upon no man.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence