Theodore of Mopsuestia

In his own words on Haggai

• Haggai 1:9-11

  He intends by this to remind them of what they have suffered by neglecting the temple. When you overlooked my house lying in ruins and took an interest in rebuilding your own houses, he is saying, then the rain stopped, the land did not yield its crops, and I destroyed all the crops on the ground as though with a sword, striking many times both people and cattle, and in short ruining the fruit of your labors. In fact, to this exhortation to climb up, cut wood, bring it and give thought to rebuilding, he added these things to cause them fear by the reminder of what had happened lest they receive the command listlessly.

  COMMENTARY ON HAGGAI 1:9-11

• Haggai 2:5

  Likewise here too when he says, "My spirit has taken a position in your midst," he means, my grace and my disposition toward you accompanies you, taking a position and providing you with its benefit. In other words, just as he speaks of a soul in reference to God, thus implying not some hypostasis [i.e., separate entity] but his attitude to something—as when he says, "My soul hates your new moons and sabbaths" to refer to the attitude by which he hated what was done by them in their depraved behavior—so too is his mention of the "spirit."

  COMMENTARY ON HAGGAI 2:1-5