Theodoret of Cyrus

In his own words on Baruch

• Baruch 1:1

  The worthy Baruch accompanied the fleeing Jews into Egypt, as we have seen. Five years after the destruction of the city, he went to Babylon. Those who distributed the food of goodness dedicated themselves in any case to helping the weak and guiding them to truth. Once he had reached Babylon, he read the prophecy of Jeremiah to the deportees, and in particular to Jeconiah, who was taken prisoner after a brief reign—and he was struck to the heart. Indeed, Baruch made them aware of the sins of the past, so they would know the reasons for their disgrace and would shed many tears and that each might offer money to send to the priests at Jerusalem to buy offerings to sacrifice to the Lord.

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 1

• Baruch 1:15

  God's judgment against us is extremely just: we deserve shame, all of us having transgressed. Indeed, like the kings, even the priests have done what is forbidden.

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 1:15-16

• Baruch 1:19

  "We are stubborn," not to mention "we have devised every kind of sin." Paul says of them that they are "ingenious in wickedness."

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 1:19

• Baruch 2:3

  The siege led to hunger, which forced them to eat human flesh. As it says, the pagans around us rejoiced over this.

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 2:3

• Baruch 2:9

  He calls his punishment "the swiftness of the Lord." The Scripture often calls his patience "sleep." Moreover, recalling the punishment, they affirm that the Lord is just. Indeed, it was because they had transgressed and did not want to be healed that he punished them. Then they humbly beg him, remembering the ancient freedom that their fathers enjoyed, when they were freed from the bitter servitude of Egypt.

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 1:9

• Baruch 2:13

  We acknowledge the justice of your punishment. We ask you to bring it to an end. Indeed, we have become few, we who at one time were compared with the grains of sand.

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 2:13

• Baruch 2:17

  People who are ill-disposed usually close their eyes when they see someone who has injured them and look away when those who have offended them beg forgiveness. But these things are said in a human way, because the divinity is not composite but simple and infinite.

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 2:17

• Baruch 2:24

  And not only have we who are alive been given over to servitude, but also the tombs of our ancestors, in particular those of the kings, were destroyed to their foundations, and their bones were scattered and exposed to the open air to be corroded by the elements.

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 2:19

• Baruch 2:27

  They also recall the threats written in the Law. In the canticle of Moses the different ways that evils would happen to them were described. "The teeth of wild beasts I will send among them." By wild beasts he meant their enemies. Then he adds, "I will deprive them of children by the foreign sword," and, "I will scatter them." They recall these threats, but they also remember the promise of good things: "You said that you would grant mercy to those who were repentant, freeing them from servitude and restoring their former freedom to them."

  COMMENTARY ON BARUCH 2:27