Theodoret of Cyrus: On Divine Providence
Overview
Theodoret is the last great torchbearer of Christian rhetoric in Asia, and De Providentia is regarded by many as exhibiting his literary power in its highest form.
Top Highlights
“If, however, you discover nothing forbidden by the divine law and everything that it commands, I shall not allow you to detain what it is not lawful to detain. Nay, rather, I shall open the prison of death for all others and will detain you alone for transgressing the divine limit. The divine law condemned evil-doers to die, but you have committed a blameless person to the bonds of death. And this extreme harshness was caused by your insatiable selfishness. In taking one man unjustly, you are justly deprived of all those in your bondage. In eating forbidden fruit, you vomit all that you have eaten already, and you will be a lesson to all men to be satisfied with what they have and abstain from what does not belong to them.” (Pages 145–146)
“I have paid the debt for human nature. Though not liable to death, I have endured it; though not subject to it, I underwent it; though not required to render an account, I was enlisted with those so required; though free of debt, I was ranked with the debtors. I have then paid nature’s debt, and in enduring an unjust death I have freed those for whom death is deserved. By being unjustly detained, I release from prison those who are justly kept there. Oh! harsh avenger of sin, look at the bill of nature effaced, look at it nailed to the cross and the decree of sin abolished.61 See how no trace of sin is entered.” (Page 146)
“The eyes of this body have paid for eyes that looked on evil things; those ears have paid for ears that were exposed to filth; this tongue for tongues that moved in transgression of the law; those hands for hands that performed wicked deeds; those other limbs for limbs which perpetrated evil of whatever kind. Now that the debt is paid, it is fitting that those who were detained in prison on its account should be released, and should recover their former freedom, and should enter into their patrimony.” (Page 146)
- Title: Theodoret of Cyrus: On Divine Providence
- Authors: Theodoret, Thomas Halton
- Series: Ancient Christian Writers
- Volume: 49
- Publisher: Newman Press
- Print Publication Date: 1988
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Providence and government of God › Early works to 1800
- ISBNs: 0809104202, 9780809104208
- Resource ID: LLS:DRTCYRSDVPRVDNC
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:37:14Z