Книга Премудрости Соломона, Глава 9, стих 14. Толкования стиха

IGNORANT OF THE TIME OF THE RESURRECTION. AUGUSTINE: “And in my flesh I will see God” unquestionably foretells the resurrection of the flesh. It did not say, however, “through my flesh.” If it had said this, it would still be possible that Christ was meant by “God,” for Christ will be seen by our flesh in the flesh. But, even understanding it of God, it is only equivalent to saying, “I will be in my flesh when I see God.” And the apostle’s phrase, “face to face” does not lead us to believe that we will see God with the face of this body, in which we have our bodily eyes. Rather, we will see him continuously with the mind. If the face were not also that of the interior person, the apostle would not say, “And we, with unveiled faces, seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, will be transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the action of the Spirit of the Lord.” Nor do we interpret differently what is proclaimed in a psalm, “Draw near to him, and you will be enlightened, and your faces will not blush with shame.” One draws near to God by faith, which is certainly of the heart, not the body. But we are not unaware of the valid reasons that the spiritual body has for drawing near to the Lord, since we speak of a reality outside our experience, and because in this matter an authoritative passage of sacred Scripture that can be interpreted unequivocally does not come to mind or help us. Thus, necessarily, what we read in the book of Wisdom is also true of us: “The reasonings of mortals are timid and our reflections uncertain.” CITY OF GOD 22.29.4.

 Надеясь вместе с мудростью получить ведение, славу, безсмертие и уменье управлять народом, а зная также, что она подается Богом, он обратился к Нему с следующею молитвой (8—21): Боже отцев воздавший все мудростью, избравший меня в правителя Твоему народу и повелевший создать храм Тебе, посли мне Твою вечную мудрость, чтобы я мог своими делами угодить Тебе (9,1—12), потому что слабый человек едва может понимать происходящее на земле, а волю Божию, без божественной премудрости, никто не может постигнуть, как это показывают исторические примеры (13—19). 

NO LONGER TIMID BEFORE GOD. FULGENTIUS OF RUSPE: “The reasonings of mortals are timid,” not with a praiseworthy fear but blamable, a fear that is not good but evil. We have been freed from such fear by the one who “through death destroyed him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, thus freeing those who, through fear of death, were held in bondage all their life long.” Our Redeemer clearly manifested this bondage from which he freed us and the freedom that he freely gave us, saying “If you remain faithful to my word, you will truly be my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” To the response of the Jews, who were descendents of Abraham and had never been slaves to anyone, by his response he showed at one and the same time both the condition, portending death, of their bondage, and the truth of the freedom that he had brought to his own, saying, “Truly, truly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Now the slave does not remain in the house forever, but the son remains there forever. If, therefore, the Son frees you, you will be free indeed.” Thus, those thoughts are called “timid” by which sin is served, in those who are subject to bondage their entire lives. Paul teaches us that we have been set free from this bondage by the grace of God. “When in fact you were in bondage to sin, you were free with respect to righteousness. But what fruit did you harvest then, from things that you are now ashamed of? In fact, they lead to death. Now, however, freed from sin and made servants of God, you gather fruit leading to sanctification, with eternal life as your end.” See what the grace of God has given us! It has freed the timid, of whom Scripture says, “The reasonings of mortals are timid.” ON THE TRUTH OF PREDESTINATION 2.11.18–12.20.

WE LIVE AMID UNCERTAINTY. FULGENTIUS OF RUSPE: “And our reflections are uncertain.” Foresight is uncertain with regard to things that are uncertain, and those things of which we do not have secure possession are uncertain. Every day, without wanting to, we can lose what we cannot possess forever. Thus the reflections of mortals are uncertain when their souls remain enthralled by things, the possession of which can be taken from the possessor without his consent or from which the possessor can be deprived without him wishing it. ON THE TRUTH OF PREDESTINATION 2.12.20.