Книга пророка Даниила, Глава 3, стих 97. Толкования стиха

THE CONVERSION OF THE ROMAN WORLD FORESHADOWED. AUGUSTINE: If past events in the prophetic books serve as a figure of future ones, in the king named Nebuchadnezzar two periods were foreshadowed: that during the time of the apostles and the present one in which Christ is now living. For in the times of the apostles and martyrs that part was fulfilled that was foreshadowed when the king forced devout and upright men to adore an idol and when they refused had them thrown into a fire. Now, however, that part is fulfilled that was prefigured in the same king when he was converted to the true God and decreed for his realm that whoever blasphemed the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego should suffer due penalties. Therefore, the first part of the king’s reign signified the earlier periods of impious kings, when Christians suffered instead of the impious, but the latter part of that king’s reign signified the period of later faithful kings under whom the impious suffered instead of the Christians. LETTER 93.

GOD WILLS TO BE KNOWN BY ALL. AMBROSE: This is our faith. Thus did God will that he should be known by all, thus believed the three children of the fiery furnace who did not feel the fire into which they were cast, which destroyed and burned up the unbelievers while it fell harmless as a dew upon the faithful. The flames kindled by others became cold, seeing that the torment has justly lost its power in conflict with faith. For with them there was one in the form of an angel, comforting them, to the end that in number of the Trinity one supreme power might be praised. God was praised; the Father of God was seen in God’s angel and holy and spiritual grace in the children. ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 1.4.33.

FORESHADOWING CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER DEATH. CHRYSOSTOM: “Blessed be God who has sent his angel.” . . . For how can it be otherwise than astonishing for the emperor of the world, with so many arms around him, and legions, and generals, and viceroys, and consuls and land and sea subject to his sway, to be despised by captive children; for the bound to overcome the binder and conquer all that army? Neither was there any power in the king and his company to do what they would, no, not even with the furnaces for an ally. But they who were naked, and slaves, and strangers and few (for what number could be more contemptible than three?), being in chains, vanquished an innumerable army. For already now was death despised, since Christ was henceforth about to sojourn in the world. And as when the sun is on the point of rising, even before his rays appear the light of the day grows bright; so also when the Sun of righteousness was about to come, death henceforth began to withdraw himself. What could be more splendid than that theater? What more conspicuous than that victory? HOMILIES ON 1 CORINTHIANS 18.5.

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AN EXTRAORDINARY DISPLAY OF VIRTUE. CHRYSOSTOM: Contemplate with me how he the king at first proclaims the Arbiter of the contest: “Blessed be God.” . . . This he proclaims as regards the power of God. He speaks also of the virtue of the combatants: “Because they trusted in him.” . . . Could anything equal the virtue of this? Before this, when they said, “We will not serve your gods,” he was inflamed more fiercely than the very furnace; but now, when by their deeds they had taught him this, he was so far from being indignant that he praised and admired them for not having obeyed him! So good a thing is virtue that it has even its enemies themselves to applaud and admire it! These young men had fought and conquered, but the vanquished party gave thanks that the sight of the fire had not terrified them but that the hope in their Lord had comforted them. . . . For this reason he both applauds those who had despised him, and passing by so many governors, kings and princes, those who had obeyed him, he stands in admiration of the three captives and slaves who derided his tyranny! For they did these things not for the sake of contention but for the love of wisdom; not of defiance but of devotion; not being puffed up with pride but on fire with zeal. For great indeed is the blessing of a hope in God. HOMILIES CONCERNING THE STATUES 6.13.

YOUR GOD IS IN TRUTH GOD. ROMANUS MELODUS:

“In spite of myself, then, I revere the God of the Hebrews,

And I command all the people in my land to join in praising him.

‘Come, then, holy children, come forth from the furnace,

For I am convinced that your God is in truth God.’ ” (Nebuchadnezzar)

These things happened in Babylon as the Scriptures says,

At a time when those who had provoked God’s anger were in captivity.

Therefore, my brothers, see to it that you do not grieve

The Master and be given over to the enemy,

For we make him sad if we deny him,

And if we do not hasten to his temples,

and if we do not sing to him everywhere,

“Hasten, Merciful One, and in compassion come quickly

To our aid, since you are able to do what you will.”

KONTAKION ON THE THREE CHILDREN 30.