Книга пророка Иеремии, Глава 15, стих 18. Толкования стиха

GOD IS TRULY FAITHFUL. ATHANASIUS: Now the so-called gods of the Greeks, unworthy of the name, are faithful neither in their essence nor in their promises, because they are not everywhere. The local deities amount to nothing over the course of time and undergo a natural extinction. For these reasons, the Word cries out against them, that “faith is not strong in them,” that they are “waters that fail” and “there is no faith in them.” But the God of all, who is indeed truly faithful, who is ever the same, says, “See now that I, even I am he,” and “I change not.” Therefore, his Son is “faithful,” being ever the same and unchanging, deceiving neither in his essence nor in his promise, as is written by the apostle to the Thessalonians: “Faithful is he who calls you, who also will do it.” For in doing what he promises, he is faithful to his words. DISCOURSE AGAINST THE ARIANS 2.14.10.

Не сидел я в собрании играющих и не хвалился (или не боялся) от лица руки Тво­ей; я сидел одиноким, ибо горечью Ты исполнил меня. Зачем скорбь моя стала всегдашнею (или: за­чем укрепляются досаждающие мне) и рана моя безнадежная отвергла врачевание (или: рана моя сильная, чем исцелюсь я). Она сделалась для меня как ложь вод обманчивых (или: как вода обман­чивая, неимеющая веры). Евреи думают, что это говорится от лица Иерусалима, — что он сидел одиноко, исполнен был горечи, и скорбь его стала всегдашнею и, что как течет вода, так ложно прошли и слова пророков, коими они обещали ему доброе. Но лучше принимать, что это говорится от лица пророка, как слова святого мужа, который не сидел в собрании, или в темном месте играющих, что он боялся угрожавшей ему руки Божией или лучше хвалился, что он не имеет сообщества с нечестивыми. Сидел, говорит, одиноко, но оному написанному: не седох с сонмом суетным, и со законнопреступными не вниду. Возненавидех цер­ковь лукавнующих,и с нечестивыми не сяду (Пс. 25:4-5), и в другом месте: един есмь аз, дондеже прииду (Пс. 140:10). От лица, говорит, руки Твоей, сидел одиноким, — так как я страшусь Тебя, так как я всегда ожидаю грозящей мне руки Твоей. В собра­нии играющих я сидеть не хотел, но ел горечь свою, чтобы приготовить себе радость в будущем. Не имел перерыва в скорби моей, но был угнетаем постоянными бедствиями, так что не ожидал никакого врачевания. Ибо возобладали досаждавшие мне, и рана моя сделалась сильною. Но я в том имел утешение, что она была как вода обманчивая и преходящая. Ибо, как воды текучие, когда текут, то появляются и исчезают: так и всякое нападение врагов, при Твоей помощи, проходит мимо. О, если бы дал Господь и нам не сидеть в собрании играющих и не помышляющих о будущем, — и не уступать врагам, а всегда трепетать суда Божия и говорить с про­роком: я сидел одиноким, ибо исполнен горечи. Итак, пусть в настоящее время радуется собрание не мудрых, а тайное и скрытое собрание играющих: мне же прилепляться к Богу благо есть, полагать в Боге упо­вание свое, насыщаться поношениями и ожидать приговора Судии моего, приговора, который, когда настанет конец, на деле покажет, что всякая скорбь и горечь проходит, подобно водам текучим.

THE PROPHET WHO REFUSED TO CONFORM. JEROME: This the Hebrews believe to be said in the person of Jerusalem, which sat alone and was filled with bitterness and whose pain was unending and the word of whose prophets passed through it deceitfully, like flowing water. But it is better that we receive these words of a holy person as spoken from the person of a prophet, one who did not sit in the council or cabal of fools because he feared the impending hand of God but instead would glory in not having complicity with the evil ones. “I sat alone,” he said, in accordance with what was written: “I did not sit with the council of the boastful, and I did not enter into fellowship with evildoers; I hate the company of liars, and I will not sit with the impious,” and, in another location: “I am alone until I pass away.” He also says, effectively, “I sat alone in the presence of your hand, while fearing you and constantly expecting your impending hand to come on me. I refused to sit in the company of fools, but I swallowed my bitterness to prepare myself for future joy. Nor did I have any relief from my suffering, but I was being oppressed by the misery of this yoke, such that I would not have expected any remedy. For those who afflicted me prevailed, and my wound was made worse. Yet, in this I took consolation, that it was like deceitful and passing waters. For, just as flowing waters are seen once and then slip away, so also every attack of the enemy passes away with help from you.” Would that the Lord also grant to us not to sit in the council of fools and of those who fail to think of the future! Would that he grant us the ability not to yield to adversities but instead always to dread the sentence of God and to say with the prophet, “I sat alone, for I was filled with bitterness.” Those who sit in the council of the wise, therefore, shall not rejoice at all during the present time, but only those in the secret and hidden council of fools, for “it is good for me to cling to God, to put my hope in the Lord,” to be filled with opprobrium and to await the sentence of the Judge, one that, when the end arrives, will reveal that every sorrow and bitterness was like the passing of flowing water. SIX BOOKS ON JEREMIAH 3.58.2-5.

SOME ARE FALSELY BAPTIZED. CYPRIAN: How then can one who is baptized among them seem to have obtained remission of sins and the grace of the divine mercy by his faith, when he has not the truth of the faith itself? For if, as some suppose, one could receive anything abroad out of the church according to his faith, certainly he has received what he believed. If he believes what is false, he could not receive what is true. Rather, he has received things adulterous and profane, according to what he believed. Jeremiah, the prophet, censures in detail this subject of profane and adulterous baptism, saying, “Why do those who grieve me prevail? My wound is incurable. When shall I be healed? When this is done, it is become for me as treacherous water not having faith.” The Holy Spirit makes mention through the prophet of treacherous water also not having faith. What is this treacherous and faithless water? Assuredly it is that which asserts falsely the image of baptism and frustrates the grace of faith by its shadowy simulation. LETTER 72.5-6.