Книга пророка Иеремии, Глава 4, стих 22. Толкования стиха

ABANDONING THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS: The ancient and pious doctrine that defended the Trinity was abolished, by setting up a fort and battering down the incarnation. They opened the door to impiety by means of what is written, using as their pretext their reverence for Scripture and for the use of approved terms but really introducing unscriptural Arianism. For the phrase “like, according to the Scriptures,” was a bait to the simple, concealing the hook of impiety, a figure seeming to look in the direction of all who passed by, a boot fitting either foot, a winnowing with every wind, gaining authority from the newly written wickedness and tool against the truth. “They were wise to do evil, but they had no knowledge to do good.” ON THE GREAT ATHANASIUS, ORATION 21.22.

THE PHARISEES REFUSED GOD’S WORD—CHRIST. IRENAEUS: The scribes and Pharisees, who from the times of the law had begun to despise God, did not receive his Word, that is, they did not believe in Christ. Of these Isaiah says, “You princes are rebellious, companions of thieves, loving gifts, following after rewards, not judging the fatherless and negligent of the cause of the widows.” He speaks in Jeremiah in the same way. “They,” he says, “who rule my people did not know me. They are senseless and imprudent children. They are wise to do evil, but to do well they have no knowledge.” AGAINST HERESIES 4.2.6.

THE PEOPLE LACK FAITH. JUSTIN MARTYR: In the beginning, God commanded that you do these things because of your wickedness. In the same way, because of your determination to remain wicked, or rather, because you are increasingly prone to do it, he uses the same precepts to call you to remember it or come to know it. But you are a people hard-hearted and without understanding, both blind and lame, children without faith, as he himself says, honoring him only with your lips, far from him in your hearts, teaching doctrines that are your own and not his. DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO 27.

То есть: кто живет только по земному рождению, в плотском и душевном человеке, а не по небесному рождению от Духа Божия, – в том земное только и открывается и действует; и потому, если он защищает и оправдывает земные дела, то сим оказывается только его земное свойство, и не доказывается достоинство самых дел. Мудрствующие земное могут остроумно давать благовидность даже злым делам, которые они любят, и которых не хотят оставить; между тем как истинное добро, для которого они не делают никакого подвига, хотя и близко и доступно, пребывает выше их познания и чувства, они не имеют в нем убеждения, потому что не старались найти в нем вкуса.