Idolatry of Human Wisdom
The creation was worshiped, and the works of their own hands were revered, but they themselves received the things from divine wrath, the things from divine origin, on their own heads.
This was not without consequence, for it is written that the nets are spread for the winged ones, as it is written.
The wise were humbled.
It seems that the wise here refer to the Greek logicians, poets, and writers, who have a fluent and polished tongue, but are devoid of true wisdom in their hearts.
As the all-wise Paul writes, they were foolish in their thoughts and their foolish heart was darkened, claiming to be wise, they became foolish (Romans 1:22).
Therefore, they are wise in speech, but foolish in heart.
The wisdom of this world is foolishness before God, as it is written (1 Corinthians 3:19).
For it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
To place one's hope on other things is a futile endeavor, yielding no real benefit, for a secure pledge for salvation is to trust in God, who is all-powerful.
Consider the nature of clay, which can be molded and shaped with ease, its form changing according to what has come from it.
Are not the words...?
The evangelical proclamation, which brings salvation, is like a fire, or perhaps it is even the Holy Spirit herself who accomplishes this work.
As it is written, they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:21).
Greek
κτίσει τὸ σέβας, καὶ τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν ἰδίων χειρῶν λατρεύσαντες, αὐτοὶ ταῖς ἰδίαις ἐπήντλησαν κεφαλαῖς τὰ ἐκ θείας. ὀργῆς. Οὐ γὰρ ἀδίκως ἐκτείνεται δίκτυα πτερωτοῖς, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον. Ἠσχύνθησαν σοφοί. Σοφοὺς ἔοικεν ἐν τούτοις ὑποδηλοῦν τοὺς τῶν Ἑλλήνων λογάδας, ποιητάς τε καὶ συγγραφέας· οἳ γλῶτταν μὲν ἔχουσιν εὐφυᾶ καὶ περιειργασμένην, καὶ ταῖς τῶν λόγων κομψείαις ἐξησκημένην εἰς τὸ ἐπίχαρι, φρονήσεως δὲ τῆς ἀληθοῦς ἀμέτοχοι τὴν καρδίαν. Ὡς γὰρ ὁ πάνσοφος γράφει Παῦλος, Ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία. Φάσκοντες εἶναι σοφοὶ, ἐμωράνθησαν, καὶ ἑξῆς. Οὐκοῦν σοφοὶ μὲν, τό γε ἧκον εἰς φωνὴν καὶ γλῶτταν, ἄσοφοι δὲ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν. Ἡ δὲ σοφία τοῦ κόσμου τούτου μωρία παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ ἐστι, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον. Ἐλαίαν ὡραίαν εὔσκιον τῷ εἴδει. Ἀχρειοῖ γὰρ ὁλοτρόπως τὴν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ψυχὴν τὸ ἀποφοιτῆσαι Θεοῦ καὶ ἀμοιρῆσαι παντελῶς τῆς παρ' αὐτοῦ χάριτος καὶ ἐπικουρίας. Φοβερὸν γὰρ τὸ ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς χεῖρας Θεοῦ ζῶντος. Πρὸς σὲ ἔθνη. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ γεγόνασιν ὑβρισταὶ καὶ ἀπειθεῖς, καὶ ἀσυνεσίας ἔμπλεω τὴν διάνοιαν ἔχοντες, ἀλλ' οὖν σώζονται καὶ δοξάζονται παρὰ Χριστοῦ. Ἀπαρχὴ δὲ τούτων γεγόνασιν οἱ ἀθλοφόροι μάρτυρες, ὧν τῆς εὐκλείας ἡ φαιδρότης ὅλην ἀστράπτει τὴν ὑπ' οὐρανόν. Καὶ ἔσται ὡς τὸ ξύλον. Οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ πλούτῳ μέγα φρονεῖ, οὔτε μὴν διακένων δοξαρίων ἐκτὸς γεγονὼς τὴν ὀσφὺν ὑψηλήν (σιξ)· εἰκαιότητος γὰρ ταῦτα, καὶ ἕτερον οὐδέν. Καὶ γάρ ἐστιν ἀσφαλὲς ἐνέχυρον εἰς σωτηρίαν, τὸ ἐπὶ Θεῷ πεποιθέναι τῷ πάντα ἰσχύοντι· τὸ δὲ ἐφ' ἑτέροις τισι ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἐλπίδα, μάταιον καὶ ἀνωφελές. Ἰδοὺ ὡς ὁ πηλός. Μεταπλάττει 1 γὰρ εὐκόλως ἐφ' ᾧπερ ἂν ἕλοιτο τὸ παρ' αὐτοῦ γεγονός. Οὐκ ἰδοὺ οἱ λόγοι; κ.τ.λ. Πῦρ ὀνομάζει τὸ εὐαγγελικὸν καὶ σωτήριον κήρυγμα, ἢ καὶ αὐτὴν τὴν τοῦ ἁγίου
About this text
Cyril of Alexandria, Fragmenta in Jeremiam (Greek).
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 70 (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.