The Error of Judging Job by Sin

Existing in a state of delusion and thinking that he suffers through sin, he begins his words by asserting that it is wise to answer with understanding, implying that Job does not answer with understanding. This one, then, is a fool, and he is striking at the holy man regarding his lack of understanding. And he filled his belly with toil by reproving with words that are not to be used, and in words that have no profit. As it has been said, he begins foolishly; for he says that it is wise of the wise to answer sensibly, but 'he filled his belly with toil by reproving with words that are not to be used,' instead of saying 'from the pains, which he had in his heart and is unable to restrain, he brings forth words that are not to be used, and words in which there is no profit,' scattering his words as if they were useless and futile things sent forth. 'Will you not also cease from fear?' The preceding things are confirmed; for he reproves him as one who has not had fear, and it is clear that he also, by subjecting God, claims that because he has not had fear, but has suffered these things through sins, and that one not having fear uses such words. For they thought him bold, not knowing his virtue, supposing that having renounced fear, he says these things. 'Have you completed such words before the Lord?' Perhaps because of the easy availability of the words, which he brought forth purely from the one having conscience, he says these things, which this accuser considers as blasphemy, assuming the false beginning that he suffers through sin. 'You are guilty of the words of your mouth.' He dialogues with him with boldness as if he were bringing forth words against one who is not righteous. And he also thinks that he reproves him from his own words, asserting that 'you shall be reproved by words from yourself' (Job 11:6). You did not even distinguish the words of the mighty. Consider whether he says 'the mighty' to mean those who excel in understanding, either at the same time or before, as it is said in the things mentioned before: 'For he inquired of the first generation, and searched out the generations of the fathers' (Job 8:8), so that what he says might be such a thing: 'not through judgment...'

The text cuts off mid-sentence at the end of the provided Greek.

The purpose is the words of the wise, so that through them your words and your whole life are regulated. For it is often said that they rebuke you as if you were suffering because of sins. They say, 'Let your own mouth convict you and not I; let your lips testify against you.' They bring these things forward out of audacity, for they did not have the power to rebuke him in such a way. They bring this forward in reference to the initial dispute.

For what? Did you not first come from men, or did you come upon the earth before the dusts? They want to present to him that 'you do not differ from other men, nor do you exist outside of their nature so as to have grasped more than the others,' in order that they might present themselves as having reached the truth, for which he suffers a cause. And those who bring in the soul by associating it with the body take advantage of this—the Hierarchs and the Soldiers and the like—saying, 'if not before the dusts'—instead of 'before the earth' (for he named the whole from a part)—'but upon the dusts,' from which they will think to draw the soul to be scattered with the body, while others overturn this, saying the pivot of understanding is a moist thing, which does not suit a soul but a body.

Or have you heard a divine arrangement, yet wisdom has come to you? Proposing the unsearchable nature of judgments from this, he thinks he is wandering into not knowing, that he suffers through something other than sin, being held by this. For he himself was not one having heard a divine arrangement or having wisdom come to him, so as to have a dispute concerning the Holy One as one suffering through sin. For what do you know that we do not know, or what do you understand that we do not? (Job 28:23). He makes it common to all men, as if he were ignorant of the greatness of his virtue, and from this, as it is foretold, he is apparently overturning the idea of himself being righteous; which it was necessary that he, even while ignorant, should not pre-judge the judgment and be persuaded that he is bowed down as a sinner. And even an elder and an old man among us, heavier than your father's days. 'If even...