The Weapons of Righteousness

Having believed, the old things have passed away, having grown old as the new things come into the midst. And if he says the old things are the legal and prophetic writings, these have passed away because of the gospels having received them; regarding these old and new things, the difference is not according to their underlying substance but by way of thought; for the very same teaching of the two covenants has happened at one time concealed and at another time nakedly. The concealed things are therefore old.

And if anyone says that the customs and state of affairs before faith are old, these have passed away, having ceased, because the teaching according to the gospel has established itself. Regarding the former explanation, all things will fit from God, for both the law and the prophets and the gospels are from God; according to the later narrative, all the new things are from God, and not indeed even those that have passed away. And all things are from God, the one who reconciled us to himself through Christ. For we were enemies, held fast by error and sins, but we have been reconciled to him, having received forgiveness toward him and through him; and he reconciled us to himself through the Lord who died and rose on our behalf. So that we might not become insensitive to the great goodness of God, he gave the teaching concerning the reconciliation to the apostles, so that being instructed by them we might remain in the being-in-Christ; for through him the friendship toward God which came to be after the reconciliation will persist.

Regarding 2 Cor 5:21, they say 'the one not knowing' instead of 'the one not having been tempted by sin'; for he does not say not to be ignorant of its nature—rather the Savior knew it all things—but rather not to be tempted by it. For so also the one guarding the commandment will not know an evil word. Regarding 2 Cor 6:2, 'Since God helped, having heard in an acceptable time and a day of salvation, having sent his own Son and having given him up on our behalf, so that no stumbling block of unbelief might come against anyone, so that the ministry of the evangelical teaching might not incur blame.' Therefore, it is necessary to be diligent in recommending oneself through good works, even if it be with toil.

This happens if, having endurance, we bear tribulations, necessities, distresses, and the surrounding things bravely, cheerfully bearing the experience of bonds and prison. For thus to be pure according to the soul will happen to one thinking rightly and acting rightly; for our souls, he says, having become pure in the obedience of the truth. But also the fear of the Lord, being pure, acquires all purity for the one who has received it.

He says that there are right and left weapons of righteousness (2 Cor 6:7). Perhaps therefore the one practicing justice regarding sensible things, rather desiring to be wronged and deprived than to do these things himself, has been struck by the left weapons of righteousness; that is, having piety called righteousness toward God, while bearing the right weapons of it in giving back the things of God to God. In other writings it is said, concerning putting on the weapons of light. These weapons of the warfare are not fleshly, that is, not human, but they turn out to be powerful for God.

Know if you are able to have the more leftward weapons of righteousness, the one being justified according to the shadow of the law; but the right weapons, the one having been persuaded according to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for all who believe. And this is that about which the Savior said to the disciples: unless your righteousness abounds more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:20).

Still, the one pursuing the just thing justly according to human dealings is armed according to the left weapons of righteousness; but the one doing this according to the doctrines of the truth, being pursued for the sake of becoming a son of righteousness, bears its right weapons. See then in the things said, if what is about to be said has sense: the one being dishonored for the sake of godliness, and being slandered and supposed a deceiver, bearing these things bravely and praiseworthily, uses the left weapons of righteousness; being secured by its right weapons, when there is no praise or...