Divine Justice and the Economy of Mercy
Beatitudes? And he said: the Decalogue is an equal number to the Egyptian lashes; and the numbering of the beatitudes is an icon of the triple Trinity.
The same man was asked if a single righteous person is enough to slander God, and he said: Yes, for he himself said: Search for one doing judgment and righteousness, and I will be gracious to all the people. 15. The same said that God grants the principal to sinners who repent, just as to the harlot and the tax collector; but to the righteous, he demands both principal and interest. And this is what he was saying to the apostles: If your righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
He also said this: that God sells righteousness very little to those striving to buy it; a small morsel of bread, a cheap garment, a cold cup, one obol. 16. And he added this: that a man, borrowing from another through poverty or a need for prosperity, confesses grace when he repays, but he repays secretly out of shame. But the Lord God does the opposite: lending secretly before angels and archangels and the righteous, he repays.
Greek
μακαρισμοί; καὶ ἔφη· Ἰσάριθμος τῶν Αἰγυπτιακῶν μαστίγων ὁ ∆εκάλογος· τριπλῆς δὲ Τριάδος εἰκὼν, ἡ τῶν μακαρισμῶν ἀρίθμησις. ιδʹ. Ἠρωτήθη ὁ αὐτὸς, εἰ ἀρκεῖ εἷς δίκαιος δυσωπῆσαι τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ἔφη· Ναὶ, αὐτὸς γὰρ εἶπεν· Ἐρευνήσατε ἕνα ποιοῦντα κρῖμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην, καὶ ἵλεως ἔσομαι παντὶ τῷ λαῷ. ιεʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς μὲν ἁμαρτωλοῖς καὶ τὸ κεφάλαιον παραχωρεῖ μετανοοῦσιν, ὡς τῇ πόρνῃ καὶ τῷ τελώνῃ· τοὺς δὲ δικαίους ἀπαι 65.168 τεῖ καὶ τόκους. Καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ὃ τοῖς ἀποστόλοις ἔλεγεν, ὅτι Ἐὰν μὴ περισσεύσῃ ἡ δικαιοσύνη ὑμῶν, πλέον τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. ις ʹ. Ἔλεγε δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὅτι ὀλίγον πάνυ τὰς δικαιοσύνας ὁ Θεὸς πωλεῖ τοῖς ἀγοράζειν σπουδάζουσι· μικροῦ κλάσματος ἄρτου, εὐτελοῦς ἱματίου, ψυχροῦ ποτηρίου, ἑνὸς ὀβολοῦ. ιζʹ. Προσετίθει δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὅτι παρ' ἀνθρώπῳ δανειζόμενος ἄνθρωπος διὰ πενίαν, ἢ χρείαν εὐπορίας, καὶ ἀποδιδοὺς χάριτας μὲν ὁμολογεῖ, κρύφα δὲ ἀποδίδωσιν αἰσχυνόμενος. Ὁ δὲ δεσπότης Θεὸς τὸ ἀνάπαλιν· κρυφῆ δανειζόμενος ἐνώπιον ἀγγέλων καὶ ἀρχαγγέλων καὶ δικαίων ἀποδίδωσιν.
About this text
A collection of wise and mysterious sayings from a 4th-century bishop, offering insight into early Christian life and beliefs.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 41–43 (Khazarzar) (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.