Fragments on the First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians · §4 · Gennadius of Constantinople

Faith as mustard seed and reproachful reading of 2 Corinthians 10:7

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Gennadius is explaining Paul's mention of the spiritual gift of faith, and then comments on how to read 2 Corinthians 10:7.

About this the Lord also says in the Gospels: “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen” (Matthew 17:20). For he was certainly not discussing the common faith with them as if they were unbelievers.

Fragment on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians

This must be read with reproachful hypocrisy: you take your examination not from works—that is, from the truth—but simply from what appears on the surface (2 Corinthians 10:7).

Greek

περὶ τούτου καὶ ὁ κύριος 419 ἐν Εὐαγγελίοις φησίν· ἐὰν

ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως, ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ· ἄρθητι καὶ βλήθητι εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ γενήσεται οὕτως. οὐδήπου γὰρ ὡς πρὸς ἀπίστους τὴν κοινὴν πίστιν ταῦτα πρὸς αὐτοὺς διελέγετο. Fragmentum in epistulam ii ad Corinthios 2 Kor 10,7 Κατ' ἐπιτιμητικὴν ὑπόκρισιν τοῦτο ἀναγνωστέον· οὐκ ἐκ τῶν ἔργων, ἀντὶ τοῦ τῆς ἀληθείας, τὴν ἐξέτασιν, ἐκ δὲ τῶν ἐπιπολῆς ἁπλῶς φαινομένων λαμβάνετε.

About this text

A few notes on Corinthians: Israel's cloud and sea crossing as types of baptism, faith as a spiritual gift, and one line on 2 Corinthians 10:7.

Gennadius of Constantinople (d. 471) was patriarch from 458. This file holds his fragments on the First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians, not a full commentary.

Paul sets the cloud and the sea beside the Corinthians as warnings. The cloud is a sign of the Spirit's grace. The crossing of the sea is what baptism has become: a defense against enemies. In baptism believers receive the Spirit of adoption and promise to live by Christ's commands.

The faith Paul names among the gifts is not the faith common to every believer. The Lord speaks of faith like a grain of mustard seed. On the second letter, Gennadius says the verse rebukes those who judge by what appears, not by works.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 85 (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. 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.