Fragments on the Letter to the Philippians · §4 · Oecumenius

The law as refuse and the forward-looking mind

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Oecumenius is closing his comments on Philippians, explaining how the law's temporary elements were set aside and how Paul's forgetting what lies behind means not dwelling on past struggles.

So then the stalk of the law ceased, and circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, and the other things were separated off like refuse, while the pure wheat of faith that had been hidden in the prophetic stalk was stored away in the barns of the common master. This very name 'refuse' shows that the law is akin to it, and just as the seed could not have come into being without the refuse, so neither could the perfection of grace have been accomplished without the law.

Philippians 3:13: 'Forgetting what lies behind'—not as though those things were evil, but what Paul means is this: I do not occupy myself with remembering my past struggles, but with being anxious about what I will accomplish in what lies ahead.

Philippians 4:2: But some say that Euodia was the wife of the jailer, and Syntyche was the man.

Greek

οτε λοιπὸν ἐπαύσατο μὲν ἡ καλάμη τοῦ νόμου, ωσπερ δὲ σκύβαλον ἐχωρίσθη περιτομή, σαββάτων τήρησις καὶ τῶν αλλων, καὶ καθαρὸς ὁ τῆς πίστεως

σῖτος ὁ ἐναποκεκρυμμένος τῇ προφητικῇ καλάμῃ ἀπετέθη ταῖς ἀποθήκαις τοῦ κοινοῦ δεσπότου. τοῦτο ουν τὸ τοῦ σκυβάλου ονομα δείκνυσιν οἰκεῖον τὸν νόμον· καὶ ωσπερ ανευ τοῦ σκυβάλου οὐχ οιόν τε ην γενέσθαι σπόρον, ουτως οὐδὲ ανευ τοῦ νόμου τὸ τέλειον τῆς χάριτος κατορθωθῆναι. Phil 3,13 Τὰ μὲν ὀπίσω ἐπιλανθανόμενος, οὐχ ὡς κακά, ἀλλ' ο λέγει τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν· οὐκ ἀσχολοῦμαι εἰς τὸ ἀναμιμνήσκεσθαι τοὺς ἀγῶνάς μου τοὺς παρελθόντας, ἀλλ' εἰς τὸ μεριμνᾶν, τί κατορθώσω εἰς τὰ ἑξῆς. Phil 4,2 Τινὲς δὲ Εὐοδίαν ειναί φασι τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ δεσμοφύλακος, Συντύχην δὲ τὸν ανδρα.

About this text

Short notes on Philippians: Paul's aim to teach humility, the fruit of his chains, and why he counts his former gains as loss.

These fragmentary comments on the Letter to the Philippians are attributed to Oecumenius, though the compiler of the Pauline commentary is unknown and the historical Oecumenius, a sixth-century commentator on the Apocalypse, is a different writer. The fragments were preserved in catenae, or chains of excerpts, and address clergy rather than laity. They explain difficult phrases and the purpose of Paul's letter.

Paul's main goal was to cultivate humility, since pride especially afflicts those who live well. The fragments also explain how Paul's sufferings and defenses prove fruitful through the Philippians' faith and steadfastness.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 118 – 119 (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.