Fragment on 'Rejoice in that day'
Fragmentum in illud Gaudete in illa die
Olympiodorus of Alexandria, the deacon, is the name on this file. It is the short fragment on the line "Rejoice in that day," not his commentary on Job, Jeremiah, or Ecclesiastes, and not the pagan philosopher of the same name.
Health and the pleasure of suffering for truth§1
Olympiodorus opens by comparing bodily health to spiritual health, then introduces Paul rejoicing in his sufferings.
1Just as in the body, a person who is healthy and of good body takes pleasure even before luxury, having pleasure allotted together with health; and neither irregularities of the air, nor drought, nor cold, nor a cheap table, nor anything else of that kind could grieve such a person, since health is enough to beat away the harm from these things—so the same thing is accustomed to happen in the soul. For this reason Paul, though suffering countless terrible things, rejoiced, saying, "I rejoice in my sufferings for you..." the quotation breaks off—not only in the kingdom of heaven, in which a prize is set for virtue, but also in the very suffering, since this too is the greatest prize: to suffer something for the truth... fragment breaks off
Greek · §1
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The apostles' joy in dishonor for Jesus' name§2
Olympiodorus is explaining why suffering for the truth is itself a prize, and now turns to the example of the apostles rejoicing after being dishonored by the Jewish council.
2For this reason the chorus of the apostles went up from the council of the Jews rejoicing—not only because of the kingdom of heaven, but because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored for the name of Jesus. This very thing, even by itself, is the greatest honor, and a crown, and a prize, and a source of unfading pleasure.
Greek · §2
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The contest of slander is great§3
The author is explaining why suffering for the truth is itself a reward, and now turns to the harshness of the contest of slander, citing Solomon.
3This contest of slander is not small but very great. So Solomon, wanting to present the harshness of the contest, says: "I saw the slanders that occur under the sun, and look—the tear of the slandered, and there was no one to comfort them" (Ecclesiastes 4:1). But if the contest is great, then, just as that is so, the crown laid up for it is greater still.
Greek · §3
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The greater crown and Christ's command to rejoice§4
Olympiodorus is concluding his argument that the contest of slander is great, so the crown laid up for it is greater, and Christ commands those contending in this contest to rejoice and leap for joy with fitting endurance.
4Since the contest is great, it is very clear that the crown laid upon it is greater still. For this reason Christ commands those contending in this contest to rejoice and leap for joy, with the fitting endurance.
Greek · §4
The Greek is on each section page: §4