Fragment on 'Rejoice in that day' · §4 · Olympiodorus of Alexandria

The greater crown and Christ's command to rejoice

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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.

Since 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

μέγας, εὔδηλον ὅτι καὶ ὁ κείμενος ἐπὶ τούτῳ στέφανος, μείζων· διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς κελεύει χαίρειν καὶ σκιρτᾷν τοὺς τοῦτον ἀγωνιζομένους τὸν ἀγῶνα, μετὰ τῆς προσηκούσης ὑπομονῆς. 1

About this text

Olympiodorus on rejoicing in suffering: as health makes hardship easy, so suffering for the truth, like Paul's and the apostles', is itself a prize.

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.

A healthy person takes pleasure even without luxury, because health itself wards off bad weather and meager fare. The same is said of the soul. Paul, in the midst of terrible things, rejoiced in his sufferings, not only for the kingdom of heaven, but because the suffering itself is a prize: to suffer something for the truth.

The apostles left the council of the Jews rejoicing, not only for the kingdom of heaven, but because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored for the name of Jesus. Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes are set beside the tears of the slandered. Christ tells those in this contest to rejoice and leap for joy.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 93 (Greek)

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