Fragment on 'Rejoice in that day' · §2 · Olympiodorus of Alexandria

The apostles' joy in dishonor for Jesus' name

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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.

For 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

παθεῖν· διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ χορὸς τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐπανῄεσαν ἐκ τοῦ συνεδρίου τῶν Ἰουδαίων, χαίροντες, οὐ διὰ τὴν βασιλείαν μόνον τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἀλλ' ὅτι κατηξιώθησαν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος Ἰησοῦ ἀτιμασθῆναι· καὶ αὐτὸ γὰρ τοῦτο καὶ καθ' ἑαυτὸ, μεγίστη τιμὴ καὶ στέφανος καὶ βραβεῖον καὶ ἡδονῆς ὑπόθεσις ἀμαράντου· οὐ

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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