The Suddenness of the Coming
Such is what the Savior says: for just as in the days of Noah they were marrying and being married, and suddenly the flood came and took everyone, so shall the presence of the Son of Man be. Truly, he says, some living are caught up. By command and by the voice of an angel, and the dead in Christ shall rise.
This the Lord himself says in the Gospel: and in the middle of the night, he says, a voice came: 'the bridegroom comes' (Matt 25:6). And that the living are caught up, who also are taken up with those having slept, the Lord shows in the Gospel saying: 'two shall be in bed; one shall be taken, and one shall be left' (Matt 24:40). And 'two shall be working; one shall be taken, and one shall be left' (Matt 24:41). And both the Lord and Paul imply that the presence shall be at night.
He says his presence is a Day of the Lord (1 Thess 5:4). But he compared it to a thief (1 Thess 5:2), because it comes while hiding and beyond expectation. And in night, because the coming day exposes the evils of the night.
But the bride, being adorned with the world of virtues, a soul sleeping the sleep of the day, is joined to the foolish night which is joined to wakefulness, and most fittingly she said: 'I sleep, and my heart wakes' (Song 5:2).
Greek
τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν ὅ φησιν ὁ σωτήρ· ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τοῦ Νῶε ἦσαν γαμοῦντες καὶ γαμισκόμενοι, καὶ ἐξάπινα ἦλθεν ὁ κατακλυσμὸς καὶ ἔλαβε πάντας, οὕτως ἔσται ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. οὐκοῦν, φησίν, ζῶντες καταλαμβάνονταί τινες. Ἐν κελεύσματι καὶ ἐν φωνῇ ἀρχαγγέλου, καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ ἐν Χριστῷ ἀναστήσονται. τοῦτο αὐτὸς ὁ κύριος λέγει ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ· μέσης δὲ οὔσης νυκτός, φησί, φωνὴ ἐγένετο· ὁ νυμφίος ἔρχεται. ὅτι δὲ ζῶντες καταλαμβάνονται, οἳ καὶ ἀναλαμβάνονται μετὰ τῶν κοιμηθέντων, ὁ κύριος δηλοῖ ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ λέγων· δύο ἔσονται ἐν κλίνῃ· ὁ εἷς παραληφθήσεται, καὶ ὁ εἷς ἀφεθήσεται. καὶ δύο ἔσονται ἀλήθουσαι· ἡ μία παραληφθήσεται, καὶ ἡ μία ἀφεθήσεται. καὶ ὁ κύριός τε καὶ ὁ Παῦλος αἰνίττονται ὅτι νυκτὸς ἔσται ἡ παρουσία. 1 Thess 5,4®5 Ἡμέραν κυρίου τὴν παρουσίαν αὐτοῦ λέγει. κλέπτῃ δὲ παρείκασεν αὐτήν, ὅτι λανθάνουσα καὶ παρὰ προσδοκίαν ἔρχεται. ἐν νυκτὶ δέ, ὅτι ἡ ἡμέρα ἐπιστᾶσα τὰ ἐν νυκτὶ φαῦλα ἀπελέγχει. 331 1 Thess 5,6®8 Ἀλλ' ἡ νύμφη καὶ τῷ τῶν ἀρετῶν κόσμῳ κοσμουμένη ψυχὴ τὸν τῆς ἡμέρας ὕπνον καθεύδουσα τὸν ἄμοιρον νυκτὸς τὸν τῇ ἐγρηγόρσει συνεζευγμένον, καὶ μάλα εἰκότως ἔλεγεν· ἐγὼ καθεύδω, καὶ ἡ καρδία μου γρηγορεῖ.
About this text
A comforting commentary on faith, love, and hope for early Christians facing persecution and loss.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 65 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
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.