The Separation from Christ's Love
Having gone before, he taught, saying: 'What will separate us from the love of Christ?' (Romans 8:35), and the following. For he does not permit either angels or powers to be subjected toward lawlessness, so how could one turn away from God, being compelled to refuse to obey in human authorities.
But perhaps someone would say: 'If kingdoms are established by God, how is it that at times they wage war even against the God-fearing?' To whom it must be said that, even if the hypothesis of persecutions seems heaviest to the many, how much is useful for them to reason about: for God does not simply allow such things, but so that the virtues of the righteous may be seen and the evils of those prevailing may be shown. And the greatest thing, then also those pretending piety, being impious in appearance, are exposed, and the genuine of piety...
Greek
προλαβὼν ἐδίδαξεν εἰπών· τίς ἡμᾶς χωρίσει ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ Χριστοῦ; καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς. ὁ γὰρ μήτε ἀγγέλοις μήτε ἀρχαῖς ὑποτάσσεσθαι πρὸς παρανομίαν συγχωρῶν, πῶς ἐν ταῖς ἀνθρωπίναις ἐξουσίαις ὑπακούειν παραινοίη βιαζομέναις ἀποστῆσαι θεοῦ. ἀλλ' ἴσως ἂν εἴποι τις· εἰ ὑπὸ θεοῦ βασιλεῖαι καθίστανται, πῶς ἐνίοτε καὶ κατὰ θεοσεβῶν στρατεύονται; πρὸς οὓς ῥητέον ὅτι, εἰ καὶ βαρυτάτη δοκεῖ τοῖς πολλοῖς ἡ τῶν διωγμῶν ὑπόθεσις, ἀλλ' ὅσον αὐτοῖς τὸ χρήσιμον διαλογιστέον· οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς τὰ τοιαῦτα συγχωρεῖ ὁ θεός, ἀλλ' ἵνα καὶ τῶν δικαίων ἀρεταὶ λάμψωσι καὶ τῶν κρατούντων κακίαι δειχθῶσιν. τὸ δὲ μέγιστον, τότε καὶ οἱ ὑποκρινόμενοι τῆς εὐσεβείας τὸ σχῆμα δυσσεβεῖς ὄντες ἐλέγχονται, καὶ οἱ γνήσιοι τῆς εὐσεβείας
About this text
A deep exploration of Paul's divine mission and God's judgment, revealing why faith matters in a world that ignores Christ.
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.