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| Chapter XXIV.—The conversion of the Gentiles was more difficult than that of the Jews; the labours of those apostles, therefore who engaged in the former task, were greater than those who undertook the latter.
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Chapter XXIV.—The conversion of the
Gentiles was more difficult than that of the Jews; the labours of those
apostles, therefore who engaged in the former task, were greater than those who
undertook the latter.
1. Wherefore
also Paul, since he was the apostle of the Gentiles, says, “I
laboured more than they all.”4137
For the
instruction of the former, [viz., the Jews,] was an easy task, because
they could allege proofs from the Scriptures, and because they, who were
in the habit of hearing Moses and the prophets, did also readily receive
the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the life of God,
—Him who, by the spreading forth of hands, did destroy Amalek, and
vivify man from the wound of the serpent, by means of faith which was
[exercised] towards Him. As I have pointed out in the preceding book, the
apostle did, in the first place, instruct the Gentiles to depart from the
superstition of idols, and to worship one God, the Creator of heaven and
earth, and the Framer of the whole creation; and that His Son was His
Word, by whom He founded all things; and that He, in the last times, was
made a man among men; that He reformed the human race, but destroyed and
conquered the enemy of man, and gave to His handiwork victory against the
adversary. But although they who were of the circumcision still did not
obey the words of God, for they were despisers, yet they were previously
instructed not to commit adultery, nor fornication, nor theft, nor fraud;
and that whatsoever things are done to our neighbours’ prejudice,
were evil, and detested by God. Wherefore also they did readily agree to
abstain from these things, because they had been thus instructed.
2. But they were bound to teach the Gentiles also this
very thing, that works of such a nature were wicked, prejudicial, and
useless, and destructive to those who engaged in them. Wherefore he who
had received the apostolate to the Gentiles,4138
| 4138 [A clear note of recognition on the part
of our author, that St. Paul’s mission was world-wide, while St.
Peter’s was limited.] | did labour more than those who
preached the Son of God among them of the circumcision. For they were
assisted by the Scriptures, which the Lord confirmed and fulfilled, in
coming such as He had been announced; but here, [in the case of the
Gentiles,] there was a certain foreign erudition, and a new doctrine [to
be received, namely], that the gods of the nations not only were no gods
at all, but even the idols of demons; and that there is one God, who is
“above all principality, and dominion, and power, and every name
which is named;”4139
and that His Word, invisible
by nature, was made palpable and visible among men, and did descend
“to death, even the death of the cross;”4140
also, that they who believe in Him shall be incorruptible and not
subject to suffering, and shall receive the kingdom of heaven. These
things, too, were preached to the Gentiles by word, without [the aid of]
the Scriptures: wherefore, also, they who preached among the Gentiles
underwent greater labour. But, on the other hand, the faith of the
Gentiles is proved to be of a more noble description, since they followed
the word of God without the instruction [derived] from the [sacred]
writings (sine instructione literarum).E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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