Theodoret of Cyrrhus→Claudianus|c. 440 AD|theodoret cyrrhus
grief deathillness
From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To: Claudianus
Date: ~440 AD
Context: A brief meditation on sin as the root cause of earthly calamities, written during a period of political and military upheaval.
To Claudianus,
The divine celebration [Easter or a major feast] has brought us its usual spiritual blessings, but the bitter fruits of sin have not allowed us to enjoy them with a glad heart. Sin has always produced the same harvest: in the beginning it brought forth thorns, thistles, sweat, toil, and pain. Now it shakes the earth beneath us and raises hostile nations against us on every side. We grieve because we force a good God -- one who wants to bless us -- to punish us instead. We compel him to act as judge when he would rather act as benefactor.
Yet when we remember the unfathomable depths of his mercy, we take comfort and trust that "the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance" [Psalm 94:14].
I greet your magnificence and ask you to send word of your health -- which I very much want to hear is good.
Letter 41
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To Claudianus.
The divine Celebration has as usual conferred on us its spiritual boons; but the sour fruits of sin have not suffered us to enjoy them with gladness. They have had their usual results; in the beginning they caused thorns, caltrops, sweats, toil and pain to sprout; at the present moment sin sets the earth quaking against us, and makes nations rise against us on every side. And we lament because we force the good Lord, who is wishful to do us good, to do us ill, and compel Him to inflict punishment.
Yet when we bethink us of the unfathomable depths of His pity we are comforted, and trust that the Lord will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance. While saluting your magnificence I beseech you to give me news of your much-wished for health.
◆
From:Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To:Claudianus
Date:~440 AD
Context:A brief meditation on sin as the root cause of earthly calamities, written during a period of political and military upheaval.
To Claudianus,
The divine celebration [Easter or a major feast] has brought us its usual spiritual blessings, but the bitter fruits of sin have not allowed us to enjoy them with a glad heart. Sin has always produced the same harvest: in the beginning it brought forth thorns, thistles, sweat, toil, and pain. Now it shakes the earth beneath us and raises hostile nations against us on every side. We grieve because we force a good God -- one who wants to bless us -- to punish us instead. We compel him to act as judge when he would rather act as benefactor.
Yet when we remember the unfathomable depths of his mercy, we take comfort and trust that "the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance" [Psalm 94:14].
I greet your magnificence and ask you to send word of your health -- which I very much want to hear is good.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.