Tag: Commodianus

The fire of God is experienced differently for the wicked than the righteous

In the flame of fire the Lord will judge the wicked.  But the fire shall not touch the just, but shall by all means lick them up.  In one place they delay, but a part has wept at the judgment.  Such will be the heat, that the stones themselves shall melt.  The winds assemble into lightnings, the heavenly wrath rages; and wherever the wicked man fleeth, he is seized upon by this fire.  There will be no succour nor ship of he sea.  Amen, flames on the nations, and the Medes and Parthians burn for a thousand years, as the hidden words of John declare.  For then after a thousand years they are delivered over to Gehenna; and he whose work they were, with them are burnt up.

Commodianus
Instructions of Commodianus
Chapter XLIII

The soul lives on — death is not an escape from God

O fool, thou dost not absolutely die; nor, when dead, dost thou escape the lofty One.  Although thou shouldst arrange that when dead thou perceivest nothing, thou shalt foolishly be overcome.  God the Creator of the world liveth, whose laws cry out that the dead are in existence.  But thou, whilst recklessly thou seekest to live without God, judgest that in death is extinction, and thinkest that it is absolute.  God has not ordered it as thou thinkest, that the dead are forgetful of what they have previously done.  Now has the governor made for us receptacles of death, and after our ashes we shall behold them.  Thou art stripped, O foolish one, who thinkest that by death thou art not, and hast made thy Ruler and Lord to be able to do nothing.  But death is not a mere vacuity, if thou reconsiderest in thine heart.  Thou mayest know that He is to be desired, for late thou shalt perceive Him.  Thou wast the ruler of the flesh; certainly flesh ruled not thee.  Freed from it, the former is buried; thou art here.  Rightly is mortal man separated from the flesh.  Therefore mortal eyes will not be able to be equalled (to divine things).  Thus our depth keeps us from the secret of God.  Give thou now, whilst in weakness thou art dying, the honour to God, and believe that Christ will bring thee back living from the dead.  Thou oughtest to give praises in the church to the omnipotent One.

Commodianus
Instructions of Commodianus
Chapter XXVII

Faith in Christ overcomes the “second death” after the resurrection

Now astounded, swear that thou wilt believe in Christ; for the Old Testament proclaims concerning Him.  For it is needful only to believe in Him who was dead, to be able to rise again to live for all time.  Therefore, if thou art one who disbelievest that these things shall be, at length he shall be overcome in his guilt in the second death.  I will declare things to come in few words in this little treatise.  In it can be known when hope must be preferred.  Still I exhort you as quickly as possible to believe in Christ.

Commodianus
Instructions of Commodianus
Chapter XXV

Reward and punishment begin before the resurrection

And, moreover, thou sayest, Who is He who has redeemed from death, that we may believe in Him, since there punishments are awarded?  Ah! not thus, O malignant man, shall it be as thou thinkest.  For to him who has lived well there is advantage after death.  Thou, however, when one day thou diest, shalt be taken away in an evil place.  But they who believe in Christ shall be led into a good place, and those to whom that delight is given are caressed; but to you who are of a double mind, against you is punishment without the body.

Commodianus
Instructions of Commodianus
Chapter XXIV