Apocryphote of the Day: 8-11-08

He is everywhere, both under the earth and above the heavens and also indwelling us. He is everywhere.

Macarius, Homily 12.12

Apocryphote of the Day: 7-22-08

He who is indigent and poor and a beggar in the world cannot acquire anything. His destitution restrains him. But he who possesses the treasure easily acquires whatever possessions he wishes without much effort. The soul that is naked and stripped of the fellowship of the spirit and lives under the terrible poverty of sin is unable, even it it wished to do so, to produce the fruit of the spirit of righteousness in truth, unless it becomes a companion of the spirit.

Macarius, Homily 18.2 (fourth century Syrian father)

Apocryphote of the Day: 7-20-08

All things will become light. All are immersed in light and fire and are indeed changed...

Macarius, Homily 15.10 (Syrian father, fourth century)

Apocryphote of the Day: 7-15-08

"The resurrection of the souls of the dead takes place even now in the time of death. But the resurrection of the bodies will take place in that (last) day."

Macarius, Homily 36.1 (Syrian father from fourth century)

Commentary: this quotation represents the problem that one faces when the Jewish concept of bodily resurrection (that is, the resurrection of the whole person) encounters the dualistic Platonic anthropology (that is, the soul and body). Pagans believed in the immortality of the soul, that it could be released to return to its divine origins at death if the person had been pious. So what benefit was Jesus' death, the pagans asked? Part of that answer appears to be that Jesus' body was restored, and so will yours if you become Christian. Eventually the type of view develops that Macarius suggests: that at personal death, the soul journeys onward, and at the last day the body will follow.

The illustration depicts Ezekiel 37, 3rd-century fresco, Dura Europas synagogue in Syria.

Apocryphote of the Day: 6-16-08

"In that place there is 'neither male nor female, slave nor free' for all are being transformed into a divine nature, being made noble and gods and children of God."

Macarius, Homily 34.2 (Syrian church father, fourth century)

Apocryphote of the Day: 6-13-08

"When the Apostle says, 'Put off the old man', he refers to the entire man, having new eyes in place of the old, ears replacing ears, hands for hands, feet for feet."

Macarius of Syria, Homily 2.2 (fourth century Syrian father)

Commentary: More variations on various parts of Jesus sayings such as recorded in Gospel of Thomas 22.