ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 3 v18

WE BEHOLD THE GLORY OF THE LORD. CHRYSOSTOM: This does not refer to those things which are brought to an end but to those which remain. The Spirit is God, and we are raised to the level of the apostles, because we shall all behold him together with uncovered faces. As soon as we are baptized, the soul beams even more brightly than the sun because it is cleansed by the Spirit, and we not only behold God’s glory, we receive from it a kind of splendor. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 7.5.

THE GLORY OF OUR INHERITANCE. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: We are being changed from knowledge of the law into the grace of the Spirit. And it must be remembered that from the glory of the Spirit working in us we come to the glory of our inheritance as sons. This is the work of the Spirit, for it must be held that here the word Lord refers to the Spirit and not to the Son of God. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

ACQUIRING A LIKENESS. ISAAC OF NINEVEH: Although “as in a mirror” indicates “not substantially,” it does show clearly, in any case, the acquisition of a likeness. ASCETICAL HOMILIES 2.

GRADUAL AND DEEPER REVELATION THROUGH THE SPIRIT. GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS: For the matter stands thus: The Old Testament proclaimed the Father openly and the Son more obscurely. The New manifested the Son and suggested the deity of the Spirit. Now the Spirit himself dwells among us and supplies us with a clearer demonstration of himself. For it was not safe, when the Godhead of the Father was not yet acknowledged, plainly to proclaim the Son; nor when that of the Son was not yet received, to burden us further (if I may use so bold an expression) with the Holy Ghost. … For this reason it was, I think, that he gradually came to dwell in the disciples, measuring himself out to them according to their capacity to receive him, at the beginning of the gospel, after the passion, after the ascension, making perfect their powers, being breathed upon them and appearing in fiery tongues. And indeed it is by little and little that he is declared by Jesus, as you will learn for yourself if you will read more carefully. THEOLOGICAL ORATION 5.26.

ANOTHER MOSES. CHRYSOSTOM: Do you wish to know of another way in which you were judged worthy of greater wonders? In their day the Jews were unable to see the face of Moses transfigured, although he was their fellow slave and kinsman. But you have seen the face of Christ in his glory. St. Paul cried aloud, saying: “But we all, with faces unveiled, reflect the glory of the Lord.” At that time the Jews had Christ following them, but all the more does he follow us now. Then Christ followed along with them thanks to Moses; he goes along with us not only thanks to [the new] Moses but thanks to your own ready obedience. For the Jews, after Egypt came the desert; for you, after your exodus will come heaven. They had Moses as their leader and excellent general; we have another Moses, God, to lead and command us. BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTIONS 3.25.

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. GREGORY OF NYSSA: Therefore, I do not think it is a fearful thing (I mean that our nature is changeable). The Logos shows that it would be a disadvantage for us not to be able to make a change for the better, as a kind of wing of flight to greater things. Therefore, let no one be grieved if he sees in his nature a penchant for change. Changing in everything for the better, let him exchange “glory for glory,” becoming greater through daily increase, ever perfecting himself and never arriving too quickly at the limit of perfection. For this is truly perfection: never to stop growing toward what is better and never placing any limit on perfection. ON PERFECTION.

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTH 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-6

OVERVIEW: Paul attributes perseverance to the mercy of God (CHRYSOSTOM), which first cleanses people, then makes them righteous, adopts them and endows them with a glory like that of God’s own Son (AMBROSIASTER). The “god of this world” may be read either as the devil (PELAGIUS) or as the God of the universe who has blinded the minds of the unbelievers of this world (AMBROSIASTER, DIDYMUS THE BLIND). They cannot see the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God (ORIGEN, GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS, JEROME). In the world to come there will be no unbelievers (CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORET OF CYR). Paul was not preaching the gospel for his own advantage but for the glory of the Lord (DIDYMUS THE BLIND, AMBROSIASTER, CHRYSOSTOM), whose light shines out of darkness (GREGORY OF NYSSA, THEODORET OF CYR, ISAAC OF NINEVEH, SAHDONA [MARTYRIUS]).

2 Cor