ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 5 v10

WHAT ONE HAS DONE IN THE BODY. AMBROSIASTER: If we are going to receive what we have done in the body, it is clear that we shall not be judged without a body, good or bad. Paul does not say “in the flesh,” because the deeds of the flesh always deserve punishment, but “in the body,” because sometimes the body acts spiritually and sometimes it acts carnally. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE JUDGMENT SEAT. CHRYSOSTOM: Having alarmed and shaken his hearers by mentioning the judgment seat, Paul softens what he says by mentioning the possibility of receiving good rewards, as well as bad. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 10.5.

WE MUST ALL APPEAR. AUGUSTINE: Christ judges all things because when he is with God he is above all. ON TRUE RELIGION 58.

THE SOUL DID NOT EXIST BEFORE THE BODY. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: From this we learn that the soul was not punished for sins committed before it acquired a body. In fact, the soul did not exist before the body. LETTER 81.4.

ALL MUST APPEAR BEFORE CHRIST. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: Those who drag in a doctrine of moral indifference do violence to some few passages of Scripture, thinking that they support their own love of pleasure; in particular, the passage “Sin shall have no authority over you; for you are not subject to sin but to grace.”But there are other such passages, which there is no good reason to record for these purposes, as I am not equipping a pirate ship! Let me quickly cut through their attempt. The admirable apostle in person will refute their charge in the words with which he continues the previous quotation: “Well then! Shall we sin because we are no longer under law but under grace? God forbid!” With these inspired prophetic words, at a single stroke he undoes the sophistical skill at the service of pleasure. So they have not understood, it seems, that “we must all appear before Christ’s tribunal, where each must receive what is due to him for his physical conduct, good or bad,” that is, where a person may receive recompense for what he has done by means of his body. STROMATEIS 3.8.61.

WE MUST GIVE ACCOUNT. FULGENTIUS: Human beings … because they have been made rational will render an account to God for themselves and for all the things which they have received for use in this present life and, according to the nature of their works, will receive either punishment or glory. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or bad.” … Therefore, eternal life will be given in the future only to the one to whom forgiveness of sins has been given in this world. Only he will receive forgiveness of sins here who renounces his sins and hastens to the highest and true God with true conversion of heart. For that [judgment] will not be a time of forgiveness but of retribution. There mercy will not justify the sinner, but justice will distinguish the just and the sinner. ON THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS 2.6.1.

THE MARK OF A LAZY SOUL. ORIGEN: Why do we ourselves not believe that we all will stand “before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may obtain the things proper to the body according to what he has done, whether good or evil”? If we would believe these things entirely, there would be applied to us what was written, “Redemption of a man’s soul is his wealth.” But how can we either know or believe or understand these things when we indeed do not come together to hear them? For who of you, when the Scriptures are read, really pays attention? God through the prophet threatens indeed in great anger, “I will send famine upon the earth; not a famine of bread or the thirst of water but a famine of hearing the word of God.”But now God has not sent “a famine” upon his church nor “a thirst to hear the word of God.” For we have “living bread which came down from heaven.” We have “living water springing up into eternal life.” Why in this time of fruitfulness do we destroy ourselves by famine and thirst? It is the mark of a lazy and lingering soul to suffer want in all this abundance. HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 9.5.

SEEING THINGS FROM GOD’S POINT OF VIEW 2 CORINTHIANS 5:11-15

OVERVIEW: We shall live because Christ died for us (AUGUSTINE, CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). For our sake he rose again (CHRYSOSTOM). The apostles were not obliged to be silent about the gifts they received from Christ (AMBROSIASTER), which they keep in perpetual remembrance (BASIL). Even if Paul seems to be beside himself, the love of God is in control (DIDYMUS THE BLIND). Even if people think he is mad, everything he does is for the glory of God (CHRYSOSTOM).

2 Cor