ACC ~ Matthew 8 v33

THE FLIGHT OF IDOLATERS

CHROMATIUS: The herdsmen fled at the sight of the divine power and reported to the town what had happened. The people entreated the Lord to depart from their district. This may symbolize the leaders of the Jews or the priests of idols, who, dispensing the food of their errors to unclean and unfaithful people, are feeding them like swine to perpetual death. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 43.5. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:408-9.

THE MIGRATION OF HERETICAL TEACHING

CHROMATIUS: Or this may be understood in another way, for there may be more than one spiritual meaning, [1] namely, we can look upon these two demoniacs in a larger sense as two [Gentile] peoples (as we noted before) [2] who by the word and grace of Christ were freed from the bond of the demons. Perhaps we may interpret the swine as heretics who, driven from the community of believers, are known to have migrated. If so, the herdsmen could be viewed as architects of heresies and teachers of falsehood who are feeding these heretical swine as it were with the foul and unclean food of disreputable teachings, feeding them not for life but for death. For these wayward teachers are feeding them, not the heavenly bread nor the food of a wholesome life but the most foul and unclean teachings of falsehood. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 43.6. [3]

[1] Following Origen, Chromatius points out that while the literal meaning of a scriptural passage is unique, more than one spiritual (i.e., allegorical) interpretation can be found for it.

[2] Descendants of Ham and Japheth (see 8:28 above).

[3] CCL 9a:409.