ACC ~ Revelation 3 v17 - 18

BE YOURSELVES PURE GOLD. CYPRIAN: You are mistaken and are deceived, whosoever you are, that you think yourself rich in this world. Listen to the voice of your Lord in the Apocalypse, rebuking people of your stamp with righteous reproaches: “You say,” says he, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy gold from me tried in the fire, that you may be rich. And buy from me white clothing, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness may not appear in you. Anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” You therefore, who are rich and wealthy, buy from Christ gold tried by fire. Then you may be pure gold, with your filth burned out as if by fire. Buy for yourself white raiment, that you who had been naked according to Adam, and were before frightful and tasteless, may be clothed with the white garment of Christ. You who are a wealthy and rich matron in Christ’s church, anoint your eyes, not with the eyewash of the devil but with Christ’s eye salve, that you may be able to attain to see God, by deserving well of God, both by good works and character. WORKS AND ALMSGIVING 14.

BY YOUR LIFE MERIT TO DIE FOR CHRIST. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: By the doing of alms and by standing firm in good works you might yourself be made gold. That is, that you might receive understanding from God and through your good behavior you might merit to suffer martyrdom. EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE 3.18, HOMILY 3.

THROUGH THE FIRE OF TEMPTATION. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: If you wish to be rich, he says, with a zealous intent and a willing heart obtain from me, who makes rich, gold that has been purified in fire, namely, the word of teaching that is made brilliant in the fire of temptations. And through this you will have in your heart a treasure that is secure, and you will wear the bright stole of virtue, through which the nakedness, which has come to you by sin, will be clothed. The salve is certainly poverty. For, if “gifts make blind the eyes of those who see,”then certainly that which is incorruptible will open them. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3.18.

FAITH PLUS THE FERVOR OF LOVE. BEDE: Since you are content with mere faith, in vain do you seek to acquire the riches of righteousness. But, should you desire to be truly rich, forsake everything, and buy the fervor of love approved by the flame of afflictions, and anoint the eyes of the mind, not with the antinomy of deceitful boasting but with the eye salve of divine knowledge. To anoint the eyes with eye salve is to acquire an understanding of the holy Scriptures through the performance of a good work. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 3.17.

CLOTHED WITH WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. PRIMASIUS: He regards those as “naked” who are destitute of the works of righteousness, whom he also regards as “blind.” However, he is clothed with white garments who is vested with the baptism of Christ, and he enjoys that faith “working through love,” for “as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”When he says that the eyes must be anointed with salve, he advises that the heart be directed toward the divine testimonies. For “the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 3.18.

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