ACC ~ Romans 11 v33

HOW UNSEARCHABLE HIS WAYS. TERTULLIAN: Whence this outburst of feeling? Surely from the recollection of the Scriptures, which he had been previously turning over, as well as from his contemplation of the mysteries which he had been setting forth above, in relation to the faith of Christ coming from the law. AGAINST MARCION 24.

ORIGEN: Paul did not say that God’s judgments were hard to search out but that they could not be searched out at all. He did not say that God’s ways were hard to find out but that they were impossible to find out. For however far one may advance in the search and make progress through an increasingly earnest study, even when aided and enlightened in the mind by God’s grace, he will never be able to reach the final goal of his inquiries. ON FIRST PRINCIPLES 4.3.14.

GUIDED BY ANGELS. NOVATIAN: The world, this chariot of God and all that is therein, is guided by the angels and the stars. Although their movements are varied—bound nevertheless by fixed laws—we see them guided to their goals according to the time measured out to them. So may we deservedly cry out with the apostle as we admire the Maker and his works: “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” THE TRINITY 8.11.

THE DIVINE MYSTERIES. GREGORY OF NYSSA: Paul examined … the unclear and hidden aspects of the divine mysteries and through suggestive phrases revealed the illuminations which came to him from God concerning the understanding of what is incomprehensible and unsearchable. ON PERFECTION.

THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES. AMBROSIASTER: God knew from the beginning what man’s behavior and works would be like, in that the human race could not be saved only by the severity of his justice nor could it reach perfection only by his mercy. So at a particular time he decreed what should be preached, whereas before that time he allowed each person to decide for himself, because righteousness was recognized under the guidance of nature. And because the authority of natural righteousness was weakened by the habit of sin, the law was given so that the human race would be held back by the fear engendered by the revealed law. But because they did not restrain themselves and were counted guilty under the law, mercy was proclaimed, which would save those who took refuge in it but would blind those who rejected it for a time. During that time this mercy would invite the Gentiles, who earlier on had not wanted to follow the law given to Moses, to share in the promise, so that the Jews might become jealous of their salvation and because of that jealousy turn again to the source of the root, which is the Savior. This is “the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God,” who by his many-sided providence has won both Jews and Gentiles to eternal life. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

STRUCK WITH AWE. CHRYSOSTOM: After going back to former times and looking back to God’s original dispensation of things, whereby the world has existed up to the present time, and having considered the special provision which he had made for all eventualities, Paul is struck with awe and cries aloud, making his hearers feel confident that what he is saying will come to pass. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 19.

PELAGIUS: Paul praises the wisdom of God, who according to his foreknowledge waited until all were in need of mercy in order to take from 2everyone the glory that derives from unfounded boasting in works. The judgments of God are a great deep, for they cannot be clearly grasped. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

A KNOWING BEYOND EVERY WAY OF KNOWING. PSEUDO-DIONYSIUS: It is in this sense that one says of St. Paul that he knew God, for he knew that God is beyond every act of mind and every way of knowing. LETTER 5.

Rom