Voices and influences
Theophylact of Ohrid
He wrote clear, useful Gospel commentaries while stuck serving a difficult Balkan diocese he never wanted.
Summary
This site quotes Theophylact of Ohrid 461 times across 25 books, and lists 0 works.
- Lived died 1107.
- Quoted here most in Acts: 176 of 461.
Theophylact of Ohrid
- Lived
- died 1107
- Tradition
- Patristic
5 of 461 quotations
Own words
Quoted at 50 words or fewer, because Theophylact of Ohrid's works are in copyright.
As the Lord promised the covetous ruler a treasure in heaven, he nevertheless did not heed, for he was a slave to his treasures, and therefore "became sorrowful" upon hearing the Lord urge him to part with his possessions, since he desired eternal life precisely …
Luke 18:23 But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy. BSB
For that day will not come with observation, but unexpectedly, secretly, like a net capturing those who are inattentive to themselves. Another person might perhaps investigate in detail the expression: "dwelling (sitting) upon the face of all the earth." That day will capture in its …
Luke 21:35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. BSB
Everywhere alongside virtue there is vice. Some marveled, others reviled. The former were truly devout; they lived in Jerusalem precisely because the law permitted them to appear three times a year at the temple in Jerusalem.
Acts 2:7 Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? BSB
Because the words "pray to the Lord for me" Simon said not because he repented and converted, but only for the sake of appearances. For otherwise, where is the weeping? Where is the remorse and confession of sins?
Acts 8:24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” BSB
"Having called the saints and widows, he presented her before them alive" – to the former as a consolation, and to the latter as a protectress.
Acts 9:41 Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive. BSB
Influence, on the record
This site quotes Theophylact of Ohrid 461 times across 25 books.
This site’s own count of what it does with the voice
The life, in order
The life told as one accountfrom this site's record
Theophylact was born about 1050 on the island of Euboea, came to Constantinople, and studied under Michael Psellos, the outstanding scholar of eleventh-century Byzantium. He did well in the capital: he was a deacon of Hagia Sophia, held the post of maistor ton rhetoron — master of the rhetors, the senior teaching chair of the church — and was made tutor to Constantine Doukas, the young heir to the throne. Then, some time in the 1080s or early 1090s, he was appointed archbishop of Ohrid, the head of the Bulgarian church, and sent to the Balkans. His letters make no secret of what he thought about it. He was a Greek intellectual dropped into a Slavic province he found rough, poor, and provincial; he complains about the food, the smell, the mud, the tax collectors who bled his people, and the isolation. He calls himself an exile. He served there for something over twenty years — he was still writing after 1107, and the date of his death is not known. He was also, by the evidence of the same letters, a real pastor. He defended his flock against imperial tax officials, intervened for the poor, argued with governors, and stayed. He learned to respect the Bulgarians he had complained about, and he wrote a life of Clement of Ohrid, the disciple of Cyril and Methodius who had brought Slavic Christianity to that region, honouring the local tradition rather than replacing it. His commentaries are why he is on this wall. He wrote on all four Gospels, on Acts, on the epistles of Paul, on the catholic epistles, and on several minor prophets. They are not original, and he never claimed they were. They are largely a distillation of John Chrysostom, compressed, simplified, and made continuous — Chrysostom's exegesis without Chrysostom's length. That turned out to be exactly what people needed. Theophylact's Gospel commentary became the most widely used handbook on the Gospels in the Greek-speaking church, and it was read in the West too: Erasmus used it, Aquinas used it, and Calvin cites him. He also wrote a temperate treatise on the errors of the Latins, notable in a polemical age for how much of the quarrel he was willing to call a matter of custom rather than heresy. A man who wanted a chair in the capital, got sent to the mountains instead, and spent his exile writing the plainest commentaries in Byzantium. Sources: Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on the Gospels (Migne, Patrologia Graeca, vols. 123–126); Theophylact, Letters; Margaret Mullett, Theophylact of Ochrid: Reading the Letters of a Byzantine Archbishop; The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913).
461 quotations across 25 books
Where this voice is quoted
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
“He presents the matter as shared with the brethren, so that it would not meet with objections and would not give occasion for disputes.”
beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
“"Was together with us a witness of His resurrection," so that the company of disciples would not be diminished in any way.”
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
“Everywhere he calls the election "receiving a lot," showing by this that everything occurs according to God's love for mankind and God's choosing, and reminding them of ancient events, because just as the Levites, so also them God chose for Himself by lot.”
Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
“Everywhere alongside virtue there is vice. Some marveled, others reviled. The former were truly devout; they lived in Jerusalem precisely because the law permitted them to appear three times a year at the temple in Jerusalem.”
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
“But the Lord says: "I will pour out of My Spirit… before the great day of the Lord comes."”
You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’
“"The path of life," that is, that path which the souls of the righteous traversed together with the Redeemer, coming out from the nethermost places.”
Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
“Having set forth the testimony of David, he adds "men and brethren." When he intends to say something great, he preliminarily employs this expression to encourage and conciliate them. But where there was nothing that could be harmful, he speaks with great moderation.”
Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
“"To raise up Christ in the flesh." He says this because according to His Divinity He has from eternity and always sat together with the Father; and he ascribes everything to the Father, so that the listeners might more easily accept what is being said.”
Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
“And the words "according to each one's need" he uses not simply, but in the sense of "stewardship," because this expression shows that the apostles did not act as the philosophers among the Greeks, of whom some abandoned their fields, and others threw much gold…”
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
“And in what way did they have favor with all people? Luke says: "being in favor with all the people." How so? By their actions — almsgiving and purity of conduct.”
He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.
“"Walking and leaping," that is, testing himself and assuring himself as much as possible whether he had truly become well. Since the healing was extraordinary and beyond expectation, it was natural for him to doubt even regarding himself.”
You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.
“Having said that instead of Christ the Jews requested a robber, Peter explained the matter fully, because by this it is proven that they had the opportunity to release Him.”
They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.
“"And they put them in custody until the morning." So the Jews dealt with the apostles and guarded them, wishing to humble them, while the prolonged time made the apostles all the more fearless.”
The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family.
“Besides other injustices toward the apostles, they (the rulers, elders, scribes, and chief priests of the Jews) did not even observe the requirements of the law.”
So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
“Why do they not bring them to Pilate through the priests, but judge them themselves? Because they were ashamed and embarrassed about what had happened before, and they feared that the apostles might accuse them.”
On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
“The Apostles Peter and John "went to their own and reported" everything that had happened to them. They reported not out of ambition, but to show clear evidences of the grace of Christ.”
And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders…
“"And now… look upon." Notice: they did not say "strike them down and overthrow them," but what did they say? "Look upon their threats, and grant to Your servants to speak Your word with all boldness…"”
About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.
“Three hours passed, and the wife did not learn about what had happened to her husband, and none of those present told her, because they were afraid.”
“Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”
“Peter wanted to save her, because the husband was the instigator of the sin. That is why he gives her time to justify herself and repent. Perhaps someone will say that Peter acted cruelly toward them, but what cruelty is there?”
At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
“Why did she fall at Peter's feet? Because she was standing near him. And she was standing near him so that, if she wished to repent and confess her transgression, she could do so without being ashamed before outsiders, who would otherwise have heard her…”
And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
“Ananias and Sapphira were punished, but this served for the benefit of others. Before, although there were signs, there was no such fear. Therefore it is true that the Lord is known by the judgments He executes.”
Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
“"Were filled with envy" means that they were aroused, agitated by what was being said. Now they attack the apostles with greater ferocity, but do not immediately begin to judge them, thinking that the public prison would strike them more forcefully.”
At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
“After this, they should have feared God, who was guarding the apostles like nestlings from their hands. And the double securing of the prison, that is, both the seal and the men, and indeed everything was sufficient to convince them that what had happened was…”
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this…
“"And you want to bring upon us the blood of That Man." And even now they still think that Christ was a mere man.”
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
“They did not say, "the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us," but "whom God has given to those who obey Him," at once both showing humility and revealing great truths, and besides that, also declaring that the Jews themselves could have received the…”