Fragment on 'Rejoice in that day' · §3 · Olympiodorus of Alexandria

The contest of slander is great

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The author is explaining why suffering for the truth is itself a reward, and now turns to the harshness of the contest of slander, citing Solomon.

This contest of slander is not small but very great. So Solomon, wanting to present the harshness of the contest, says: "I saw the slanders that occur under the sun, and look—the tear of the slandered, and there was no one to comfort them" (Ecclesiastes 4:1). But if the contest is great, then, just as that is so, the crown laid up for it is greater still.

Greek

μικρὸς ἆθλος, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα μέγας οὗτος ὁ τῆς συκοφαντίας ἐστί· διὸ καὶ Σολομῶν τὸ τραχὺ τοῦ ἀγῶνος παραστῆσαι βουλόμενος, Εἶδον, φησὶ, τὰς συκοφαντίας τὰς γινομένας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ ἰδοὺ δάκρυον τῶν συκοφαντουμένων, καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτοὺς ὁ παρακαλῶν· εἰ δὲ μέγας ὁ ἀγὼν, ὥσπερ οὖν

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About this text

Olympiodorus on rejoicing in suffering: as health makes hardship easy, so suffering for the truth, like Paul's and the apostles', is itself a prize.

Olympiodorus of Alexandria, the deacon, is the name on this file. It is the short fragment on the line "Rejoice in that day," not his commentary on Job, Jeremiah, or Ecclesiastes, and not the pagan philosopher of the same name.

A healthy person takes pleasure even without luxury, because health itself wards off bad weather and meager fare. The same is said of the soul. Paul, in the midst of terrible things, rejoiced in his sufferings, not only for the kingdom of heaven, but because the suffering itself is a prize: to suffer something for the truth.

The apostles left the council of the Jews rejoicing, not only for the kingdom of heaven, but because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored for the name of Jesus. Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes are set beside the tears of the slandered. Christ tells those in this contest to rejoice and leap for joy.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 93 (Greek)

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