Thursday, April 18, 2024

Theodore of Mopsuestia on Malachi 4 and Elijah Returning Just Before the Parousia

  

Hence he goes on in confirmation of these words, Because, lo, a day is coming, burning like a pan, and it will ignite them, and all the foreigners and all those committing crimes will be like straw, and the day that is coming will burn them, says the Lord almighty, and no root or branch of them will be left (v. 1): on that day all the foreigners will be set alight like fire, and the workers of iniquity will like straw be done away with by the punishment falling upon them. While he says this, then, of the wicked, what does he say to those who fear him? For you who fear my name, a sun of righteousness will arise, and healing will be in its wings (v. 2): on you great distinction will rightly fall, supplied by God for your good will towards him; he will rid you of every trouble, sheltering you with his care as though by wings of a kind. You will be no different from calves released from bonds and leaping about with great joy; for you will have control over the lawless, who will be like ashes under your feet, at that time accorded no attention or further correction. Now, in this he refers, as I have often said, to events at the time of the Maccabees, when God provided his aid and punished the evil, while establishing in respite and prosperity those adhering to his laws, who punished and had complete control over the adversaries, not only those from the foreigners but also from their own people. From that event it was obvious to all how great the difference between those serving God and those of the opposite mind, who were the object of severe punishment, whereas the former were established in extreme satisfaction and prosperity.

 

Now, this was the purpose of the prophecy of the blessed Messenger, which he delivered to the people concerning matters affecting them, both at that time and at the time of the Maccabees. Yet since he was thus the last prophet of all those who consigned their prophecies to writing, he was right in considering he could then show the end of the Law, on the one hand, and, on the other, show what would come after it. [632] Hence he says, Remember the Law of Moses my servant, as I gave directions at Horeb as commands and ordinances for all Israel. Lo, I shall send you Elijah the Tishbite before the great and illustrious day of the Lord comes, which will reconcile a heart of a father to a son, and a person’s heart to their neighbor, lest I come and strike the earth from on high (vv. 4–6): in addition to all that has been said I transmit this final command to you so that you may keep in mind my Law that I gave to the whole of Israel through Moses, having clearly stated that they must observe it in detail. The first token of obedience you will provide, then, will be acceptance of the coming of Christ the Lord, who comes for the salvation of all people: he will bring the Law to an end and make clear his own way of perfection. It would therefore be good for you immediately and at the outset to believe in him at his appearance, and acknowledge him to be the one whom Moses and all the prophets predicted as bringing an end to the Law and revealing the salvation of all in common. So it is also obvious to all that this is the summit and highest good of the whole economy of the Law, bringing all people to Christ the Lord, who appeared at that time for such wonderful benefits. Since, however, even at his revealing you will give evidence of your typical lack of responsiveness, blessed Elijah will be sent to you before the second coming of Christ the Lord, which he will make from heaven, so as to unite people divided over religion, and especially through the knowledge of religion to bring parents into harmony with their children who were formerly divided on the score of religion. In short, to reduce all people to the one and the same unity, so that those formerly in the grip of impiety may receive the knowledge of the truth through him and thus enjoy fellowship with religious people. God will do this in his concern for the salvation of all people, lest they persist in impiety and experience his fearsome coming, which will mean the utter annihilation of the wicked. (Theodore of Mopsuestia, Commentary on the Twelve Prophets [trans. Robert C. Hill; The Fathers of the Church 108; Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2004], 421–423)