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Chapter 3

Whereas they in their evil constructions say, Why, if the Heaven is...

§ 1.

Whereas they in their evil constructions say, Why, if the Heaven is God’s throne, and the earth His footstool,1 and it is said that Heaven and Earth pass away, and that as they pass,2 this God also, Who sitteth upon them, must needs pass away, and therefore that He is not the God Who is over all:—in the first place they know not the meaning of Heaven being a Throne, and Earth a Footstool. For neither do they know what God is, but think of Him as sitting like a man; and as being comprehended, not as comprehending. And they are ignorant moreover of the passing away of Heaven and Earth.3 But Paul was not ignorant of it, saying, For the Fashion of this world passeth away.

In the next place, David solves their question. For while the fashion of this world passeth away, he saith that not only God endures, but His servants also: thus expressing himself in the 101st.4 Psalm: Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, and the Heavens are the works of Thy Hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt remain; and they all shall wax old as a garment; and as a wrapping shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed; But Thou art the very same, and Thy years shall not fail. The children of Thy servants shall dwell there, and their seed shall be set upright for ever. Plainly declaring what things they are which pass away, and Who it is that endures always, God with His own servants.

And Esaias too in like manner:5 Lift up, saith he, your eyes unto Heaven, and look upon the earth beneath: for the Heaven is settled6 like smoke, and the earth shall wax old as a garment: and they that dwell therein shall die as they do. But My Salvation shall be for ever, and My righteousness shall not fail.

  1. S Luke 21:33. ↩

  2. They understand not the passing away of Heaven and earth ↩

  3. 1 Cor. 7:31. ↩

  4. Ps. 102:25–28. ↩

  5. Isa. 51:6. ↩

  6. a Esai. 51:6. Heb. נסְלָדוּ , all but an ἅ παξ λεγό μ ενον , LXX ἐ στερεώθησαν . The allusion seems to be to the most durable nature of our firmament, composed as it is to the eye of the most yielding materials: like a settled canopy of bright smoke or vapour: See Job 26:7, 8; 37, 18; St. Cyril Alex. in loc. Esai. “When ye marvel, saith he, at the Heaven, how it is established, yet hath, to the eye, the nature of smoke; then know that things brought into being will be dissolved again.” Opp. ed. Aubert. ii. 707 C. ↩



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