Commentary on 2 Corinthians

Didymus the Blind (313–398)

Paul does not always mention other people besides himself in his salutations. I think that he does this when one of his associates is well-known to the intended recipients. "With all the saints" is ambiguous. Either it means all the saints who were with Paul, or else it means all the saints who were at Corinth.

The works that the Father does the Son also does, and the gifts that the Father gives, the Son also gives. It is to be understood from this that although we know God as Father, we are still servants of Jesus Christ. We do not call him "brother" but Lord. For he is the only begotten Son by nature, not by adoption, and is Lord of all those who have been made children of God.

God alone is holy and good, sanctifying others and making them good. He alone is blessed, because he gives blessing and does not receive it from someone else. Likewise, he is the Father of mercies by nature, because he is the source of all mercy and not because he has acquired this from anyone else.

Earthly wisdom means knowledge of material things. Those who have this kind of wisdom have no room for the wisdom of the Spirit, which they regard as foolishness.

See also

• More works by Didymus the Blind

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