Commentary on 1 Timothy

Jerome (342–420)

They may choose to read, "It is a man's saying, and worthy of all acceptation." We are content to err with the Greeks, that is to say, with the apostle himself, who spoke Greek. Our version, therefore, is, "it is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation."

But if you think that God is seen by those who are pure in heart in this world, why did Moses, who had previously said, "I have seen the Lord face to face, and my life is preserved," afterwards plead that he might see him distinctly? And because he said that he had seen God, the Lord told him, "You cannot not see my face. For no one shall see my face and live." For this reason also the apostle calls him the only invisible God, who dwells in light unapproachable, whom no man has seen nor can see.

Whenever we lift up pure hands in prayer, without diverting distractions or contention, we are playing to the Lord with a ten-stringed instrument. We play, as the psalmist wrote, "with ten-stringed instrument and lyre, with melody upon the harp." Our body and soul and spirit—our harp—are all in harmony, all their strings in tune.

See also

• More works by Jerome

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