Theodoret quotes

Theodoret was a prominent Christian theologian and bishop of Cyrrhus in the 5th century. His extensive writings contributed significantly to the development of early Christian doctrine and biblical interpretation. He played an important role in the theological debates of his time and defended Orthodox positions against various heresies. Here are 9 of his quotes:

Virtue cannot be separated into male and female. ... The difference is one of bodies not of souls.

Theodoret

Orthodox: You should accept no argument that is not fully supported by Scriptural testimony.

Theodoret

Alternate version: The noble souls of the victorious traverse the heavens and join in the dance of immaterial the beings. Their bodies are not hidden away each in its single grave, but the cities and villages that have divided them among themselves call them saviors of souls and bodies and doctors and honor them as protectors of cities and guardians and treat them as ambassadors before the master of the universe and through them receive divine gifts. And even though the body has been divided, the grace has remained undivided, and that minute relic possesses the same power as the martyr, just as if he had never in any way been divided.

Theodoret

Eranistes: Don't offer me human rationalizations or philosophical arguments, for I rely on divine Scripture alone.

Theodoret

The noble souls of the triumphant are sauntering around heaven, dancing in the choruses of the bodiless; and not one tomb for each conceals their bodies, but cities and villages divide them up and call them healers and preservers of souls and bodies, and venerate them as guardians and protectors of cities; and when they intervene as ambassadors before the Master of the universe the divine gifts are obtained through them; and though the body has been divided, its grace has continued undivided. And that little particle and smallest relic has the same power as the absolutely and utterly undivided martyr.

Theodoret

I have often come across convinced adepts of Greek mythology who mock our faith under the pretext that we do not say anything else to those whom we instruct in divine things, but merely command them to believe.

Theodoret

It is related that when Julian had received the wound, he filled his hand with blood, flung it into the air and cried, "Thou hast won, O Galilean."

Theodoret

I have often come across convinced adepts of Greek mythology who mock our faith under the pretext that we do not say anything else to those whom we instruct in divine things, but merely command them to believe. They accuse the apostles of ignorance, labelling them barbarians, because they do not have the subtlety of eloquence; and they say that the cult of martyrs is ridiculous, considering it completely absurd for the living to seek assistance from the dead.

Theodoret