Leaders exceed the measure; Paul forgoes Gospel rights; virginity beyond command

—ing to God the many-formed in virtue, and as it were also themselves running beyond the law’s measure, are approved more brightly.

Palladius: What sort of thing do you say?

Cyril: Christ arranged for those announcing the Gospel to live from the Gospel, which also Paul was eager to confirm from a legal commandment, writing, once that ‘Those eating the sacrifices are partners of the altars’; and again otherwise, as from necessary examples he was showing it altogether unaccused, saying: ‘Who plants a vineyard, and does not eat from its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock, and does not eat from the flock’s milk? Do I speak these things according to a human? Or does not the law say these things? For in Moses’ law it has been written, You will not muzzle an ox threshing. Does God care for the oxen? or does he altogether say it through us? For through us it was written, that the one plowing ought to plow upon hope, and the one threshing upon hope of partaking.’ Then upon these he brought at once: ‘If we sowed the spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we will harvest your fleshly things? If others share your authority, not rather we? But we have not used this authority, but we bear all things, so that we may not give some cutting-in to Christ’s Gospel.’ Then again he confirms: ‘What then is my wage? That announcing I may set the Gospel without expense.’ You see how beyond what seems good to Christ and to the ancient law, having authority to live from the Gospel, he was setting the Gospel without expense, dedicating the matter to him as it were a willing gift? And that one must not marry, neither the ancient law nor the new proclamation has legislated for us. And indeed Paul says: ‘And concerning the virgins I do not have a Lord’s command.’ But those very young-hearted toward piety, putting the flesh to death, bring forward a bright offering to God—the self-control beyond law—and as it were some adornment well-worked the best life composed from deed and word. And Moses and Aaron brought the things brought forward into the holy tent; for acceptable to Christ, and wealth and a bright boast, are the saints’ manly deeds, through which they also gain a long—or rather endless—memory, and show themselves worthy of the divine oversight; for saying the offerings have been set opposite the Lord makes clear some such thing. And great and exceptional is lying as in God’s sight; for he honors beyond nature those whom he also counts worthy to look upon.

Palladius: From many things, as it seems, he signals to us saying that being persuaded and thinking that the need to bear fruit would belong not to others rather than to those very much playing the man and accustomed to be of good reputation.