Cyril of Alexandria: Fragments on Matthew · §137

Matthew 12:35

Even if the Lord said that being wicked they cannot help speaking wicked things, he did not say this as if they were wicked by nature, but as overcome by evil from much senselessness. And even if he said that being wicked they cannot speak good things, he did not say this as if they were wicked by nature, but from their own voluntary movement.

Greek

137 Μείζονα λέγει Ἰωάννου τὸν πιστὸν τὸν διὰ τοῦ λουτροῦ ἀναγεννη θέντα, ἣν κατάστασιν καλεῖ βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν ὡς τοῖς πιστοῖς διδομένης βασιλείας οὐρανῶν, ἧς οὔπω ἦν τυχὼν ὁ βαπτιστής. ὁ δὲ μόνον βαπτισθεὶς εἰ καὶ μήπω ἔσχεν ἐνάρετον βίον ὑπὲρ τὸν Ἰωάννην ἐστίν. ὁ οὖν λόγος ἔπαινον ἔχει τοῦ ἁγίου βαπτίσματος.

About this text

Catena fragments on Matthew (CPG 5206). Contents follow Matthew chapter and verse. Edition fragment numbers stay in About this text and under each passage.

English follows the named copy-text (Aegean/khazarzar Migne PG 72 extract). Other prints were checked as noted; no silent merge of recensions.

Witnesses

English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.