DIDYMUS THE ALEXANDRIAN ON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF SAINT PETER, ENARRATION
CAP. I, VERS. 1. "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect sojourners of the dispersion," etc. Peter, set as the apostle of the circumcision and having the care of all the Jews, writes to those who dwelt in the dispersion throughout the whole world as though they were sojourners of foreign cities, since by no means did the majority of them reside in Judea. But if anything can be understood here above the text, one must note that this refers to the nature of the soul, which he wishes to be recognized as a sojourner. Whence it is also said: "I am a stranger in the earth and a sojourner, as all my fathers were," (Ps. XXXVIII, 13) and again: "Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged!" (Ps. CXIX, 5) For human souls become sojourners when they are joined to bodies while they are established in them temporarily; for if they were of that substance, they would be true bodies, inhabitants of the earth. In short, souls having compassion for the flesh are said to be in a habitation of flesh and in a veil, although they are sojourners on the earth, but rather are assimilated to the indigenous. Whence also terrors are brought upon the inhabitants of the earth, seizing surely those things which are earthly and those clothed in the image of the earthly. A
Even if therefore they were elect according to foreknowledge, to whom Peter writes, yet he speaks to them as they exist. Nor is it thereafter, but by knowledge, while those things which were first contemplated come to effect. B Even if they were elect according to foreknowledge, to whom Peter writes, yet he addresses them as they exist. He thus rejects the myth of the Manichaeans concerning natures, and the present understanding. C
VERS. 2. "According to the foreknowledge of God the Father." To this correspond the things which were said by Paul thus: "As He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and immaculate before Him in love, predestining us unto the adoption of sons" (Eph. 1, 4, 5). For although some say that the substance of rational beings exists always and before the world, nevertheless God, foreseeing the faith and the acts of men which are accomplished through evangelical doctrine, foreknowingly chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world, having even then predestined them to be sons, by the participation of the Spirit of adoption. For foreknowledge is to be thought of as nothing other than the contemplation of things future; which is not yet foreknowledge.
VERS. 4. "Unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven, for you." In order to show how the inheritance of the blessed will remain unto infinity, he calls it incorruptible and unfading, by this manifesting both a divine and a pure inheritance, in that its perception is uncontaminable among those who, for the sake of the reward of the excellence of present riches, despise goods, knowing that they have a better and perpetual property. While he calls it a measure, he reveals its perpetuity; and while he proves it better, he shows the divinity of the reserved inheritance. If, therefore, this inheritance is kept for the faithful in heaven, some offer certain frivolous and tepid things, thinking that they will receive it in the earthly Jerusalem. They imagine they will receive the rewards of delights by property in a thousand years. Who also ought to be asked how they can maintain bodily delights, when it is said that this inheritance can neither be corrupted nor fade, especially when they themselves say these things can end at the completion of the thousandth year. To these must be joined those words by which it is indicated that the inheritance is established in the kingdom of heaven, and that it by no means decays, in that it is intelligible, whereas sensible things are not known as are intelligible things; for the Holy Spirit makes those things manifest to the most worthy.
VERS. 6. "Wherein you shall rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you are put to heaviness in manifold temptations," etc. The faith of those is proven who, on account of Him, are troubled in diverse temptations, and persist unto the end in such proven faith. Whom it surely befits to rejoice, although some labor might seem troublesome to their wills. For this D