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Eighth Catechetical Lecture — Almighty

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Cyril teaches that the one God the Father is Almighty, ruling all things by His power while patiently enduring evil, against heretics who divide or limit His dominion.

Trans. Edwin Hamilton Gifford, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 7 (1894). Public domain. · view source

Almighty.

Jeremiah 39:18, 19 (Septuagint).

*The Great, the strong God, Lord of great Counsel, and mighty in His works, the Great God, the Lord Almighty and of great name*.

1. By believing In One God we cut off all misbelief in many gods, using this as a shield against Greeks; and every opposing power of heretics; and by adding, In One God the Father, we contend against those of the circumcision, who deny the Only-begotten Son of God. For, as was said yesterday, even before explaining the truths concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, we made it manifest at once, by saying "The Father," that He is the Father of a Son: that as we understand that God is, so we may understand that He has a Son. But to those titles we add that He is also "Almighty;" and this we affirm because of Greeks and Jews together, and all heretics.

2. For of the Greeks some have said that God is the soul of the world : and others that His power reaches only to heaven, and not to earth as well. Some also sharing their error and misusing the text which says, " *And Your truth unto the clouds* ," have dared to circumscribe God's providence by the clouds and the heaven, and to alienate from God the things on earth; having forgotten the Psalm which says, *If I go up into heaven, You are there, if I go down into hell, You are present*. For if there is nothing higher than heaven, and if hell is deeper than the earth, He who rules the lower regions reaches the earth also.

3. But heretics again, as I have said before, know not One Almighty God. For He is Almighty who rules all things, who has power over all things. But they who say that one God is Lord of the soul, and some other of the body, make neither of them perfect, because either is wanting to the other. For how is he almighty, who has power over the soul, but not over the body? And how is he almighty who has dominion over bodies, but no power over spirits? But these men the Lord confutes, saying on the contrary, *Rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell*. Matthew 10:28 For unless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has the power over both, how does He subject both to punishment? For how shall He be able to take the body which is another's and cast it into hell, *except He first bind the strong man, and spoil his goods* ?

4. But the Divine Scripture and the doctrines of the truth know but One God, who rules all things by His power, but endures many things of His will. For He rules even over the idolaters, but endures them of His forbearance: He rules also over the heretics who set Him at nought, but bears with them because of His long-suffering: He rules even over the devil, but bears with him of His long-suffering, not from want of power; as if defeated. For *he is the beginning of the Lord's creation, made to be mocked* , not by Himself, for that were unworthy of Him, but *by the Angels* whom He has made. But He suffered him to live, for two purposes, that he might disgrace himself the more in his defeat, and that mankind might be crowned with victory. O all wise providence of God! Which takes the wicked purpose for a groundwork of salvation for the faithful. For as He took the unbrotherly purpose of Joseph's brethren for a groundwork of His own dispensation, and, by permitting them to sell their brother from hatred, took occasion to make him king whom He would; so he permitted the devil to wrestle, that the victors might be crowned; and that when victory was gained, he might be the more disgraced as being conquered by the weaker, and men be greatly honoured as having conquered him who was once an Archangel.

5. Nothing then is withdrawn from the power of God; for the Scripture says of Him, *for all things are Your servants*. All things alike are His servants, but from all these One, His only Son, and One, His Holy Spirit, are excepted; and all the things which are His servants serve the Lord through the One Son and in the Holy Spirit. God then rules all, and of His long-suffering endures even murderers and robbers and fornicators, having appointed a set time for recompensing every one, that if they who have had long warning are still impenitent in heart, they may receive the greater condemnation. They are kings of men, who reign upon earth, but not without the power from above: and this Nebuchadnezzar once learned by experience, when he said; *For His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His power from generation to generation* Daniel 4:34 .

6. Riches, and gold, and silver are not, as some think, the devil's : for *the whole world of riches is for the faithful man, but for the faithless not even a penny*. Now nothing is more faithless than the devil; and God says plainly by the Prophet, *The gold is Mine, and the silver is Mine, and to whomsoever I will I give it*. Do thou but use it well, and there is no fault to be found with money: but whenever you have made a bad use of that which is good, then being unwilling to blame your own management, you impiously throw back the blame upon the Creator. A man may even be justified by money: *I was hungry, and you gave Me food* Matthew 25:35-36: that certainly was from money. *I was naked, and you clothed Me*: that certainly was by money. And would you learn that money may become a door of the kingdom of heaven? *Sell*, says He, *that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven*.

7. Now I have made these remarks because of those heretics who count possessions, and money, and men's bodies accursed. For I neither wish you to be a slave of money, nor to treat as enemies the things which God has given you for use. Never say then that riches are the devil's: for though he say, *All these will I give you, for they are delivered unto me* , one may indeed even reject his assertion; for we need not believe the liar: and yet perhaps he spoke the truth, being compelled by the power of His presence: for he said not, *All these will I give you*, for they are mine, but, *for they are delivered unto me*. He grasped not the dominion of them, but confessed that he had been entrusted with them, and was for a time dispensing them. But at a proper time interpreters should inquire whether his statement is false or true.

8. God then is One, the Father, the Almighty, whom the brood of heretics have dared to blaspheme. Yea, they have dared to blaspheme the Lord of Sabaoth , *who sits above the Cherubim* : they have dared to blaspheme the Lord Adonai : they have dared to blaspheme Him who is in the Prophets the Almighty God. But worship thou One God the Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Flee from the error of many gods, flee also from every heresy, and say like Job, *But I will call upon the Almighty Lord, which does great things and unsearchable, glorious things and marvellous without number* , and, *For all these things there is honour from the Almighty* : to Whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Trans. Edwin Hamilton Gifford, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 7 (1894). Public domain. The text above is reproduced from this public-domain source.

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Procatechesis (Prologue) Cyril addresses candidates preparing for Baptism, urging sincerity of purpose, secrecy of the mysteries, and earnest repentance during the Lenten season of preparation. First Catechetical Lecture: To those who are to be Enlightened An introductory exhortation to those who have come forward for Baptism, calling them to repentance, sincerity, and diligent attendance at the catechizings. Second Catechetical Lecture: On Repentance and Remission of Sins, and Concerning the Adversary Cyril teaches that sin is a self-chosen evil prompted by the devil, yet curable through repentance, illustrating God's loving-kindness with many scriptural examples. Third Catechetical Lecture: On Baptism Cyril explains the spiritual grace given through the water of Baptism, its scriptural foreshadowings, and its power to cleanse the soul and confer adoption. Fourth Catechetical Lecture: On the Ten Points of Doctrine A summary of essential Christian doctrine covering God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the soul and body, the resurrection, the Scriptures, and rules of Christian conduct. Fifth Catechetical Lecture: Of Faith Cyril sets forth the dignity and power of faith, distinguishing doctrinal faith from the charismatic gift of faith, and charges the candidates to guard the Creed. Sixth Catechetical Lecture: Concerning the Unity of God. On the Article, I Believe in One God. Also Concerning Heresies Cyril affirms the incomprehensibility and unity of the one God, then refutes idolatry and a succession of heresies, culminating in a detailed account of Mani. Seventh Catechetical Lecture — The Father Cyril expounds the article “In One God the Father,” showing that God is by nature the Father of the Only-begotten Son and only in an improper, gracious sense the Father of men. Ninth Catechetical Lecture — On the Words, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of All Things Visible and Invisible Cyril argues that the invisible Creator is known proportionably through the order and beauty of His creatures, refuting heretics who blaspheme the Maker of the world. Tenth Catechetical Lecture — On the Clause, And in One Lord Jesus Christ Cyril unfolds the one Lord Jesus Christ under His many scriptural titles and marshals a long chain of witnesses to His sole Lordship and divinity. Eleventh Catechetical Lecture — On the Words, The Only-Begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father Very God Before All Ages, by Whom All Things Were Made Cyril defends the eternal, ineffable generation of the Only-begotten Son, Very God of Very God, through whom all things were made. Twelfth Catechetical Lecture — On the Words Incarnate, and Made Man Cyril sets forth why and how God the Word became truly man, born of the Virgin, answering Jews, Greeks, and heretics from prophecy and reason. Thirteenth Catechetical Lecture — On the Words, Crucified and Buried Cyril glories in the Cross of Christ, gathering prophetic testimonies to His Passion, death, and burial, and urging the faithful never to be ashamed of the Crucified. Catechetical Lecture 14 — On the Words, And Rose Again from the Dead on the Third Day, and Ascended into the Heavens, and Sat on the Right Hand of the Father. St. Cyril expounds the Creed's articles on Christ's resurrection on the third day, His ascension into heaven, and His sitting at the right hand of the Father, marshalling scriptural prophecies and eyewitness testimonies to confirm the Resurrection against Jewish and Manichaean denials. Catechetical Lecture 15 — On the Clause, And Shall Come in Glory to Judge the Quick and the Dead; Of Whose Kingdom There Shall Be No End. St. Cyril expounds the Creed's clause on Christ's second coming in glory to judge the living and the dead, setting forth the signs of the end, the coming of Antichrist, the resurrection and judgment, and the everlasting kingdom of Christ that shall have no end. Catechetical Lecture 16 — On the Article, And in One Holy Ghost, the Comforter, Which Spoke in the Prophets. St. Cyril expounds the article of the Creed on the One Holy Spirit, the Comforter who spoke in the prophets, refuting heretics and gathering Old Testament testimonies to the Spirit. Catechetical Lecture 17 — Continuation of the Discourse on the Holy Ghost. St. Cyril continues his discourse on the Holy Spirit, enumerating the Spirit's many scriptural titles and tracing His work through the Gospel and Apostolic history of the New Testament. Catechetical Lecture 18 — On the Words, And in One Holy Catholic Church, and in the Resurrection of the Flesh, and the Life Everlasting. St. Cyril of Jerusalem expounds the resurrection of the flesh, the one Holy Catholic Church, and the life everlasting, refuting Greeks, Samaritans, and heretics with arguments from nature and Scripture. Mystagogical Lecture 1 — On the Mysteries: Of the rites before Baptism (First Lecture on the Mysteries) The first Mystagogical lecture explains the rites performed in the outer chamber before baptism, especially the renunciation of Satan, his works, pomp, and service while facing westward. Mystagogical Lecture 2 — On the Mysteries II: Of Baptism The second Mystagogical lecture interprets the rites of baptism in the inner chamber—the stripping, anointing, and threefold immersion—as a sharing by imitation in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Mystagogical Lecture 3 — On the Mysteries III: On Chrism The third Mystagogical lecture explains the holy chrism that follows baptism as the antitype of the anointing of Christ with the Holy Spirit, applied to the forehead and the senses. Mystagogical Lecture 4 — On the Mysteries IV: On the Body and Blood of Christ The fourth Mystagogical lecture teaches that the consecrated bread and wine are truly the Body and Blood of Christ, to be received with full assurance of faith rather than judged by the senses. Mystagogical Lecture 5 — On the Mysteries V: On the Sacred Liturgy and Communion The fifth Mystagogical lecture walks through the order of the Eucharistic liturgy—from the washing of hands and kiss of peace through the consecration, intercessions, the Lord's Prayer, and the manner of receiving Holy Communion.