
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of maps
- List of figures
- Acknowledgments
- Maps
- Introduction: Shenoute's life, times, and Discourses
- Part I Heretics and Other Enemies of the Church
- Part II Shenoute as Pastor and Preacher
- Part III The Christian's Struggle with Satan
- Part IV The Conflict with Gesios
- 18 Not because a fox barks
- 19 Let our eyes
- 20 A26
- 21 God says through those who are his
- 22 God is blessed
- Bibliography
- Index of names
- Index of subjects
- Index of biblical passages
20 - A26
from Part IV - The Conflict with Gesios
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2015
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of maps
- List of figures
- Acknowledgments
- Maps
- Introduction: Shenoute's life, times, and Discourses
- Part I Heretics and Other Enemies of the Church
- Part II Shenoute as Pastor and Preacher
- Part III The Christian's Struggle with Satan
- Part IV The Conflict with Gesios
- 18 Not because a fox barks
- 19 Let our eyes
- 20 A26
- 21 God says through those who are his
- 22 God is blessed
- Bibliography
- Index of names
- Index of subjects
- Index of biblical passages
Summary
[The beginning of the sermon, approximately four pages, is lost.]
The hour of death
[…] many, in greed. Now, however, when you want to take something from what has been prepared for you, you can't because you are unable to swallow it. The death rattle [constricts] your throat and heart as you cry out with a frightening noise. Your visitors urge you, “It's food,” but you see only that your strength has gradually dissipated and your spirit has left you. You are [angry] inside, disturbing your own heart, as you consider, “Why didn't I grieve for my sins with fasts and prayers? Why did I spend my wealth on women and my money on legal disputes? Why didn't I give my bread to the hungry person? Why did I turn my face away from the one in need? Why did I neglect everything good? Now I can't get up or move myself. Summon to me […”]
[… Two to three sentences …] how much did you bring forth and how much did you bring in? Who among those who honor you will not cry out over the ruin that has brought you down? Are not these the feeble words that they say as they bend over you: “Why aren't you talking to us? Why haven't you answered us today? Why do you lie there grieving and weeping? Why haven't you told us about what you have deposited with other people or about your debtors?” [… one sentence …] Suddenly they all shut themselves off from you so that you cannot turn to them from now on.
And now will you be taken to the resting places in the kingdom of heaven because of your righteous and true deeds, or will you be taken down to hell because of your lawless and false deeds? For I myself say, grieving like […] “How were your ways closed off and your […] shut?” [… one sentence …] You did not consider that the day of the Lord and the hour of death are coming like a thief. Why did you […?]
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Selected Discourses of Shenoute the GreatCommunity, Theology, and Social Conflict in Late Antique Egypt, pp. 212 - 265Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2015