Hebrews 5:12 (WEB)
For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.
Fathers and councils · 21
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus III.53Book III
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12–14.
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Gregory of Nyssa
“…of Christ knew how to adapt his words suitably to the habits and disposition of his hearers, making himself milk for babes and strong meat for grown men.” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12.
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Augustine of Hippo
“But the natural man, as a babe in Christ,—and a drinker of milk,—until he be strengthened for solid meat, and his eye be enabled to look upon the Sun, let him not dwell in his own deserted night, but let him be contented with the light of the moon and the stars.” — editor's note: 1 Cor. iii. 2, and Heb. v. 12. The allusion in our text is to what is called the Disciplina Arcani of the early Church. Clement of Alexandria, in his Stromata,…
Read the whole comment“But strong meat belongeth to them that are perfect, even those who by habit have their senses exercised to distinguish good from evil.”” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12–14.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“Associated with him in this divine worship are his sisters, who have maintained virginity throughout their lives, thinking the study of the divine oracles the greatest delight, and reckoning that riches beyond robbers’ reach are to be found in ministering to the poor.” — editor's note: “τὰ θεῖα λόγια.” This is the common phrase in our author for the Holy Scriptures. According to the interpretation given by Schleiermacher and like theologians…
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John Chrysostom
““All things are naked,” he says, “and opened unto the eyes of Him, with whom we have to do.” ( c. v. 11, 12.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“He therefore shows this also, and does not suffer them to fall back as men utterly condemned, nor as being alway evil, but [says] that they were once even good; ( ver. 12 ) for “when for the time ye ought to be teachers,” he says.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“And with good reason: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the elements of the first principles of the oracles of God.” ( c. v. 12.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“In this passage he intimates the lovingkindness of God towards man: and the teaching [of the Gospel] he calls “rain”: and what he said above, “when for the time ye ought to be teachers” ( c. v. 12 ), this he says here also.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“On this account he said, “Ye are become dull,” ( c. v. 12 ), because he wished to lay these foundations, that they might not start away.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“See, for example, Paul himself, hardly bearing it, because his scholars were delaying a long time in their earlier lessons: “For when for the time,” saith he, “ye ought to be teachers, ye have need to be taught again which be the first principles of the oracles of God.”” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12. [The text of Heb. v. 12 is modified, διδσκεσθαι being substituted for διδσκειν. The Vulgate also has the passive. The R.V. takes τινα as the…
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Tertullian
“The inexperience of a new and just rising Church, which he was rearing, to wit, “with milk,” not yet with the “solid food” of stronger doctrine; inexperience so great, that that infancy of faith prevented them from yet knowing what they were to do in regard of carnal and sexual necessity.” — editor's note: Comp. 1 Cor. iii. 2 with Heb. v. 11–14.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“I speak to you, brethren, to you, who are no longer nourished with milk, but with meat, and are strong.” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12.
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Basil the Great
“Surely it is altogether childish, and like a babe who must needs be fed on milk, to be ignorant of the great mystery of our salvation; inasmuch as, in accordance with the gradual progress of our education, while being brought to perfection…” — editor's note: cf. Heb. v. 12.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“For some need to be fed with the milk of the most simple and elementary doctrines, viz., those who are in habit babes and, so to say, new-made, and unable to bear the manly food of the word: nay,…” — editor's note: 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2; Heb. v. 12–14.
Read the whole comment“…not good for those who are still somewhat simple and greedy in their habit; just as solid food is not good for those who are yet tender, and have need of milk.” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12.
Read the whole comment“…enough, for they commit pearls to clay, and the noise of thunder to weak ears, and the sun to feeble eyes, and solid food to those who are still using milk; whereas they ought to lead them little by little up to what lies beyond them, and to bring them up to the higher truth; adding light to light, and supplying…” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12.
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Catena Aurea on John
- OrigenCatena Aurea on John
“(Heb. 5:12) For there are two kinds of beginning of doctrine: one in itself, the other relative to us; as if we should say that Christ, in that He is the Wisdom and Word of God, was in Himself the beginning of wisdom, but to us, in that He was the Word incarnate. (c. 22).” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
“(Heb. 5:12) Souls differ in capacity, and one needs more nourishment, another less.” — the author cites it
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Clement of Alexandria
“Wherefore, leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection.”” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12, 13, 14; vi. 1.
Read the whole comment“Wherefore also, writing to the Hebrews, who were declining again from faith to the law, he says, “Have ye not need again of one to teach you which are the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat?”” — editor's note: Heb. v. 12.
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Cross-references · 19
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.8.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.8.
Cited together in Origen on John 1:1 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.8.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.8.
Cited together in On Monogamy Chapter 11.
Cited together in On Monogamy Chapter 11.
Cited together in Origen on John 1:1 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Origen on John 4:31–34 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Origen on John 4:31–34 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Origen on John 4:31–34 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.8.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.8.
Cited together in Against Celsus III.53 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Against Celsus III.53.
Cited together in On Monogamy Chapter 11.
Cited together in On Monogamy Chapter 11.
Cited together in On Monogamy Chapter 11.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.8.