THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Here he allowed a division, placing peace separately, and grace likewise. It is said, "in incorruption. Amen." What does "in incorruption" mean? Either fittingly, as is proper, or else with the incorrupt, that is, with those who live not for glory and wealth, but for incorruptible goods.
Ἐν, "in," stands for διά, "through." Thus, through incorruption. This is the same as saying, through virtue, because all sins in general are called corruption. As we say of virgins, "such a one has suffered corruption," so it is also said of the soul. Therefore Paul said, "so your minds may not be corrupted" (2 Cor 11:3). And elsewhere he says, "in teaching, incorruptness" (Tit 2:7).
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Tell me, in what does the corruption of the body consist? Is it not when the whole body decomposes and its composition falls apart? So it is also with the soul when sin reigns in it.
Chastity and righteousness are the beauty of the soul. Courage and prudence are its health. Therefore the one in danger is he who is vile and deformed, who is given over to greed and malice, and who displays faintheartedness, cowardice, and weakness.
That sins produce corruption is seen directly from the fact that they make people shameful and feeble, and cause diseases. When we say that virginity has suffered corruption, we do not mean only the corruption of the body. We mean chiefly that such an act is joined to the transgression of the law.
The act itself consists in union. But if union were called corruption, then marriage would be the same. Therefore corruption is not in union, but in sin, in the transgression of the law. It is this that makes the former shameful.
Take another example. In what would the corruption of a house consist, if not in the rotting of its parts? Everywhere corruption is some kind of change, but a change for the worse. Everywhere it destroys the former condition of things and casts them into another state.
Hear what Scripture says: "All flesh had corrupted its way" (Gen 6:12). And elsewhere: "In unbearable corruption." Again: "men corrupted in mind" (2 Tim 3:8).
Our body is corruptible, but the soul is incorruptible. How might we corrupt it also? Ancestral sin made this possible. Even after baptism, it can corrupt the soul and make it the prey of undying worms. On the other hand, the worms cannot even touch the soul when they find it incorrupt.
For example, a worm does not gnaw adamant. Even if it tried to gnaw it, it would accomplish nothing. Take care, then, not to corrupt your soul, for what is corrupt is full of stench. Hear what the prophet says: "My wounds stink and fester because of my folly" (Ps 37:6).
Yet corruption itself will put on incorruption, not incorruption in the body, because where incorruption is, there is no corruption. Thus there can be an incorruptible corruption without end, and an immortal death. This will occur when bodies become immortal.
Therefore, if we depart there with corruption in the soul, it will become incorruptible for us and will have no end. To burn continually and to be constant food for worms is surely an incorruptible corruption.
Something similar happened to blessed Job. He was wasting away, yet he was not destroyed, and this continued for a long time. He knew only how to keep pouring out: "My body is clothed with worms and clods of dust" (Job 7:5).
The soul experiences something like this when worms surround it and begin to devour it, not for two years, not three, ten, or a hundred, not even thousands of years, but endlessly. For it is said, "where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mk 9:44).
Let us be afraid, I beg you. Let us fear these words, lest we experience that in reality. Greed is corruption, and a corruption more terrible than all forms of corruption. It leads to idolatry. Let us cast away this corruption and choose what is incorruptible.
Have you gained wealth at someone else's expense? What was gained will be spent, but greed will remain with you. Again, corruption becomes the occasion for incorruption. Pleasure passes, but sin remains, because it does not decay.
It is an extreme calamity if we do not put all this off in the present life. Whoever departs there burdened with the weight of sins will suffer great misfortune. "In Hades," it is said, "who will confess You?" (Ps 6:6). There is the place of judgment, and then it will no longer be the time for repentance.
How did the rich man weep then? Yet all was in vain. How did those who had not fed Christ justify themselves? Yet they too went into eternal fire. How did those who had spent their life in lawlessness speak then? "Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name?" (Mt 7:22). Yet the Lord did not even acknowledge them as His own.
It is true that all this will be after death. Yet then even help will not be help, if we do not help ourselves in the present time. Let us fear, lest we too say those words then: "Then the righteous will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You?" (Mt 25:37).
Let us feed Him now, and not for one day, or two, or three. For it is said, "Let mercy and truth not forsake you" (Prov 3:3). It does not say, "Do some good once or twice." The virgins had oil, but it was not enough.
Therefore we must store up a great quantity of oil. For this, we ourselves must become like fruitful olive trees in the house of God. Let us consider how much sinful weight each of us has. According to the number of sins we have committed, let us strive to perform as many works of love for mankind, or better, far more.
Then not only will sins be blotted out, but righteous deeds will also appear, serving for our justification. Otherwise, if our virtues cannot both wipe away transgressions and serve as justification for what has been omitted, no one will snatch us from torments.
May we all be delivered from them by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, dominion, and honor, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.