THEOSISGregory the Great
They strip individuals bare, taking away their clothing from those who lack any means to shield themselves against the chill, as stated in Job 24:7. Just as garments protect the body, so too do righteous deeds safeguard the soul. Hence it is written, "Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and his shame be seen" (Rev. 16:15). Heretics divert one's focus and thereby diminish their good works, effectively removing the protective covering of righteousness. This notion is aptly captured in the phrase, "He that hath nothing to cover himself in the cold," where ‘covering’ signifies righteousness and ‘coldness’ symbolizes sin. Some individuals may act sinfully in certain scenarios while striving for goodness in others.
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What can we call a person who alternates between sin and righteousness, if not exposed and shivering? In one instance, they are sheltered by the warmth of truth, yet in another, they succumb to the chill of sin. When heretics strip away good deeds from such individuals, they leave them vulnerable in the face of spiritual cold. It is therefore fitting to say they send men naked, taking away their garments, illustrating that the frigidness of sin can extinguish what warmth was once provided by good works. Furthermore, this cold may represent unrighteous desires, while the garments symbolize the covering of true actions. Many struggle with unholy cravings but engage in an internal battle by acting righteously, allowing their good works to shield them from temptation and assist them in overcoming wrongful inclinations. Despite their inclination towards harmful desires, they find themselves clothed through their virtuous endeavors. However, when heretics manage to undermine their righteous efforts with corrupt impulses, are they not essentially leaving those who still sense the chill of carnal passions to perish without the protective covering of good works?