THEOSISGregory the Great
Verse 15. Pure gold is not meant for Job. For what is represented by ‘pure gold’ if not the holy angels, rightly referred to as both ‘gold’ and ‘pure gold’? They radiate the brilliance of righteousness, being ‘pure’ as they have never been tarnished by sin. However, the righteous, while they dwell in this perishable body, may be considered ‘gold,’ but they cannot truly be ‘pure gold’ at any moment; the corrupt flesh weighs down the spirit, and the earthly dwelling is burdened by countless challenges. Although in this life they might reflect a remarkable brightness of righteousness, they can never be entirely rid of the corruption of sin.
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The apostle John affirms this, stating, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8); likewise, James confirms as much, saying, “In many things we are all guilty” (James 3:2). The prophet also intercedes, declaring, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord, for in thy sight shall none of them that live be justified” (Ps. 142:2). Therefore, those referred to as ‘pure gold’ are those who maintain the innocence in which they were made, shining with the radiance of righteousness, unmarred by the impurities of sin.
However, since no angel can substitute for this Wisdom, and since in those angels—who, as we have been taught, frequently appear to aid mankind—most can see hope but not the Redeemer of humankind, it is said, It is not given for pure gold. This implies, in clear terms, that ‘Wisdom herself comes to redeem humanity from sin, and no angel can fulfill His role; only the Creator can liberate the created.’ Hence, the Lord states in the Gospel, “If the Son shall set you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Yet, the pious man, filled with the Spirit of this same Wisdom, foresaw that in Judea some would place all their trust in the Lawgiver, considering Moses their savior; this was evident even in the case of the man who was healed, who was told, “And thou shalt be His disciple, and we are Moses' disciples” (John 9:28). Thus, it is further affirmed: it is not purchased for a weight of silver.
Since divine revelations are often represented by the term ‘silver,’ it can also pertain to those who conveyed these revelations—their lives shone brightly among others through virtuous deeds. However, the righteous could identify sins but could not remove them; this was true of the ancient fathers and the lawgiver Moses, as only He who became the Redeemer of mankind could accomplish this. Therefore, it is not acquired for a weight of silver, for none worthy of being called saints can be compared to the only begotten Son of God, and they understood that this Wisdom is priceless. Only those who recognized themselves as servants to this Wisdom could ever become holy. The saints were dispatched so that perhaps they could prepare the hearts of their listeners for this ‘Wisdom,’ and only through Her could they govern the nations entrusted to them. Given that it was evident the world's decay was increasing, it was equally clear that at the end of the ages, the eternal Wisdom of God would arrive to aid the suffering humanity, grappling with immense afflictions across the globe. Thus, preachers were sent ahead like friends checking on a sick individual, paving the way for the physician to arrive swiftly and more effortlessly afterwards. Since no one was sent in His stead to save us, it is rightly stated: it is not purchased for a weight of silver. Regardless of how brightly the lives of the righteous who preached may shine, they cannot replace the arrival of Heavenly Wisdom for us. Furthermore, many Gentiles, captivated by the disciplines of worldly sages, observed principles that seemed to confer nobility and believed that behaving nobly was sufficient for salvation, neglecting the need for a Mediator between God and man, as they found the philosophies to be adequate for themselves. This disdain is emphasized further.