Sources of Isaac of Nineveh quotes in the Book of the Bee

 

Sources of Isaac of Nineveh quotes in the Book of the Bee

Solomon of Basra in the last chapter of his ‘book of the Bee’, quoted in support for his ‘universalist’ thesis Isaac of Nineveh alongside Theodore of Mopsuestia and Diodore of Tarsus:

“Mâr Isaac says thus: 'Those who are to be scourged in Gehenna will be tortured with stripes of love; they who feel that they have sinned against love will suffer harder and more severe pangs from love than the pain that springs from fear.' Again he says: 'The recompense of sinners will be this: the resurrection itself will be their recompense instead of the recompense of justice; and at the last He will clothe those bodies which have trodden down His laws with the glory of perfection. This act of grace to us after we have sinned is greater than that which, when we were not, brought our nature into being.' Again he says: 'In the world which is to come grace will be the judge and not justice.' ” (Libro dell’Ape, Capitolo 60, trad. Budge, https://sacred-texts.com/chr/bb/bb60.htm )

First quote

 “Those who are to be scourged in Gehenna will be tortured with stripes of love; they who feel that they have sinned against love will suffer harder and more severe pangs from love than the pain that springs from fear.”

This quote appears in Hoily 27 (using the East-Syrian order). Here two versions of the same quote in two different translations of Isaac First Part:

“I say, in fact, that even those who will be punished in Gehenna will be tormented by the wounds of love. The wounds that come from love, that is, those of those who feel they have failed in love, are harsh and bitter! More than the torments that come from fear! The pain that hisses in the heart because one has failed in love is more acute than all the torments that can be.

It is absurd to think that sinners in Gehenna will be deprived of love for the Creator. Love, in fact, is the child of the knowledge of the truth, which we confess will be granted to the entire universe. But love, with its strength, acts in a twofold way: it torments those who have failed, as also happens here below between friends; but love also gladdens those who have guarded what is fitting for it. So it is also in Gehenna: the harshness of the torment, I say, is the compunction [caused] by love. The delight it [causes] inebriates the soul of the children above.” (my translation of the Italian translation of Sabino Chialà, see: https://ancientafterlifebelifs.blogspot.com/2026/02/two-famous-passages-of-isaac-of.html )

“I also maintain that those who are punished in Gehenna are scourged by the scourge of love. For what is so bitter and vehement as the punishment of love? I mean that those who have become conscious that they have sinned against love suffer greater torment from this than from any fear of punishment. For the sorrow caused in the heart by sin against love is sharper than any torment that can be. It would be improper for a man to think that sinners in Gehenna are deprived of the love of God. Love is the offspring of knowledge of the truth which, as is commonly confessed, is given to all. The power of love works in two ways: it torments those who have played the fool, even as happens here when a friend suffers from a friend; but it becomes a source of joy for those who have observed its duties. Thus I say that this is the torment of Gehenna: bitter regret. But love inebriates the souls of the sons of Heaven by its delectability.” (Ascetical Homilies/First Part 28, fonte: https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/st-isaac-the-syrian-the-triumph-of-the-kingdom-over-gehenna/ )

Second quote

 “The recompense of sinners will be this: the resurrection itself will be their recompense instead of the recompense of justice; and at the last He will clothe those bodies which have trodden down His laws with the glory of perfection. This act of grace to us after we have sinned is greater than that which, when we were not, brought our nature into being.”

Again, I provide two different translations. The first is mine from the Italian translation of Sabino Chialà[1] and it comes from First Part, homily 50:

“Where is the Gehenna that can make us suffer? And what is the torture whose fear can overcome us to the point of defeating the joy of God's love? And what is Gehenna compared to the grace of rebirth [reserved for us], which truly raises us from Sheol, causes this corruptible reality to be clothed with incorruptibility, and exalts to glory what was sunk in the ignominy of Sheol?

You who have discernment, come and marvel! Who is endowed with a mind wise, capable of wonder? Let him come and marvel at the grace of our Creator! This is the retribution of sinners: instead of rewarding them with equity, he rewards them by granting them rebirth. And in place of the bodies that trampled upon his laws, he clothes them with the glory of perfection. This grace that follows our sin is greater than the grace that brought us into existence, when we were not yet.”

“Where is Gehenna, that can afflict us? Where is the torment that terrifies us in many ways and quenches the joy of His love? And what is Gehenna as compared with the grace of His resurrection, when he will raise us from Sheol and cause our corruptible nature to be clad in incorruption, and raise up in glory what has fallen into Sheol? Come, men of discernment, and be filled with wonder! Whose mind is sufficiently wise to wonder worthily at the bounty of our Creator? His recompense of sinners is that instead of a just recompense, he rewards them with resurrection, and instead of those bodies with which they trampled upon His law, He robes them with the glory of perfection. That grace whereby we are resurrected after we have sinned is greater than the grace which brought us into being when we were not.” (source: https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/st-isaac-the-syrian-the-triumph-of-the-kingdom-over-gehenna/ )

Third quote

 “In the world which is to come grace will be the judge and not justice.”

From the Italian translation of the Third Part, homily 6:

“This is the grace that strengthens the righteous, protects them by its closeness, and forgives their sins. It is also close to those who have already died: it alleviates their tortures, and in their judgment acts with compassion. For in the world to come, grace, not justice, will be the judge. [God] shortens the duration of suffering and, by the power of his grace, makes everyone worthy of his kingdom, since there is no one among the righteous who can conform his conduct to the [requirements of] that kingdom.”[2]

“This is the grace with strengthens the righteous, preserving them by its being near and removing their faults. It is also near to those who have perished, reducing their torments and in their punishment deals with compassion. In the world to come, indeed grace will be the judge, not justice. God reduces the length of time of sufferings, and by means of His grace, makes all worthy of His Kingdom. For there is no one even among the righteous who is able to conform his way of life to the Kingdom.” (source: https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/one-is-redeemed-by-grace-and-not-by-works-and-by-faith-one-is-justified-not-by-ones-way-of-life/ )

 


[1] Italian translation: “Dov’è la geenna che ci può far soffrire? E qual è la tortura il cui timore può avere in noi il sopravvento al punto da sconfiggere la gioia dell’amore di [Dio]? E cos’è la geenna in confronto alla grazia della rinascita [a noi riservata], che davvero ci risuscita dallo sheol, fa sì che questa realtà corruttibile si rivesta di incorruttibilità, e innalza nella gloria ciò che era sprofondato nell’ignominia dello sheol?

Voi che avete discernimento, venite, ammirate! Chi è dotato di una mente sapiente, capace di stupore? Venga, stupisca della grazia del nostro Creatore! Questa è la retribuzione dei peccatori: invece di retribuirli secondo equità, egli li retribuisce facendoli rinascere. E al posto dei corpi che hanno calpestato le sue leggi, egli li riveste con la gloria della perfezione. Questa grazia che segue il nostro peccato è più grande di quella che ci ha fatti venire all’esistenza, quando non eravamo ancora.” (Isacco di Ninive, Discorsi Ascetici, Prima Collezione, 50, pp. 453-454; https://www.amazon.it/Discorsi-ascetici-Isacco-Ninive/dp/8882275833 )

[2] “Questa è la grazia che fortifica i giusti, [li] custodisce con la sua vicinanza e rimette le loro mancanze. Essa è vicina anche a coloro che sono già morti: allevia le loro torture, e nella sentenza del loro giudizio agisce con compassione. Nel mondo futuro, infatti, sarà la grazia a fare da giudice e non la giustizia. [Dio] abbrevia la durata delle sofferenze e, in forza della sua grazia, rende tutti degni del suo regno, poiché non c’è tra i giusti chi possa conformare la propria condotta alle [esigenze di] quel regno.” (Discorsi ascetici, Terza Collezione, trad. Sabino Chialà, discorso 6, pp.90-91; https://www.amazon.it/Discorsi-ascetici-collezione-Isacco-Ninive/dp/8882271544 )

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