How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.
From the early Church Fathers to now.
A.D. 6041274
1 Patristic witness · 1 Catholic witness
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Patristicbefore A.D. 750
604
PATR
Gregory the Great
c. A.D. 540–604
“Ver. 9. Their houses are secure and at peace, neither is the rod of God upon them.
47. Their 'houses are secure and at peace,' in that they live on committing sin, they do things to be mourned over, and they never leave their joys. And the 'rod' of discipline from Above 'does not smite them,' and they go on the more unrestrainedly in sin, in proportion as they are punished less for sin. But as we have heard the things, which go prosperously within, what prosperity smiles on them in the field too, let us see.”
670 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Scholasticc. 1100 – 1500
1274
SCHOL
Thomas Aquinas
1225–1274
“He then pursues in detail the prosperity of the evil men already treated. First, he does so as to themselves, and he begins with immunity from evil when he says, "Their homes," their families, and the necessities of life, "are safe," from the assault of the enemy, "and peaceful," without internal dissension. They are also immune from the divine scourge, and with respect to this he adds "the rod of God is not on them," because they are not corrected for their sins in this life.”
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