Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Read Chapter 4
Gaius Marius Victorinus
AD 400
This means that the consequence of having unity in understanding and faith is that they rejoice in the Lord and are always dear to one another. “Rejoice,” he says “in the Lord”—this is too little: “again I say rejoice.” For when you are joined in heart you rejoice in the Lord, and when you rejoice in the Lord you are joined in heart and stand together in the Lord.
This rejoicing is not separable from grief, for indeed it is rather deeply connected with grief. The one who grieves for his own wrongdoing and confesses it is joyful. Alternatively it is possible to grieve for one’s own sins but rejoice in Christ…. On this account he says “Rejoice in the Lord.” For this is nothing if you have received a life worthy of rejoicing…. He is right to repeat himself. For since the events are naturally grievous, it is through the repetition that he shows that in all cases one should rejoice. .
Blessed are they that mourn, and woe unto them that laugh Matthew 5:4; Luke 6:25, says Christ. How then says Paul, Rejoice in the Lord always? Woe to them that laugh, said Christ, the laughter of this world which arises from the things which are present. He blessed also those that mourn, not simply for the loss of relatives, but those who are pricked at heart, who mourn their own faults, and take count of their own sins, or even those of others. This joy is not contrary to that grief, but from that grief it too is born. For he who grieves for his own faults, and confesses them, rejoices. Moreover, it is possible to grieve for our own sins, and yet to rejoice in Christ. Since then they were afflicted by their sufferings, for to you it is given not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him Philippians 1:29, therefore he says, Rejoice in the Lord. For this can but mean, If you exhibit such a life that you may rejoice. Or when your communion with God is not hindered, rejoice. Or e...
