Homilies on First Corinthians

“But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.”

And wherefore did he add this? Intimating that he is not using violence nor contention, which is a sign of them who wish not to set up their own things, but aim at what is profitable to others. Wherefore also in another place he says, “But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom.” But he does not this everywhere, but only where the offenses are not very great, and then rather as putting them to shame. Since when he discourses of other sins, he speaks not thus. But how? “Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor effeminate, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” And again, “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.” But here, since his discourse was of silence, he does not very keenly inveigh against them, by this very thing attracting them the more. Then, as he is ever wont to do, unto the former subject whence he digressed to say these things, he brings back his discourse as follows: