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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"For I bear them record," says he, "that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." Ought not this then to be a ground for pardoning and not for accusing them? For if it is not of man that they are separated, but through zeal, they deserved to be pitied rather than punished. But observe how adroitly he favors them in the word, and yet shows their unseasonable obstinacy.
Theophylact of Ohrid
At first, he seems to favor and please the Jews, for having said of them: "they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge," he shows that they are worthy more of mercy than of punishment. They are zealous, he says, for the law given to them by God, yet they are zealous not according to understanding, not wishing to recognize that the law has ceased and been abolished.
Clement of Alexandria
And the same apostle owns that he bears witness to the Jews, "that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God." For they did not know and do the will of the law; but what they supposed, that they thought the law wished. And they did not believe the law as prophesying, but the bare word; and they followed through fear, not through disposition and faith. …
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
I know that you [Emperor Theodosius I] are God-fearing, merciful, gentle and calm, that you have the faith and fear of God in your heart, but often some things escape our notice. Some people have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. Care must be taken … lest this condition steal upon pious souls.
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, for I bear them witness, he discloses the cause of his compassion, namely, because they sinned from ignorance, not from set malice. In regard to this he does three things. First, he cites their ignorance; second, he shows the area of their ignorance, at for they, being ignorant of the justice; third, he proves the truth of those matters about which they were ignorant, at for Moses wrote. …
Bernard of Clairvaux
What would instruction do without love? It would puff up. What would love do without instruction? It would go astray. Indeed they were going astray, those of whom it was said: "I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." It does not befit the Bride of the Word to be foolish; moreover, the Father does not tolerate one who is puffed up. For the Father loves the Son, and every height that exalts itself against the knowledge of the Word, he always has at hand to cast down and to destroy.
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