John Chrysostom

There are two kinds of consolation, apparently opposed to one another, but yet contributing great strength each to the other; both of which he has here put forward. The one is when we say that persons have suffered much: for the soul is refreshed, when it has many witnesses of its own sufferings, and this he introduced above, saying, "Call to mind the former days, in which after ye had been illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions." The other is when we say, "Thou hast suffered no great thing." The former, when the soul …

Homily on Hebrews 29 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

There are two kinds of consolation, opposite to one another: one is when someone says to another, "You have suffered much, remember this"; the other is when they say, "You have not yet endured anything great." The first encourages a weary soul that has many witnesses of its suffering; the other humbles a soul that intends to exalt itself and rouses a careless one. Paul now uses both of these kinds with regard to the Hebrews. For having said above that they "endured a great struggle of sufferings" (Heb. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Augustine of Hippo

For short periods and at prescribed times, power has been given to the demons to incite people whom they control to exercise a tyrannical hostility to the City of God. Thus, they are able not only to receive sacrifice from those who offer it and to seek it from those who are well disposed but also to extort it violently from the unwilling by means of persecutions. However, this power is not a menace to the church but rather an advantage, since it helps to fill up the number of its martyrs. …

City of God 10.21 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

670. – Then when he says, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood, he gives the reason for this. As if to say: You should not grow weary in your tribulations, because you have not endured as much as Christ. For He shed His blood for us: 'This is the blood of the new covenant which shall be shed for you' (Mt. 26:28). But you have suffered the loss of your goods. Yet it is a greater work to give one's life than external possessions; although sometimes the root from which it springs, namely, charity, might be less. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗