Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 12:14

Eastern Fathers

Athanasius of Alexandria

Consider how grave an error it is to call God's Word a work. Solomon says in one place in Ecclesiastes that "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." If then the Word is a work, do you mean that he as well as others will be brought into judgment? And what room is there for judgment, when the Judge is on trial? Who will give to the just their blessing, who to the unworthy their punishment, the Lord, as you must suppose, standing on trial with the rest? …

Discourses Against the Arians 2.14.6 ↗

Western Saints

Bonaventure

And the reason why God is to be feared and His commandments are to be observed is this: because He will demand an account of all things, whether of good or of evil. Therefore he adds: "And God will bring all things that are done into judgment for every error," because nothing will remain unexamined, neither what was done through malice nor what was done through error: Matthew 12: "For every idle word that men shall have spoken, they shall render an account." And not only will evil deeds be examined, but indeed also good ones: …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 ↗