Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Revelation 3:19

Eastern Fathers

Oecumenius

He says, as many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. Oh, the surpassing greatness of the love of Christ! For the reason that they are such as these, whom the word has written, it promises to love, therefore it both rebukes and disciplines and envies what is better in works, and to repent for those things in which one has sinned.

Commentary on Revelation ↗

Cyprian

He who consoles the sinner with flattering blandishments furnishes the means for sinning and does not check transgressions but nourishes them. But he who rebukes at the same time that he instructs with firmer counsels urges a brother on to salvation. "Whom I love," says the Lord, "I rebuke and chastise." Thus also ought the priest of the Lord not to deceive by pretended submissions but to provide salutary remedies. …

Treatise III. On the Lapsed 14 ↗

Western Saints

Bede

Those whom I love, I rebuke and chasten. Do not refuse to suffer adversities, since this is a special sign of being loved by the Lord.

Commentary on Revelation ↗

Alcuin of York

Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise. Rebuke is about words, chastisement is about whips. There is nothing more that needs explaining in this sentence, but it just needs to be embraced willingly. Be zealous therefore, and do penance. As if he were saying, "If you do not take whip blows temporarily here with them, you shall be subjected to eternal torments without them."

Commentary On Revelation ↗