§24.45Στίχ. με΄. Τίς ἄρα ἐστὶν ὀ πιστὸς δοῦλοι καὶ φρόνιμος, ὃν κατέστησεν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς θεραπείας αὐτοῦ; (19) Τάχα παροξύνων εἰς τὸ ζητῆσαι ἕνα τινὰ σπάνιον.
Verse 45: "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?" Perhaps urging them to seek out a certain rare individual.
Τῇ γὰρ τοῦ ἄρα ἀμφιβολίᾳ τὸ σπάνιον ἔδειξε τοῦ τοιούτου οἰκονόμου, καὶ οὐκ ἄλλον αὑτοῦ τὸν πιστὸν καὶ φρόνιμον οἰκονόμον εἰδὼς, κατασταθμαζό. μενον ἐπὶ τοῖς τοῦ Πατρὸς ἔργοις, λέγω δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ ἀνθρωπότητι.
For by the uncertainty of the word "then" (ἄρα), He showed the rarity of such a steward, and knowing no other faithful and wise steward of His own but Himself, who is appointed over the works of the Father—I mean over humanity.
Ὡς γὰρ περὶ ἑτέρου λέγει, ἐπισκιάζων αὐτὸ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῆς σοφίας.
For He speaks as if concerning another, concealing this with the abundance of His wisdom.
Δοῦλον δὲ ἑαυτὸν εἶπε διὰ τὸ μορφὴν δούλου λαβεῖν.
And He called Himself a "servant" because of His taking the form of a servant.
Ὅρα δὲ εἰ μὴ τοιαῦτα ἐγχειρισθέντας ἐπισκόπους καὶ διδασκάλους δυσωπεὶ ὁ λόγος φρονίμως ἑκάστῳ τὰ κατʼ ἀξίαν χρῆσθαι, καὶ ἐπιστημόνως τὰς πνευματικὰς διατάσσειν τροφὰς καιρῷ ποσότητος, ποιότητος.
But see if the word does not exhort bishops and teachers entrusted with such matters to use prudently what is appropriate for each, and knowledgeably to dispense spiritual food in season, in quantity, and in quality.
Τὸ δὲ, Τίς ἄρα, εἶπεν, οὐχ ὡς ἀγνοῶν, ἀλλʼ ἵνα μὴ περιεργάζωνται.
He said, "Who then," not because He did not know, but so that they might not pry.
Ἁρμό ζεῖ δὲ ὁ λόγος καὶ κατὰ παντὸς τοῦ ἐμπιστευθέντος τι παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, εἴτε χρήματα, εἴτε ἀρχὴν, εἴτε δυναστείαν ἄλλην τινά.
And the word also applies to everyone who has been entrusted with something by God, whether wealth, or authority, or any other power.
Δεύτερον δὲ ἀπαιτεῖται ὁ οἰκονόμος πίστιν καὶ φρόνησιν, ἵνα μήτε κλέψῃ τὰ δεσποτικὰ, ἀλλὰ καὶ δεόντως αὐτὰ οἰκονομήσῃ.
Secondly, two things are required of the steward: faith (or faithfulness) and wisdom, so that he may not steal the master's goods, but also manage them properly.
Ἤ τὸν ἔχοντα πρὸς Θεὸν ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, καὶ μὴ ἀφιστάμενόν τινος τῶν δεόντων.
Or, the one who has a good conscience toward God, and does not turn away from any of his duties.
Καὶ τὸν ὀρθῶς διδάσκοντα λέγει πιστόν. Φρόνιμον δὲ τὸν μὴ παραφερόμενον ταῖς τῶν αἱρετικῶν μωρολογίαις, ἀλλὰ διακρίνοντα τὸ ἀκριβὲς τοῦ λόγου, ἢ τὸν μὴ πειρόμενον ἁμαρτίαις, διὰ τὸ μὴ (20) ποικίλον καὶ πολύτροπον τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
And He calls the one who teaches rightly "faithful." And He calls "wise" the one who is not carried away by the foolish babblings of heretics, but discerns the exactness of the word, or the one who is not tried by sins on account of the complexity and variety of human character.
Τὸν εἰδότα πότε δεῖ ἐλέγξαι, ἢ ἐπιτιμῆσαι, ἢ παρακαλέσαι, ἢ διδάξαι· καὶ τίνας μὲν ποτίσαι δεῖ γάλα, τίσι δὲ μεταδοῦναι τῆς στερεᾶς τροφῆς.
The one who knows when it is necessary to reprove, or rebuke, or exhort, or teach; and whom it is necessary to give milk to drink, and to whom to impart solid food.