Prologue — Genesis 7:17

^7:17^ And the flood was forty days upon the earth, and the waters increased, and lifted up the ark on high from the earth.

1. These words are appropriate to the contents of this letter. The Church is symbolized by the ark (1 Pet 3:20), for as in the ark a few souls were saved, the others perishing, so also in the Church a few, that is, only the elect, will be saved.

The waters signify tribulations. First, because flooding waters strike like tribulations: and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house (Matt 7:25). Yet the Church is not shaken by the force of the floods; so Matthew adds, but it did not fall.

Second, because water extinguishes fire: water extinguishes a blazing fire (Sir 3:30). Similarly, tribulations diminish the force of desires so that men do not follow them at will; but they do not diminish the true charity of the Church: many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it (Song 8:7).

Third, because waters inundate by flooding: water closed over my head (Lam 3:54). Yet the Church is not overcome by them: the waters closed in over me, the deep was round about me; weeds were wrapped about my head (Jonah 2:6). And just before this, yet would I again look upon your holy temple.

2. Therefore, the Church is not destroyed but uplifted: first, by lifting the mind to God, as is clear from Gregory: the evil things which bear down upon us here compel us to go to God. And in their distress they seek me (Hos 6:1).

Second, the Church is raised up through spiritual consolation: when the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul (Ps 94:19); for as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort, too (2 Cor 1:5).

Third, the Church is upraised by increasing the number of the faithful; for God has spread the Church in time of persecution: but the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad (Exod 1:12).

It seems then that these words are appropriate

to this letter because the Thessalonians stood firm after suffering many tribulations. Let us, therefore, look at the text.