Malachi 2 in the early church
[Vulgate: Malachias]
57 passages quote, allude to, or echo Malachi 2, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 11 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17
Malachi 2:1
“And now this decree is for you, O priests:
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:1–2 | Letter 59.13 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
| Mal 2:1–2 | Letter 74.8 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
Malachi 2:5
“My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:5–7 | To Quirinus 2.5 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) |
| Mal 2:5 | Prophetic Extracts 3.30 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Mal 2:5 | Oration 2.38 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Mal 2:5 | City of God 18.35 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
Malachi 2:6
True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:6 | Prophetic Extracts 3.30 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Mal 2:6 | Oration 2.38 · Gregory of Nazianzus | quotation, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Mal 2:6 | City of God 18.35 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:7 | Homilies on Leviticus 1.5 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Mal 2:7 | Prophetic Extracts 3.30 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Mal 2:7 | Oration 2.38 · Gregory of Nazianzus | quotation, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Mal 2:7 | Letter 53.3 · Jerome | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Mal 2:7 | Letter 64.1 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Mal 2:7 | Apostolic Constitutions 2.28.7 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Mal 2:7 | Letter 46.1 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Mal 2:7 | On the Mysteries 2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387–391 |
| Mal 2:7 | Commentary on Ezekiel 44:22 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 410-414 |
| Mal 2:7 | City of God 18.35 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Mal 2:7 | Commentary on Jeremiah 2.18 · Jerome | allusion, low confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| Mal 2:7 | Commentary on Jeremiah 6.17 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
Malachi 2:8
But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:8–9 | Demonstration 19.5 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
Malachi 2:10
Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
Malachi 2:11
Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:11 | Demonstration 19.5 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Mal 2:11–12 | Against Jovinianus 1.10 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
Malachi 2:13
And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:13 | Homilies on Matthew 85.4 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Mal 2:13–14 | On 1 Cor 7:39, section 2 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Mal 2:13 | Commentary on Malachi 2:13–16 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 406 |
Malachi 2:14
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:14 | Didascalia 6.22 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | first half of the third century |
| Mal 2:14–15 | Apostolic Constitutions 6.29.3 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Mal 2:14 | Commentary on Malachi 2:13–16 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 406 |
Malachi 2:15
Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:15 | Didascalia 6.22 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | first half of the third century |
| Mal 2:15 | Against Marcion 4.34 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Mal 2:15 | Question 17, section 1 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Mal 2:15 | Apostolic Constitutions 6.14.4 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Mal 2:15 | On 1 Cor 7:39, section 3 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Mal 2:15 | Against Jovinianus 2.37 · Jerome | quotation, medium confidence | 393 |
| Mal 2:15 | Commentary on Malachi 2:13–16 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 406 |
Malachi 2:16
“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:16 | Commentary on Malachi 2:13–16 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 406 |
Malachi 2:17
You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mal 2:17 | Miscellanies 3.4.39 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Mal 2:17 | Demonstration 13.10 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Mal 2:17 | Demonstration 19.5 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Mal 2:17 | On Saint Athanasius 1.38 · Lucifer of Cagliari | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–361 |
| Mal 2:17 | City of God 20.28 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Mal 2:17 | City of God 20.29 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Mal 2:17 | The Conferences 6.2 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |