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:

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:1–2Letter 59.13 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Mal 2:1–2Letter 74.8 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:5–7To Quirinus 2.5 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Mal 2:5Prophetic Extracts 3.30 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Mal 2:5Oration 2.38 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Mal 2:5City of God 18.35 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:6Prophetic Extracts 3.30 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Mal 2:6Oration 2.38 · Gregory of Nazianzusquotation, high confidenceca. 362–383
Mal 2:6City of God 18.35 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:7Homilies on Leviticus 1.5 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Mal 2:7Prophetic Extracts 3.30 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Mal 2:7Oration 2.38 · Gregory of Nazianzusquotation, high confidenceca. 362–383
Mal 2:7Letter 53.3 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–419
Mal 2:7Letter 64.1 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Mal 2:7Apostolic Constitutions 2.28.7 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Mal 2:7Letter 46.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 386–430
Mal 2:7On the Mysteries 2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387–391
Mal 2:7Commentary on Ezekiel 44:22 · Jeromequotation, high confidence410-414
Mal 2:7City of God 18.35 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426
Mal 2:7Commentary on Jeremiah 2.18 · Jeromeallusion, low confidenceca. 414-419
Mal 2:7Commentary on Jeremiah 6.17 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:8–9Demonstration 19.5 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345

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?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:10Against Heresies 4.20.2 · Irenaeus of Lyonsquotation, high confidenceca. 180–190
Mal 2:10Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.133 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Mal 2:10To Quirinus 3.3 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Mal 2:10Epitome of the Divine Institutes 29.5 · Lactantiusecho, low confidenceca. 314–320
Mal 2:10On Ecclesiastical Theology 2.19.19 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 337–339
Mal 2:10On Ecclesiastical Theology 2.19.20 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 337–339
Mal 2:10Oration II Against the Arians 59 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 339–346
Mal 2:10Long recension, Philippians 3 · Anonymousquotation, high confidencelater 4th century (probable)
Mal 2:10Tractates 1.2.7 · Zeno of Veronaquotation, high confidenceca. 362-380
Mal 2:10Against Parmenian the Donatist 4.2 · Optatus of Milevisquotation, high confidenceca. 366–385
Mal 2:10–11Liber Orsiesii 23 · Orsiesiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380-390
Mal 2:10Tractates on Matthew 14.1 · Chromatius of Aquileiaquotation, high confidenceca. 388–407

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:11Demonstration 19.5 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Mal 2:11–12Against Jovinianus 1.10 · Jeromequotation, high confidence393

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:13Homilies on Matthew 85.4 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 390
Mal 2:13–14On 1 Cor 7:39, section 2 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 390
Mal 2:13Commentary on Malachi 2:13–16 · Jeromequotation, high confidence406

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:14Didascalia 6.22 · Anonymousquotation, high confidencefirst half of the third century
Mal 2:14–15Apostolic Constitutions 6.29.3 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Mal 2:14Commentary on Malachi 2:13–16 · Jeromequotation, high confidence406

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:15Didascalia 6.22 · Anonymousquotation, high confidencefirst half of the third century
Mal 2:15Against Marcion 4.34 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Mal 2:15Question 17, section 1 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–384
Mal 2:15Apostolic Constitutions 6.14.4 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Mal 2:15On 1 Cor 7:39, section 3 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 390
Mal 2:15Against Jovinianus 2.37 · Jeromequotation, medium confidence393
Mal 2:15Commentary on Malachi 2:13–16 · Jeromequotation, high confidence406

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:16Commentary on Malachi 2:13–16 · Jeromequotation, high confidence406

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?”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Mal 2:17Miscellanies 3.4.39 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Mal 2:17Demonstration 13.10 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Mal 2:17Demonstration 19.5 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Mal 2:17On Saint Athanasius 1.38 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361
Mal 2:17City of God 20.28 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426
Mal 2:17City of God 20.29 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426
Mal 2:17The Conferences 6.2 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429