Solomon has these words: "Rejoice, young man, in thy youth" (Ecclesiastes 11:9), and a little further on he says: "Childhood and youth are vanity" (Ecclesiastes 11:10). Solomon said: "This is what I have found good and pleasant: to eat and to drink" (Ecclesiastes 5:17), and a little further on he seems to contradict himself: "It is better to go to a house of mourning for the dead than to go to a house of feasting" (Ecclesiastes 7:2).

The words: "Rejoice, young man, in thy youth," were spoken by King Solomon in heartfelt joy. When he says: "Childhood and youth are vanity," he condemns the carnal desires of childhood and youth. The words: "This is what I have found good and pleasant: to eat and drink," were said by King Solomon in sorrow, for "wine rejoices the heart of man... and bread strengthens the heart of man" (Psalm 103:15).

When he says: "It is better to go to the house of mourning for the dead than to go to the house of feasting," he reveals spiritual truth, since in the house of mourning a person awakens the memory of death. In the Holy Scriptures the same subjects are spoken of many times, but what is said has a different meaning, since it was said at different times, by different people and under different circumstances: one is said in perplexity, as a question, another as an answer, something is said because of carnal desire (In the manuscript of Archbishop Archbishop.

Gregory and the manuscripts of the Solovetsky Library NoNo 331 and in 327 it is added here: "something is for the sake of spiritual truth."), some are in sorrow, others are in joy. All this is in the Holy Scriptures: what is said by different people at different times about the same subject has a different meaning. Such imaginary contradictions can be found not only in the Old Testament, but also in the New Testament: one and the same thing is said in one way and another.

Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel says: "The Father judges no man, but hath given all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22), and then He says: "I judge no one" (John 8:15). And again He says: "If I also bear witness of Myself, My testimony is true" (John 8:14), and He also says: "If I bear witness of Myself, then My testimony is not true" (John 5:31).

To many these words seem contradictory and inconsistent with each other: for first Christ calls Himself the Judge, and then says: "I judge no one"; and again the Lord says, My testimony is true, and in another place, My testimony is not true. However, these words do not contradict each other, but are consistent. The Word of God does not change, does not contradict, does not diverge from itself; so are the above-quoted words of our Lord Jesus Christ, spoken by Him in the Holy Gospel.

When He says, "The Father judges no man, but has given all judgment to the Son," He shows us His power and majesty, for truly He is the Judge of the living and the dead, according to the testimony of the prophet Isaiah: "Unto us the Child was born, Son, and was given unto us; His dominion is upon His shoulders, and they shall call His name Angel of the Great Council... Mighty God, Sovereign, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

If He is a mighty God, the Sovereign, the Prince of Peace, then He is the Judge of the living and the dead. The above words were spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ about His second coming, when He will judge the living and the dead. When you read His words: "I judge no one," then know that here He is speaking of His first coming, of which He said: "I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world" (John 12:47).

The Lord says: "If I bear witness of Myself, My testimony is true," for "the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me" (John 8:18): both Himself and through the prophets. God the Father Himself bears witness to the Son on the Jordan and on Mount Tabor, saying: "This is My beloved Son... Hear Him" (Matt. 3:17; 17:5); the ineffable signs and wonders manifested at the Nativity and Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ also bear witness to the Son of God; therefore the testimony of the Son of God about Himself is true.

However, the Lord Jesus Christ said, "If I bear witness of myself, my testimony is not true." If this is so, then why did He repeatedly say: "I am light and life" (cf. John 8:12; 14:6)? Why did He say to the Samaritan woman and the blind man: "I am the Christ" (cf. John 4:26; 9:37)? Why did He many times call Himself God, equal to the Father, saying: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).

— and again: "All that the Father has is Mine" (John 16:15)? How can we reconcile all of this with the words, "If I bear witness of myself, my testimony is not true"? If His testimony is not true, what hope of salvation can we have? The Lord Jesus Christ said this because of the Jews, who wanted to rebuke Him in this way: "Thou bearest witness to Thyself, but no one who bears witness to Himself is worthy of faith" (cf. John 8:13).

Contradicting them, the Lord says: "If, in your opinion, I am not worthy of faith, inasmuch as I bear witness to Myself, that is, the other man who bears witness to Me is the Forerunner" (cf. John 5:32-33). After all, the Jews sent to ask the Forerunner about Christ, and John answered them: "I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God" (John 1:34). And again John said: "He that believeth in the Son hath eternal life, but he that believeth not in the Son shall not see life" (John 3:36).

The Forerunner gave many other testimonies about Christ to the Jews who came to him. Therefore Christ said to them, "Behold, you have sent to ask John about me, for you believe him, and listen to him more than to me. Therefore I say to you according to your thoughts: If My testimony is not true, then be ashamed of the testimony of the Forerunner, to which you yourselves sent, deeming it worthy of faith, for you all bear witness of it that it is true.

I have three witnesses: My Father, My works, and John, all of whom bear witness to Me." There is much similar in the Holy Gospel, which seems contradictory, but in fact agrees with each other. And in the writings of the apostles one can find the same imaginary contradictions. The Chief Apostle Peter says: "Verily I know that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth Him, and doeth righteousness, is acceptable unto Him" (Acts 10:34-35).