“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (dikaiosynē) to those who have been trained by it — the present pain of discipline yields future blessing: peaceful (eirēnikos) fruit of righteousness. The paradox: suffering produces peace; affliction yields justice.
Church Fathers on Hebrews 12:11
They who drink bitter medicines, first submit to some unpleasantness, and afterwards feel the benefit. For such is virtue, such is vice. In the latter there is first the pleasure, then the despondency: in the former first the despondency, and then the pleasure. But there is no equality; for it is not the same, to be first grieved and afterwards pleased, and to be first pleased and afterwards grieved. How so? Because in the latter case the expectation of coming despondency…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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