2. For as the blessed prophets were made, so to speak, eyes for us, they foresaw through faith the mysteries of the word, and became ministers of these9    The text reads ἅτινα = which. Gudius proposes τινά = some. things also to succeeding generations, not only reporting the past, but also announcing the present and the future, so that the prophet might not appear to be one only for the time being, but might also predict the future for all generations, and so be reckoned a (true) prophet. For these fathers were furnished with the Spirit, and largely honoured by the Word Himself; and just as it is with instruments of music, so had they the Word always, like the plectrum,10    The plectrum was the instrument with which the lyre was struck. The text is in confusion here. Combefisius corrects it, as we render it, ὀργάνων δίκην ἡνωμένον ἔχοντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς. in union with them, and when moved by Him the prophets announced what God willed. For they spake not of their own power11    2 Pet. i. 21. (let there be no mistake as to that12    The text reads μὴ πλανῶ (= that I may not deceive). Some propose ὡς πλάνοι = as deceivers.), neither did they declare what pleased themselves. But first of all they were endowed with wisdom by the Word, and then again were rightly instructed in the future by means of visions. And then, when thus themselves fully convinced, they spake those things which13    This is according to the emendation of Combefisius. [And note this primitive theory of inspiration as illustrating the words, “who spake by the prophets,” in the Nicene Symbol.] were revealed by God to them alone, and concealed from all others. For with what reason should the prophet be called a prophet, unless he in spirit foresaw the future? For if the prophet spake of any chance event, he would not be a prophet then in speaking of things which were under the eye of all. But one who sets forth in detail things yet to be, was rightly judged a prophet. Wherefore prophets were with good reason called from the very first “seers.”14    1 Sam. ix. 9. And hence we, too, who are rightly instructed in what was declared aforetime by them, speak not of our own capacity. For we do not attempt to make any change one way or another among ourselves in the words that were spoken of old by them, but we make the Scriptures in which these are written public, and read them to those who can believe rightly; for that is a common benefit for both parties: for him who speaks, in holding in memory and setting forth correctly things uttered of old;15    In the text it is προκείμενα (= things before us or proposed to us), for which Combefisius proposes, as in our rendering, προειρημένα. and for him who hears, in giving attention to the things spoken. Since, then, in this there is a work assigned to both parties together, viz., to him who speaks, that he speak forth faithfully without regard to risk,16    The original is ἀκινδυνον. and to him who hears, that he hear and receive in faith that which is spoken, I beseech you to strive together with me in prayer to God.

[2] Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ οἱ μακάριοι προφῆται ὀφθαλμοὶ ἡμῶν ἐγένοντο, προορῶντες διὰ πίστεως τὰ τοῦ λόγου μυστήρια: ἅτινα καὶ ταῖς μεταγενεστέραις διηκόνησαν γενεαῖς, οὐ μόνον τὰ παρῳχηκότα εἰπόντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἐνεστῶτα καὶ τὰ μέλλοντα ἀπαγγείλαντες: ἵνα μὴ μόνον πρὸς καιρὸν ὁ προφήτης ὡς προφήτης δειχθῇ, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσαις γενεαῖς προλέγων τὰ μέλλοντα ὁ προφήτης ὡς προφήτης σημανθῇ. οὗτοι γὰρ πνεύματι προφητικῷ οἱ πάντες κατηρτισμένοι καὶ ὑπ' αὐτοῦ τοῦ λόγου ἀξίως τετιμημένοι, ὀργάνων δίκην ἑαυτοῖς ἡνωμένοι ἔχοντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀεὶ τὸν λόγον ὡς πλῆκτρον, δι' οὗ κινούμενοι ἀπήγγελλον ταῦτα ἅπερ ἤθελεν ὁ θεός. οὐ γὰρ ἐξ ἰδίας δυνάμεως οἱ προφῆται ἐφθέγγοντο, μὴ πλανῶ, οὐδὲ ἅπερ αὐτοὶ ἠβούλοντο ταῦτα καὶ ἐκήρυσσον, ἀλλὰ πρῶτον μὲν διὰ τοῦ λόγου ἐσοφίζοντο ὀρθῶς, ἔπειτα δὲ δι' ὁραμάτων προεδιδάσκοντο τὰ μέλλοντα καλῶς: καὶ εἶθ' οὕτως πεμπόμενοι ἔλεγον ταῦτα, ἅπερ αὐτοῖς μόνοις ἦν ὑπὸ θεοῦ ἀποκεκαλυμμένα. ἐπεὶ κατὰ τίνα λόγον ὁ προφήτης προφήτης λεχθήσεται, εἰ μὴ ὅτι πνεύματι προεώρα τὰ μέλλοντα; εἰ γὰρ περὶ συμβεβηκότος τινὸς πράγματος ἔλεγέ τι ὁ προφήτης, οὐκ ἂν ἦν προφήτης, ταῦτα λέγων ἅπερ πάντες ὑπ' ὀφθαλμὸν ἦσαν τεθεαμένοι, ἀλλὰ τὰ μέλλοντα ἐκδιηγούμενος δικαίως προφήτης ἐκρίνετο. διὸ καὶ εὐλόγως οἱ προφῆται ἀπ' ἀρχῆς „οἱ βλέποντες„ ἐκαλοῦντο. ὅθεν καὶ ἡμεῖς τὰ ὑπ' αὐτῶν προειρημένα ... καλῶς μαθητευθέντες, λέγομεν οὐκ ἐξ ἰδίας ἡμῶν ἐπινοίας. οὐδὲν γὰρ καινοτομεῖν ἐπιχειροῦμεν, ἀλλ' ἢ τὰ πάλαι προειρημένα ῥητά, ὧν τὰ ἔγγραφα ἐκτιθέντες εἰς φῶς ἀνάγομεν τοῖς ὀρθῶς πιστεύειν δυναμένοις, ὅπως γένηται ἀμφοτέροις κοινὴ ὠφέλεια, τῷ μὲν λέγοντι τὸ διὰ μνήμης κρατήσαντι ὀρθῶς ἐκθέσθαι τὰ προκείμενα, τῷ δὲ ἀκούοντι τὸ ἐπιστῆσαι τὸν νοῦν πρὸς τὰ λεγόμενα. ἐπεὶ οὖν κοινὸς ὁ κάματος ἀμφοτέροις πρόκειται, τῷ μὲν λέγοντι τὸ ἀκίνδυνον ἐξειπεῖν, τῷ δὲ ἀκούοντι τὸ πιστῶς ἀκούσαντι καταδέξασθαι τὰ λεγόμενα, παρακαλῶ καὶ σέ, ὦ Θεόφιλε, συναγωνίσασθαί μοι ἐν τῇ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν δεήσει,