Homily VIII.

2 Timothy iii. 1–4

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”

If any now takes offense at the existence of heretics, let him remember that it was so from the beginning, the devil always setting up error by the side of truth. God from the beginning promised good, the devil came too with a promise. God planted Paradise, the devil deceived, saying, “Ye shall be as gods.” (Gen. iii. 5.) For as he could show nothing in actions, he made the more promises in words. Such is the character of deceivers. After this were Cain and Abel, then the sons of Seth and the daughters of men; afterwards Ham and Japhet, Abraham and Pharaoh, Jacob and Esau; and so it is even to the end, Moses and the magicians, the Prophets and the false prophets, the Apostles and the false apostles, Christ and Antichrist. Thus it was then, both before and at that time. Then there was Theudas, then Simon, then were the Apostles, then too this party of Hermogenes and Philetus. In short, there was no time when falsehood was not set up in opposition to truth. Let us not therefore be distressed. That it would be so, was foretold from the beginning. Therefore he says, “Know that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection.” The unthankful then is unholy, and this is natural, for what will he be to others, who is not grateful to his benefactor? The unthankful man is a truce-breaker, he is without natural affection.

“False accusers,” that is, slanderers. For those who are conscious that they have no good in themselves, whilst they commit many sins and offenses, find consolation in defaming the characters of others.

“Incontinent,” with respect both to their tongue and their appetite, and everything else.

“Fierce,” hence their inhumanity and cruelty, when any one is covetous, selfish, ungrateful, licentious.

“Despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady.” “Traitors,” betrayers of friendship; “heady,” having no steadiness; “high-minded,” filled with arrogance. “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”

Ver. 5. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

In the Epistle to the Romans, he says somewhat on this wise, “Having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law” (Rom. ii. 20.), where he speaks in commendation of it: but here he speaks of this sin as an evil beyond all other defects. And why is this? Because he does not use the words in the same signification. For an image is often taken to signify a likeness; but sometimes a thing without life, and worthless. Thus he says himself in his Epistle to the Corinthians, “A man ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God.” (1 Cor. xi. 7.) But the Prophet says, “Man walketh in an image.” (Ps. xxxix. 9, Gr.) And the Scripture sometimes takes a lion to represent royalty, as, “He couched as a lion, and as a lion’s whelp, who shall raise him up?” (Gen. xlix. 9, Gr.) And sometimes to signify rapacity, as, “a ravening and a roaring lion.” (Ps. xxii. 13.) And we ourselves do the same. For as things are compounded and varied in themselves, they are fitly adduced for various images and examples. As when we would express our admiration of a beautiful woman, we say, she is like a picture; and when we admire a painting, we say that it speaks, that it breathes. But we do not mean to express the same thing, but in one case to mark likeness, in the other beauty. So here with respect to form, in the one passage, it means a model, or representation, a doctrine, or pattern of godliness; in the other, something that is lifeless, a mere appearance, show, and hypocrisy. Faith therefore, without works, is fitly called a mere form without the power. For as a fair and florid body, when it has no strength, is like a painted figure, so is a right faith apart from works. For let us suppose any one to be “covetous, a traitor, heady,” and yet to believe aright; of what advantage is it, if he wants all the qualities becoming a Christian, if he does not the works that characterize godliness, but outdoes the Greeks in impiety, when he is a mischief to those with whom he associates, causes God to be blasphemed, and the doctrine to be slandered by his evil deeds?

“From such turn away,” he says. But how is this, if men are to be so “in the latter times”? There were probably then such, in some degree at least, though not to the same excess. But, in truth, through him he warns all to turn away from such characters.

Ver. 6. “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lust.”

Ver. 7. “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Do you see them employing the artifice of that old deceiver, the weapons which the devil used against Adam? “Entering into houses,” he says. Observe how he shows their impudence by this expression,95    Gr. “by saying entering, the word implies entering covertly.” their dishonorable ways, their deceitfulness. “Leading captive silly women,” so that he who is easy to be deceived is a “silly woman,” and nothing like a man: for to be deceived is the part of silly women. “Laden with sins.” See whence arises their persuasion, from their sins, from their being conscious to themselves of nothing good! And with great propriety has he said “laden.”96    Lit. “heaped.” For this expression marks the multitude of their sins, and their state of disorder and confusion; “led away with divers lusts.” He does not accuse nature, for it is not women simply, but such women as these, that he blames. And why “divers lusts”? by that are implied their various faults, their luxury, their disorderly conduct, their wantonness. “Divers lust,” he says, that is, of glory, of wealth, of pleasure, of self-will, of honor: and perchance other vile desires are implied.

“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” He does not say thus to excuse, but to threaten them severely; for their understanding was callous, because they had weighed themselves down with lusts and sins.

Ver. 8. “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth.”

Who are these?97    B. has this punctuation. The magicians in the time of Moses. But how is it their names are nowhere else introduced? Either they were handed down by tradition, or it is probable that Paul knew them by inspiration.

“Men of corrupt minds,” he says, “reprobate concerning the faith.”

Ver. 9. “But they shall proceed no further; for their folly shall be manifested unto all men, as theirs also was.”

“They shall proceed no further”; how then does he say elsewhere, “They will increase unto more ungodliness”? (2 Tim. ii. 16.) He there means, that beginning to innovate and to deceive, they will not pause in their error, but will always invent new deceits and corrupt doctrines, for error is never stationary. But here he says, that they shall not be able to deceive, nor carry men away with them, for however at first they may seem to impose upon them, they will soon and easily be detected. For that he is speaking to this effect appears from what follows. “For their folly shall be manifest unto all.” Whence? Every way—“as theirs also was.” For if errors flourish at first, they do not continue to the end, for so it is with things that are not fair by nature, but fair in appearance; they flourish for a time, and then are detected, and come to nought. But not such are our doctrines, and of these thou art a witness, for in our doctrines there is no deceit, for who would choose to die for a deceit?

Ver. 10. “But thou hast fully known98    Gr. “followed up.” my doctrine.” Wherefore be strong; for thou wert not merely present, but didst follow closely. Here he seems to imply that the period had been long, in that he says, “Thou hast followed up my doctrine”; this refers to his discourse. “Manner of life”; this to his conduct. “Purpose”; this to his zeal, and the firmness of his soul. I did not say these things, he says, and not do them; nor was I a philosopher in words only. “Faith, longsuffering.” He means, how none of these things troubled me. “Charity,” which those men had not; “patience,” nor yet this. Towards the heretics, he means, I show much longsuffering; “patience,” that under persecution.

Ver. 11. “Persecutions, afflictions.”

There are two things that disquiet a teacher, the number of heretics, and men’s wanting fortitude to endure sufferings. And yet he has99    al. “I have.” said much about these, that such always have been, and always will be, and no age will be free from them, and that they will not be able to injure us, and that in the world there are vessels of gold and of silver. You see how he proceeds to discourse about his afflictions, “which came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra.”

Why has he selected these instances out of many? Because the rest was known to Timothy, and these perhaps were new events, and he does not mention the former ones, for he is not enumerating them particularly, for he is not actuated by ambition or vainglory, but he recounts them for the consolation of his disciple, not from ostentation. And here he speaks of Antioch in Pisidia, and Lystra, whence Timothy himself was. “What persecutions I endured.” There was twofold matter of consolation, that I displayed a generous zeal, and that I was not forsaken. It cannot be said, that God abandoned me, but He rendered my crown more radiant.

“What persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”

Ver. 12. “Yea, and all those that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

But why, he says, should I speak only of myself? Each one that will live godly will be persecuted. Here he calls afflictions and sorrows, “persecutions,” for it is not possible that a man pursuing the course of virtue should not be exposed to grief, tribulation, and temptations. For how can he escape it who is treading in the strait and narrow way, and who has heard, that “in the world ye shall have tribulation”? (John xvi. 33.) If Job in his time said, “The life of man upon earth is a state of trial” (Job vii. 1, Gr.); how much more was it so in those days?

Ver. 13. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

Let none of these things, he says, disturb thee, if they are in prosperity, and thou in trials. Such is the nature of the case. From my own instance thou mayest learn that it is impossible for man, in his warfare with the wicked, not to be exposed to tribulation. One cannot be in combat and live luxuriously, one cannot be wrestling and feasting. Let none therefore of those who are contending seek for ease or joyous living. Again, the present state is contest, warfare, tribulation, straits, and trials, and the very scene of conflicts. The season for rest is not now, this is the time for toil and labor. No one who has just stripped and anointed himself thinks of ease. If thou thinkest of ease, why didst thou strip, or prepare to fight? “But do I not maintain the fight?” you say. What, when thou dost not conquer thy desires, nor resist the evil bias of nature?

Ver. 14. “But continue thou in the things that thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith which in Christ Jesus.”

What is this? As the prophet David exhorted, saying, “Be not thou envious against the workers of iniquity” (Ps. xxxvii. 1.), so Paul exhorts, “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned,” and not simply learned, but “hast been assured of,” that is, hast believed. And what have I believed? That this is the Life. And if thou seest things happening contrary to thy belief, be not troubled. The same happened to Abraham, yet he was not affected at it. He had heard, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Gen. xxi. 12.); and he was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, yet he was not troubled nor dismayed. Let no one be offended because of the wicked. This the Scripture taught from the beginning.

What then, if the good be in prosperity, and the wicked be punished? The one is likely to happen, the other not so. For the wicked will possibly be punished, but the good cannot always be rejoicing. No one was equal to Paul, yet he passed all his life in afflictions, in tears and groanings night and day. “For the space of three years,” he says, “I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts xx. 31.) And again: “That which cometh upon me daily.” (1 Cor. xi. 28.) He did not rejoice to-day, and grieve to-morrow, but he ceased not daily to grieve. How then does he say, “Evil men shall wax worse and worse”? He has not said, they shall find rest, but “they shall wax worse and worse.” Their progress is for the worse. He has not said, they shall be in prosperity. But if they are punished, they are punished that thou mayest not suppose their sins are unavenged. For since we are not deterred from wickedness by the fear of hell, in very tenderness He rouses us from our insensibility, and awakens us. If no wicked man was ever punished, no one would believe that God presides over human affairs. If all were punished, no one would expect a future resurrection, since all had received their due here. On this account He both punishes, and forbears to punish. On this account the righteous suffer tribulation here, because they are sojourners, and strangers, and are in a foreign country. The just therefore endure these things for the purpose of trial. For hear what God said to Job: “Thinkest thou that I have warned thee otherwise, than that thou mightest appear just?”100    This corresponds to Job xl. 8, in our version, which stands thus: “Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be righteous?” Still he was approved, c. xlii. 8. (Job xl. 3, Gr.) But sinners when they endure any affliction suffer but the punishment of their sins. Under all circumstances, therefore, whether afflictive or otherwise, let us give thanks to God. For both are beneficial. He does nothing in hatred or enmity to us, but all things from care and consideration for us.

“Knowing that from a child thou hast known the sacred writings.” The holy Scriptures he calls “sacred writings.” In these thou wast nurtured, so that through them thy faith ought to be firm and unshaken. For the root was laid deep, and nourished by length of time,101    B. has ἐν for οὐ, which must be right. nor will anything subvert it.

And speaking of the holy Scriptures, he has added, “Which are able to make thee wise,” that is, they will not suffer thee to have any foolish feeling, such as most men have. For he who knows the Scriptures as he ought, is not offended at anything that happens; he endures all things manfully, referring them partly to faith, and to the incomprehensible nature of the divine dispensation, and partly knowing reasons for them, and finding examples in the Scriptures. Since it is a great sign of knowledge not to be curious about everything, nor to wish to know all things. And if you will allow me, I will explain myself by an example. Let us suppose a river, or rather rivers (I ask no allowance, I only speak of what rivers really are,) all are not of the same depth. Some have a shallow bed, others one deep enough to drown one unacquainted with it. In one part there are whirlpools, and not in another. It is good therefore to forbear to make trial of all,102    Instead of “It is good,” &c., one ms. has, “so also of the questions concerning God, some are such as to present a solution at once to the enquirer, but others so secret and hidden as even to cause the destruction of those who are too curiously eager to get knowledge.” and it is no small proof of knowledge not to wish to sound all the depths: whereas he that would venture on every part of the river, is really most ignorant of the peculiar nature of rivers, and will often be in danger of perishing, from venturing into the deeper parts with the same boldness with which he crossed the shallows. So it is in the things of God. He that will know all things, and ventures to intrude into everything, he it is that is most ignorant what God is. And of rivers indeed, the greater part is safe, and the depths and whirlpools few, but with respect to the things of God, the greater part is hidden, and it is not possible to trace out His works. Why then art thou bent on drowning thyself in those depths?

Know this, however, that God dispenses all things, that He provides for all, that we are free agents, that some things He works, and some things He permits; that He wills nothing evil to be done; that all things are not done by His will, but some by ours also; all evil things by ours alone, all good things by our will conjointly with His influence; and that nothing is without His knowledge. Therefore He worketh all things.103    i.e. even what He permits is, to us, His appointment. Thou then knowing this canst reckon what things are good, what are evil, and what are indifferent. Thus virtue is good, vice is evil; but riches and poverty, life and death, are things indifferent. If thou knowest this, thou wilt know thereby, that the righteous are afflicted that they may be crowned, the wicked, that they may receive the punishment of their sins. But all sinners are not punished here, lest the generality should disbelieve the Resurrection; nor all the righteous afflicted, lest men should think that vice, and not virtue, is approved. These are the rules and limits. Bring what you will to the test of these, and you will not be perplexed with doubt. For as there is among calculators the number of six thousand, to which all things can be reduced, and everything can be divided and multiplied in the scale of six thousand, and this is known to all who are acquainted with arithmetic;104    γράμματα, lit. letters. The γραμματισταὶ taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. See Johannes a Wower de Polymathia, c. vi. Græv. tom. ix. Hales suspects the number 6000, but it may refer to computations of money, as the talent contains 600 denarii, or 6000 asses. so he who knows those rules, which I will briefly recapitulate, will never be offended. And what are these? That virtue is a good, vice an evil; that diseases, poverty, ill-treatment, false accusations, and the like, are things indifferent; that the righteous are afflicted here, or if ever they are in prosperity, it is that virtue may not appear odious; that the wicked enjoy pleasure now that hereafter they may be punished, or if they are sometimes visited, it is that vice may not seem to be approved, nor their actions to go unpunished; that all are not punished, lest there should be a disbelief of the time of resurrection; that even of the good, some who have done bad actions are quit of them here; and of the wicked, some have good ones, and are rewarded for them here, that their wickedness may be punished hereafter (Matt. vi. 5.); that the works of God are for the most part incomprehensible, and that the difference between us and Him is greater than can be expressed. If we reason on these grounds, nothing will be able to trouble or perplex us. If we listen to the Scriptures continually, we shall find many such examples.

“Which are able,” he says, “to make thee wise unto salvation.”

For the Scriptures suggest to us what is to be done, and what is not to be done. For hear this blessed one elsewhere saying, “Thou art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes.” (Rom. ii. 19, 20.) Thou seest that the Law is the light of them which are in darkness; and if that which showeth the letter, the letter which killeth, is light, what then is the Spirit which quickeneth? If the Old Covenant is light, what is the New, which contains so many, and so great revelations? where the difference is as great, as if any one should open heaven to those who only know the earth, and make all things there visible. There we learn concerning hell, heaven, and judgment. Let us not believe in things irrational. They are nothing but imposture. “What,” you say, “when what they foretell comes to pass?” It is because you believe it, if it does come to pass. The impostor has taken thee captive. Thy life is in his power, he manages thee as he will. If a captain of robbers should have under his power and disposal the son of a king, who had fled to him, preferring the desert, and his lawless company, would he be able to pronounce whether he would live or die? Assuredly he would, not because he knows the future, but because he is the disposer of his life or death, the youth having put himself in his power. For according to his own pleasure, he may either kill him, or spare his life, as he is become subject to him, and it is equally at his105    i.e. Satan’s. disposal to say whether thou shalt be rich or poor. The greater part of the world have delivered themselves up into the hands of the devil.

And furthermore, it contributes much to favor the pretenses of these deceivers, that a man has accustomed himself to believe in them. For no one takes notice of their failures, but their lucky conjectures are observed. But if these men have any power of prognosticating, bring them to me, a believer. I say not this, as magnifying myself, (for it is no great honor to be superior to these things,) and indeed I am deep-laden with sins; but with respect to these matters, I will not be humble-minded; by the grace of God I despise them all. Bring me this pretender to magic; let him, if he has any power of prognosticating, tell me what will happen to me to-morrow. But he will not tell me. For I am under the power of the King, and he has no claim to my allegiance or submission. I am far from his holes and caverns. I war under the king. “But some one committed theft,” you say, “and this man discovered it.” This is not always true, certainly, but for the most part absurdities and falsehoods. For they know nothing. If indeed they know anything, they ought rather to speak of their own concerns, how the numerous offerings to their idols have been stolen, how so much of their gold has been melted. Why have they not informed their Priests? Even for the sake of money, they have not been able to give information when their idol-temples have been burnt, and many have perished with them.106    He may allude to the burning of Daphne, lamented by Libanius, Or. 61, which is preserved by St. Chrysostom in his work on St. Babylas, § 18, Ben. t. 2, p. 566, where he also mentions this inability to discover the cause. Why do they not provide for their own safety? But it is altogether a matter of chance, if they have predicted anything. With us there are prophets, and they do not fail. They do not speak truth in one instance and falsehood in another, but always declare the truth; for this is the privilege of foreknowledge.

Cease, then, from this madness, I beseech you, if at least you believe in Christ; and if you believe not, why do you expose yourselves? Why do you deceive? “How long will ye halt on both your hips?” (1 Kings xviii. 21, Sept.) Why do you go to them? Why enquire of them? The instant you go to them, the instant you enquire, you put yourself in slavery to them. For you enquire, as if you believed. “No,” you say, “I do not enquire, as believing, but making trial of them.” But to make trial, whether they speak the truth, is the part not of one who believes that they are false, but of one who still doubts. Wherefore then dost thou enquire what will happen? For if they answered, “This will happen, but do so and so, and thou wilt escape it”; even in that case thou oughtest by no means to be an idolater; yet thy madness were not so great. But if they foretell future events,107    Downes thinks it should be “events not to come,” but the contrast is in the form of the prediction. The aorist would justify, “the event perchance does not happen.” he that listens to them will gain nothing more than unavailing sorrow. The event does not happen, but he suffers the uneasiness, and torments,108    Lit. “pickles.” himself.

If it were for our good, God would not have grudged us this foreknowledge. He who has revealed to us things in heaven, would not have envied us. For, “All things,” He says, “that I have heard of the Father I have made known unto you”; and, “I call you not servants, but friends. Ye are my friends.” (John xv. 15.) Why then did He not make these things known unto us? Because He would not have us concerned about them. And as a proof that He does not envy us this knowledge, such things were revealed to the ancients, because they were babes, even about an ass,109    Referring to 1 Sam. ix. 20. and the like. But to us, because He would not have us concerned about such things, He has not cared to reveal them. But what do we learn? Things which they never knew, for little indeed were all those things of old. But what we are taught is this, that we shall rise again, that we shall be immortal, and incorruptible, that our life shall have no end, that all things will pass away, that we shall be caught up in the clouds, that the wicked shall suffer punishment, and numberless other things, and in all these there is no falsehood. Is it not better to know these than to hear that the ass that was lost is found? Lo, thou hast gotten thine ass! Lo, thou hast found him! What is thy gain? Will he not soon be lost again some other way? For if he leave thee not, at least thou wilt lose him in thy death. But the things which I have mentioned, if we will but hold them fast, we shall retain perpetually. These therefore let us pursue. To these stable and enduring goods let us attach ourselves. Let us not give heed to soothsayers, fortune-tellers, and jugglers, but to God who knoweth all things certainly, whose knowledge is universal. Thus we shall know all that it befits us to know, and shall obtain all good things, through the grace and lovingkindness, &c.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Ηʹ. Τοῦτο δὲ γίνωσκε, ὅτι ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις ἐν στήσονται καιροὶ χαλεποί. Ἔσονται γὰρ οἱ ἄν θρωποι φίλαυτοι, φιλάργυροι, ἀλαζόνες, ὑπερ ήφανοι, βλάσφημοι, γονεῦσιν ἀπειθεῖς, ἀχάρι στοι, ἀνόσιοι, ἄσπονδοι, ἄστοργοι, διάβολοι, ἀκρατεῖς ἀνήμεροι, ἀφιλάγαθοι, προδόται, προ πετεῖς, τετυφωμένοι, φιλήδονοι μᾶλλον ἢ φι λόθεοι. αʹ. Εἴ τις ἐπὶ τοῖς αἱρετικοῖς ἀσχάλλει νῦν, ἐννοείτω, ὅτι καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς τοιαῦτα γέγονεν, ἀεὶ τοῦ διαβόλου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ τὸ ψεῦδος παρυφιστῶντος. Ἐπηγγείλατο ὁ Θεὸς ἐξ ἀρχῆς τὰ ἀγαθὰ, ἦλθε καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἐπαγγελλόμενος: ἐφύτευσε παράδεισον, ἠπάτησεν ἐκεῖνος, εἰπὼν, Ἔσεσθε ὡς θεοί. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἔργοις οὐδὲν ἐδείκνυ, ῥήμασι τὰ μείζονα ὑπισχνεῖται. Τοιοῦτον γὰρ οἱ ἀπατεῶνες. Μετὰ ταῦτα ἦν ὁ Κάϊν καὶ ὁ Ἄβελ, εἶτα οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ Σὴθ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες τῶν ἀνθρώπων, εἶτα ὁ Χὰμ καὶ ὁ Ἰάφεθ, ὁ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ ὁ Φαραὼ, ὁ Ἰακὼβ καὶ ὁ Ἡσαῦ: καὶ μέχρι τέλους οὕτως ἐστὶν, ὁ Μωϋσῆς καὶ οἱ μάγοι, καὶ οἱ προφῆται καὶ οἱ ψευδοπροφῆται, οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ψευδαπόστολοι, ὁ Χριστὸς καὶ ὁ ἀντίχριστος. Καὶ πρότερον οὖν, καὶ τότε τὰ αὐτὰ ἦν. Τότε ὁ Θευδᾶς, τότε ὁ Σίμων, ὅτε οἱ ἀπόστολοι, καὶ οὗτοι οἱ περὶ Ἑρμογένην καὶ Φίλητον. Οὐκ ἔστιν οὖν ὅτε οὐ παρυφέστηκε τῇ ἀληθείᾳ τὸ ψεῦδος. Μὴ τοίνυν ἀσχάλλωμεν, ἄνωθεν ταῦτα εἴρηται. Διὰ τοῦτο ἔλεγε: Γίνωσκε, ὅτι ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις ἐνστήσονται καιροὶ χαλεποί. Ἔσονται γὰρ οἱ ἄνθρωποι φίλαυτοι, φιλάργυροι, ἀλαζόνες, ὑπερήφανοι, βλάσφημοι, γονεῦσιν ἀπειθεῖς, ἀχάριστοι, ἀνόσιοι, ἄστοργοι. Ἄρα ὁ ἀχάριστος ἀνόσιος: εἰκότως. Ὁ γὰρ περὶ τὸν εὐεργέτην ἀχάριστος, τίς ἂν γένοιτό ποτε περὶ τοὺς ἄλλους; Ὁ ἀχάριστος ἄσπονδος, ὁ ἀχάριστος ἄστοργος. Διάβολοι, φησί: τουτέστι, κακήγοροι. Οἱ γὰρ μηδὲν ἑαυτοῖς συνειδότες ἀγαθὸν, ὥσπερ τινὰ παραμυθίαν ἔχοντες τὸ τῶν ἄλλων τὰς ὑπολήψεις βλασφημεῖν, μυρία πλημμελοῦσι καὶ ἁμαρτάνουσιν. Ἀκρατεῖς, καὶ γλώσσης καὶ γαστρὸς καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων. Ἀνήμεροι. Ἐντεῦθεν ἡ ὠμότης, ἐντεῦθεν ἡ ἀπήνεια, ὅταν τις φιλάργυρος ᾖ, ὅταν τις φίλαυτος, ὅταν ἀχάριστος, ὅταν λάγνος. Ἀφιλάγαθοι, προδόται, προπετεῖς. _Προδόται, τῆς φιλίας: Προπετεῖς, τουτέστιν, οὐδὲν βεβηκὸς ἔχοντες. Τετυφωμένοι: ἀπονοίας πεπληρωμένοι. Φιλήδονοι μᾶλλον ἢ φιλόθεοι: ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας, τὴν δὲ δύναμιν αὐτῆς ἠρνημένοι. Καὶ ἐν τῇ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους γράφων, οὕτω πώς φησιν: Ἔχοντες τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ. Ἀλλ' ἐκεῖ μὲν ἐπαινῶν αὐτὸ τίθησιν: ἐνταῦθα δὲ παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἐλαττώματα χαλεπώτερον τοῦτο δείκνυσι τὸ ἁμάρτημα. Τί δήποτε; Ὅτι οὐ κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ σημαινόμενον αὐτὸ ἔλαβεν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τὴν εἰκόνα πολλάκις μὲν εἰς ὁμοίωσιν λαμβάνει, πολλάκις δὲ εἰς τὸ ἄψυχον καὶ οὐδαμινόν: οἷον καθάπερ καὶ αὐτός φησι Κορινθίοις γράφων: Ἀνὴρ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ὀφείλει κατακαλύπτεσθαι τὴν κεφαλὴν, εἰκὼν καὶ δόξα Θεοῦ ὑπάρχων: ὁ δὲ Προφήτης: Πλὴν ἐν εἰκόνι διαπορεύεται ἄνθρωπος: καὶ τὸν λέοντα ἡ Γραφὴ ποτὲ μὲν εἰς τὸ βασιλικὸν λαμβάνει: Ἐκοιμήθη, φησὶν, ὡς λέων, καὶ ὡς σκύμνος λέοντος: τίς ἐγερεῖ αὐτόν; ποτὲ δὲ εἰς τὸ ἁρπακτικόν: Ὡς λέων ἁρπάζων καὶ ὠρυόμενος: οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦμεν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ τὰ πράγματα σύνθετά ἐστι καὶ ποικίλα, εἰκότως εἰς πολλὰς εἰκόνας καὶ παραδείγματα παρείληπται: οἷον, τὴν καλὴν ὅταν θαυμάζειν βουλώμεθα, ταῖς γραφαῖς παρεικάζομεν, καὶ τὰς γραφομένας ὅταν θαυμάζειν βουλώμεθα, λέγομεν ὅτι λαλεῖ, ὅτι φθέγγεται: οὐ ποιοῦμεν δὲ τὸ αὐτό: ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ, ὅτι ἐγγὺς ὁμοιότητος ἦλθεν, ἐνταῦθα δὲ, ὅτι τοῦ κάλλους ἐγγύς. Οὕτω καὶ ἐν τῇ μορφῇ, ἐκεῖ μὲν, ὅτι τύπος τις καὶ εἰκὼν καὶ διδασκαλία καὶ ἀρχέτυπον τῆς εὐσεβείας: ἐνταῦθα δὲ, ὅτι ἄψυχον καὶ νεκρὸν, καὶ σχῆμα μόνον καὶ τύπον καὶ ὑπόκρισιν δηλοῖ. Ἄρα σχῆμά ἐστι μόνον χωρὶς δυνάμεως πίστις χωρὶς ἔργων: εἰκότως. Ὥσπερ γὰρ σῶμα καλὸν καὶ εὐανθὲς, ὅταν ἰσχὺν μὴ ἔχῃ, ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐζωγραφημένοις ᾖ προσεοικὸς, οὕτω πίστις ὀρθὴ χωρὶς ἔργων. Θῶμεν γὰρ εἶναί τινα φιλάργυρον, προδότην, προπετῆ: εἶτα πιστεύειν ὀρθῶς: τί τὸ κέρδος ἂν μηδὲν ἔχῃ τῶν τῷ Χριστιανῷ πρεπόντων; ὅταν μηδὲν πράττῃ τῶν τὴν εὐσέβειαν χαρακτηριζόντων, ἀλλὰ τοὺς Ἕλληνας παρελαύνῃ τῇ ἀσεβείᾳ; ὅταν ἐπὶ λύμῃ τῶν συνόντων ᾖ; ὅταν ἐπὶ βλασφημίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ; ὅταν διαβάλλῃ τὸ δόγμα διὰ τῶν ἔργων; Καὶ τούτους, φησὶν, ἀποτρέπου. Εἰ τοίνυν ἐν ὑστέροις καιροῖς τοιοῦτοι ἔσονται, πῶς φησι, Καὶ τούτους ἀποτρέπου; Εἰκὸς μὲν καὶ τότε τοιούτους εἶναί τινας, εἰ καὶ μὴ μεθ' ὑπερβολῆς, ἀλλ' ὅμως εἶναι: τὸ δ' ἀληθὲς δι' ἐκείνου πᾶσι παραινεῖ, ὥστε ἐκτρέπεσθαι τοὺς τοιούτους. Ἐκ τούτων γάρ εἰσι, φησὶν, οἱ ἐνδύνοντες εἰς τὰς οἰκίας, καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντες γυναικάρια σεσωρευμένα ἁμαρτίαις, ἀγόμενα ἐπιθυμίαις ποικίλαις, πάντοτε μανθάνοντα, καὶ μηδέποτε εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας δυνάμενα ἐλθεῖν. βʹ. Ὁρᾷς αὐτοὺς τῇ τοῦ ἀρχαίου ἀπάτῃ κεχρημένους, τῷ ὅπλῳ, ᾧ ὁ διάβολος κατὰ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ ἐχρήσατο; Ἐνδύνοντες εἰς τὰς οἰκίας, φησίν. Εἶδες τὸ ἀναίσχυντον πῶς ἐδήλωσε διὰ τοῦ εἰπεῖν, Ἐνδύνοντες; τὸ ἄτιμον, τὴν ἀπάτην, τὴν κολακείαν; Καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντες γυναικάρια. Ὥστε γυναικάριον ὁ εὐεξαπάτητος, καὶ ἀνδρὸς πόῤῥω. Γυναικῶν δὲ τὸ ἀπατᾶσθαι, μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ γυναικῶν, ἀλλὰ γυναικαρίων. Σεσωρευμένα. Ὅρα πόθεν κἀκείναις γίνεται τὸ πείθεσθαι, ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, ἀπὸ τοῦ μηδὲν ἑαυταῖς συνειδέναι καλόν. Καὶ σφόδρα κυρίως εἶπε, Σεσωρευμένα: τὸ πλῆθος γὰρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν διὰ τούτου παρίστησι, καὶ τὸ ἄτακτον καὶ συγκεχυμένον. Ἀγόμενα ἐπιθυμίαις ποικίλαις. Οὐ τῆς φύσεως κατηγόρησεν: οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς γυναῖκας εἶπεν, ἀλλὰ τοιάσδε γυναῖκας. Τί ἐστι, Ποικίλαις; Ἐνταῦθα πολλὰ ᾐνίξατο, τὴν τρυφὴν, τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην, τὴν λαγνείαν. Ποικίλαις, φησὶν, ἐπιθυμίαις, τουτέστι, χρημάτων, δόξης, τρυφῆς, αὐθαδείας, τιμῆς. Ἴσως δὲ καὶ ἑτέρας αἰσχρὰς ἐπιθυμίας αἰνίττεται. Πάντοτε μανθάνοντα, καὶ μηδέποτε εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν δυνάμενα. Διὰ τί ταῦτά φησιν; Οὐ συγγινώσκων αὐταῖς, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα καταπειλῶν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἑαυτὰς κατέχωσαν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις ἐκείναις καὶ τοῖς ἁμαρτήμασιν, ἐπωρώθη αὐτῶν ἡ διάνοια. Ὃν τρόπον δὲ Ἰαννῆς καὶ Ἰαμβρῆς ἀντέστησαν Μωϋσῇ, οὕτω καὶ οὗτοι ἀνθίστανται τῇ ἀληθείᾳ. Τίνες εἰσὶν οὗτοι οἱ μάγοι οἱ ἐπὶ Μωϋσέως; πῶς δὲ αὐτῶν τὰ ὀνόματα οὐδαμοῦ ἐμφέρεται ἀλλαχοῦ; Ἢ ἀγράφως παραδέδοται, ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματος εἰκὸς ἦν εἰδέναι τὸν Παῦλον. Οὕτω καὶ οὗτοι, φησὶν, ἀντιστήσονται τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, ἄνθρωποι τὸν νοῦν κατεφθαρμένοι ἀδόκιμοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν: ἀλλ' οὐ προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ πλεῖον. Ἡ γὰρ ἄνοια αὐτῶν ἔκδηλος ἔσται πᾶσιν, ὡς καὶ ἡ ἐκείνων ἐγένετο. Ἀλλ' οὐ προκόψουσι, φησί. Πῶς οὖν λέγει ἀλλαχοῦ, ὅτι Προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ πλεῖον ἀσεβείας: ἐνταῦθα δὲ, Οὐ προκόψουσιν; Ἐκεῖ τοῦτό φησιν, ὅτι ἀρχόμενοι καινοτομεῖν καὶ πλανᾷν, οὐ στήσονται τῆς πλάνης, ἀλλ' ἀεὶ ἐξευρήσουσιν ἀπάτας καινὰς καὶ δόγματα διεφθαρμένα: καὶ γὰρ ἡ πλάνη οὐδαμοῦ ἵσταται. Ἐνταῦθα δὲ τοῦτό φησιν, ὅτι οὐκ ἀπατήσουσιν, οὐδὲ συναρπάσουσι, κἂν παρὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν δόξωσί τινας παρακρούεσθαι, ἀλλ' εὐφώρατοι ταχέως ἔσονται. Ὅτι γὰρ περὶ τούτου φησὶν, ἄκουσον τί λέγει: Ἡ γὰρ ἄνοια αὐτῶν ἔκδηλος ἔσται πᾶσι. Πόθεν; Πανταχόθεν: Ὥσπερ καὶ ἡ ἐκείνων ἐγένετο. Κἂν γὰρ πρότερον ἀνθήσῃ τὰ τῆς πλάνης, εἰς τέλος οὐ διαμένει. Τοιαῦτα γὰρ τὰ μὴ φύσει καλὰ, ἀλλὰ δοκοῦντα εἶναι καλά: πρὸς καιρὸν ἀνθεῖ, καὶ φωρᾶται καὶ ἀπόλλυται. Ἀλλ' οὐ τὰ ἡμέτερα τοιαῦτα: καὶ τούτων σὺ μάρτυς: οὐ γὰρ ἐν ἀπάτῃ τὰ ἡμέτερα: τίς γὰρ ἂν ὑπὲρ ἀπάτης καὶ ἀποθανεῖν ἕλοιτο; Σὺ δὲ παρηκολούθηκάς μου τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ. Ὥστε ἰσχυρὸς ἔσο: οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς παρεγένου, ἀλλὰ παρηκολούθηκας. Ἐνταῦθα τὸν χρόνον σημαίνει πολὺν γεγενῆσθαι, ἀπὸ τοῦ εἰπεῖν, Παρηκολούθηκας τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ. Τοῦτο περὶ λόγου. Τῇ ἀγωγῇ: τοῦτο περὶ βίου. Τῇ προθέσει: τοῦτο περὶ προθυμίας καὶ τοῦ παραστήματος τῆς ψυχῆς. Οὐχὶ ἔλεγον μὲν, φησὶ, ταῦτα, οὐκ ἐποίουν δὲ, οὐδὲ ἐν λόγοις μόνον ἐφιλοσόφουν. Τῇ πίστει, τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ. Πῶς οὐδέν με τούτων, φησὶν, ἐτάραττε. Τῇ ἀγάπῃ: ὅπερ οὐκ εἶχον οὗτοι. Τῇ ὑπομονῇ: ὥσπερ οὐδὲ τοῦτο. Τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, φησί. Πρὸς τοὺς αἱρετικοὺς πολλὴν ἐπεδεικνύμην τὴν μακροθυμίαν. Τῇ ὑπομονῇ, πρὸς τοὺς διωγμούς. Τοῖς διωγμοῖς, τοῖς παθήμασι. Δύο γὰρ ταῦτα ταράττει τὸν διδάσκαλον, τὸ αἱρετικοὺς εἶναι πολλοὺς, καὶ τὸ μὴ καρτερεῖν ἐν τοῖς παθήμασιν. Ἀλλ' ὅμως ὑπὲρ τούτων πολλὰ διελέχθη, ὅτι καὶ πάλαι ἦσαν καὶ ἔσονται, καὶ χρόνος οὐδεὶς καθαρὸς τούτων, καὶ ὅτι ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν βλάψαι δυνήσονται, καὶ ὅτι ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ σκεύη χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ ἐστιν. Ὁρᾷς λοιπὸν αὐτὸν περὶ τῶν θλίψεων διαλεγόμενον; Οἷα μοι ἐγένετο ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ, ἐν Ἰκονίῳ, ἐν Λύστροις. Τί δήποτε ταῦτα μόνα εἴρηκεν ἀπὸ πολλῶν; Ἐπειδὴ γνώριμα ἦν τῷ ἀνδρὶ τὰ λοιπά: καὶ ἴσως ὡς νεαρῶν τῶν πραγμάτων τούτων μέμνηται, οὐ τῶν πάλαι: καὶ οὐκ ἀπαριθμεῖται κατ' εἶδος: οὐ γάρ ἐστι κενόδοξος οὐδὲ φιλότιμος: πρὸς γὰρ παραμυθίαν τοῦ μαθητοῦ, οὐ πρὸς ἐπίδειξιν λέγει. Ἀντιόχειαν δὲ τὴν τῆς Πισιδίας ἐνταῦθά φησι, καὶ Λύστραν, ὅθεν ἦν ὁ Τιμόθεος. Οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπέμεινα. Ἀμφότερα παρακλήσεως, ὅτι καὶ ἐγὼ προθυμίαν παρειχόμην γενναίαν, καὶ οὐκ ἐγκατελείφθην, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν, ὅτι προέδωκέ με ὁ Θεὸς, ἀλλὰ τὸν στέφανόν μοι λαμπρότερον εἰργάσατο. Οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπέμεινα, φησὶ, καὶ ἐκ πάντων με ἐῤῥύσατο ὁ Κύριος. Καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ θέλοντες εὐσεβῶς ζῇν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, διωχθήσονται. γʹ. Τί δὲ ὅλως λέγω περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ, φησίν; ἕκαστος τῶν θελόντων ζῇν εὐσεβῶς, διωχθήσεται. Διωγμοὺς ἐνταῦθά φησι τὰς θλίψεις, τὰς ὀδύνας. Καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἔνι ἄνδρα τὴν τῆς ἀρετῆς ὁδὸν ὁδεύοντα λύπης εἶναι χωρὶς, θλίψεως, ὀδύνης, πειρασμῶν: πῶς γὰρ, ὁ στενὴν καὶ τεθλιμμένην ὁδεύων ὁδόν; ὁ ἀκούσας, ὅτι Ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ θλῖψιν ἕξετε; Εἰ ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ χρόνῳ ἔλεγεν ὁ Ἰὼβ, Πειρατήριον ὁ βίος ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τότε; Πονηροὶ δὲ ἄνθρωποι καὶ γόητες, φησὶ, προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον, πλανῶντες καὶ πλανώμενοι. Μηδέν σε θορυβείτω τούτων, φησὶν, εἰ ἐκεῖνοι μὲν ἐν εὐθηνίᾳ, σὺ δὲ ἐν πειρασμοῖς: τοιαύτη τοῦ πράγματος ἡ φύσις ἐστίν. Ἐκ τῶν ἐμῶν δύνασαι μαθεῖν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔνι ἄνδρα πολεμοῦντα τοῖς πονηροῖς μὴ εἶναι ἐν θλίψει. Οὐκ ἔστι πυκτεύοντα ἐν τρυφῇ εἶναι, οὐκ ἔστι παλαίοντα εὐωχεῖσθαι. Μηδεὶς τοίνυν τῶν ἀθλούντων ἄνεσιν ζητείτω, μηδεὶς ἐν εὐθυμίᾳ εἶναι. Πάλιν τὰ παρόντα ἀγὼν, πόλεμος, θλῖψις, στενοχωρία, πειρατήριον, τῶν ἀγώνων τὸ στάδιον. Ἕτεροι τῆς ἀνέσεως οἱ καιροί: οὗτος τῶν ἱδρώτων, οὗτος τῶν πόνων ὁ καιρός. Οὐδεὶς ἀποδυσάμενος καὶ ἀλειψάμενος ἄνεσιν ἐπιζητεῖ. Εἰ δὲ ἄνεσιν ἐπιζητεῖς, τί ἀπεδύσω; τί τὰς χεῖρας ἀντῆρας: Καὶ πῶς οὐκ ἀνταίρω, φησὶ, νῦν; Ὅταν τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν μὴ κρατῇς, ὅταν πρὸς τὴν βίαν τῆς φύσεως μὴ μάχῃ. Σὺ δὲ, μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης, εἰδὼς παρὰ τίνος ἔμαθες, καὶ ὅτι ἀπὸ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα οἶδας τὰ δυνάμενά σε σοφίσαι εἰς σωτηρίαν, διὰ πίστεως τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τί ἐστι τοῦτο; Καθάπερ ὁ προφήτης Δαυῒδ παρῄνεσε, Μὴ παραζήλου, εἰπὼν, ἐν πονηρευομένοις, τοῦτο καὶ αὐτὸς παραινεῖ λέγων: Σὺ δὲ, μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς, Ἔμαθες, ἀλλὰ καὶ, Ἐπιστώθης, τουτέστιν, Ἐπίστευσας. Τί δαὶ καὶ ἐπίστευσα; Ὅτι αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ζωή. Κἂν ἐναντία τοίνυν ὁρᾷς ἐνταῦθα ὧν ἐπίστευσας, μὴ θορυβοῦ, ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ Ἀβραὰμ ἐναντία ἑώρα, ἀλλ' οὐδὲν ἔπαθεν: ἤκουσεν, ὅτι Ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα, καὶ τὸν Ἰσαὰκ σφάξαι ἐκελεύετο, καὶ οὐκ ἐθορυβεῖτο οὐδὲ ἐταράττετο. Μηδεὶς σκανδαλιζέσθω ἐπὶ τοῖς πονηροῖς: τοῦτο ἄνωθεν εἶπεν ἡ Γραφή. Τί οὖν, ὅταν καὶ ἀγαθοὶ εὐφραίνωνται, καὶ πονηροὶ κολάζωνται; Τὸ μὲν ἕτερον εἰκὸς γενέσθαι, τὸ δὲ ἄλλο οὐκέτι: πονηροὺς μὲν γὰρ κολάζεσθαι ἔνι, ἀγαθοὺς δὲ εὐφραίνεσθαι ἀεὶ οὐκ ἔνι. Οὐδεὶς Παύλου ἴσος ἦν, ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐν θλίψει τὸν πάντα διῆγε χρόνον, ἐν δάκρυσιν, ἐν στεναγμοῖς νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας. Μετὰ δακρύων γὰρ, φησὶ, νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν τριετίαν νουθετῶν οὐκ ἐπαυσάμην: καὶ πάλιν, Ἡ ἐπισύστασίς μου ἡ καθ' ἡμέραν, φησίν. Οὐ σήμερον μὲν ἔχαιρεν, αὔριον δὲ ἤλγει, ἀλλὰ καθ' ἡμέραν οὐ διελίμπανεν ὀδυνώμενος Πῶς οὖν φησι, Πονηροὶ προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον; Οὐκ εἶπεν, ὅτι ἀνέσεως τυγχάνουσιν, ἀλλ', Ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον προκόψουσιν: εἰς τὸ χεῖρον ἡ προκοπὴ αὕτη. Οὐκ εἶπεν, Ἐν εὐθηνίᾳ ἔσονται. Εἰ δὲ καὶ κολάζονται, διὰ τοῦτο κολάζονται, ἵνα μὴ νομίσῃς ἀτιμώρητα εἶναι τὰ ἁμαρτήματα. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἡ γέεννα οὐκ ἰσχύει κωλῦσαι ἡμᾶς τῆς κακίας, φειδόμενος ἡμῶν διυπνίζει καὶ διανίστησιν ἡμᾶς. Εἰ μηδεὶς πονηρὸς ἐκολάζετο, οὐδεὶς ἂν ἐνόμιζεν ἐφεστάναι τὸν Θεὸν τοῖς ἀνθρωπίνοις πράγμασιν: εἰ πάντες ἐκολάζοντο, οὐδεὶς ἂν προσεδόκησεν ἔσεσθαι ἀνάστασιν, ὡς πάντων ἐνταῦθα ἀπολαμβανόντων. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ κολάζει, καὶ οὐ κολάζει: διὰ τοῦτο ἐνταῦθα δίκαιοι θλίβονται, ὅτι πάροικοί εἰσιν, ὅτι ξένοι, ὅτι ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ εἰσίν. Οἱ δίκαιοι τοίνυν δοκιμῆς ἕνεκεν ταῦτα ὑπομένουσιν: ἄκουε γὰρ τοῦ Θεοῦ λέγοντος πρὸς τὸν Ἰὼβ, Οἴει με ἄλλως σοι κεχρηματικέναι, ἢ ἵνα ἀναφανῇς δίκαιος; Οἱ δὲ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐὰν καί ποτέ τι τοιοῦτον ὑπομείνωσι, δίκην τιννύουσι τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν. Ἐν πᾶσι τοίνυν εὐχαριστῶμεν τῷ Θεῷ, εἴτε οὕτως, εἴτε ἐκείνως: ἀμφότερα γὰρ χρήσιμα. Οὐδὲν μισῶν, οὐδὲ ἀποστρεφόμενος ἡμᾶς ποιεῖ, ἀλλ' ἀμφότερα φροντίζων καὶ κηδόμενος. Εἰδὼς, φησὶν, ὅτι ἀπὸ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα οἶδας. Τουτέστιν, Ἐκ πρώτης ἡλικίας τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα ἔμαθες. Ἱερὰ δὲ γράμματα τὰς θείας καλεῖ Γραφάς. Ἐν ταύταις ἀνετράφης, ὥστε καὶ διὰ τούτων στερεὰν εἶναί σοι τὴν πίστιν χρὴ, καὶ μηδὲν παραβλάπτεσθαι. Κατὰ βάθους γὰρ ἡ ῥίζα κεῖται, οὐ χρόνῳ τραφεῖσα πολλῷ: οὐδὲν αὐτὴν παρατρέψαι δύναται. Εἰπὼν δὲ, Τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα, ἐπήγαγε, Τὰ δυνάμενά σε σοφίσαι: τουτέστιν, Οὐκ ἀφιᾶσιν ἀνόητόν τι παθεῖν, καὶ οἷον οἱ πολλοί. δʹ. Ὁ γὰρ τὰς Γραφὰς εἰδὼς, ὡς εἰδέναι χρὴ, οὐδενὶ τῶν γινομένων σκανδαλίζεται, πάντα φέρει γενναίως, τὰ μὲν τῇ πίστει ἐπιτρέπων καὶ τῷ ἀκαταλήπτῳ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ οἰκονομίας, τῶν δὲ καὶ λόγους εἰδὼς, καὶ παραδείγματα εὑρίσκων ἐν ταῖς Γραφαῖς. Ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸ μὴ πάντα περιεργάζεσθαι, καὶ τὸ μὴ πάντα θέλειν εἰδέναι, μέγα τοῦ εἰδέναι τεκμήριον. Καὶ εἰ βούλεσθε, ἐπὶ παραδείγματος ἐρῶ: Ἔστω ποταμὸς, μᾶλλον δὲ ἔστωσαν ποταμοὶ (οὐ κατὰ συγχώρησιν λέγω, ἀλλ' ὅπερ εἰσὶν οἱ ποταμοί): οὐ πάντες κατὰ βάθος ἴσοι τυγχάνουσιν, ἀλλ' οἱ μὲν ψιλότερον τὸ ἔδαφος ἔχοντες, ἕτεροι βαθὺ καὶ ἱκανὸν ἀποπνίξαι τὸν ἀγνοοῦντα: καὶ ἐνταῦθα μὲν ἴλιγγοι, ἐκεῖ δὲ οὐκέτι. Τὸ οὖν μὴ θέλειν πᾶσιν ὁμοίως ἐπιχειρεῖν, καλὸν, καὶ τὸ μὴ θέλειν πάντα τὰ βάθη εἰδέναι, οὐ μικρὸν τοῦ εἰδέναι τεκμήριον: ὡς ὅ γε βουλόμενος παντὸς τοῦ μέρους τοῦ ποταμοῦ κατατολμᾷν, οὗτος μάλιστα οὐκ οἶδε τῶν ποταμῶν τὰ ἰδιώματα, καὶ ἀπολεῖται πολλάκις ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς θρασύτητος τοῦ βάθους κατατολμήσας, ἀφ' ἧς διέβαινε τὸ μὴ βαθύ. Οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὁ πάντα θέλων εἰδέναι, καὶ πάντων κατατολμῶν, οὗτος οὐκ οἶδε μάλιστα τί ἐστι Θεός. Ἀλλ' ἐν μὲν τοῖς ποταμοῖς τὸ μὲν πλέον μέρος ἀσφαλὲς, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἴλιγγοι καὶ βάθη: ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸ πλέον ἐν ἀποκρύφοις, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξιχνιάσαι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. Τί τοίνυν βιάζῃ καταποντίσαι σαυτόν; Τοῦτο μόνον ἴσθι, ὅτι πάντα ὁ Θεὸς οἰκονομεῖ, ὅτι πάντων προνοεῖ, ὅτι αὐτεξούσιοί ἐσμεν, ὅτι τὰ μὲν ἐνεργεῖ, τὰ δὲ συγχωρεῖ, ὅτι οὐδὲν πονηρὸν γίνεσθαι βούλεται, ὅτι οὐκ ἀπὸ τοῦ βουλήματος αὐτοῦ πάντα γίνεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἡμετέρου, πάντα τὰ κακὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἡμετέρου μόνον, πάντα τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἀπό τε τοῦ ἡμετέρου καὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ ῥοπῆς, ὅτι οὐδὲν αὐτὸν λανθάνει. Διὰ τοῦτο πάντα ἐνεργεῖ. Εἶτα σὺ τοῦτο εἰδὼς, ἀρίθμει τίνα μὲν τὰ ἀγαθὰ, τίνα δὲ τὰ κακὰ, καὶ τίνα τὰ ἀδιάφορα: οἷον, ἀγαθὸν ἡ ἀρετὴ, κακὸν ἡ φαυλότης, ἀδιάφορα πλοῦτος, πενία, ζωὴ, θάνατος. Ἂν ταῦτα εἰδῇς, εἴσῃ καὶ μετὰ τούτων, ὅτι οἱ δίκαιοι διὰ τοῦτο θλίβονται, ἵνα στεφανωθῶσιν, οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ, ἵνα τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν δίκην ἐκτίσωσιν: οὐ πάντες δὲ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ δίκην ἐνταῦθα τίνουσιν, ἵνα μὴ τῇ ἀναστάσει οἱ πολλοὶ ἀπιστῶσιν, ὥσπερ οὐ πάντες οἱ δίκαιοι θλίβονται, ἵνα μὴ τὴν κακίαν ἐπαινετὴν εἶναι νομίσῃς, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀρετήν. Οὗτοι κανόνες εἰσὶ, καὶ ὅροι: ὃ βούλει ἄγε ἐπ' αὐτοὺς, καὶ οὐ διαπορήσεις. Ὥσπερ γάρ ἐστι παρὰ τοῖς γραμματισταῖς ὁ τῶν ἑξακισχιλίων ἀριθμὸς, καὶ ὑπὸ τοῦτον ἅπαντα ἄγεται, καὶ πάντα μερίζειν καὶ πολυπλασιάζειν δυνατὸν ἐν τῷ κανόνι τῶν ἑξακισχιλίων, καὶ διὰ τοῦ ἀριθμοῦ τούτου πάντα στρέφεται, καὶ ἴσασι ταῦτα ὅσοι γράμματα μεμαθήκασιν: οὕτω τοὺς κανόνας τούτους, οὓς πάλιν ἐρῶ συντομώτερον, ἄν τις εἰδῇ, οὐδέποτε σκανδαλίζεται. Τίνες οὖν εἰσιν οὗτοι; Ὅτι ἀγαθὸν ἀρετὴ, ὅτι φαῦλον κακία, ὅτι ἀδιάφορα νόσοι, πενία, ἐπιβουλαὶ, συκοφαντίαι, καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα: ὅτι οἱ δίκαιοι θλίβονται ἐνθάδε: εἰ δέ τινες καὶ εὖ πάσχουσιν, ἵνα μὴ ἡ ἀρετὴ δόξῃ μισητὴ εἶναι: ὅτι οἱ πονηροὶ εὐφραίνονται, ἵνα ἐκεῖ κολασθῶσιν: εἰ δέ τινες καὶ κολάζονται, ὥστε μὴ τὴν κακίαν δόξαι εἶναι καλὸν, μηδὲ ἀτιμώρητα τὰ πράγματα: ὅτι οὐ κολάζονται πάντες, ἵνα μὴ τῆς ἀναστάσεως ὁ καιρὸς διαπιστηθῇ: ὅτι καὶ τῶν ἀγαθῶν εἰσί τινες οἱ φαῦλα ἔχοντες ἔργα, καὶ ἐνταῦθα αὐτὰ ἀποτίθενται, καὶ τῶν πονηρῶν οἱ χρηστὰ ἔχοντες, καὶ ἐνταῦθα ἀπολαμβάνουσιν, ἵνα ἐκεῖ τιμωρηθῶσιν: ὅτι ἀκατάληπτα τὰ πλείονα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἔργα: ὅτι πολὺ τὸ μέσον ἡμῶν καὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὅσον οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν. Ἂν ταῦτα ἀναλογιζώμεθα, οὐδὲν ἡμᾶς θορυβῆσαι δυνήσεται. Ἂν τῶν Γραφῶν ἀκούωμεν συνεχῶς, εὑρήσομεν καὶ παραδείγματα τοιαῦτα πολλά: Τὰ δυνάμενά σε, φησὶ, σοφίσαι εἰς σωτηρίαν. Καὶ γὰρ τὰ πρακτέα ὑποτίθενται αἱ Γραφαὶ, καὶ τὰ μὴ πρακτέα: ἄκουε γὰρ τοῦ μακαρίου τούτου ἀλλαχοῦ λέγοντος, Πέποιθας σεαυτὸν ὁδηγὸν εἶναι τυφλῶν, φῶς τῶν ἐν σκότει, παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι φῶς τῶν ἐν σκότει ὁ νόμος; Εἰ δὲ ὁ τὸ γράμμα δεικνὺς φῶς, τὸ γράμμα τὸ ἀποκτεῖνον, τί ἄρα ὁ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ζωοποιοῦν; εἰ ἡ Παλαιὰ φῶς, τί ἡ Καινὴ, ἔνθα τοσαῦτα ἀνεπετάσθη; ἔνθα τοσοῦτόν ἐστι τὸ μέσον, ὅσον εἰ τοῖς οὐδὲν πλέον τῆς γῆς εἰδόσι τὸν οὐρανόν τις ἀνοίξειε, καὶ πάντα ποιήσοι κατοπτεῦσαι. Περὶ γεέννης ἐμάθομεν, περὶ βασιλείας, περὶ κρίσεως. Μὴ πιστεύωμεν ἀλόγοις πράγμασι: γοητεία πάντα ἐκεῖνα. Τί οὖν ὅτι λέγουσι, φησὶ, καὶ ἐκβαίνει; Ἐπειδὴ σὺ πιστεύεις, εἴ γε καὶ ἐκβαίνει. Αἰχμάλωτόν σε ἔλαβε, κύριός ἐστι τοῦ βίου τοῦ σοῦ, ὡς θέλει αὐτὸν οἰκονομεῖ. Εἰπέ μοι, εἴ τις λῄσταρχος υἱὸν βασιλέως αὐτῷ προσφυγόντα, καὶ ἐρημίαν καὶ τὴν ἐκείνου συνοίκησιν ἀγαπήσαντα ὑπὸ χεῖρας ἔχοι καὶ ἐξουσίαν, δυνήσεται αὐτῷ εἰπεῖν, εἰ τελευτᾷ, εἰ ζῇ; Καὶ σφόδρα γε δυνήσεται. Τί δήποτε; Οὐκ ἐπειδὴ προοῖδε τὸ μέλλον, ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ ἑκατέρου κύριος γίνεται, τοῦ ἀφανίσαι, καὶ σῶσαι τὸν παῖδα, ἐκείνου ποιήσαντος αὐτὸν κύριον. Καὶ γὰρ ἀνελεῖν, ἐὰν θέλῃ, δυνήσεται, καὶ ἀφεῖναι, ἂν βουληθῇ, ὁμοίως δυνήσεται: ὑπὸ γὰρ ἐκείνῳ γέγονεν. Ἂν εἴπῃ, ὅτι πλούσιος ἔσῃ ἢ πένης, ἀμφοτέρων κύριος αὐτός ἐστι. Τὸ πλέον τοῦ κόσμου ὑπὸ τὰς τοῦ διαβόλου χεῖρας ἑαυτοὺς ἔδωκαν. εʹ. Καὶ ἄλλως δὲ, ὅταν ἐθισθῇ ἄνθρωπος πιστεύειν, πολὺ καὶ τοῦτο συμβαλεῖται ἐκείνοις τοῖς ἀπατεῶσιν: οὐδεὶς γὰρ ταῖς ἀποτυχίαις προσέχει, ἀλλ' εἴ που ἐπιτύχοιεν. Εἰ δέ τινα ἔχουσι δύναμιν προγνωστικὴν, ἐμοὶ τῷ πιστῷ τούτους ἄγε. Οὐ μεγαληγορῶν λέγω: τὸ γὰρ τούτων ἀπηλλάχθαι, οὐ μεγαληγορίας. Ἁμαρτημάτων μὲν γάρ εἰμι μεστός: τούτων δὲ ἕνεκεν οὐκ ἂν ταπεινοφρονήσαιμι: πάντων τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ χάριτι καταγελῶ. Ἄγε πρὸς ἐμὲ τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν μάγον, εἴ τινα ἔχει δύναμιν προγνωστικὴν, εἰπάτω τί μοι συμβήσεται, αὔριον τί ἔσται μοι. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐρεῖ: ὑπὸ γὰρ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως ἐξουσίαν εἰμὶ, καὶ οὐκ ἔχει τὴν ἐμὴν ἀρχὴν οὐδὲ τὴν ὑποταγήν: πόῤῥω τῶν καταδύσεων αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν σπηλαίων τυγχάνω, τῷ βασιλεῖ στρατεύομαι. Ἀλλ' ὁ δεῖνα ἔκλεψε, φησὶ, καὶ ὁ δεῖνα αὐτὸν κατεμήνυσε. Μάλιστα μὲν οὖν οὐδὲ πανταχοῦ τοῦτο ἀληθὲς, ἀλλὰ γέλως καὶ ψεῦδος: οὐδὲν γὰρ ἴσασιν: εἰ δέ τι ἴσασι, μᾶλλον τὰ ἑαυτῶν ὤφειλον λέγειν, πῶς τὰ πολλὰ ἀναθήματα τῶν εἰδώλων ἐκλάπη, πῶς τὸ πολὺ χρυσίον ἐχωνεύθη. Διὰ τί μὴ προεῖπον τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν αὐτῶν; Ὥστε οὐδὲν ἴσασιν: ἀλλὰ χρημάτων μὲν ἕνεκεν οὐδὲ εἰπεῖν ἐδύναντο, ὅταν οἱ ναοὶ αὐτῶν οἱ εἰδωλικοὶ ἐπίμπραντο, καὶ πολλοὶ συναπώλλυντο. Διὰ τί μὴ φείδονται τῆς σωτηρίας τῆς αὑτῶν; Ἀλλ' ἐπιτυχία μόνον τὸ πρᾶγμά ἐστιν, εἴ πού τι καὶ προείποιεν. Εἰσὶ παρ' ἡμῖν προφῆται, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀποτυγχάνουσιν: οὐ τοῦτο μὲν λέγουσιν, ἐκεῖνο δὲ ψεύδονται, ἀλλὰ πάντα ἀληθεύουσι: τοῦτο γὰρ προγνώσεώς ἐστι. Παύσασθέ ποτε τῆς μανίας, παρακαλῶ, εἴ γε τῷ Χριστῷ πιστεύετε: εἰ δὲ μὴ πιστεύετε, τί ἑαυτοὺς διασύρετε, τί ἀπατᾶτε; ἕως πότε χωλανεῖτε ἐπ' ἀμφοτέραις ταῖς ἰγνύαις ὑμῶν; τίνος γὰρ ἕνεκεν προσέρχῃ; τί ἐρωτᾷς; Ἅμα προσῆλθες, ἅμα ἠρώτησας, ὑπὸ τὴν δουλείαν σαυτὸν ἐποίησας: ὡς γὰρ πιστεύων ἐρωτᾷς. Οὒ, φησὶν, οὐ πιστεύων αὐτὸν ἀληθεύειν, ἀλλὰ πειράζων. Καὶ τὸ πειράζειν εἰ ἀληθεύει, οὐκ ἔστι πεπεισμένου ὅτι ψεύδεται, ἀλλ' ἔτι ἀμφιβάλλοντος. Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν ἐρωτᾷς τί ἔσται; Εἰ μὲν γὰρ τοῦτο λέγει, ὅτι τόδε ἔσται, τόδε πρᾶξον καὶ διαφεύξῃ, μάλιστα μὲν οὐδὲ οὕτως ἐχρῆν εἰδωλολατρεῖν, πλὴν ἀλλ' οὐ τοσαύτη ἡ ἀπόνοια: εἰ δὲ τὰ μέλλοντα προλέγουσιν, οὐδὲν ἄλλο κερδαίνει ὁ μαθὼν, ἢ λύπην περιττήν: τὸ μὲν γὰρ πρᾶγμα οὐκ ἐξέβη, τὴν δὲ λύπην ὑπέμεινεν, ἐταρίχευσεν ἑαυτόν. Εἰ συνέφερε τοῦτο, οὐκ ἂν ἡμῖν ἐφθόνησεν ὁ Θεός: οὐκ ἂν ἐβάσκηνεν ὁ τὰ ἐν οὐρανοῖς εἰπών. Ὅσα γὰρ ἤκουσα παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς, φησὶ, πάντα ἐγνώρισα ὑμῖν, καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἤκουσα παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἀπήγγειλα ὑμῖν: καὶ, Οὐ λέγω ὑμᾶς δούλους, ἀλλὰ φίλους: ὑμεῖς φίλοι μού ἐστε. Διὰ τί οὖν ταῦτα οὐκ ἐγνώρισεν ἡμῖν: Ὅτι βούλεται μηδένα λόγον ἔχειν ἡμᾶς αὐτῶν. Ἐπεὶ ὅτι οὐ βασκαίνει, τοῖς παλαιοῖς ταῦτα ἐλέγετο, καὶ περὶ ὄνου καὶ ἑτέρων τινῶν, ἐπειδὴ νήπιοι ἦσαν: ἡμῖν δὲ, ἐπειδὴ βούλεται μηδένα λόγον ἡμῖν εἶναι περὶ αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ φροντίδα ἔθετο ταύτην τοῦ γνωρίσαι ἡμῖν. Ἀλλὰ τί μανθάνομεν; Ὅπερ οὐκ ἔμαθον ἐκεῖνοι: μικρὰ γὰρ ἅπαντα ἐκεῖνα: ἃ δὲ ἡμεῖς ἐμάθομεν ἐστὶ ταῦτα, ὅτι ἐγειρόμεθα, ὅτι ἀθάνατοι ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ἄφθαρτοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχει τέλος ἡ ζωὴ, ὅτι πάντα παρελεύσεται, ὅτι ἐν νεφέλαις ἁρπαγησόμεθα, ὅτι οἱ πονηροὶ κόλασιν τίσουσι, μυρία πρὸς τούτοις ἕτερα, καὶ οὐδέν ἐστι ψεῦδος. Οὐ πολλῷ βέλτιον εἰδέναι ταῦτα, ἢ ὅτι ὁ ὄνος ὁ ἀπολόμενος εὑρέθη; Ἰδοὺ ἔλαβες τὸν ὄνον, ἰδοὺ εὗρες: τί τὸ κέρδος; οὐ πάλιν ἀπολλύεις αὐτὸν ἑτέρῳ τρόπῳ; Κἂν γὰρ αὐτός σε μὴ ἀφῇ, σὺ αὐτὸν ἀφήσεις τῇ τελευτῇ: τὰ δὲ πράγματα, ἅπερ ἐγὼ εἶπον, ἂν κρατεῖν βουλώμεθα, διηνεκῶς ἔχομεν. Ἐκεῖνα τοίνυν διώκωμεν, ἐκείνων ἐχώμεθα τῶν μενόντων, τῶν βεβαίων. Μὴ προσέχωμεν μάντεσι, μηδὲ χρησμολόγοις, μηδὲ ἀγύρταις, ἀλλ' ἢ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ πάντα εἰδότι σαφῶς, τῷ τὴν γνῶσιν ἔχοντι τῶν ἁπάντων: καὶ οὕτω πάντα εἰσόμεθα, ὃ εἰδέναι χρὴ, καὶ πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἐπιτευξόμεθα.