Chapter XLV.—It is the Part of the Wicked to Vex the Righteous.

Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation.  Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.  Observe240    Or, “Ye perceive.” that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them.  There241    Or, “For.” you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who themselves were holy.  The righteous were indeed persecuted, but only by the wicked.  They were cast into prison, but only by the unholy; they were stoned, but only by transgressors; they were slain, but only by the accursed, and such as had conceived an unrighteous envy against them.  Exposed to such sufferings, they endured them gloriously.  For what shall we say, brethren?  Was Daniel242    Dan. vi. 16. cast into the den of lions by such as feared God?  Were Ananias, and Azarias, and Michael shut up in a furnace243    Dan. iii. 20. of fire by those who observed244    Literally, “worshipped.” the great and glorious worship of the Most High?  Far from us be such a thought!  Who, then, were they that did such things?  The hateful, and those full of all wickedness, were roused to such a pitch of fury, that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose [of heart], not knowing that the Most High is the Defender and Protector of all such as with a pure conscience venerate245    Literally, “serve.” His all-excellent name; to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.  But they who with confidence endured [these things] are now heirs of glory and honour, and have been exalted and made illustrious246    Or, “lifted up.”  I. ἔγγραφοι (inscribed). by God in their memorial for ever and ever.  Amen.

ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟΝ ΜΕ’. Φιλόνεικοι ἔστε, ἀδελφοί, καὶ ζηλωταὶ περὶ τῶν ἀνηκόντων εἰς σωτηρίαν. Ἐνκεκύφατε εἰς τὰς ἱερὰς γραφάς, τὰς ἀληθεῖς, τὰς διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου. Ἐπίστασθε, ὅτι οὐδὲν ἄδικον οὐδὲ παραπεποιημένον γέγραπται ἐν αὐταῖς. Oὐχ εὑρήσετε δικαίους ἀποβεβλημένους ἀπὸ ὁσίων ἀνδρῶν. Ἐδιώχθησαν δίκαιοι, ἀλλ' ὑπὸ ἀνόμων· ἐφυλακίσθησαν, ἀλλ' ὑπὸ ἀνοσίων· ἐλιθάσθησαν ὑπὸ παρανόμων· ἀπεκτάνθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν μιαρὸν καὶ ἄδικον ζῆλον ἀνειληφότων. Ταῦτα πάσχοντες εὐκλεῶς ἤνεγκαν. Τί γὰρ εἴπωμεν, ἀδελφοί; ∆ανιὴλ ὑπὸ τῶν φοβουμένων τὸν θεὸν ἐβλήθη εἰς λάκκον λεόντων; Ἢ Ἀνανίας καὶ Ἀζαρίας καὶ Μισαὴλ ὑπὸ τῶν θρησκευόντων τὴν μεγαλοπρεπῆ καὶ ἔνδοξον θρησκείαν τοῦ ὑψίστου κατείρχθησαν εἰς κάμινον πυρός; Μηθαμῶς τοῦτο γένοιτο. Τίνες οὖν οἱ ταῦτα δράσαντες; Oἱ στυγητοὶ καὶ πάσης κακίας πλήρεις εἰς τοσοῦτο ἐξήρισαν θυμοῦ, ὥστε τοὺς ἐν ὁσίᾳ καὶ ἀμώμῳ προθέσει δουλεύοντας τῷ θεῷ εἰς αἰκίαν περιβαλεῖν, μὴ εἰδότες, ὅτι ὁ ὕψιστος ὑπέρμαχος καὶ ὑπερασπιστής ἐστιν τῶν ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει λατρευόντων τῷ παναρέτῳ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ· ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. Oἱ δὲ ὑπομένοντες ἐν πεποιθήσει δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν ἐκληρονόμησαν, ἐπήρθησάν τε καὶ ἔγγραφοι ἐγένοντο ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ μνημοσύνῳ αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.