Catecheses ad illuminandos

 grace. He does not give what is holy to the dogs but where He sees a good purpose, there He gives the seal of salvation, the wondrous one, which demo

 may He keep you well-pleasing to Him To whom be the glory [and the power] unto the endless ages of ages. Amen. 2.t CATECHESIS II. OF THOSE WHO ARE TO

 teachings, but of Ezekiel the Spirit-bearing prophet. For he, having taken up a lamentation for him, says: You are the seal of the likeness, and the c

 extending the time? Therefore, what He did then after the hundred years, could He not have done immediately? But He deliberately extended it, giving a

 the most swift change of the philanthropic God. Nevertheless, he says: In provoking, you have provoked the enemies of the Lord you had many enemies o

 it is written: When you turn back and groan, then you shall be saved. He turned to the wall, and stretching his mind from his bed to heaven, (for the

 therefore despair of his own salvation. Peter, the chiefest and leader of the apostles, denied the Lord three times at the word of a servant-girl but

 having received it, acquires a power of holiness. 3.4 For since man is twofold, composed of soul and body, the purification is also twofold the incor

 wearing a garment of camel's hair, and showing in himself the type of asceticism who also was sanctified by the Holy Spirit, while still being carrie

 I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? And the martyrs indeed confess, having become a spectacle to the world, both to

 of such is a form of licentiousness. What is greater than crucifying Christ? And of this the purification is baptism. For to the three thousand who ca

 well, and to fornicate shamefully? What again is the benefit of being chaste well, and blaspheming impiously? The greatest possession, therefore, is t

 they worshipped the passion through what was seen but others, being amazed at the brightness of gold, deified both it and the other materials. But if

 being holy but for those from Adam, who had been shut up for a long time, not to obtain liberty at last? Isaiah the prophet preached so many things a

 Christ, having descended in the form of a dove that which worked in the Law and the Prophets that which now also at the time of baptism seals your s

 The soul has free will and the devil can make suggestions, but to compel against the will, he does not have the power. He suggests to you a thought o

 bodies those who have come to marriage for the sake of begetting children, but not for the sake of loving pleasure. 4.26 And let those in a first mar

 They say that this body is not raised. For it is raised and Isaiah is a witness, saying, The dead will be raised, and those in the tombs will be resu

 tamper with the statutes. And of the Old Testament, as has been said, study the twenty-two books which, if you are a lover of learning, be zealous to

 being about to become a partaker of the appellation. 5.2 Here, therefore, it is required, that one of you be found faithful from conscience. For it is

 was left behind. God promises childbearing to the old man and Abraham, not being weak in faith, and considering his own body now dead paid attention

 a dead man of four days, and on his own behalf to beseech the Redeemer? But what was lacking in the deceased, this was fulfilled through his true sist

 hearken to the things which have been delivered and to hold this as a provision for the whole journey of life, and besides it to receive no other no

 I do not speak of you who are present only, but even if all the flock of the whole ecumenical church, both that which now is and that which will be, s

 they contain, and archangels according to their ability But Thrones and Dominions, more so than the former, but less than is their due. But only the

 the earth is His footstool, but His power reaches even to those under the earth. 6.9 He is one, present everywhere, seeing all things, understanding a

 of great blindness! If it is a divinity, it is certainly also good but if it is not good, why is it called a divinity? For if goodness belongs to God

 and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. [Who also] brought down from the air to the earth the one considered God, who

 eponymous, which began formerly in the reign of the emperor Probus. For the error is a full seventy years old, and there are men up to the present day

 the Holy, has no forgiveness. Therefore, he blasphemed, calling himself the Holy Spirit. He who has fellowship with them, let him see with whom he ran

 to have will be taken away. 6.29 And if it is necessary, and as some interpret, to say this: for the saying is not trivial even if he blinded the min

 Into what, then, are these sons of rapine transformed? 6.32 Manichaeans, the offspring of idleness, who do not work and devour the things of those who

 Do not withdraw. Hate also those who were once suspected of such things and if you do not in time comprehend their repentance, do not rashly entrust

 between the doctrines concerning the Father, being in no way separated. 7.4 For the name of the Father, with the very utterance of the designation, al

 we have been deemed worthy, Our Father who art in heaven, but the gift is according to loving-kindness. For not being born by nature from the Father i

 Therefore the Psalm says to humanity: And forget your people, and your father's house, whom you chose as father, whom you drew to destruction. 7.13 No

 ALMIGHTY. And a reading from Jeremiah: The great God, and the mighty Lord great in counsel, and mighty in works, the Almighty, the Lord of great name

 a time for repentance, but having an unrepentant heart, they may be condemned more severely. Kings of men are those who rule upon the earth, but not w

 Gabriel, being a servant of the Lord, appeared, and immediately he was terrified and fell on his face and until the angel forced himself into the lik

 as the command ordained) how in summer, becoming higher, it makes the days longer, giving opportunity for work to men but in winter, it shortens its

 the face of a man and it is changed into bread, strengthening the heart of man, and into all sorts of created fruits. 9.10 For these things, what was

 all, which proceeds from every living creature? Already even from venomous vipers have antidotes proceeded for the salvation of men. But you will say

 the only-begotten being indignant? 10.2 If anyone therefore wishes to be pious toward God, let him worship the Son, since the Father does not accept t

 not called Lord in a figurative sense as we are, but in truth being Lord since by the will of the Father He rules over His own creations. For we have

 all things have been subjected to him it is clear that this is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him, [and the rest] that Go

 name, lest from knowing clearly, they should readily plot against him. But he was called Jesus, not by men, but openly by an angel, who came not on hi

 New is the name of Christians, and before this it did not exist, and new things are often spoken against because of their strangeness. The prophet sec

 of God. The winds bear witness, being commanded and muzzled. The five loaves bear witness, multiplied for five thousand. The holy wood of the cross be

 Our Lord Jesus Christ, but by the many he was unknown. And wishing to teach what was unknown, gathering the disciples, he asked: Who do they say that

 he has not believed in the only-begotten Son of God. Concerning whom John, bearing witness, said: And we have seen His glory, glory as of an only-bego

 Thus, we affirm. And not we alone are ignorant of the generation of the Son from the Father, but also all created nature. Ask the earth to tell, if it

 more swiftly than our words or thoughts, He begot. For we, speaking in times, consume times but in the case of the divine power, the generation is ti

 more briefly, let us neither separate, nor work a confusion. And never say the Son is alien from the Father nor accept those who say that the Father

 dominions, or whatever is named, all things were made through Christ. He reigns over the things made by him not seizing a foreign dominion, but reign

 to the Father and to the Holy Spirit,] now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 12.t The twelfth catechesis of those being enlightened, delivere

 is it for a virgin to give birth without a man? But since there is much contradiction and the battle is manifold, come, by the grace of Christ and the

 preaching for salvation, do you speak in secret? Go up on a high mountain, you who bring good news to Zion I have spoken to the cities of Judah. What

 having become man, since otherwise we could not contain him. For since we were not able to look upon or enjoy him as he was, he became what we are, so

 human sophistries? are not the divine scriptures our salvation? are not the prophecies of the prophets? Therefore keep this deposit for me unshaken, a

 they amount to four hundred eighty-three years. He said, therefore, that after Jerusalem was built, four hundred eighty-three years having passed and

 Therefore, when Ahaz was king, Isaiah having said this, Ahaz having reigned for only sixteen years, and the prophecy to him having been spoken during

 with adulteries and licentiousness. He who formed Adam also formed Eve, and by divine hands the male and the female were formed. None of the members i

 to men from the female sex is the grace. For Eve was born from Adam, and not conceived from a mother, but as if brought forth from a man alone. Theref

 See that a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see me having. Let the Lord who was born of a virgin be worshipped, and let the virgins know t

 to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For he was not a mere man, as has been said, who was dying for us, but the Son of God, God made man.

 having just come from the table and drunk the cup of blessing instead of the drink of salvation, he wanted to pour out righteous blood. He who ate his

 and since the remaining time of the hour is circumscribed to a little, hear now a few of the most important, as is possible. But having received these

 they have clay foundries. For by filtering out the fine and the rich and the useful part of the earth from the pebbles and separating the bulk of the

 of the earth. Hold to the accuracy of the prophets and true testimony. 13.15 Marvel at the Lord being judged. He endured being led and carried by sold

 thought, saying. Did He who knows the thoughts not know the outcome then? And what did they say? Come and let us put wood into his bread. And if the L

 of peace, rejoice in the cross only, but also in time of persecution have the same faith. Do not be a friend of Jesus in time of peace and an enemy in

 They divided my garments among themselves, and for my clothing they cast a lot. And the lot was the allotment. 13.27 Again, being judged before Pilate

 darkened. Wherefore he also justly heard: take courage not because your deeds are worthy of courage, but because a king is present, bestowing grace.

 nor did he unwillingly give up his spirit? He called to the Father, saying: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. I commit it, that I may take i

 He was condemned to death. The thirty pieces of silver bear witness. Gethsemane bears witness, where the betrayal took place. I do not yet speak of th

 he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. and what follows. 14.1 Rejoice, Jerusalem, and hold a festival, all you who love Jesus fo

 says: Lord, you have brought up my soul from Hades. There he says prophetically, you will not abandon, and here he speaks of what is to come as if it

 A shelter from the ambitious construction of the tomb was in front of the rock. But where is the rock that has the shelter? Does it lie around the mid

 In the evening weeping will lodge, and in the morning, rejoicing. For late was the disciples' grief, and early the joy of the resurrection. 14.5 Do yo

 to the outworks that have been made? He says, therefore, in the Songs: in the shelter of the rock, close by the outwork. 14.10 At what season is the S

 him. 14.13 For after the vision of the angels, Jesus himself, the angel, came, and the gospel says: and behold, Jesus met them, saying: rejoice. And t

 Therefore in argument you accept your own things, but you reject ours, and these things written by the Hebrews among you? 14.16 But it is impossible,

 of saints was raised through him. 14.19 Death was astonished when it saw a new man descending into Hades, not held by its bonds. For what reason, O ga

 This, having then been rolled away, witnesses to the resurrection, lying there until today. Angels of God, being present, witnessed to the resurrectio

 ten thousand times a thousand acclaiming him, and that Elijah was taken up to the east of the Jordan, but Christ ascended to the east of the brook Ced

 having gone into heaven. But the apostle Paul, writing to the Romans, says: Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised, who is at the right hand of G

 at the first coming only, but we also expect the second. and having said at the first, blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord, at the secon

 to blood. Let those who have converted from the Manichæans be instructed, and let them no longer deify the luminaries, nor impiously think that this s

 this happens? He says next: When therefore you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, let the o

 but leads astray those of the Gentiles with magical illusions. 15.12 This aforementioned Antichrist comes, when the times of the Roman empire shall be

 a fall, or a demolition on the pretext of rebuilding, or resulting from some other causes, shall cast down all the stones, I do not say of the outer c

 Do not remember these things alone, but also share them generously with all. If you have a child according to the flesh, admonish him now. And if thro

 is his sign? Lest ever an opposing power should dare to imitate it. And then, he says, will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And a true si

 A thousand thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. Not that this is the only number, but that the prophet w

 living and dead, having died for the living and the dead. And as Paul says: For to this end Christ died and lived, that he might be Lord both of the d

 of a wonderful man, nevertheless the sentence of death pronounced against Adam reached both him and those who came after, and this though they had not

 of all things having come to be from God through Christ. This illumines the souls of the righteous, this also in the prophets, this also in the apostl

 filled with ignorance, having dared to say such things about the Holy Spirit, which I do not dare to say. 16.8 Let the Phrygians be hated, and Montanu

 he says but the water that I will give him, will become in him a spring of living water, leaping up to eternal life. A newer water, living and leapin

 he went down to the road that leads to Gaza, when the eunuch was coming. And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near and join this chariot. Do you see the

 is sent far away from knowledge, and sees also the things done by others. 16.17 Peter was not present with Ananias and Sapphira when they sold the pro

 Wait for the Lord, O man. The things that happen are small, the things gifted are great. Having labored for a little time, you are about to be with an

 to you. The Father through the Son with the Holy Spirit bestows all things. The gifts of the Father are not different from those of the Son, nor from

 directly. And as we have in Chronicles, Azariah in the time of King Asa and Oziel in the time of King Jehoshaphat partook of the Holy Spirit, and agai

 to collect and narrate more broadly the things concerning the Holy Spirit. But the time is short and it is necessary to be mindful also of the due me

 that the Holy Spirit and the Paraclete are the same, it is said “but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit.” And concerning the Paraclete and the Spirit of t

 He knows, but he also recognizes married people, if the marriage is according to the law. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied

 demons. And immediately following: Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not

 Water is poured around on the outside, but the Spirit also baptizes the soul within completely. And why do you marvel? Take a bodily example, small an

 brings forth fruits, so also the same Spirit, remaining what it is, and having often worked in the prophets, now has shown something new and wonderful

 wisdom (for they were unlettered and ordinary men), but through the working of the Spirit. For it is written: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,

 Christ's calling. And let Ananias the devout, who was in Damascus, come as a witness for our words, saying to him: The Lord has sent me, Jesus who app

 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: to abstain from things sacrificed to idol

 bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. And again, writing to Timothy: Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 17.33

 He gives that which is not seen. You come to a great examination, to a great enrollment in that one hour, which if you lose, the evil is irremediable

 in Gothia. others having been burned by fire, rain or wind scattered the very ashes. From where is the body gathered? 18.3 To you, being a very small

 are we raised? 18.7 The season is winter, as you see. The trees now stand as if dead. For where are the leaves of the fig tree? Where are the clusters

 do not disbelieve in the resurrection of the dead, but what you see in the case of the moon, this you should believe also concerning yourself. Use the

 And if it says that the dead will not praise you, Lord, this shows that since the appointed time for repentance and forgiveness is only in this life,

 having received the trial, you may cause the seed to bear fruit by spreading it. But let it be remembered that the apostles also raised the dead, Pete

 having been spoken again to you by us with all diligence, let it be recited word for word and remembered by you. 18.22 And since the Faith which is re

 You should flee their defiled systems, but remain in the holy Catholic Church always, in which you were also reborn. And if ever you are visiting in c

 he will keep it for eternal life. And again, that through preferring Christ to money and family and everyone who has left brothers or sisters, and so

 Thus you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful metropolis Zion, on account of the law that came forth from Zion and the word of the

they amount to four hundred eighty-three years. He said, therefore, that after Jerusalem was built, four hundred eighty-three years having passed and the rulers having failed, then comes a certain foreign king, under whom Christ is born. Darius the Mede, therefore, built it in the sixth year of his own reign, but in the first year of the sixty-sixth Olympiad according to the Greeks. An Olympiad among the Greeks is the name for the contest held every four years, on account of the day made up every four years from the three hours per year of the sun's courses. But Herod reigned in the one hundred eighty-sixth Olympiad, in its fourth year. Therefore, from the sixty-sixth to the one hundred eighty-sixth, there are one hundred twenty Olympiads in between, and a little more. Therefore, from the one hundred twenty Olympiads, four hundred eighty are totaled. For the remaining three years are perhaps taken up in the interval between the first and the fourth. And you have the proof according to the scripture that says: from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until an anointed ruler, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. Therefore, concerning the times, you have for now this proof, although there are other different interpretations concerning the aforementioned weeks of years in Daniel. 12. As for the place of the promise, now hear Micah saying: And you, Bethlehem, house of Ephrathah, you are not least among the thousands of Judah; for out of you shall come forth for me a ruler to be prince in Israel, and his goings forth are from of old, from ancient days. But indeed, concerning the places, being from Jerusalem you already know also what is written in the one hundred thirty-first psalm: behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah, we found it in the fields of the wood. For a few years ago the place was wooded. You have heard again Habakkuk saying to the Lord: when the years draw near you will be known, when the time has come you will be revealed. And what is the sign, O prophet, of the Lord's coming? And he says next: in the midst of two living beings you shall be known. Saying this clearly to the Lord, that having come in the flesh you live and die, and having risen from the dead you live again. And from what direction around Jerusalem does he come? From the east or west or north or south? Tell us precisely. And he answers most clearly and says: God will come from Teman (and Teman is interpreted as south) and the Holy One from mount Paran, a thickly-shaded forest. which the psalmist said in agreement: we found it in the fields of the wood. 12.21 Next we ask, from whom does he come, and how does he come. And Isaiah tells us this: behold, the virgin shall conceive in her womb and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel. And the Jews contradict these things (for it is their custom from of old to wickedly oppose the truth) and say that it is not written "the virgin," but "the young woman." But I, accommodating myself to what was said, even so find the truth. For they must be asked: when does a virgin who is being violated cry out? After the violation or before the violation, calling for helpers? If, therefore, the scripture says elsewhere: the young woman cried out and there was no one to help her; does it not speak of a virgin? But so that you may learn more clearly that a virgin in the divine scripture is also called a young woman, hear the book of Kings saying concerning Abishag the Shunammite: and the young woman was very beautiful; for it is acknowledged that she, having been chosen as a virgin, was brought to David. 12.22 But the Jews say again: this was said to Ahaz concerning Hezekiah. Therefore let us read the scripture. Ask for yourself a sign from the Lord your God, either in the depth or in the height. And a sign, above all, ought to be extraordinary. For a sign is the water from the rock, the parting of the sea, the sun turning back, and such things. But the things that will be said have a clearer refutation against the Jews. I know that I am saying many things and that my hearers are weary. But bear with the multitude of words, since these things are moved for Christ's sake, and the discourse is not about trivial matters.

συνάγουσιν ἔτη τετρακόσια ὀγδοήκοντα τρία. εἶπεν οὖν, ὅτι μετὰ τὸ οἰκοδομηθῆναι Ἱερουσαλὴμ τετρακοσίων ὀγδοήκοντα τριῶν ἐτῶν διελθόντων καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐκλιπόντων τότε ἔρχεταί τις ἀλλόφυλος βασιλεύς, ἐφ' οὗ γεννᾶται ὁ Χριστός. ∆αρεῖος τοίνυν ὁ Μῆδος ᾠκοδόμησεν ἕκτῳ μὲν ἔτει τῆς ἑαυτοῦ βασιλείας, πρώτῳ δὲ ἔτει τῆς καθ' Ἕλληνας ἑξηκοστῆς καὶ ἕκτης ὀλυμπιάδος. ὀλυμπιὰς δὲ παρ' Ἕλλησι καλεῖται ὁ κατὰ τέσσαρα ἔτη συντελούμενος ἀγὼν διὰ τὴν κατὰ τετραετίαν τῶν τοῦ ἡλίου δρόμων ἐκ τῶν κατ' ἔτος τριῶν ὡρῶν συντελουμένην ἡμέραν. Ἡρώδης δὲ βασιλεύει ἐν τῇ ἑκατοστῇ ὀγδοηκοστῇ ἕκτῃ ὀλυμπιάδι, τετάρτῳ ἔτει ταύτης. ἀπὸ τοίνυν τῆς ἑξηκοστῆς ἕκτης εἰς τὴν ἑκατοστὴν ὀγδοηκοστὴν ἕκτην γίνονται μεταξὺ ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ὀλυμπιάδες καὶ ὀλίγον τι. συνάγονται τοίνυν τῶν ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ὀλυμπιάδων τετρακόσια ὀγδοήκοντα. τὰ γὰρ ἕτερα τρία ἔτη λοιπὸν ἴσως ἐν τῷ μεταξὺ τοῦ πρώτου καὶ τοῦ τετάρτου ἀναλαμβάνεται. καὶ ἔχεις τὴν ἀπόδειξιν κατὰ τὴν γραφὴν τὴν λέγουσαν· ἀπὸ ἐξόδου λόγου τοῦ ἀποκριθῆναι καὶ τοῦ οἰκοδομηθῆναι Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἕως Χριστοῦ ἡγουμένου ἑβδομάδες ἑπτὰ καὶ ἑβδομάδες ἑξήκοντα δύο. τῶν μὲν οὖν χρόνων ταύτην τέως ἔχεις τὴν ἀπόδειξιν καὶ ἄλλων οὐσῶν ἑρμηνειῶν διαφόρων περὶ τῶν προειρημένων ἐν τῷ ∆ανιὴλ ἑβδομάδων τῶν ἐτῶν. 12. Ἐπαγγελίας δὲ τὸν τόπον λοιπὸν ἄκουε Μιχαίου λέγοντος· καὶ σὺ Βηθλεὲμ οἶκος τοῦ Ἐφραθᾶ, μὴ ὀλιγοστὸς εἶ τοῦ εἶναι ἐν χιλιάσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γάρ μοι ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος τοῦ εἶναι εἰς ἄρχοντα ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ αἱ ἔξοδοι αὐτοῦ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς ἐξ ἡμερῶν αἰῶνος. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ περὶ τῶν τόπων ἱεροσολυμίτης ὢν προλαβὼν οἶδας καὶ τὸ ἐν ἑκατοστῷ τριακοστῷ πρώτῳ ψαλμῷ γεγραμμένον· ἰδοὺ ἠκούσαμεν αὐτὴν ἐν Ἐφραθά, εὕρομεν αὐτὴν ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις τοῦ δρυμοῦ. πρὸ ὀλίγων γὰρ ἐτῶν δρυμώδης ἦν ὁ τόπος. Ἤκουσας πάλιν τοῦ Ἀββακοὺμ λέγοντος πρὸς τὸν κύριον· ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν τὰ ἔτη ἐπιγνωσθήσῃ, ἐν τῷ παρεῖναι τὸν καιρὸν ἀναδειχθήσῃ. καὶ τί τὸ σημεῖόν ἐστιν ὦ προφῆτα τοῦ ἐρχομένου κυρίου; ὁ δέ φησιν ἑξῆς· ἐν μέσῳ δύο ζωῶν γνωσθήσῃ. τοῦτο πρὸς τὸν κύριον λέγων σαφῶς, ὅτι παραγενόμενος ἔνσαρκος ζῇς καὶ τελευτᾷς καὶ ἀναστὰς ἐκ νεκρῶν ζῇς πάλιν. Καὶ ἐκ ποίου μέρους τοῦ περὶ τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔρχεται; ἐξ ἀνατολῶν ἢ δυσμῶν ἢ βοῤῥᾶ ἢ νότου; εἰπὲ ἡμῖν ἀκριβῶς. ὁ δὲ ἀποκρίνεται σαφέστατα καί φησιν· ὁ θεὸς ἀπὸ Θαιμὰν ἥξει (Θαιμὰν δὲ ἑρμηνεύεται νότος) καὶ ὁ ἅγιος ἐξ ὄρους Φαρὰν κατασκίου δασέος. ὅπερ συμφώνως εἶπεν ὁ ψαλμῳδός· εὕρομεν αὐτὴν ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις τοῦ δρυμοῦ. 12.21 Λοιπὸν ζητοῦμεν, ἐκ τίνος ἔρχεται, καὶ πῶς ἔρχεται. τοῦτο δὲ ἡμῖν Ἡσαΐας λέγει· ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ λήψεται καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσουσι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμ μανουήλ. καὶ ἀντιλέγουσιν Ἰουδαῖοι τούτοις (ἔθος γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἐστιν ἄνωθεν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ κακῶς ἀντιπίπτειν) καὶ λέγουσιν, ὅτι οὐ γέγραπται ἡ παρθένος, ἀλλ' ἡ νεᾶνις. ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ λεχθέντι συμπεριφερόμενος καὶ οὕτως εὑρίσκω τὴν ἀλήθειαν. ἐρωτητέον γὰρ αὐτούς· παρθένος βιαζομένη πότε βοᾷ; μετὰ τὴν φθορὰν ἢ πρὸ τῆς φθορᾶς ἐκκαλουμένη τοὺς βοηθούς; ἐὰν τοίνυν ἀλλαχοῦ λέγῃ ἡ γραφή· ἐβόησεν ἡ νεᾶνις καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ βοηθῶν αὐτῇ· ἆρα οὐ περὶ παρθένου λέγει; ἵνα δὲ σαφέστερον μάθῃς, ὅτι καὶ ἡ παρθένος ἐν τῇ θείᾳ γραφῇ νεᾶνις καλεῖται, ἄκουε τοῦ βιβλίου τῶν βασιλειῶν περὶ τῆς Ἀβισὰκ τῆς σουναμίτιδος λέγοντος· καὶ ἦν ἡ νεᾶνις καλὴ σφόδρα· τὸ γὰρ παρθένον αὐτὴν ἐκλεχθεῖσαν ἐνηνέχθαι πρὸς ∆αβὶδ ὡμολόγηται. 12.22 Ἀλλὰ λέγουσιν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι πάλιν· τῷ Ἄχαζ ἐρρέθητοῦτο περὶ Ἐζεχίου οὐκοῦν ἀνάγνωμεν τὴν γραφήν. αἴτησαι σεαυτῷ σημεῖον παρὰ κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου εἰς βάθος ἢ εἰς ὕψος. καὶ μάλιστα μὲν τὸ σημεῖον παράδοξον εἶναι ὀφείλει. σημεῖον γὰρ τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἐκ πέτρας, τὸ ῥαγῆναι θάλασσαν, τὸ ἥλιον ὑποστρέψαι, καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα. τὰ δὲ λεχθησόμενα φανερώτερον ἔχει τὸν πρὸς Ἰουδαίους ἔλεγχον. Οἶδα πολλὰ λέγων καὶ κεκμηκότας τοὺς ἀκροωμένους. ἀλλὰ ἀνέχεσθε τῶν λόγων τοῦ πλήθους, ἐπειδὴ διὰ Χριστὸν ταῦτα κινεῖται, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περὶ τῶν τυχόντων ὁ λόγος.