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it happens, and yet you do not have your fill. What same things do you dare to say, you who do not even know the names of the prophets? Are you not ashamed to say that for this reason you do not listen, because the same things are always read, while not even knowing the names of those who are read, and this, though you always hear the same things? For you yourself have confessed that the same things are said. If I were bringing this forth as an accusation, you should have come to another defense, not to your own accusation. Tell me, do you not advise your son? If then he should say, “Always the same things,” do you not consider it an insult? Then it would be possible not to say the same things, when we both knew them and showed them through our works; or rather, not even then would the reading be superfluous. What is equal to Timothy? But yet Paul, writing even to him, said: “Attend to the reading, to the exhortation.” For it is not possible, it is not possible ever to exhaust the meaning of the Scriptures; it is a certain spring having no end. “I said, I have become wise,” he says, “and then it departed from me.” Do you wish me to show that it is not the same things? How many do you think have spoken on the Gospels? But all these spoke in a strange and new way. For the more one dwells on them, the more sharply he sees, the more he sees the pure light. Behold how many things I say: What is prophecy? you tell me; what are narratives? what is a parable? what is an allegory? what is a type? what is a symbol? what are Gospels? Just tell me this one obvious thing, why are they called Gospels? And yet you have often heard that the 60.157 gospels ought to have nothing somber; but these are full of much somberness. “Their fire shall not be quenched,” it says, “and their worm shall not die;” and, “He will cut him in two, and will assign his part with the hypocrites;” and, “He will say: I do not know you, depart from me you who work lawlessness.” Let us not then deceive ourselves, thinking that these things are spoken to us in Greek fashion. Or do none of these things pertain to us? You have become deaf, and as if being struck senseless, you bow your heads down. The Gospels ought to contain nothing of things to be done, but only to counsel good things; but these have countless things to be done; such as are also the following: “If anyone does not hate his own father and mother, he is not worthy of me;” and, “I came not to bring peace on the earth, but a sword;” and, “In the world you will have tribulation.” Fine things indeed; for these are not good tidings. For the gospel is this: “These good things shall be yours;” just as also in common parlance people say to one another: “What are your good tidings for me?” “Your father is coming, your mother.” It does not say: “Do this.” Again tell me, how do these differ from the prophetic writings? why are not those also called gospels? for they too say the same things; for instance, “The lame man shall leap as a hart;” “The Lord will give a word to those who preach good tidings;” “I will give you a new heaven, and a new earth.” Why are not those also called gospels? why is not this also a prophecy? But if, not even knowing what gospels are, you so despise the reading of the Scriptures, what shall I say to you? Let me say something else: Why four Gospels? why not 60.158 ten? why not twenty? why did not many undertake to compile Gospels? why not one? why the disciples? why those who were not disciples? And why the Scriptures at all? And yet the Old Testament says the opposite: “I will give you a new covenant.” Where are those who say, “Always the same things”? If you knew these things, that, even if a man should live ten thousand years, it is not the same things, you would not have said these things. Believe me, I will tell you none of these things, not privately, not publicly; but if anyone finds out, I will give my assent; but if not, I will let it be. For thus we have made you useless, always saying everything ready-made, and not refusing when we ought to. Behold, you have enough questions; consider them, state the reason. Why gospels? why not prophecies? why the things to be done in the Gospels? And if this one is at a loss, let another seek, and contribute to one another the things from yourselves; but for the rest, we will be silent. For if the things said have not profited you at all, with much more reason would we not even add other things. Truly we are pouring into a perforated jar, whence your punishment is also greater. Therefore for this reason we will be silent. That this may not happen, it is up to you. For if we shall see your zeal,

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γίνεται, καὶ ὅμως οὐ λαμβάνετε κόρον. Ποῖα τὰ αὐτὰ τολμᾷς εἰπεῖν, ὁ μηδὲ τῶν προφητῶν τὰ ὀνόματα εἰδώς; Οὐκ αἰσχύνῃ λέγων μὲν διὰ τοῦτο μὴ ἀκούειν, ἐπειδὴ τὰ αὐτὰ ἀεὶ ἀναγινώσκεται, οὐκ εἰδὼς δὲ οὐδὲ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἀναγινωσκομένων, καὶ ταῦτα ἀεὶ τὰ αὐτὰ ἀκούων; Καὶ γὰρ σὺ ὡμολόγησας, ὅτι τὰ αὐτὰ λέγεται. Ἐγὼ εἰ ἔλεγον εἰς κατηγορίαν προφέρων τοῦτο, σὲ ἐχρῆν ἐφ' ἑτέραν ἀπολογίαν ἐλθεῖν, μὴ ἐπὶ τὴν κατηγορίαν τὴν σήν. Εἰπέ μοι, σὺ οὐ παραινεῖς τῷ υἱῷ τῷ σῷ; Ἂν οὖν οὗτος εἴπῃ, ὅτι Ἀεὶ τὰ αὐτὰ, ἆρα οὐχ ἡγῇ ὕβριν εἶναι; Τότε ἐνῆν μὴ λέγειν τὰ αὐτὰ, ὅτε αὐτὰ καὶ ᾔδειμεν, καὶ διὰ τῶν ἔργων ἐπεδεικνύμεθα· μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ τότε περιττὴ ἡ ἀνάγνωσις. Τί Τιμοθέου ἴσον; Ἀλλ' ὅμως καὶ ἐκείνῳ γράφων ὁ Παῦλος ἔλεγε· Πρόσεχε τῇ ἀναγνώσει, τῇ παρακλήσει. Οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν, οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξαντληθῆναί ποτε τὸν νοῦν τῶν Γραφῶν· πηγή τίς ἐστιν οὐκ ἔχουσα πέρας. Εἶπον, Ἐσοφίσθην, φησὶ, καὶ τότε ἀπέστη ἀπ' ἐμοῦ. Βούλεσθε δείξω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι τὰ αὐτά; Πόσους νομίζετε εἰρηκέναι εἰς τὰ Εὐαγγέλια; Ἀλλ' οὗτοι πάντες ξένως καὶ καινῶς εἶπον. Ὅσῳ γὰρ ἄν τις αὐτοῖς ἐνδιατρίβῃ, τοσούτῳ ὀξύτερον βλέπει, τοσούτῳ πλέον ὁρᾷ τὸ φῶς καθαρόν. Ἰδοὺ πόσα λέγω· Τί ἐστι προφητεία; εἴπατε· τί ἐστι διηγήματα; τί ἐστι παραβολή; τί ἐστιν ἀλληγορία; τί ἐστι τύπος; τί ἐστι σύμβολον; τί ἐστιν Εὐαγγέλια; Τοῦτο δὴ μόνον εἴπατέ μοι τὸ φανερὸν, διὰ τί Εὐαγγέλια εἴρηται; Καίτοι πολλάκις ἠκούσατε, ὅτι τὰ 60.157 εὐαγγέλια οὐδὲν ἔχειν ὀφείλει σκυθρωπόν· ταῦτα δὲ πολλῆς γέμει σκυθρωπότητος. Τὸ πῦρ αὐτῶν οὐ σβεσθήσεται, φησὶ, καὶ ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτήσει· τό τε, ∆ιχοτομήσει αὐτὸν, καὶ θήσει τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ὑποκριτῶν· τό τε, Ἐρεῖ· Οὐκ οἶδα ὑμᾶς, ἀπέλθετε ἀπ' ἐμοῦ οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν. Ἄρα μὴ ἀπατῶμεν ἑαυτοὺς, νομίζοντες ταῦτα Ἑλληνιστὶ ἡμῖν λέγειν. Ἢ οὐδὲν πρὸς ἡμᾶς τούτων; Ὑμεῖς κεκώφωσθε, καὶ οἷον ἀπόπληκτοι τυγχάνοντες κάτω κύπτετε. Τὰ Εὐαγγέλια οὐδὲν ἔχειν δεῖ τῶν πρακτέων, ἀλλὰ μόνον ἀγαθὰ συμβουλεύειν· ταῦτα δὲ μυρία ἔχει πρακτέα· οἷάπερ ἐστὶ καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα· Ἐὰν μή τις μισήσῃ αὑτοῦ τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα, οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος· καὶ, Οὐκ ἦλθον βαλεῖν εἰρήνην ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἀλλὰ μάχαιραν· καὶ, Θλῖψιν ἕξετε ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ. Καλά γε· οὐ γὰρ ταῦτα εὐαγγέλια. Τὸ γὰρ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦτό ἐστι· Τάδε σοι ἔσται ἀγαθά· καθάπερ καὶ ἐν τῇ συνηθείᾳ φασὶ πρὸς ἀλλήλους οἱ ἄνθρωποι· Τί μοι τῶν εὐαγγελίων; Ὁ πατήρ σου ἥξει, ἡ μήτηρ σου. Οὐ λέγει· Τόδε ποίησον. Πάλιν εἰπέ μοι, τί διέστηκε ταῦτα τῶν προφητικῶν; διὰ τί μὴ καὶ ἐκεῖνα εὐαγγέλια λέγεται; καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐκεῖνα τὰ αὐτὰ λέγουσιν· οἷον, Ἁλεῖται ὡς ἔλαφος ὁ χωλός· Κύριος δώσει ῥῆμα τοῖς εὐαγγελιζομένοις· ∆ώσω ὑμῖν οὐρανὸν καινὸν, καὶ γῆν καινήν. ∆ιὰ τί μὴ καὶ ἐκεῖνα εὐαγγέλια λέγεται; διὰ τί μὴ καὶ τοῦτο προφητεία; Εἰ δὲ μηδὲ τί ἐστιν εὐαγγέλια εἰδότες, οὕτω καταφρονεῖτε τῆς τῶν Γραφῶν ἀναγνώσεως· τί ὑμῖν ἐρῶ; Εἴπω τι καὶ ἕτερον· ∆ιὰ τί τέσσαρα Εὐαγγέλια; διὰ τί μὴ 60.158 δέκα; διὰ τί μὴ εἴκοσι; διὰ τί μὴ πολλοὶ ἐπεχείρησαν συντάξασθαι Εὐαγγέλια; διὰ τί μὴ εἷς; διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταί; διὰ τί οἱ μὴ μαθηταί; διὰ τί δὲ ὅλως καὶ αἱ Γραφαί; Καίτοι γε τοὐναντίον φησὶν ἡ Παλαιά· ∆ώσω ὑμῖν διαθήκην καινήν. Ποῦ εἰσὶν οἱ λέγοντες, Ἀεὶ τὰ αὐτά; Εἰ ταῦτα ᾔδειτε, ὅτι, κἂν μυρία ἔτη ζήσῃ ἄνθρωπος, οὐκ ἔστι τὰ αὐτὰ, οὐκ ἂν εἴπατε ταῦτα. Πιστεύσατε, οὐκ ἐρῶ ὑμῖν οὐδὲν τούτων, οὐκ ἰδίᾳ, οὐ κοινῇ· ἀλλὰ εἰ μέν τις εὕρῃ, ἐπινεύσω· ἂν δὲ μὴ, ἐάσω. Οὕτω γὰρ ὑμᾶς ἐποιήσαμεν ἀχρήστους, ἀεὶ πάντα ἐξ ἑτοίμου λέγοντες, καὶ ὅτε χρὴ οὐκ ἀνανεύοντες. Ἰδοὺ ἔχετε ζητήματα ἱκανά· σκέψασθε, εἴπατε τὴν αἰτίαν. ∆ιὰ τί εὐαγγέλια; διὰ τί μὴ προφητεῖαι; διὰ τί τὰ πρακτέα ἐν τοῖς Εὐαγγελίοις; Κἂν οὗτος ἀπορήσῃ, ἕτερος ζητείτω, καὶ τὰ παρ' ἑαυτῶν ἀλλήλοις συνεισφέρετε· λοιπὸν δὲ ἡμεῖς σιγήσομεν. Εἰ γὰρ τὰ εἰρημένα οὐδὲν ὑμᾶς ὤνησε, πολλῷ μᾶλλον οὐδ' ἂν ἕτερα προσθείημεν. Ὄντως εἰς πίθον τετρυπημένον ἀντλοῦμεν, ἔνθεν μείζων ὑμῖν καὶ ἡ κόλασις. Οὐκοῦν διὰ τοῦτο σιγήσομεν. Ὅπερ ἵνα μὴ γένηται, ὑμεῖς κύριοι. Εἰ γὰρ θεασόμεθα ὑμῶν τὴν σπουδὴν,