First Epistle to the Corinthians

TO THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH RESIDES AT ROME: to the Church of God residing at Corinth, to those who are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS: due to the sudden and successive calamitous events that have happened to us, we feel that we have been somewhat slow in addressing the issues you consulted us about, especially concerning that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident individuals have inflamed to such a frenzy that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy of universal love, has suffered grievous harm. For who ever lived among you, even for a short time, and did not find your faith to be as fruitful in virtue as it was firmly established? Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your continuous hospitality? And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge? For you did all things without favoritism, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who led you, and giving all appropriate honor to the elders among you. You instructed young men to be of a sober and serious mind; you taught your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as was their duty; and you taught them that, living by the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs properly, and be marked by discretion in every respect.

MOREOVER: you were all distinguished by humility and were in no way puffed up with pride, but chose to obey rather than force others to obey, and were more willing to give than to receive. Content with the provision God had made for you, and carefully attending to His words, you were inwardly filled with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes. Thus, a profound and abundant peace was given to you all, and you had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy designs, you did, with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if you had been guilty of any involuntary transgression. Day and night you were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience. You were sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. You mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors: their deficiencies you considered your own. You never grudged any act of kindness, being “ready to every good work.” Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, you did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.

EVERY KIND OF HONOR AND HAPPINESS WAS GIVEN TO YOU: and then what is written was fulfilled: “My beloved ate and drank, grew large and fat, and rebelled.” From this came rivalry and envy, strife and rebellion, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So, the worthless rose up against the honored, those with no reputation against the renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against the elderly. For this reason, righteousness and peace are now far from you, since everyone abandons the fear of God, has become blind in His faith, neither follows the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts in a manner befitting a Christian, but follows his own wicked desires, returning to the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered the world.

FOR THUS IT IS WRITTEN: "And it happened after some days that Cain brought an offering to God from the fruits of the earth; and Abel also brought an offering from the firstborn of his sheep and their fat. And God showed favor to Abel and his offerings, but He did not regard Cain and his offerings. Cain was deeply grieved, and his face fell. And God said to Cain, Why are you grieved, and why has your face fallen? If you offer rightly but do not divide rightly, have you not sinned? Be at peace: your offering returns to you, and you shall possess it again.

And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field. And it happened that while they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel his brother and killed him.” You see, brothers, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother. Through envy, our father Jacob fled from Esau his brother. Envy made Joseph be persecuted to the point of death and brought into slavery. Envy compelled Moses to flee from Pharaoh, king of Egypt, when he heard these words from a fellow Israelite, "Who made you a judge or ruler over us? Will you kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?" Because of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to stay outside the camp.

Envy caused Dathan and Abiram to be taken alive to Hades, due to the rebellion they incited against God’s servant Moses. Through envy, David suffered hatred not only from foreigners but was also persecuted by Saul, king of Israel.

Let's not focus on ancient examples, but rather on the most recent spiritual heroes. Let's look at the noble examples from our own generation. Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church have been persecuted and put to death. Let's keep in mind the illustrious apostles. Peter, due to unrighteous envy, endured not just one or two, but numerous hardships, and when he eventually faced martyrdom, he departed to the place of glory that was due to him. Because of envy, Paul also received the reward of patient endurance after being imprisoned seven times, forced to flee, and stoned. After preaching in both the East and West, he earned the illustrious reputation that was deserved for his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world and reaching the farthest parts of the West. He suffered martyrdom under the prefects, thus he was removed from the world and went to the holy place, having proven himself a remarkable example of patience.

TO THESE MEN WHO SPENT THEIR LIVES PRACTICING HOLINESS: we must add a great multitude of the elect, who, through envy, have endured many indignities and tortures, providing us with an excellent example. Through envy, those women, the Danaids and Dircæ, were persecuted, and after suffering terrible and unspeakable torments, they completed the course of their faith with steadfastness, and although weak in body, received a noble reward. Envy has alienated wives from their husbands and changed that saying of our father Adam, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.” Envy and strife have overthrown great cities and uprooted mighty nations.

THESE THINGS: beloved, we write to you not just to remind you of your duty, but also to remind ourselves. For we are struggling in the same arena, and the same conflict is assigned to both of us. Therefore, let us give up vain and fruitless cares and approach the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us focus on what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ and see how precious that blood is to God, which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed and learn that, from generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all who would be converted to Him. Noah preached repentance, and as many as listened to him were saved. Jonah proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites; but they, repenting of their sins, appeased God by prayer and obtained salvation, even though they were aliens to the covenant of God.

THE MINISTERS OF THE GRACE OF GOD HAVE: by the Holy Spirit, spoken of repentance; and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it, “As I live, says the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance;” adding, moreover, this gracious declaration, “Repent, O house of Israel, of your iniquity. Say to the children of My people, Even if your sins reach from earth to heaven, and even if they are redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, yet if you turn to Me with your whole heart, and say, Father! I will listen to you, as to a holy people.” And in another place He speaks thus: “Wash yourselves, and become clean; put away the wickedness of your souls from before my eyes; cease from your evil ways, and learn to do well; seek out judgment, deliver the oppressed, judge the fatherless, and see that justice is done to the widow; and come, and let us reason together.” He declares, Even if your sins are like crimson, I will make them white as snow; even if they are like scarlet, I will whiten them like wool.

And if you are willing and obey Me, you will eat the good of the land; but if you refuse, and will not listen to Me, the sword shall devour you, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these things.” Desiring, therefore, that all His beloved should be partakers of repentance, He has, by His almighty will, established these declarations.

THEREFORE: let us obey His excellent and glorious will; and seeking His mercy and loving-kindness, while we give up all fruitless work, strife, and envy, which lead to death, let us turn and seek His compassion. Let us steadfastly consider those who have perfectly served His excellent glory. Let us take, for example, Enoch, who was found righteous in obedience and was taken up, never experiencing death. Noah, being found faithful, preached renewal to the world through his ministry; and the Lord saved the animals by him, who entered the ark together.

ABRAHAM: known as "the friend," was found faithful because he obeyed the words of God. In his act of obedience, he left his own country, his relatives, and his father's house, to leave behind a small territory, a weak family, and an insignificant home so he could inherit God's promises. For God told him, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation, bless you, and make your name great, and you will be blessed.

I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you, and through you, all the families of the earth will be blessed." Again, when he parted from Lot, God said to him, "Look up, and from where you are, look north, south, east, and west; all the land you see, I will give to you and your descendants forever. I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your descendants could be counted." And again, the Scripture says, "God brought Abram out and said to him, 'Look up now to heaven and count the stars if you can; so shall your descendants be.' And Abram believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Because of his faith and hospitality, he was given a son in his old age; and in his obedience, he offered his son as a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains that God showed him.

BECAUSE OF HIS HOSPITALITY AND GODLINESS: Lot was saved from Sodom when the entire surrounding area was punished with fire and brimstone, the Lord thus showing that He does not abandon those who hope in Him, but gives up those who turn away from Him to punishment and suffering. For Lot’s wife, who went with him, having a different mindset and not staying in agreement with him regarding the command given to them, became an example by turning into a pillar of salt to this day. This happened so that everyone would understand that those who are indecisive and distrust the power of God bring judgment on themselves and become a warning to all future generations.

DUE TO HER FAITH AND HOSPITALITY: Rahab the harlot was saved. When spies were sent by Joshua, the son of Nun, to Jericho, the king of the land found out they were there to spy on their land and sent men to capture them so that they could be put to death.

But hospitable Rahab took them in and hid them on her roof under some stalks of flax. When the men sent by the king arrived and said, "Men came to you to spy on our land; bring them out, as the king commands," she replied, "The two men you seek came to me, but quickly left and are gone," thus not revealing the spies to them.

Then she said to the men, "I know for sure that the Lord your God has given you this city, for fear and dread of you have fallen on its inhabitants. When you take it, keep me and my father's household safe." And they said to her, "It shall be as you have spoken to us. As soon as you know we are near, you shall gather all your family under your roof, and they shall be preserved, but all found outside your house shall perish." They also gave her a sign, telling her to hang a scarlet thread from her house.

In this way, they showed that redemption would flow through the blood of the Lord to all who believe and hope in God. You see, beloved, that there was not only faith but prophecy in this woman.

LET US: therefore, brothers and sisters, be humble, setting aside all arrogance, pride, foolishness, and anger; and let us act according to what is written (for the Holy Spirit says, “Let not the wise person boast in their wisdom, nor the strong person boast in their strength, nor the rich person boast in their wealth; but let the one who boasts boast in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing justice and righteousness”), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spoke, teaching us meekness and patience. For He said: “Be merciful, so you may receive mercy; forgive, so it may be forgiven to you; as you do, so it will be done to you; as you judge, so you will be judged; as you are kind, so kindness will be shown to you; with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” By this principle and these rules let us establish ourselves, so that we walk with all humility in obedience to His holy words. For the holy word says, “On whom shall I look, but on the one who is meek and peaceful and who trembles at My words?”

IT IS RIGHT AND HOLY: therefore, men and brethren, to obey God rather than follow those who, through pride and rebellion, have become the leaders of a detestable competition. For we shall incur not just a slight injury, but rather great danger if we recklessly yield ourselves to the inclinations of people who aim to incite strife and chaos, drawing us away from what is good. Let us be kind to one another, inspired by the tender mercy and kindness of our Creator. For it is written, “The kind-hearted shall inhabit the land, and the guiltless shall remain upon it, but transgressors shall be destroyed from it.” And again the Scripture says, “I saw the ungodly highly exalted and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon: I passed by, and behold, he was no more; I diligently sought his place, but could not find it. Preserve innocence, and observe fairness; for there shall be a remnant for the peaceful person.”

LET US STICK: therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically claim to desire it. For [the Scripture] says in a certain place, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” And again: “They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart.” And again it says, “They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue; but their heart was not right with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant.” “Let the deceitful lips become silent,” [and “let the Lord destroy all the lying lips,] and the boastful tongue of those who have said, Let us magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, and for the sighing of the needy, I will now arise, says the Lord: I will place them in safety; I will deal confidently with them.”

For Christ belongs to those who are humble-minded, and not to those who elevate themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not come with pride or arrogance, even though He could have, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared about Him. For it says, "Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We have declared [our message] in His presence: He is, like a child, and like a root in dry ground; He has no form or glory, yes, we saw Him, and He had no form or attractiveness; but His form was unremarkable, even lacking compared to the [ordinary] form of men.

HE IS A MAN FAMILIAR WITH SUFFERING AND ACQUAINTED WITH THE ENDURANCE OF GRIEF: for His face was turned away; He was despised, and not esteemed. He bears our iniquities, and grieves for our sakes; yet we thought that [for His own account] He was exposed to labor, and stripes, and affliction.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The punishment for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray; [every] person has wandered in their own way; and the Lord has delivered Him up for our sins, while in the midst of His sufferings He did not open His mouth.

He was brought like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. In His humiliation, His judgment was taken away; who shall declare His generation? for His life was taken from the earth. For the transgressions of my people was He brought to death. And I will give the wicked for His burial, and the rich for His death, because He did no iniquity, nor was deceit found in His mouth.

And the Lord is pleased to purify Him by stripes. If you make an offering for sin, your soul shall see long-lived descendants. And the Lord is pleased to relieve Him of the affliction of His soul, to show Him light, and to form Him with understanding, to justify the Just One who serves many well; and He Himself shall carry their sins. On this account, He shall inherit many and shall divide the spoils of the strong; because His soul was delivered to death, and He was counted among the transgressors, and He bore the sins of many, and for their sins, He was delivered." And again He says, "I am a worm, and not a man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

All who see Me have mocked Me; they have spoken with their lips; they have shaken their heads, [saying] He hoped in God, let Him deliver Him, let Him save Him, since He delights in Him." You see, beloved, the example that has been given to us; for if the Lord humbled Himself like this, what shall we do who have through Him come under the yoke of His grace?

LET US ALSO BE IMITATORS OF THOSE WHO: in goat-skins and sheep-skins, went about proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, along with others who are similarly testified about in Scripture. Abraham was specially honored and was called a friend of God; yet he, earnestly regarding the glory of God, humbly declared, “I am but dust and ashes.” Moreover, it is written about Job, “Job was a righteous man, blameless, truthful, God-fearing, and one who kept himself from all evil.” Yet accusing himself, he said, “No man is free from defilement, even if his life is only one day.” Moses was called faithful in all God’s house; and through him, God punished Egypt with plagues and tortures. Yet despite being greatly honored, he did not use lofty language. When the divine message came to him from the bush, he said, “Who am I, that you send me? I am a man of weak voice and slow tongue.” And again he said, “I am but like the smoke of a pot.”

BUT WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT DAVID: to whom such testimony was given, and of whom God said, “I have found a man after My own heart, David the son of Jesse; and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him?” Yet this very man says to God, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions, blot out my transgression. Wash me even more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged. For, behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in my sins, my mother conceived me. For, behold, You have loved truth; the secret and hidden things of wisdom You have shown me. You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You will wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

You will make me hear joy and gladness; my bones, which have been humbled, shall rejoice. Turn away Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your governing Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall be converted to You.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: my tongue shall exalt in Your righteousness. O Lord, You will open my mouth, and my lips shall declare Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifice, I would have given it; You do not delight in burnt offerings. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise.”

THE HUMILITY AND GODLY SUBMISSION OF SUCH GREAT AND ILLUSTRIOUS MEN HAVE MADE NOT ONLY US: but also all the generations before us, better; as many who have received His oracles in fear and truth. Therefore, with so many great and glorious examples set before us, let us return to the practice of that peace which has been our aim from the start; and let us look steadfastly to the Father and Creator of the universe, and hold onto His mighty and surpassingly great gifts and blessings of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding, and look with the eyes of our soul to His patient will. Let us reflect on how free from wrath He is towards all His creation.

THE HEAVENS: revolving under His control, are subject to Him in peace. Day and night follow the course set by Him, without hindering each other. The sun and moon, along with the starry hosts, move in harmony according to His command, staying within their limits, without any deviation. The fruitful earth, by His will, provides abundant food at the right seasons for humans, animals, and all living creatures, without hesitation or changing the ordinances He has established. The deep abysses and the indescribable arrangements of the lower world are also bound by the same laws.

The vast, immeasurable sea, gathered into various basins by His work, never goes beyond the boundaries set for it, following His command. For He says, “Thus far you shall come, and your waves shall be broken within you.” The ocean, impossible for man to pass, and the worlds beyond it are regulated by the same laws of the Lord. The seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter peacefully give way to each other. The winds from their various directions fulfill their purpose at the proper time without hindrance.

The ever-flowing springs, created for enjoyment and health, reliably provide their resources for human life. Even the smallest living beings come together in peace and harmony. All these have been appointed by the great Creator and Lord of all to exist in peace and harmony; while He does good to all, He is most abundant in grace to us who have sought refuge in His compassion through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory and majesty forever and ever.

Amen.

BE ATTENTIVE: beloved, lest His many acts of kindness lead to the condemnation of us all, unless we walk worthy of Him and together do those things which are good and pleasing in His sight. For the Scripture says in a certain place, “The Spirit of the Lord is a candle searching the secret parts of the belly.” Let us consider how close He is, and that none of our thoughts or reasonings are hidden from Him. It is right, therefore, that we should not abandon the position His will has assigned us.

Let us rather offend those who are foolish, inconsiderate, and prideful, and who boast in the arrogance of their words, than offend God. Let us honor the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us respect those who lead us; let us honor the elders among us; let us train the young men in the fear of God; let us guide our wives to what is good. Let them display the lovely habit of purity in all their conduct; let them show the genuine disposition of meekness; let them demonstrate self-control in their speech; let them show their love, not by preferring one over another, but by showing equal affection to all who piously fear God.

Let your children receive true Christian training; let them learn how valuable humility is with God—how much the spirit of pure affection can prevail with Him—how excellent and great His fear is, and how it saves all those who walk in it with a pure mind. For He searches the thoughts and desires of the heart: His breath is in us; and when He pleases, He will take it away.

THE FAITH IN CHRIST CONFIRMS ALL THESE ADMONITIONS: For He Himself, by the Holy Ghost, addresses us: "Come, children, listen to Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the person that desires life and loves to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to erase their remembrance from the earth. The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard him and delivered him from all his troubles." "Many are the stripes appointed for the wicked, but mercy will surround those who hope in the Lord."

The all-merciful and beneficent Father has compassion towards those who fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His favors upon those who come to Him with a simple mind. Therefore, let us not be double-minded; nor let our soul be lifted up because of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Let it be far from us the saying, “Wretched are those who are double-minded, and with a doubting heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened to us.” Foolish ones! Compare yourselves to a tree: take, for instance, the vine. First of all, it sheds its leaves, then it buds, next it puts forth leaves, and then it flowers; after that comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. You see how in a little time the fruit of a tree matures. Truly, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, “He will come quickly, and will not delay;” and, “The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom you look.”

LET US CONSIDER: beloved, how the Lord continually shows us that there will be a future resurrection, of which He has made the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection that is always taking place. Day and night reveal to us a resurrection. The night falls asleep, and the day arises; then the day departs, and the night comes. Let us observe the fruits of the earth, how the sowing of grain happens. The sower goes out and casts it into the ground; and the seed, being scattered, though dry and bare when it fell on the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out of its dissolution, the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit.

Let us consider that remarkable sign [of the resurrection] that occurs in Eastern lands, specifically in Arabia and the surrounding countries. There is a certain bird called a phoenix. It is the only one of its kind and lives for five hundred years. When the time of its death approaches, it builds itself a nest of frankincense, myrrh, and other spices. When the time is complete, it enters the nest and dies. As the flesh decays, a certain type of worm is produced, which, nourished by the juices of the dead bird, develops feathers. Then, when it has gained strength, it takes up the nest containing the bones of its parent and carries them from the land of Arabia to Egypt, to the city called Heliopolis. In broad daylight, flying in the sight of all people, it places the bones on the altar of the sun and, having done this, quickly returns to its previous home. The priests then check the records of the dates and find that it has returned exactly when the five hundredth year was completed.

DO WE THEN CONSIDER IT ANY GREAT AND WONDERFUL THING FOR THE MAKER OF ALL THINGS TO RESURRECT THOSE WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED HIM WITH THE ASSURANCE OF STRONG FAITH: when even through a bird He shows us the mightiness of His power to fulfill His promise? For Scripture says in a certain place, "You shall raise me up, and I shall confess to You;" and again, "I lay down and slept; I awoke, because You are with me;" and again, Job says, "You shall raise up this flesh of mine, which has suffered all these things."

HAVING THIS HOPE: let our souls be bound to Him who is faithful in His promises and just in His judgments. He who has commanded us not to lie will much more not lie Himself, for nothing is impossible with God, except to lie. Let His faith therefore be stirred up within us, and let us consider that all things are near to Him. By the word of His might, He established all things, and by His word, He can overthrow them. "Who shall say to Him, What have you done? or, Who shall resist the power of His strength?" As He pleases, He will do all things, and none of the things determined by Him shall pass away. All things are open before Him, and nothing can be hidden from His counsel. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day to day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge. And there are no words or speeches of which the voices are not heard."

SINCE THEN ALL THINGS ARE SEEN AND HEARD BY GOD: let us fear Him and forsake those wicked works which come from evil desires, so that, through His mercy, we may be protected from the judgments to come. For where can any of us flee from His mighty hand? Or what world will receive any of those who run away from Him? For the Scripture says in a certain place, “Where shall I go, and where shall I be hidden from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I go even to the farthest parts of the earth, there is Your right hand; if I make my bed in the abyss, there is Your Spirit.” Where, then, shall anyone go, or where shall he escape from Him who comprehends all things?

LET US THEN APPROACH HIM WITH HOLINESS OF SPIRIT: lifting up pure and undefiled hands to Him, loving our gracious and merciful Father, who has made us sharers in the blessings of His chosen ones. For it is written, “When the Most High divided the nations, when He scattered the sons of Adam, He fixed the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. His people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the lot of His inheritance.” And in another place, the Scripture says, “Behold, the Lord takes for Himself a nation out of the midst of the nations, as a man takes the first-fruits of his threshing floor; and from that nation shall come forth the Most Holy.”

SEEING: therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those things which pertain to holiness, avoiding all evil-speaking, all abominable and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, seeking after change, all abominable lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. “For God,” says [the Scripture], “resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Let us cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God. Let us clothe ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being justified by our works, and not our words. For [the Scripture] says, “He that speaks much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech deem himself righteous? Blessed is he that is born of woman, who lives but a short time: be not given to much speaking.” Let our praise be in God, and not of ourselves; for God hates those that commend themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be borne by others, as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers. Boldness, arrogance, and audacity belong to those that are accursed by God; but moderation, humility, and meekness to such as are blessed by Him.

LET US THEN HOLD FAST TO HIS BLESSING AND CONSIDER HOW WE CAN OBTAIN IT: Let us reflect on the events that have occurred from the beginning. Why was our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because he practiced righteousness and truth through faith? Isaac, with complete trust, as if aware of what was to occur, willingly offered himself as a sacrifice. Jacob, on account of his brother, left his own land with humility and went to Laban and served him; and to him was given the scepter of the twelve tribes of Israel.

WHOEVER WILL CANDIDLY CONSIDER EACH DETAIL WILL RECOGNIZE THE GREATNESS OF THE GIFTS GIVEN BY HIM: For from him have come the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God. From him also descended our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. From him arose kings, princes, and rulers of the race of Judah. Nor are his other tribes in small glory, since God had promised, “Your seed shall be as the stars of heaven.” All these, therefore, were highly honored and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness they accomplished, but through the operation of His will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works we have accomplished in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all people; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

WHAT SHALL WE DO: then, brothers? Shall we become lazy in doing good and stop practicing love? May the Lord never allow this to happen among us! Instead, let us eagerly and energetically perform every good work. For the Creator and Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works. By His infinitely great power He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible wisdom He adorned them. He also separated the earth from the surrounding water and fixed it upon the immovable foundation of His own will. The animals on it He commanded into existence by His own word. Similarly, when He formed the sea and the living creatures within it, He enclosed them within their proper bounds by His own power. Above all, with His holy and undefiled hands, He formed man, the most excellent of His creatures, and truly great through the understanding given him—the express likeness of His own image. For thus says God: “Let us make man in Our image and after Our likeness. So God made man; male and female He created them.” Having completed all these things, He approved them, and blessed them, and said, “Increase and multiply.” We see, then, how all righteous men have been adorned with good works and how the Lord Himself, adorning Himself with His works, rejoiced. Therefore, having such an example, let us immediately align with His will and work the work of righteousness with all our strength.

The good servant receives the bread of his labor with confidence; the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face. It is necessary, therefore, that we be prompt in the practice of doing good; for all things are from Him. And thus He warns us: “Behold, the Lord comes, and His reward is before Him, to render to every man according to his work.” He urges us, therefore, with our whole heart to attend to this, that we not be lazy or slothful in any good work. Let our boasting and our confidence be in Him. Let us submit ourselves to His will. Let us consider the whole multitude of His angels, how they stand ever ready to serve His will. For the Scripture says, “Ten thousand times ten thousand stood around Him, and thousands of thousands served Him, and cried, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Sabaoth; the whole creation is full of His glory.” And let us therefore, conscientiously gathering together in harmony, cry to Him earnestly, as with one voice, that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. For the Scripture says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which He has prepared for them that wait for Him.”

HOW BLESSED AND WONDERFUL: beloved, are the gifts of God! Life in immortality, splendor in righteousness, truth in perfect confidence, faith in assurance, self-control in holiness! And all these are within our understanding now; what then shall those things be which are prepared for those who wait for Him? The Creator and Father of all worlds, the Most Holy, alone knows their extent and their beauty. Let us therefore earnestly strive to be found among those who wait for Him, so that we may share in His promised gifts.

But how, beloved, shall this be done? If our understanding is fixed by faith towards God; if we earnestly seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we do the things which align with His blameless will; and if we follow the way of truth, casting away from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, along with all covetousness, strife, evil practices, deceit, whispering, and evil-speaking, all hatred of God, pride and arrogance, vanity and ambition. For those who do such things are hateful to God; and not only they who do them, but also those who take pleasure in those who do them.

For the Scripture says, “But to the sinner God said, Why do you proclaim my statutes, and take my covenant into your mouth, seeing you hate instruction, and cast my words behind you? When you saw a thief, you agreed with him, and you shared with adulterers. Your mouth has overflowed with wickedness, and your tongue devised deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought, wicked one, that I would be like you.

But I will reprove you, and set yourself before you. Consider now these things, you that forget God, lest He tear you in pieces, like a lion, and there be none to deliver. The sacrifice of praise will glorify Me, and there is a way by which I will show him the salvation of God.”

THIS IS THE WAY: beloved, in which we find our Savior, even Jesus Christ, the High Priest of all our offerings, the defender and helper of our weakness. By Him we look up to the heights of heaven. By Him we see, as in a mirror, His immaculate and most excellent face. By Him the eyes of our hearts are opened. By Him our foolish and darkened understanding blossoms anew towards His marvelous light. By Him the Lord has willed that we should taste immortal knowledge, "who, being the brightness of His majesty, is so much greater than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." For it is written, "He makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire." But concerning His Son the Lord spoke thus: "You are my Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the heathen for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession." And again He says to Him, "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool." But who are His enemies? All the wicked, and those who set themselves to oppose the will of God.

LET US THEN: men and brothers, with all energy take on the role of soldiers, in accordance with His holy commandments. Let us consider those who serve under our generals, with what order, obedience, and submissiveness they perform the things commanded to them. Not all are prefects, nor commanders of a thousand, nor of a hundred, nor of fifty, nor the like, but each one in his own rank performs the things commanded by the king and the generals. The great cannot exist without the small, nor the small without the great. There is a kind of mixture in all things, and from this arises mutual advantage. Let us take our body as an example. The head is nothing without the feet, and the feet are nothing without the head; indeed, the very smallest members of our body are necessary and useful to the whole body. But all work harmoniously together, and are under one common rule for the preservation of the whole body.

LET OUR ENTIRE BODY: then, be preserved in Christ Jesus; and let everyone be subject to their neighbor, according to the special gift bestowed upon them. Let the strong not despise the weak, and let the weak show respect to the strong. Let the rich man provide for the needs of the poor; and let the poor man bless God because He has given him someone by whom his needs may be met. Let the wise man display his wisdom, not by mere words, but through good deeds. Let the humble not testify about himself, but allow others to bear witness to him. Let him who is pure in the flesh not grow proud of it and boast, knowing that it was another who bestowed on him the gift of continence. Let us consider, then, brethren, of what matter we were made,—who and what manner of beings we came into the world, as if out of a sepulchre, and from utter darkness. He who made us and fashioned us, having prepared His bountiful gifts for us before we were born, introduced us into His world. Since, therefore, we receive all these things from Him, we ought to give Him thanks for everything; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

FOOLISH AND INCONSIDERATE MEN: who have neither wisdom nor instruction, mock and ridicule us, eager to exalt themselves in their own conceits. For what can a mortal man do? Or what strength is there in one made from dust? For it is written, "There was no shape before my eyes, only I heard a sound, and a voice saying, What then? Shall a man be pure before the Lord? Or shall such a one be counted blameless in his deeds, seeing He does not trust His servants and has charged even His angels with perversity? The heaven is not clean in His sight: how much less those who dwell in houses of clay, of which we ourselves were made! He struck them as a moth; and from morning to evening they do not endure. Because they could provide no assistance to themselves, they perished. He breathed upon them, and they died, because they had no wisdom. But call now, if anyone will answer you, or if you will look to any of the holy angels; for wrath destroys the foolish man, and envy kills him that is in error. I have seen the foolish taking root, but their dwelling was quickly consumed. Let their sons be far from safety; let them be despised at the gates of those less than themselves, and there shall be none to rescue. For what was prepared for them, the righteous shall eat; and they shall not be delivered from evil."

SINCE THESE THINGS ARE CLEAR TO US AND WE DELVE INTO THE DEPTHS OF DIVINE KNOWLEDGE: it is necessary for us to do everything in proper order, as the Lord has commanded us to perform at specified times. He has instructed offerings to be presented and services to be performed for Him, not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done, He Himself has determined by His own supreme will, so that all things done piously according to His good pleasure may be acceptable to Him. Therefore, those who present their offerings at the appointed times are accepted and blessed, for as they follow the laws of the Lord, they do not sin. Specific services are assigned to the high priest, proper places are prescribed for the priests, and special ministrations are designated for the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen.

LET EVERY ONE OF YOU: brothers, give thanks to God in his own order, living with a good conscience, with appropriate seriousness, and not going beyond the rule of the ministry assigned to him. Not everywhere, brothers, are the daily sacrifices offered, or the peace-offerings, or the sin-offerings, and the trespass-offerings, but only in Jerusalem. And even there they are not offered just anywhere, but only at the altar before the temple, after being carefully examined by the high priest and the ministers already mentioned. Those, therefore, who do anything beyond what is agreeable to His will, are punished with death. You see, brothers, that the greater the knowledge granted to us, the greater also is the danger to which we are exposed.

The apostles have preached the Gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ has done so from God. Christ was therefore sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. Thus, preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits of their labors, having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who would later believe. Nor was this a new thing, since many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus says the Scripture in a certain place, “I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith.”

AND WHAT WONDER IS IT IF THOSE IN CHRIST WHO WERE ENTRUSTED WITH SUCH A DUTY BY GOD: appointed those ministers previously mentioned, when the blessed Moses also, “a faithful servant in all his house,” recorded in the sacred books all the commands given to him, and when the other prophets also followed him, unanimously bearing witness to the ordinances he had appointed? For when rivalry arose concerning the priesthood, and the tribes were contending among themselves over which of them should be honored with that glorious title, he commanded the twelve leaders of the tribes to bring him their rods, each one inscribed with the name of the tribe.

He took them, bound them together, sealed them with the rings of the leaders of the tribes, and placed them in the tabernacle of witness on the table of God. After closing the doors of the tabernacle, he sealed the keys, just as he had done with the rods, and told them, Men and brethren, the tribe whose rod blossoms is the one God has chosen to fulfill the office of the priesthood and to minister to Him. When morning came, he assembled all Israel, six hundred thousand men, showed the seals to the leaders of the tribes, opened the tabernacle of witness, and brought out the rods.

The rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed but also to bear fruit. What do you think, beloved? Did Moses not know beforehand that this would happen? Undoubtedly he knew; but he acted this way so that there might be no sedition in Israel, and that the name of the true and only God might be glorified; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

OUR APOSTLES ALSO KNEW: through our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be conflict regarding the office of the episcopate. For this reason, considering that they had obtained perfect foreknowledge of this, they appointed the ministers previously mentioned, and subsequently instructed that when these ministers passed away, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We believe, therefore, that those appointed by them, or later by other distinguished men with the consent of the whole Church, who have served the flock of Christ blamelessly in a humble, peaceful, and selfless spirit, and have long enjoyed a good reputation with everyone, cannot be justly removed from the ministry. Our sin will not be small if we dismiss from the episcopate those who have fulfilled its duties blamelessly and holily. Blessed are those presbyters who, having completed their journey before now, have achieved a fruitful and perfect departure from this world; for they have no fear of being deprived of the place now appointed to them. But we see that you have removed some men of excellent character from the ministry, which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honor.

YOU ARE FOND OF CONTENTION: brothers, and full of zeal about things that do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing unjust or counterfeit is written in them. There you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who were themselves 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, brothers? Was Daniel cast into the den of lions by those who feared God? Were Ananias, Azarias, and Mishael thrown into a furnace of fire by those who observed the great and glorious worship of the Most High? Far be it from us to think such a thing! Who, then, were they who did such things? The hateful, and those full of all wickedness, were roused to such a level of fury, that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose of heart, not realizing that the Most High is the Defender and Protector of all those who venerate His all-excellent name with a pure conscience; to whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

But those who confidently endured these things are now heirs of glory and honor and have been exalted and made illustrious by God in their memory forever and ever. Amen.

SUCH EXAMPLES: therefore, brothers, it is right that we should follow; since it is written, “Join to the holy, for those that join them shall themselves be made holy.” And again, in another place, [the Scripture] says, “With a harmless person you shall prove yourself harmless, and with an elect person you shall be elect, and with a perverse person you shall show yourself perverse.” Let us join, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God.

Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not all one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that “we are members one of another?” Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, “Woe to that man by whom offences come! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect.

Yes, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about his neck, and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones.” Your schism has subverted the faith of many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continues.

CONSIDER THE LETTER FROM THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL: What did he write to you when the Gospel first started being preached? Truly, led by the Spirit, he wrote to you about himself, Cephas, and Apollos, because even then factions had formed among you. However, your preference for one over another was less blameworthy, as your loyalties were directed towards apostles who were already highly regarded and towards a man they had endorsed. But now, think about who has misled you and diminished the fame of your renowned brotherly love. It is disgraceful, beloved, indeed highly disgraceful, and unworthy of your Christian profession, that such a thing should be heard of, that the most steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians should, because of one or two people, engage in conflict against its presbyters. This rumor has reached not only us but also those who are not connected to us; so that, through your foolishness, the name of the Lord is blasphemed, and you bring danger upon yourselves.

LET US: therefore, quickly put an end to this situation; and let us fall down before the Lord and beseech Him with tears, that He would mercifully reconcile with us and restore us to our former proper and holy practice of brotherly love. For such conduct is the gate of righteousness, which is open for the attainment of life, as it is written, “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go in through them and will praise the Lord: this is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter through it.” Although many gates have been opened, this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ by which all who have entered are blessed and have directed their way in holiness and righteousness, doing all things without disorder. Let a man be faithful; let him be powerful in the utterance of knowledge; let him be wise in judging words; let him be pure in all his deeds; yet the more he seems superior to others in these respects, the more humble-minded he ought to be, and seek the common good of all, not just his own advantage.

LET THOSE WHO HAVE LOVE IN CHRIST KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST: Who can describe the blessed bond of the love of God? What person is able to tell the excellence of its beauty as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable. Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love bears all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love allows no schisms; love gives rise to no seditions; love does all things in harmony. By love, all the elect of God have been made perfect; without love, nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love, the Lord has taken us to Himself. Out of the Love He bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.

YOU SEE: beloved, how great and wonderful a thing love is, and that its perfection cannot be described. Who is fit to be found in it except those whom God has granted to be so? Let us pray, therefore, and implore His mercy, that we may live blamelessly in love, free from any human favoritism for one over another. All the generations from Adam until this day have passed away, but those who, through the grace of God, have been made perfect in love now have a place among the godly and will be revealed at the coming of the kingdom of Christ. For it is written, "Enter into your secret chambers for a little while, until my wrath and fury pass away; and I will remember a favorable day, and will raise you up from your graves." Blessed are we, beloved, if we keep the commandments of God in the harmony of love so that through love our sins may be forgiven us. For it is written, "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the person whose sin the Lord will not count against them, and in whose mouth there is no deceit." This blessedness comes to those who have been chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

LET US THEREFORE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FOR ALL THOSE TRANSGRESSIONS WE HAVE COMMITTED THROUGH ANY SUGGESTION OF THE ADVERSARY: And those who have been leaders of rebellion and disagreement should have respect for the common hope. For those who live in fear and love would rather endure suffering themselves than have their neighbors endure it. They prefer to take the blame themselves, rather than let the concord, which has been well and piously handed down to us, suffer. For it is better for a person to acknowledge their transgressions than to harden their heart, like those who stirred up rebellion against Moses, the servant of God, and whose condemnation was evident to all. For they went down alive into Hades, and death swallowed them up. Pharaoh, with his army and all the princes of Egypt, and the chariots with their riders, were sunk in the depths of the Red Sea and perished, for no other reason than that their foolish hearts were hardened after so many signs and wonders had been performed in the land of Egypt by Moses, the servant of God.

THE LORD: brothers, needs nothing and desires nothing from anyone except that they confess to Him. For the chosen David says, "I will confess to the Lord, and that will please Him more than a young bull with horns and hooves. Let the poor see it and be glad." And again he says, "Offer to God the sacrifice of praise and fulfill your vows to the Most High. And call upon Me in the day of your trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." For "the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit."

YOU UNDERSTAND: beloved, you understand well the Sacred Scriptures, and you have looked very earnestly into the oracles of God. Call then these things to your remembrance. When Moses went up into the mount, and stayed there, with fasting and humiliation, forty days and forty nights, the Lord said to him, “Moses, Moses, go down quickly from here; for your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have committed iniquity. They have quickly departed from the way in which I commanded them to walk, and have made for themselves molten images.” And the Lord said to him, “I have spoken to you once and again, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people: let Me destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make you a great and wonderful nation, and one much more numerous than this.” But Moses said, “Far be it from You, Lord: pardon the sin of this people; else blot me also out of the book of the living.” O marvelous love! O insuperable perfection! The servant speaks freely to his Lord, and asks for forgiveness for the people, or begs that he himself might perish along with them.

Who among you is noble-minded? Who is compassionate? Who is full of love? Let them declare, "If because of me there has been sedition, disagreement, and division, I will leave, I will go wherever you want, and I will do whatever the majority commands; only let the flock of Christ live in peace with the presbyters appointed over it." Whoever acts in this way will gain great glory in the Lord, and every place will welcome them. For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." Those who live a godly life, never to be repented of, have done and always will do these things.

TO PRESENT SOME EXAMPLES FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN: Many kings and princes, in times of pestilence, when instructed by an oracle, have given themselves up to death so that by their own blood they might deliver their fellow citizens from destruction. Many have left their own cities, so that rebellion might be ended within them. We know many among ourselves who have given themselves up to bonds in order to ransom others. Many have surrendered themselves to slavery, so that with the price they received for themselves, they might provide food for others. Many women, strengthened by the grace of God, have performed numerous courageous acts. The blessed Judith, when her city was besieged, asked the elders for permission to go into the camp of the strangers; and, exposing herself to danger, she went out for the love she had for her country and people under siege; and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hands of a woman. Esther, too, being perfect in faith, exposed herself to no less danger in order to deliver the twelve tribes of Israel from impending destruction. Through fasting and humility, she entreated the everlasting God, who sees all things; and He, perceiving the humility of her spirit, delivered the people for whom she had faced peril.

LET US THEN ALSO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN INTO ANY SIN: that meekness and humility may be given to them, so that they may submit, not to us, but to the will of God. In this way, they will secure a fruitful and perfect remembrance from us, with sympathy for them, both in our prayers to God and our mention of them to the saints. Let us accept correction, beloved, for which no one should feel displeased. The exhortations by which we admonish one another are both good in themselves and highly profitable, for they tend to unite us to the will of God.

For thus says the holy Word: “The Lord has severely chastened me, yet has not given me over to death.” “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” “The righteous,” it says, “shall chasten me in mercy and reprove me; but let not the oil of sinners make my head fat.” And again, it says, “Blessed is the man whom the Lord reproves, and do not reject the warning of the Almighty. For He causes sorrow, and again restores to gladness; He wounds, and His hands make whole.

He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in the seventh no evil shall touch you. In famine He shall rescue you from death, and in war He shall free you from the power of the sword. From the scourge of the tongue will He hide you, and you shall not fear when evil comes. You shall laugh at the unrighteous and the wicked, and shall not be afraid of the beasts of the field. For the wild beasts shall be at peace with you: then you shall know that your house shall be in peace, and the habitation of your tabernacle shall not fail.

You shall also know that your descendants shall be great, and your children like the grass of the field. And you shall come to the grave like ripened corn, which is reaped in its season, or like a heap of the threshing floor, which is gathered together at the proper time.” You see, beloved, that protection is afforded to those who are chastened by the Lord; for since God is good, He corrects us so that we may be admonished by His holy chastisement.

YOU: therefore, who initiated this rebellion, submit yourselves to the elders, and accept correction to repent, bending the knees of your hearts. Learn to be obedient, setting aside the proud and arrogant self-confidence of your speech. For it is better for you to occupy a humble but honorable place in the flock of Christ, than to be highly exalted and then cast out from the hope of His people. For thus speaks all-virtuous Wisdom: “Behold, I will present to you the words of My Spirit, and I will teach you My speech. Since I called, and you did not hear; I offered My words, and you ignored them, disregarding My advice and not responding to My corrections; therefore I too will laugh at your destruction; yes, I will rejoice when ruin comes upon you, and when sudden confusion overtakes you, when disaster strikes like a storm, or when tribulation and oppression fall upon you. For it will happen that when you call upon Me, I will not hear you; the wicked will seek Me, and they will not find Me. For they hated wisdom and did not choose the fear of the Lord; they would not listen to My advice, but despised My corrections. Therefore they shall eat the fruits of their own path, and they shall be filled with their own ungodliness.”

MAY GOD: who sees all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh—who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a special people—grant to every soul that calls upon His glorious and holy Name, faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing of His Name, through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, majesty, power, and honor, both now and forevermore. Amen.

SEND BACK QUICKLY TO US IN PEACE AND WITH JOY THESE OUR MESSENGERS TO YOU: Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, with Fortunatus, so they may announce to us sooner the peace and harmony we so earnestly desire and long for among you, and so we may more quickly rejoice over the good order re-established among you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and with all everywhere who are the called of God through Him, to whom be glory, honor, power, majesty, and eternal dominion, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.