Opening
First Letter to Monks. (Written 358-360).
First Letter to Monks. (Written 358-360).
To those everywhere who are living the monastic life, who are established in the faith of God and sanctified in Christ, and who say, "Look, we have left everything and followed You Matthew 19:27," beloved brothers whom we deeply long for, warmest greetings in the Lord.
1. To those in every place who are living a monastic life, who are established in the faith of God, and sanctified in Christ, and who say, 'Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed You Matthew 19:27,' brethren dearly beloved and longed for, heartiest greeting in the Lord.
In response to your loving request, which you have often pressed upon me, I have written a brief account of the sufferings that we and the Church have endured, refuting to the best of my ability the accursed heresy of the Arian madmen and demonstrating how completely alien it is to the Truth. I thought it necessary to explain to your Piety how much effort this writing has cost me, so that you might thereby understand how truly the blessed Apostle has said, 'O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God,' and might kindly make allowance for a weak man such as I am by nature. For the more I wanted to write and tried to force myself to grasp the Divinity of the Word, the more that knowledge withdrew from me. And the more I thought I had understood it, the more I realized I had failed to do so. Furthermore, I was unable to put into writing even what I seemed to myself to understand, and what I did write fell short of even the imperfect shadow of the truth that existed in my mind.
1. In compliance with your affectionate request, which you have frequently urged upon me, I have written a short account of the sufferings which ourselves and the Church have undergone, refuting, according to my ability, the accursed heresy of the Arian madmen, and proving how entirely it is alien from the Truth. And I thought it needful to represent to your Piety what pains the writing of these things has cost me, in order that you may understand thereby how truly the blessed Apostle has said, 'O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God Romans 11:33;' and may kindly bear with a weak man such as I am by nature. For the more I desired to write, and endeavoured to force myself to understand the Divinity of the Word, so much the more did the knowledge thereof withdraw itself from me; and in proportion as I thought that I apprehended it, in so much I perceived myself to fail of doing so. Moreover also I was unable to express in writing even what I seemed to myself to understand; and that which I wrote was unequal to the imperfect shadow of the truth which existed in my conception.
I thought carefully about what is written in the Book of Ecclesiastes: "I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me; That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who shall find it out?" and what is said in the Psalms, "The knowledge of You is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it," and Solomon's words, "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing." Because of this, I often intended to stop and give up writing—believe me, I did. But I did not want to disappoint you or, by staying silent, lead those who have asked you questions and enjoy debate into impiety. So I forced myself to write briefly what I have now sent to your piety. Although a perfect understanding of the truth is currently far removed from us because of the weakness of the flesh, it is still possible, as the Preacher himself said, to recognize the madness of the impious, and having found it, to say that it is "more bitter than death." Therefore, for this reason, since I can perceive and find this out, I have written, knowing that for the faithful, exposing impiety is enough instruction in what piety consists of. For although it is impossible to fully comprehend what God is, it is still possible to say what He is not. And we know that He is not like man, and that it is not lawful to think of any created nature as existing in Him. So also regarding the Son of God: although we are by nature very far from being able to comprehend Him, it is still possible and easy to condemn what the heretics say about Him, and to say that the Son of God is not such. Nor is it even lawful to conceive in our minds such things as they speak concerning His Godhead, much less to speak them with our lips.
2. Considering therefore how it is written in the Book of Ecclesiastes, 'I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me; That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who shall find it out?' Ecclesiastes 7:23-24 and what is said in the Psalms, 'The knowledge of You is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it;' and that Solomon says, 'It is the glory of God to conceal a thing Proverbs 25:2;' I frequently designed to stop and to cease writing; believe me, I did. But lest I should be found to disappoint you, or by my silence to lead into impiety those who have made enquiry of you, and are given to disputation, I constrained myself to write briefly, what I have now sent to your piety. For although a perfect apprehension of the truth is at present far removed from us by reason of the infirmity of the flesh, yet it is possible, as the Preacher himself has said, to perceive the madness of the impious, and having found it, to say that it is 'more bitter than death Ecclesiastes 7:26.' Wherefore for this reason, as perceiving this and able to find it out, I have written, knowing that to the faithful the detection of impiety is a sufficient information wherein piety consists. For although it be impossible to comprehend what God is, yet it is possible to say what He is not. And we know that He is not as man; and that it is not lawful to conceive of any originated nature as existing in Him. So also respecting the Son of God, although we are by nature very far from being able to comprehend Him; yet is it possible and easy to condemn the assertions of the heretics concerning Him, and to say, that the Son of God is not such; nor is it lawful even to conceive in our minds such things as they speak, concerning His Godhead; much less to utter them with the lips.
I have written as well as I could, and you, dearly beloved, should receive these communications not as containing a complete explanation of the Godhead of the Word, but simply as a refutation of the impiety of Christ's enemies, and as offering to those who desire it some suggestions for arriving at a pious and sound faith in Christ. And if they are deficient in any way (and I think they are deficient in every respect), pardon this with a clear conscience, and simply accept favorably the boldness of my good intentions in support of godliness. For a total condemnation of the Arian heresy, it is enough for you to know the judgment given by the Lord in the death of Arius, which you have already been informed about by others. For what the Holy God has purposed, who can scatter? And whom the Lord has condemned, who can justify? After such a sign has been given, who does not now acknowledge that this heresy is hated by God, no matter how many men may support it? Now when you have read this account, pray for me and encourage one another to do so. And send it back to me immediately, and do not allow anyone to make a copy of it or transcribe it for yourselves. But like good money-changers, be content with the reading; though you may read it repeatedly if you wish. For it is not safe that the writings of us babblers and private persons should fall into the hands of those who come after us. Greet one another in love, and also all who come to you in piety and faith. For as the Apostle has said, if anyone does not love the Lord, let him be anathema. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
3. Accordingly I have written as well as I was able; and you, dearly beloved, receive these communications not as containing a perfect exposition of the Godhead of the Word, but as being merely a refutation of the impiety of the enemies of Christ, and as containing and affording to those who desire it, suggestions for arriving at a pious and sound faith in Christ. And if in anything they are defective (and I think they are defective in all respects), pardon it with a pure conscience, and only receive favourably the boldness of my good intentions in support of godliness. For an utter condemnation of the heresy of the Arians, it is sufficient for you to know the judgment given by the Lord in the death of Arius, of which you have already been informed by others. 'For what the Holy God has purposed, who shall scatter Isaiah 14:27?' and whom the Lord condemned who shall justify? After such a sign given, who do not now acknowledge, that the heresy is hated of God, however it may have men for its patrons? Now when you have read this account, pray for me, and exhort one another so to do. And immediately send it back to me, and suffer no one whatever to take a copy of it, nor transcribe it for yourselves. But like good money-changers be satisfied with the reading; but read it repeatedly if you desire to do so. For it is not safe that the writings of us babblers and private persons should fall into the hands of them that shall come after. Salute one another in love, and also all that come unto you in piety and faith. For 'if any man' as the Apostle has said, ' love not the Lord, let him be anathema. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 1 Corinthians 16:22-23 Amen.'