Opening
To John and Antiochus.
To John and Antiochus.
Athanasius to John and Antiochus, our beloved sons and fellow presbyters in the Lord, greetings.
Athanasius to John and Antiochus, our beloved sons and fellow presbyters in the Lord, greeting.
I was happy to receive your letter just now, especially because you wrote from Jerusalem. Thank you for telling me about the brothers who gathered there, and about those who want to upset simple believers because of disputed points. But concerning these things, let the Apostle warn them not to pay attention to those who argue about words and want nothing more than to tell or hear something new. Instead, you should stand firm on your sure foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord and the fathers' confession concerning the faith. Avoid those who want to say anything more or less than that, and instead focus on what benefits the brothers, so they may fear God and keep His commandments. In this way, both through the teaching of the fathers and through keeping the commandments, they will be able to appear pleasing to the Lord on the day of judgment. But I have been completely astonished at the boldness of those who dare to speak against our beloved Basil the bishop, a true servant of God. For their empty talk proves that they do not even love the confession of the fathers.
I was glad to receive your letter just now, the more so as you wrote from Jerusalem. I thank you for informing me about the brethren that there assembled, and about those who wish, on account of disputed points, to disturb the simple. But about these things let the Apostle charge them not to give heed to those who contend about words, and seek nothing else than to tell and hear some new thing. But do you, having your foundation sure, even Jesus Christ our Lord, and the confession of the fathers concerning the faith, avoid those who wish to say anything more or less than that, and rather aim at the profit of the brethren, that they may fear God and keep His commandments, in order that both by the teaching of the fathers, and by the keeping of the commandments, they may be able to appear well-pleasing to the Lord in the day of judgment. But I have been utterly astonished at the boldness of those who venture to speak against our beloved Basil the bishop, a true servant of God. For from such vain talk they can be convicted of not loving even the confession of the fathers.
Greet the brethren. Those who are with me greet you. I pray that you may be well in the Lord, beloved and much-desired sons.
Greet the brethren. They that are with me greet you. I pray that you may be well in the Lord, beloved and much-desired sons.