Letter 103: The Lord has answered the prayer of His people and has given them, by my humble instrumentality, a shepherd worthy of the name; not one making traffic of the word, as many do, but competent to give full satisfaction to you, who love orthodoxy of doctrine, and have accepted a life agreeable to the Lord's commands, in the name of the Lord, Who has...

Basil of CaesareaUnknown|c. 363 AD|Basil of Caesarea|Human translated
property economics

The Lord has answered your prayers. Through my modest efforts, He has given you a shepherd who truly deserves the name — not someone peddling the word for profit, as so many do [a common complaint about clergy in this era], but a man fully capable of serving you well. You love sound doctrine and have embraced a life shaped by the Lord's commands. He has filled your new bishop with His own spiritual gifts, and I give you this shepherd in the Lord's name.

Human translationNew Advent (NPNF / ANF series)

Latin / Greek Original

[Πρός: Σαταλεῦσιν]

Ἤγαγεν εἰς ἔργον ὁ Κύριος τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ τὰ αἰτήματα, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ διὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας ταπεινώσεως ποιμένα ἄξιον μὲν τοῦ ὀνόματος, καὶ οὐ κατὰ τοὺς πολλοὺς καπηλεύοντα τὸν λόγον, δυνάμενον δὲ καὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς τὴν ὀρθότητα τοῦ κηρύγματος ἀγαπῶσι καὶ τὴν κατʼ ἐντολὰς τοῦ Κυρίου ζωὴν καταδεξαμένοις ἀρέσκειν καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Κυρίου τοῦ πληρώσαντος αὐτὸν τῶν πνευματικῶν αὐτοῦ χαρισμάτων.

Related Letters