Letter 121
Isidore of Pelusium→Unknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An unnamed recipient
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore marvels at the Apostle Paul's courage when speaking under trial.
I greatly admire the courage of the celebrated Paul — how even when he was on trial, he gave public addresses, and even when called to account, he taught. It is the teacher's role to speak with authority; it is the defendant's role to measure his words carefully for the occasion. But Paul did the opposite. He had within himself the giver and master of wisdom, and so the courtroom became his classroom. Where others would have cowered, he proclaimed. This is what happens when a person speaks not from his own resources but from the Spirit dwelling within him.
Περὶ τῆς ὃν ταῖς δημηγορίαις παῤῥησίας τοὺ Παύ,λου. Λίαν θαυμάζω τοῦ ἀοιδίμου Παύλου τὴν ἀνδρίαν, πῶς χαὶ χρινόμενος ἐδημηγόρει, χαὶ εὐθύνας ἀπαι- τούμενος ἐδίδασχε. Διδασχάλου μὲν γάρ ἔστι τὸ μετ᾽ ἐξουσία; λέγειν, χρινομένου δὲ τὸ μετρεῖν τῷ καιρῷ τοὺς λόγους. ᾿Αλλ᾽ οὗτος εἰς τοὐναντίον ἐχώρει" εἶχε γὰρ ἐν ἑαυτῷ τὸν τῆς σοφίας χορηγόν τε καὶ πρύτανιν.
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From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An unnamed recipient
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore marvels at the Apostle Paul's courage when speaking under trial.
I greatly admire the courage of the celebrated Paul — how even when he was on trial, he gave public addresses, and even when called to account, he taught. It is the teacher's role to speak with authority; it is the defendant's role to measure his words carefully for the occasion. But Paul did the opposite. He had within himself the giver and master of wisdom, and so the courtroom became his classroom. Where others would have cowered, he proclaimed. This is what happens when a person speaks not from his own resources but from the Spirit dwelling within him.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.