Letter 140: The cross — the very thing the idol-worshippers mocked — crucified their polytheistic delusion.

To Harpocras the Sophist. On reading, against the pagans. On the grace of the divinely inspired Scriptures and the benefit derived from them. Many among the pagans have written many things which bring neither benefit to those who believe them nor harm to those who have not heard them. But the divine Scriptures bring the greatest gain to those who believe, and no small injury to those who disobey. For the pagan authors wrote in pursuit of glory, but the Scriptures look to the salvation of their hearers.

ΡΜ. – ΑΡΠΟΚΡΑ ΣΟΦΙΣΤΗ. Περὶ ἀναγνώσεως, κατὰ ᾿Ελλήνων. Περὶ τῆς χάριτος τῶν θεοπνεύστων Γραφῶν, καὶ τῆς ἐξ αὐτῶν ὠφελείας. Τῶν μὲν ἔξωθεν πολλοὶ πολλὰ γεγράφασιν, ἃ μήτε τοῖς πεισθεῖσιν ὠφέλειαν, μήτε τοῖς ἀνηκόοις ζημίαν φέρει · αἱ δὲ θεῖαι Γραφαὶ τοῖς μὲν πεισθεῖσι μέγιστον κέρδος, τοῖς δ᾽ ἀπειθήσασιν (50) οὐ μικρὰν ὠδίνουσι βλάβην. Οἱ μὲν γὰρ δόξαν θηρώμενοι γε- γράφασιν· αἱ δὲ πρὸς σωτηρίαν τῶν ἀκουόντων ὁρῶσιν. ΡΝΖ΄. – ΑΝΑΝΙΩ Χρήματα κτᾶσθαι ἀναγκαῖον.