Letter 83

Isidore of PelusiumUnknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An inquirer
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore explains Paul's words about the foolishness of pagan philosophers.

"Professing to be wise, they became fools" [Romans 1:22] — this was said, my wise friend, because among the philosophers there was great swelling of self-regard divorced from truth, while in the Scriptures there is truth purified of all bombast. In those days it took courage and great insight to cut through every persuasive argument of pagan philosophy and embrace the teaching of the fishermen instead. Today the faith has been established and the pagan schools are empty — yet some still prefer the defeated wisdom. They love the appearance of learning more than learning itself.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.