Theodoret of Cyrrhus→Festus and Magnus|c. 440 AD|theodoret cyrrhus
From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To: Magnus Antoninus, Presbyter
Date: ~449 AD
Context: A brief letter of encouragement to a priest who has been active in defending orthodoxy, urging him to persevere.
To Magnus Antoninus the Presbyter,
Sailors at night are cheered by the sight of harbor lights, and so are those of us in peril for the apostolic faith by the zeal of people who share our beliefs. The reports we hear of your efforts on behalf of divine doctrine bring us great comfort. This spirit has been given to you by the Giver of all good gifts, and for the safekeeping of these doctrines you endure every hardship.
Encouraged by your zeal, I offer a small gift in return: I urge you to persevere in your godly labors, to scorn your adversaries as an easy mark -- for what is weaker than people who lack the truth? -- and to trust in Him who said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" [Hebrews 13:5], and "I am with you always, even to the end of the world" [Matthew 28:20].
Help me too with your prayers, so that I may say with confidence: "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" [Psalm 118:6].
Letter 129
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To Magnus Antoninus the Presbyter.
Sailors at night are cheered by the sight of the harbour lights, and so are they who are in peril for the sake of the apostolic faith by the zeal of them that share the faith. We have great comfort in what we hear of your godliness's efforts on behalf of the divine doctrines, for this mind has been given you by the Giver of all good gifts and for the safe keeping of these doctrines you undergo every toil. Now I, comforted by your zeal, make an insignificant return, calling on you to persevere in your divine labours, to despise your adversaries as an easy prey, (for what is weaker than they who are destitute of the truth?) and to trust in Him who said I will not fail you nor forsake you, and Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world. Help me too with your prayers that I may confidently say The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
◆
From:Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To:Magnus Antoninus, Presbyter
Date:~449 AD
Context:A brief letter of encouragement to a priest who has been active in defending orthodoxy, urging him to persevere.
To Magnus Antoninus the Presbyter,
Sailors at night are cheered by the sight of harbor lights, and so are those of us in peril for the apostolic faith by the zeal of people who share our beliefs. The reports we hear of your efforts on behalf of divine doctrine bring us great comfort. This spirit has been given to you by the Giver of all good gifts, and for the safekeeping of these doctrines you endure every hardship.
Encouraged by your zeal, I offer a small gift in return: I urge you to persevere in your godly labors, to scorn your adversaries as an easy mark -- for what is weaker than people who lack the truth? -- and to trust in Him who said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" [Hebrews 13:5], and "I am with you always, even to the end of the world" [Matthew 28:20].
Help me too with your prayers, so that I may say with confidence: "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" [Psalm 118:6].
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.