Letter 173: "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, but with the temptation will also...

Theodoret of CyrrhusAndreas, of Samosata, written from Ephesus|c. 440 AD|Theodoret of Cyrrhus|Human translated
christologymonasticism

To Andreas, Monk of Constantinople,

"God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, but with the temptation will also provide a way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it" [1 Corinthians 10:13]. He has exposed falsehood -- though even now the refuted falsehood is still approved by some -- and has demonstrated the power of truth.

For look: those who by their impious reasoning had confused the natures of our Savior Christ, and dared to preach one nature, and who for this reason insulted the most holy and venerable Nestorius, high priest of God -- their mouths have been held, as the prophet says, "with bit and bridle" [Psalm 32:9], and they have been turned from wrong to right. They have learned the truth once again, adopting the very position of the man who bore the brunt of the battle for the truth's sake.

Instead of one nature they now confess two, anathematizing all who preach mixture and confusion. They adore the impassible Godhead of Christ. They attribute suffering to the flesh. They distinguish among the terms of the Gospels, assigning the lofty and divine statements to the Godhead, and the lowly ones to the manhood. Such are the writings now brought from Egypt.

Human translationNew Advent (NPNF / ANF series)

Related Letters