Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

To the same, in answer to another question.
Letter CCXXXV. 2960
1. Which is first in order, knowledge or faith? I reply that generally, in the case of disciples,
faith precedes knowledge. But, in our teaching, if any one asserts knowledge to come
before faith, I make no objection; understanding knowledge so far as is within the bounds
of human comprehension. In our lessons we must first believe that the letter a is said to us;
then we learn the characters and their pronunciation, and last of all we get the distinct idea
of the force of the letter. But in our belief about God, first comes the idea that God is. This
we gather from His works. For, as we perceive His wisdom, His goodness, and all His invisible
things from the creation of the world, 2961 so we know Him. So, too, we accept Him as
our Lord. For since God is the Creator of the whole world, and we are a part of the world,
God is our Creator. This knowledge is followed by faith, and this faith by worship.
2. But the word knowledge has many meanings, and so those who make sport of simpler
minds, and like to make themselves remarkable by astounding statements (just like jugglers
who get the balls out of sight before men’s very eyes), hastily included everything in their
general enquiry. Knowledge, I say, has a very wide application, and knowledge may be got
of what a thing is, by number, by bulk, by force, by its mode of existence, by the period of
its generation, by its essence. When then our opponents include the whole in their question,
if they catch us in the confession that we know, they straightway demand from us knowledge
of the essence; if, on the contrary, they see us cautious as to making any assertion on the
subject, they affix on us the stigma of impiety. I, however, confess that I know what is
knowable of God, and that I know what it is which is beyond my comprehension. 2962 So
if you ask me if I know what sand is, and I reply that I do, you will obviously be slandering
me, if you straightway ask me the number of the sand; inasmuch as your first enquiry bore
only on the form of sand, while your second unfair objection bore upon its number. The
quibble is just as though any one were to say, Do you know Timothy? Oh, if you know
Timothy you know his nature. Since you have acknowledged that you know Timothy, give
me an account of Timothy’s nature. Yes; but I at the same time both know and do not know
Timothy, though not in the same way and in the same degree. It is not that I do not know
in the same way in which I do know; but I know in one way and am ignorant in one way.
I know him according to his form and other properties; but I am ignorant of his essence.
Indeed, in this way too, I both know, and am ignorant of, myself. I know indeed who I am,
but, so far as I am ignorant of my essence I do not know myself.
2960 Placed in 376.
2961 cf. Rom. i. 20.
To the same, in answer to another question.
2962 A various reading gives the sense “but do not know what is beyond my comprehension.”
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