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

To Timotheus the Chorepiscopus. 3256
Letter CCXCI. 3255
The due limits of a letter, and that mode of addressing you, render it inconvenient for
me to write all I think; at the same time to pass over my thoughts in silence, when my heart
is burning with righteous indignation against you, is well-nigh impossible. I will adopt the
midway course: I will write some things; others I will omit. For I wish to chide you, if so I
may, in terms both flank and friendly.
Yes! that Timotheus whom I have known from boyhood, so intent upon an upright and
ascetic life, as even to be accused of excess therein, now forsakes the enquiry after those
means whereby we may be united to God; now makes it his first thought what some one
else may think of him, and lives a life of dependence upon the opinions of others; is mainly
anxious how to serve his friends, without incurring the ridicule of enemies; and fears disgrace
with the world as a great misfortune. Does he not know, that while he is occupied with
these trifles he is unconsciously neglecting his highest interests? For, that we cannot be
engaged with both at once—the things of this world and of Heaven—the holy Scriptures
are full of teaching for us. Nay, Nature herself is full of such instances. In the exercise of
the mental faculty, to think two thoughts at the same time is quite impossible. In the perceptions
of our senses, to admit two sounds falling upon our ears at the same moment, and
to distinguish them, although we are provided with two open passages, is impossible. Our
eyes, again, unless they are both fixed upon the object of our vision, are unable to perform
their action accurately.
Thus much for Nature; but to recite to you the evidence of the Scriptures were as ridiculous
as, so runs the proverb, ‘to carry owls to Athens.’ 3257 Why then combine things incompatible—the
tumults of civil life and the practice of religion?
Withdraw from clamour; be no more the cause or object of annoyance; let us keep
ourselves to ourselves. We long since proposed religion as our aim; let us make the attainment
of it our practice, and shew those who have the wish to insult us that it does not lie
with them to annoy us at their will. But this will only be when we have clearly shewn them
that we afford no handle for abuse.
For the present enough of this! Would that some day we might meet and more perfectly
consider those things that be for our souls’ welfare; so may we not be too much occupied
with thoughts of vanity, since death must one day overtake us.
3255 Placed in the episcopate.
3256 cf. note on p. 156.
3257 γλαῦκἠ ᾽Αθήναζε. Arist., Av. 301.
To Timotheus the Chorepiscopus.
862
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