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Translated by W. Moore and H. A. Wilson
St Gregory of Nyssa Resources Online and in Print
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This Part: 128 Pages
Page 22
For He neither joins in the fray, nor does He implant the power to contend, but merely wishes that the athlete in whom He is interested may not come off second in the strife. And so Paul wrestles "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places [513] ," while the Spirit of power does not strengthen the combatants nor distribute to them His gifts, "dividing to every man severally as He will [514] ," but His influence is limited to cheering on those who are engaged.
Again he says, "Emboldening the faint-hearted." And here, while in accordance with his own method he follows his previous blasphemy against the Spirit, the truth for all that manifests itself, even through unfriendly lips. For to none other than to God does it belong to implant courage in the fearful, saying to the faint-hearted, "Fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed [515] ," as says the Psalmist, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me [516] ." Nay, the Lord Himself says to the fearful,--"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid [517] ," and, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith [518] ?" and, "Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid [519] ," and again, "Be of good cheer: I have overcome the world [520] ." Accordingly, even though this may not have been the intention of Eunomius, orthodoxy asserts itself by means even of the voice of an enemy. And the next sentence agrees with that which went before:--"Caring for all, and showing all concern and forethought." For in fact it belongs to God alone to care and to take thought for all, as the mighty David has expressed it, "I am poor and needy, but the Lord careth for me [521] ." And if what remains seems to be resolved into empty words, with sound and without sense, let no one find fault, seeing that in most of what he says, so far as any sane meaning is concerned, he is feeble and untutored. For what on earth he means when he says, "for the onward leading of the better disposed and the guardianship of the more faithful," neither he himself, nor they who senselessly admire his follies, could possibly tell us.
[513] Eph. vi. 12.
[514] 1 Cor. xii. 11.
[515] Is. xli. 10.
[516] Ps. xxiii. 4.
[517] S. John xiv. 27
[518] S. Matt. viii. 26.
[519] S. Mark vi. 50
[520] S. John xvi. 33
[521] Ps. xl. 20.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/nyssa/against-eunomius-2.asp?pg=22
