1. As it was your desire, my beloved brother Theophilus,2    Perhaps the same Theophilus whom Methodius, a contemporary of Hippolytus, addresses as Epiphanius. [See vol. vi., this series.] From this introduction, too, it is clear that they are in error who take this book to be a homily. (Fabricius.) to be thoroughly informed on those topics which I put summarily before you, I have thought it right to set these matters of inquiry clearly forth to your view, drawing largely from the Holy Scriptures themselves as from a holy fountain, in order that you may not only have the pleasure of hearing them on the testimony of men,3    In the text the reading is τῶν ὄντων, for which τῶν ὤτων = of the ears, is proposed by some, and ἀνθρώπων = of men, by others. In the manuscripts the abbreviation ανων is often found for ἀνθρώπων. but may also be able, by surveying them in the light of (divine) authority, to glorify God in all. For this will be as a sure supply furnished you by us for your journey in this present life, so that by ready argument applying things ill understood and apprehended by most, you may sow them in the ground of your heart, as in a rich and clean soil.4    In the text we find ὡς πίων καθαρὰ γῆ, for which grammar requires ὡς πίονι καθαρᾷ γῇ.  Combefisius proposes ὡσπερ οὖν καθαρᾷ γῆ = as in clean ground. Others would read ὡς πυρόν, etc., = like a grain in clean ground. By these, too, you will be able to silence those who oppose and gainsay the word of salvation. Only see that you do not give these things over to unbelieving and blasphemous tongues, for that is no common danger. But impart them to pious and faithful men, who desire to live holily and righteously with fear. For it is not to no purpose that the blessed apostle exhorts Timothy, and says, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called; which some professing have erred concerning the faith.”5    1 Tim. vi. 20, 21. And again, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me in many exhortations, the same commit thou to faithful men,6    This reading, παρακλήσεων for μαρτύρων (= witnesses), which is peculiar to Hippolytus alone, is all the more remarkable as so thoroughly suiting Paul’s meaning in the passage. who shall be able to teach others also.”7    2 Tim. ii. 1, 2. If, then, the blessed (apostle) delivered these things with a pious caution, which could be easily known by all, as he perceived in the spirit that “all men have not faith,”8    2 Thess. iii. 2. how much greater will be our danger, if, rashly and without thought, we commit the revelations of God to profane and unworthy men?

[1] Βουληθέντι σοι κατ' ἀκρίβειαν ἐκμαθεῖν τὰ προτεθέντα ὑπὸ σοῦ ἡμῖν κεφάλαια, ἀγαπητέ μου ἀδελφὲ Θεόφιλε, εὔλογον ἡγησάμην, ἀφθόνως ἀρυσάμενος ὡς ἐξ ἁγίας πηγῆς ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν θείων γραφῶν καταστῆσαί σοι κατ' ὀφθαλμὸν τὰ ζητούμενα: ἵνα μὴ μόνον ταῖς τῶν ὤτων ἀκοαῖς ἐγκαταθέμενος ταῦτα εὐφρανθῇς, ἀλλὰ δυνάμει καὶ αὐτὰ τὰ πράγματα ἐνιστορήσας κατὰ πάντα τὸν θεὸν δοξάσαι δυνηθῇς. τοῦτο γάρ σοι ἐφόδιον ἐν τῷ νῦν βίῳ ἀκίνδυνον ἤτω παρ' ἡμῶν, ὅπως τὰ τοῖς πολλοῖς δύσγνωστα καὶ δυσκατάλημπτα ἐξ ἑτοίμων λόγων προενέγκας, ἐγκατασπείρῃς μὲν ἐν τῷ πλάτει τῆς καρδίας σου ὡς ἐν πίονι καὶ καθαρᾷ γῇ, δυσωπήσῃς δὲ δι' αὐτῶν τοὺς ἀντιδιατιθεμένους καὶ ἀντιλέγοντας τῷ σωτηρίῳ λόγῳ. δέδια δὲ μὴ εἰς ἀπίστους καὶ βλασφήμους γλώσσας ἐγκαταθῇ ταῦτα, κίνδυνος γὰρ οὐχ ὁ τυχών: μετάδος δὲ αὐτὰ εὐλαβέσι καὶ πιστοῖς ἀνθρώποις τοῖς θέλουσιν „ὁσίως καὶ δικαίως„ μετὰ φόβου ζῆν. οὐ γὰρ μάτην ὁ μακάριος ἀπόστολος παρῄνει Τιμοθέῳ γράφων: ”ὦ Τιμόθεε, τὴν παραθήκην φύλαξον, ἐκτρεπόμενος τὰς βεβήλους κενοφωνίας καὶ ἀντιθέσεις τῆς ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως, ἥν τινες ἐπαγγελλόμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἠστόχησαν”: καὶ πάλιν: „σὺ οὖν, τέκνον μου, ἐνδυναμοῦ ἐν τῇ χάριτι τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, καὶ ἃ ἤκουσας παρ' ἐμοῦ διὰ πολλῶν μαρτύρων, ταῦτα παράθου πιστοῖς ἀνθρώποις, οἵτινες ἱκανοὶ ἔσονται καὶ ἑτέρους διδάξαι„. εἰ οὖν ὁ μακάριος ἀπόστολος μετ' εὐλαβείας παρεδίδου ταῦτα, ἅπερ οὐ πᾶσιν εὔγνωστα ἦν, προβλέπων τῷ πνεύματι ὅτι ”οὐ πάντων ἡ πίστις”, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς κινδυνεύσομεν, εἰ ἁπλῶς καὶ ὡς ἔτυχε τὰ θεοῦ λόγια μεταδώσομεν βεβήλοις καὶ ἀναξίοις ἀνδράσιν;