To Ibas, Bishop of Edessa

The Lord has taught those who suffer wrong not to be cast down but to rejoice, and to draw comfort from the examples of old. For from the time of the first men down to our own day we find men who were zealous in the worship of the God of all, and who were still wronged by those among whom their lot was cast, and fell into many grievous troubles. I would have gone through the whole list of them, if I were not writing to someone with an exact knowledge of the divine Scriptures. But since you, beloved of God, have been brought up on the divine oracles from your boyhood, I have thought it needless to do so. I only ask you to turn your eyes to them, and to look with sorrow on all the kindhearted clergy who have done wrong, and with pity on all who think lightly of wrongdoing, and to grieve over the unrest of the church. I ask you to rejoice and be glad that I share in suffering for the sake of true religion, and to praise without ceasing the one who has laid this lot on me. As for honor and comfort, the dignity of a bishop’s see, and a wretched reputation, let us leave them to the murderers. [a] Let us hold fast to the teachings of the gospel alone, and with them, if need be, endure any extreme of pain, and choose honorable poverty rather than wealth with its many cares.

I am not writing in these terms to exhort you, for I know the courage of your holiness in trouble. My purpose is to make my own mind known to your piety, and to tell you that you have comrades on your side who are gladly facing danger for the truth’s sake. I have wanted to write to you like this for some time, but I could find no one to carry my letter. Now I have met the very honorable and pious presbyter Ozeas, a man who is both engaged in the battle for the truth and devoted to your piety. So I write to greet your holiness, and I beg you to give me both the support of your prayers and the comfort of a letter from you.