Not a Case for Leaving Wives

But let no one imagine that we have made this up to encourage divorce. We do not condemn marriage in any way; following the apostle’s words, we say: “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled.” We told it in order to show the reader faithfully the origin of the conversion by which this great man was dedicated to God. And I kindly ask the reader to grant that, whether he likes this or not, in either case I am free from blame, and to give the praise or blame for this act to the one who really did it. As for me, since I have put forward no opinion of my own on this matter, but have simply told the facts as they happened, it is fair that, just as I claim no praise from those who approve of what was done, so I should not be attacked by the hatred of those who disapprove of it. [a]

So let everyone, as we said, have his own opinion on the matter. But I advise him to hold back his censure as he considers it, lest he come to think himself more just and holy than the divine judgment, by which even the signs of an apostle’s power were given to him, that is, to Theonas. Not to mention the opinion of such great fathers, by whom it is clear that his action was not only not blamed but praised so highly that, in the election to the office of almoner, they preferred him to splendid and most excellent men. And I think that the judgment of so many spiritual men, made with God as its author, was not mistaken, since, as was said above, it was confirmed by such wonderful signs.