Why This Book Is Written

The knowledge of our religion and of the truth of things does not need human teachers; it shows itself plainly on its own. Almost day by day it proves itself by what it does, and through the teaching of Christ it shines out brighter than the sun. Still, since you want to hear about it, Macarius, come, let us set out as well as we can a few points of the faith of Christ. You could find them out for yourself from God’s own words in Scripture, but you generously want to hear from others as well. For the holy and inspired Scriptures are enough on their own to declare the truth. There are also other works, written for this purpose by our blessed teachers; anyone who comes across them will gain some knowledge of how the Scriptures are to be interpreted, and will be able to learn what he wants to know. Still, since we do not have the writings of our teachers at hand just now, we must put in writing for you what we learned from them, namely the faith of Christ the Savior. We do this so that no one may think lightly of the teaching given among us, or think that faith in Christ is unreasonable. [a]

For this is what the pagans slander and scoff at. They laugh loudly at us, harping on the one fact of the cross of Christ. And this is exactly where one must pity their lack of sense. When they slander the cross of Christ, they do not see that its power has filled the whole world, and that through it the effects of the knowledge of God have been made plain to all. They would not have scoffed at such a fact if they, too, had been people who truly paid attention to his divine nature. On the contrary, they in their turn would have recognized this man as the Savior of the world, and seen that the cross has been not a disaster but the healing of creation. For since the cross all idolatry has been overthrown, and every appearance of demons is driven away by this sign. Christ alone is worshiped, and the Father is known through him. And while those who speak against him are put to shame, he every day wins over the souls of those very people without being seen. If all this is so, one might fairly ask them how it is still open to us to regard the matter as merely human, instead of confessing that the one who went up on the cross is the Word of God and the Savior of the world. These men seem to me just as bad as someone who would slander the sun when it is covered by clouds, while all the time marveling at its light, as he sees the whole creation lit up by it. For the light is noble, and the sun, the chief source of light, is nobler still. In the same way, since it is a divine thing for the whole world to be filled with the knowledge of him, it follows that the one who brought this about and is its chief cause is God and the Word of God.

We speak, then, as far as lies in our power. First we will refute the ignorance of unbelievers, so that once what is false has been refuted, the truth may then shine out by itself, and so that you yourself, my friend, may be reassured that you have believed what is true, and that in coming to know Christ you have not been deceived. Besides, I think it fitting to talk with you, a lover of Christ, about Christ, since I am sure that you value faith in him and knowledge of him above anything else whatever.