To John and Antiochus

Athanasius to John and Antiochus, our beloved sons and fellow presbyters in the Lord, greeting. [a]

I was glad to receive your letter just now, all the more because you wrote from Jerusalem. I thank you for telling me about the brothers who have gathered there, and about those who want to unsettle the simple over disputed points. But on these matters, let the apostle charge them not to pay attention to those who quarrel about words and look for nothing else than to tell or to hear something new. But you, having your foundation sure, that is, Jesus Christ our Lord, and the confession of the fathers concerning the faith, must avoid those who want to say anything more or less than that. Aim rather at the good of the brothers, that they may fear God and keep his commandments, so that, both by the teaching of the fathers and by keeping the commandments, they may be found pleasing to the Lord on the day of judgment. But I have been utterly astonished at the boldness of those who dare to speak against our beloved Basil the bishop, a true servant of God. From such empty talk they can be convicted of not loving even the confession of the fathers. [b]

Greet the brothers. Those who are with me greet you. I pray that you are well in the Lord, beloved and much-desired sons.