To Columbus, Bishop of Numidia, on the Case of Bishop Paul

Gregory to Columbus, bishop of Numidia. We have received your fraternity’s letter at the hands of your deacon, who carried it. In it you told us what had been done among you in the matter of Bishop Paul. This came so late that he could no longer have appeared here in person. For his excellency our son Gennadius the patrician had also sent his chancellor to us about the same case. But when we had inquiry made whether he was willing to plead against Bishop Paul before us, he replied that he had by no means been sent for that purpose. He had only brought here three persons from Paul’s church, who would allege many things against him. So, since we neither found him ready to bring a case, nor were moved by the standing of those persons to regard them as fit accusers of a bishop, we could not refuse or hinder Bishop Paul, whom we have so often mentioned. He petitioned us in the hope of being given leave to go to the royal city, and we at once allowed him, as he asked, to set out with two others whom he was to take with him. If, then, there were things that could reasonably be said against him, the proper course would have been for him to come here at once, and for your fraternity to inform us of every particular, as you have now done. [a]

As for what you have told us, that you suffer the hostility of many because we so often visit you with our letters, there is no doubt, most reverend brother, that the good suffer from the grudges of the bad, and that those who are intent on the work of God are harassed by the opposition of the perverse. But the more these evils surround you, the more earnestly you ought to give yourself to the care of the government entrusted to you, and to keep watch over the flock of Christ. And the more the opposition of unrighteous men presses on you, the more the care of a pastor’s concern ought to fire you to greater activity, very sure of the promised reward, so that you may be able to offer to the chief Shepherd the gain from the work given you to do.