Letter 221

221. To Those in Beroea.

We came to know you beforehand, most beloved, from your far-noised reverence and from the crown of your confession in Christ. And perhaps one of you might say: And who is it that has carried these things abroad to a distant land? The Lord Himself, who, setting those who are devout toward Him, after the manner of a lamp upon the lampstand, makes them shine over all the inhabited world. Or is it not the prize of victory that is wont to proclaim the champions of the contests, and the contrivance of the work that proclaims the engineers? But if for these and such things the memory remains unforgotten, those who are devout toward Christ — concerning whom the Lord Himself says, "Those who glorify Me I will glorify" — how will He not make them known and conspicuous to all, joining the brightness of their flashing radiance to the rays of the sun?

But again you have implanted in us a greater longing for you by deeming us worthy of a letter, and a letter of such a kind, in which, besides your former wrestlings on behalf of piety, you have lavishly poured out a rich and more vigorous steadfastness of soul on behalf of the true faith. In which we rejoice with you, and join in praying that the God of all — whose is the contest, and whose the arena, and through whom are the crowns — may work in you readiness, may furnish strength of soul, and may bring your work to perfect good repute in His sight.