The Spirit vs the Letter

In that passage: 'Father, if it is possible.' The discourse of our holy father Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium, against the heretics, concerning: 'Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me' (Matt 26:39). Again, like a lawful soldier, I take up the fight against the heretics, with Stephen, the commander of piety, leading the ranks. For just as Jesus was turning the enemies when Moses was praying, so also I, with the martyr cooperating, lay hold of the enemies of the truth. I say these things not daring through an abundance of words, but having trusted in the prayer of the martyr, I dare to speak these words. For I do not fear their bulk in words. I fear the obstacles of their bad-crafty deception. For we learned not to fear a fear that did not exist.

For they say that men fear Christ and are cowardly toward death, but we, through Christ, choose to die as many times as the days we live in the flesh, so that we may triumph the truth with a bare head. Therefore, as already having the winning vote, I advance against them. For Christ encourages me through the prophet, saying: 'Son of man, do not be afraid of their faces, because they will surround you on every side (Luke 9:58). For you dwell in the midst of scorpions.' For I do not fear scorpions that sting, for I do not walk with a bare foot—I have the sandals of the gospel of peace, so that even if I am caught, I may not be harmed. And, having put on the feet the preparation of the gospel of peace, he says. Therefore, let us strike with the sandals of peace the manifold head of the heretics, so that by advancing fearlessly against them, we may teach them how they stumble in fear and cowardice when they approach the nature of the Only-begotten. For those who think and speak all things critically and irrationally, not understanding 'Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass,' are voted down as being cowardly toward Christ, and they say Him lacking and lesser in relation to the Father...

To pray and to seek deliverance from the impending necessity. Since, therefore, they blaspheme the word of God with insolence and mock the letter to nullify the Spirit, jesting and subverting the economy of Christ, and covering their stings with the ferocity of speech and the gaiety of words, stripping the salvation of the pure ones, let us call upon the word of God, who is inexperienced in words, so that He himself, becoming the interpreter of His own words, may convict their folly and support our understanding.

Explain to us the meaning of the things said, Lord; unfold the leaf of the letter and show the fruit of the Spirit, so that we do not die by attending to the letter, but by running toward the Spirit we may enjoy life. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor 3:6). Teach us as infants, and discipline the heretics as fools; for you are the instructor of fools and the teacher of infants. Uncover for us, as for infants, the mass of grace and provide the milk of the Spirit. Let the pure milk of the evangelical teaching be poured out. But make the foolishness of the heretics manifest. For if they were not foolish, they would not have woven a dogma of blasphemy against the denial of your divinity. For he said in his heart, 'he says,' 'there is no God' (Ps 14:1). Strip away their pretext of impiety, so that the drama of their hypocrisy may be revealed. Show how they carry on their own accusation, so that they may cover the blasphemy of their own choice.

Say then, Lord, for what reason, having come to the passion, did you decline to suffer, and why did you fear the threat of the Jews, while guaranteeing those who do not fear those who kill the body? And if you fear death, why do you not decline death? For if in you lies the power to suffer and not to suffer, you say superfluously: 'If it is possible, let it pass from me' (Matt 26:39). For in you...