The Ministry of John and the Impact of the Word

Should he receive the reward of countless labors for the healing of a body being struck daily? But he did not use the authority so that, having taken nothing upon the earth, he might demand all things in the heavens. Therefore, he was even permitted to be superior to man, yet remaining bound to corruptible flesh.

he might also see the earnest of the coming good things and the honors there, he is carried up even unto the third heaven; he sees visions surpassing the lot of those here, and hears unspeakable words, as he himself says (as he himself says in 2 Corinthians 12:2), and while measuring these, he distributes everywhere the greatness and the boasting of one's own advantages. But so that he might only send down the understandings of those growing by small gifts, by necessity a few of his own are stripped bare, and these, having been placed upon another person, he leads far away from the suspicion concerning him.

Thespian, indeed, since in an idea he was carried up to the height by a chariot of fire (as it is written in 1 Kings 18:12), is sung of everywhere and left much wonder by his life; but as far as he reached, no word has interpreted. For, by chance and being raised only a little from the earth by the driving power, he was given to the place where he had the lot to dwell. But the translation of Paul was found more brilliant and glorious, fitting the measure to which he was carried. For he reached as far as the singing of the seven heavens, though a little was lacking for the half-way point.

he Hebrews cast down the understanding against Moses (as it is written in Exodus 19:20), thinking greatly that he alone reached to the summit of Sinai and entered within the ridge and the clouds. For my Paul, instead of a mountain, ascended toward the heavens, and instead of a cloud, wandered beyond the air which is above the cloud. And most fittingly. For it was necessary for the man according to Christ to conquer Moses so much that the Gospel surpasses the Law.

theophanies and the things spoken by God, and how, being bound, he was loosed and, being dejected, was strengthened, and even a dream was his, God making use of him—what is there to say, when he himself did not hide his own grace, but clearly revealed it to all together, saying: 'Do you indeed seek the Christ speaking in me?' For the others, whether prophets or apostles, had timely and chronological activities from above, and at times with them...

It was the divine, and at times it was not present.

This lawgiver was, just as a special temple of God having been completed for Him for habitation, always possessed Christ as a finder of counsel, a teacher of the word, and a partner in all things. And John, the son of Zebedee, seemed great, because among the other disciples he rested boldly upon the Lord's breast (John 13:23); and because of this, he is especially unsung among all.

But this one—how could he not be justly thought to be even above men, he who daily rested not the Jesus in the body, but the Word naked of flesh (John 1:14), having established himself as a very useful and pure vessel for the Creator? And having many and various things to say, as this lawgiver said and did all things, educating the whole world upon earth and sea, in courts, in marketplaces, among the people, and in the courts of kings, intentionally surpassing the multitude.

For I did not set before myself to write a biography of what he achieved, so that nothing might be lacking, but to work a reputation, and this as far as my power reaches. But mentioning only one of the last, I will rest the word.

For since, having circled the whole inhabited world and having placed the great word upon the lamp, he lit the fire of evangelical knowledge, he arrived also at the Romans, as a ruling city, in order to, having initiated and persuaded those holding sway over all men, and having acquired disciples from the surrounding area, speak to the other men. And finding Peter there also, a fellow worker of the same zeal, and having joined a certain holy and inspired company, he educated those under the law in synagogues, and attended to the Gentiles in marketplaces; and he was a diverse teacher of good things, manifesting the pure and unblemished knowledge of God, establishing precise canons of moral virtue, driving away from men debauchery and drunkenness and all unrestrained sensuality, by which especially both the multitude and the one reigning then were held.

Thus, the introduction of the best and most temperate way gripped Nero severely; and he suffered more pain from the destruction of pleasure than if he were being cast out from his own kingship. For he was, if anyone else, a sophist of pleasures.