Models of Knowledge and Discipline
Of simpler things. Basil the Cappadocian is the pillar of truth. He says that diligent study and training hold fast the knowledge coming from men, while justice, impartiality, and mercy bring near the knowledge coming near from the grace of God. The former can even receive the passion-driven, but of the latter, only the passionless are receptive, who behold the inherent light of the mind even outside the time of prayer.
Of the Egyptians, the holy light Athanasius is. He says that Moses stands to set the table in the northern part (Exodus 13:3). Let the knowers recognize who is breathing against them, and let them bravely endure every temptation, and with readiness let them nourish those approaching.
Serapion, the angel of the church of the Themites, used to say that the mind, having been feathered, is perfectly purified by spiritual knowledge, but love heals the burning fragments of the soul; and self-control stops the flowing of evil desires.
Didymus, the great and gnostic teacher, says: always train yourself in the discourses concerning providence and judgment, and carry the matters of these in memory; for almost all stumble in these things. And you will find the discourses concerning judgment in the distinction of bodies and worlds; but those concerning providence lead us back from the ways of evil and ignorance toward virtue or toward knowledge.
Looking always toward the archetype, I strive to write the icons, adding nothing of those who work toward gaining the falling one.
Greek
ἁπλουστέρων. 45 Τῆς ἀληθείας ὁ στύλος ὁ καππαδόκης Βασίλειος· τὴν μὲν ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπων, φησίν, ἐπισυμβαίνουσαν γνῶσιν, προσεχὴς μελέτη καὶ γυμνασία κρατύνει· τὴν δὲ ἐκ Θεοῦ χάριτος ἐγγινομένην, δικαιοσύνη καὶ ἀοργησία καὶ ἔλεος· καὶ τὴν μὲν προτέραν, δυνατὸν καὶ τοὺς ἐμπαθεῖς ὑποδέξασθαι· τῆς δὲ δευτέρας οἱ ἀπαθεῖς μόνοι εἰσὶ δεκτικοί· οἳ καὶ παρὰ τὸν καιρὸν τῆς προσευχῆς τὸ οἰκεῖον φέγγος τοῦ νοῦ περιλάμπον αὐτοὺς θεωροῦσιν. 46 Τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ὁ ἅγιος φωστὴρ Ἀθανάσιος· τὴν τράπεζαν, φησί, Μωϋσῆς εἰς τὸ βόρειον μέρος στῆσαι προστάσσεται· γινωσκέτωσαν οἱ γνωστικοὶ τίς ὁ πνέων ἐστὶ κατ' αὐτῶν, καὶ πάντα πειρασμὸν γενναίως ὑπομενέτωσαν, καὶ μετὰ προθυμίας τοὺς προσιόντας τρεφέτωσαν. 47 Ἔλεγεν ὁ τῆς Θμουϊτῶν ἐκκλησίας ἄγγελος Σαραπίων ὅτι ὁ νοῦς μὲν πεπωκὼς πνευματικὴν γνῶσιν τελείως καθαίρεται, ἀγάπη δὲ τὰ φλεγμαίνοντα μόρια τοῦ θυμοῦ θεραπεύει· πονηρὰς δὲ ἐπιθυμίας ἐπιρρεούσας ἵστησιν ἐγκράτεια. 48 Τοὺς περὶ προνοίας καὶ κρίσεως κατὰ σαυτὸν ἀεὶ γύμναζε λόγους, φησὶν ὁ μέγας καὶ γνωστικὸς διδάσκαλος ∆ίδυμος, καὶ τούτων τὰς ὕλας διὰ μνήμης φέρειν 2 πειράθητι· ἅπαντες γὰρ σχεδὸν ἐν τούτοις προσπταίουσι. Καὶ τοὺς μὲν περὶ κρίσεως λόγους ἐν τῇ διαφορᾷ τῶν σωμάτων καὶ τῶν κόσμων εὑρήσεις· τοὺς δὲ περὶ προνοίας ἐν τοῖς τρόποις τοῖς ἀπὸ κακίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρετὴν ἢ ἐπὶ τὴν γνῶσιν ἡμᾶς ἐπανάγουσι. 50 Πρὸς τὸ ἀρχέτυπον βλέπων ἀεὶ πειρῶ γράφειν τὰς εἰκόνας μηδὲν παρεὶς τῶν συντελούντων πρὸς τὸ κερδᾶναι τὴν ἐκπεσοῦσαν. 3
About this text
Evagrius trains seasoned monks to discern spirits and teach others without falling to pride.
Original English Translation of Evagrius Ponticus’s Gnosticus — new OET from PG 40 Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 40 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.