Instructions for the Gnostic
He should speak. It is necessary that the gnostic be neither surly nor unapproachable; for the one is ignorant of the words of things coming to pass, and the other is unwilling that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (2π 3:7). Pay attention to yourself, lest for the sake of gain, or to be well-liked, or for the sake of passing glory, you should say something of the secret things and be cast out from the sacred precincts, just as he himself in the temple was selling the pigeons' young (Matt 21:12). Do not theologize without reflection, and never define the divine; for terms belong to things that have come to be and are composedsed.
.............................................. that he who has been tried by malice hates malice, and the trial of abandonment is a relative thing............................. The teachers should always say to you: 'Friend, ascend upward; for it is shameful for you, having ascended, to be dragged down again by those who hear.' The lover of silver is not the one possessing money, but the one being carried away by these; for they say the steward is a logical purse.
He exhorts to respect the elders, but to restrain the bellies of the young; for the former are the spiritual, while the latter, the more excessive, are the bodily, and demons contend against them. Bind the mouths of those babbling in your ears; and do not be amazed when being accused by many; for this is the temptation from demons; for the gnostic must be free from hatred and malice, and from being unwilling. It has perhaps been written that he who heals himself by healing men through the Lord is a certain type; for what the gnostic approaches as a medicine, he provides to his neighbor somewhat, but he heals himself by necessity. Let the one who is higher regarding judgment be hidden from the worldly and the young.
Greek
προείπῃ. 22 ∆εῖ δὲ μὴ σκυθρωπὸν εἶναι τὸν γνωστικὸν μηδὲ δυσπρόσιτον· τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἀγνοοῦντός ἐστι τοὺς λόγους τῶν γινομένων· τὸ δὲ μὴ βουλομένου πάντας ἀνθρώπους σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν. 24 Πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μήποτε κέρδους ἕνεκεν ἢ τοῦ εὐπαθεῖν, ἢ δόξης χάριν παρερχομένης, εἴπῃς τι τῶν ἀπορρήτων καὶ βληθῇς ἔξω τῶν ἱερῶν περιβόλων, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν τῷ ναῷ τὰ τῆς περιστερᾶς τέκνα πιπράσκων. 27 Μὴ ἀπερισκέπτως θεολογήσῃς, μηδέποτε ὁρίζου τὸ θεῖον· τῶν γὰρ γεγονότων καὶ συνθέτων εἰσὶν οἱ ὅροι. 28 .............................................. ........ ὅτι μισεῖ κακίαν ὁ πειραθεὶς κακίαν, πεῖρα δὲ τῆς ἐγκαταλείψεως ἔγγονος ............................. 29 Οἱ διδασκόμενοι λεγέτωσάν σοι ἀεὶ τό· φίλε προσανάβηθι ἄνω· αἰσχρὸν γάρ ἐστιν ἀναβάντα σε πάλιν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουόντων κατενεχθῆναι. 30 Φιλάργυρός ἐστιν οὐχ ὁ ἔχων χρήματα, ἀλλ' ὁ ἐφιέμενος τούτων· τὸν γὰρ οἰκονόμον εἶναί φασι βαλάντιον λογικόν. 1 31 Γέροντας μὲν θυμοῦ, τοὺς δὲ νέους γαστρὸς κρατεῖν παρακάλει· τοὺς μὲν γὰρ οἱ ψυχικοί, τοὺς δὲ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον οἱ σωματικοὶ διαμάχονται δαίμονες. 32 Ἔμφραττε στόματα τῶν καταλαλούντων ἐν ἀκοαῖς σου· καὶ μὴ θαυμάσῃς ὑπὸ πλείστων κατηγορούμενος· οὗτος γὰρ ὁ πειρασμὸς ἐκ δαιμόνων· τὸν γὰρ γνωστικὸν ἐλεύθερον εἶναι δεῖ μίσους καὶ μνησικακίας, καὶ μὴ βουλομένων. 33 Λέληθεν ἴσως ἑαυτὸν θεραπεύων ὁ διὰ τὸν Κύριον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἰώμενος· ὃ γὰρ προσάγει φάρμακον ὁ γνωστικός, τὸν μὲν πλησίον ἐνδεχομένως, ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἀναγκαίως ἰᾶται. 36 Λανθανέτω τοὺς κοσμικοὺς καὶ τοὺς νέους ὁ περὶ κρίσεως ὑψηλότερος
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.