The Fruits of the Spirit and the Trinity
He who does not produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Just as it is impossible for a man not to be harmed when struck by an arrow, so it is impossible for a monk to receive an evil thought without being wounded.
Just as one who has departed from the straight way wanders in a foreign land, not knowing where he goes, so also a man wanders who does not believe in the consubstantial Trinity. Just as one thing is divided into many through division yet remains one in nature, so also the Holy Trinity, even if it is divided in names and in hypostases, is one in nature.
You will not grasp the nature of God, not even flying with wings, for God is incomprehensible, and therefore He is the Creator of us. Just as a vessel being manufactured is ignorant of the origin and the nature of the maker, so also man will not be able to find the nature or the origin of God.
Do not scrutinize the Trinity, but only believe and worship; for he who scrutinizes does not believe. Acquire wisdom and not silver; make a shining garment of Christ our Lord, above every fine linen garment, for it will not benefit what exists on the day of death.
Just as fire consumes dry wood, so every sinner will be consumed by the eternal fire, and he will not be able to reach an end; for he will be tortured immortally.
Greek
ὁ μὴ ποιῶν καρποὺς Πνεύματος ἁγίου. Ὡς ἀμήχανον, μὴ βλαβῆναι ἄνθρωπον κρουσθέντα ὑπὸ βέλους, οὕτως ἀδύνατόν ἐστι, μοναχὸν καταδεξάμενον λογισμὸν πονηρὸν μὴ τρωθῆναι. Ὥσπερ ὁ ἐξελθὼν ὁδοῦ εὐθείας, πλανᾶται ἐν ἀλλοδαπῇ χώρᾳ, μὴ ἐπιστάμενος ποῦ πορεύεται, οὕτω καὶ ἄνθρωπος πλανᾶται μὴ πιστεύων εἰς ὁμοούσιον Τριάδα. Ὥσπερ τις εἰς πολλὰ διαιρούμενος ἕν ἐστι τῇ φύσει, οὕτως καὶ ἡ ἁγία Τριὰς, εἰ καὶ τοῖς ὀνόμασι καὶ ταῖς ὑποστάσεσι διῄρηται, τῇ φύσει μία ἐστί. Θεοῦ φύσιν οὐ καταλάβοις, οὐδ' εἰ πτεροῖς πετόμενος, ὁ Θεὸς ἀκατάληπτός ἐστι, διὸ καὶ κτίστης ἡμῶν ἐστιν. Ὥσπερ τὸ κατασκευαζόμενον σκεῦος ἀγνοεῖ τοῦ κατασκευάσαντος τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τὴν φύσιν, οὕτω καὶ ἄνθρωπος οὐ δυνήσεται 1 ἐξευρεῖν Θεοῦ φύσιν ἢ ἀρχήν. Τριάδα μὴ περιεργάζου, ἀλλὰ μόνον πίστευε, καὶ προσκύνει· ὁ γὰρ περιεργαζόμενος οὐ πιστεύει. Κτήσασθε σοφίαν καὶ μὴ ἀργύριον, ποιήσατε φωτεινὸν ἔνδυμα Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν στολὴν βυσσίνην, ὅτι οὐκ ὠφελήσει ὑπάρχοντα ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θανάτου. Ὥσπερ πῦρ καταναλίσκει δρυμὸν, οὕτω καταναλωθήσεται πᾶς ἁμαρτωλὸς ὑπὸ τοῦ αἰωνίου πυρὸς, καὶ οὐ δύναται τελευτῆσαι· ἀθάνατα γὰρ βασανισθήσεται.
About this text
Short chapters arming new monks for the fight: watchfulness, poverty, prayer, and humility.
Original English Translation of Evagrius Ponticus’s Institutio sive Paraenesis ad monachos — 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.