(41:1) And yet the focus of all virtues is the Lord, who teaches us the Gnostic disdain for death for the love of God. (2) "Blessed," he says, "are they that are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for they shall be called the sons of God,"103 or, as some are inclined to read this passage,104 "Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for they shall be perfect," and (3) "Blessed are they that are persecuted for my sake, for they shall find a place where they shall not be persecuted." And again: 'Blessed are you when men hate you, when they are excommunicated, when they carry out your name as dishonorable for the Son of Man.'105 (4) However, we must not abhor our persecutors, remain steadfast in the midst of suffering, and hate not those who cause us grief. Nor should we be upset that the test came to us earlier than we expected. Let us be firmly convinced that every court is a good reason to act as a witness.
VII
(42:1) Consider the liar and traitor who has deserted to the army of the devil. What kind of evil has he plunged into? (2) He deceives the Lord, nay, he is deceived in his hope by losing faith in the Lord. Not believing, he does not fulfill what he commanded. (3) What then? In denying the Lord, does he not also deny himself? For whoever denies his master his right to power thereby deprives himself of the possibility of receiving protection from him. Whoever denies the Saviour denies life itself, which "is light".106 4 Nor does he count among his own those of little faith, unfaithful, and deceitful, who on occasion hide behind his name, but almost deny their faith. Only the faithful he calls servants and friends. (5) Therefore he who loves himself loves the Lord also, and acknowledges salvation in order to save his soul. (43:1) By giving your life for your neighbor out of love for him, you thereby acknowledge the Savior as your neighbor (for God the Savior is equal to the one whom he saves). In doing so, you choose death for life's sake, suffering for yourself rather than for him. Is it not for this reason that he is called a brother? (2) In suffering for the love of God, a man suffers for his own salvation; and on the other hand, accepting death for the sake of salvation, he suffers for the love of the Lord. Being alive in his sufferings, he suffers and wants to endure all this in order to live from these sufferings. (3) "Why do you say to me, 'Lord, Lord,' as it is written, and do not as I command you?" 107 Those who believe only in words, but who are far from God in their hearts, are other people, who hope for another and have consciously sold themselves to another. (4) Those who keep the commandments, which are prescribed by the Saviour, "bear witness" in all their works, by obeying his commands, and constantly turning to the name of the Lord, bearing witness by their deeds of what they are commanded, thereby showing that they are the ones who have crucified the flesh, together with all its lusts and passions. (5) "If we live in the spirit, let us walk in the spirit." "He who sows in his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but he who sows in the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit."108
(44:1) To these wretched people the testimony of Christ in their blood is the most horrible death, for they do not know that this gate of death is the surest and most authentic beginning of life. They will not appreciate the honor of posthumous glory, which covers those who have lived holy, nor the threat of punishment for those who have spent their lives unrighteously and uncleanly. My words are not only confirmed by the Scriptures (in any place they say so); they do not even want to listen to their own teachings. 2 Theano, a pupil of Pythagoras, writes: "Life seems to be a banquet of evildoers, who, having gone mad to their heart's content, die. If the soul were not immortal, death would seem like a lucky find (e(/rmaion o( qa/natoj)!" 109 (3) Plato says in the Phaedo: "If death were the end of all things, [it would be a happy find for evildoers]," and so on.110 (45, 1) It must not be thought, as Telephus does in Aeschylus, that "the road to Hades is simple."111 There are many paths and many sins that lead there. (2) All these erring and unfaithful are justly ridiculed by Aristophanes in the comedy: "Go," he says, "all of you men who live disorderly, born like leaves, weak, waxy, crowds of shadows, vanishing, flying away, and ephemeral."112 (3) According to Epicharmus, they are "a race of men like puffed up skins."113 (4) The Saviour tells us: "The spirit wills, but the flesh is weak,"114 because "the bodily mind is hostile to God, – as the Apostle explains, – for he does not obey the law of God and cannot obey it. Being in the body, they cannot please God." 5 And he further adds, so that no one like Marcion may be able to conclude that creation is evil: "But if Christ be in you, the body is dead to sin, but the spirit is alive to righteousness." (6) Indeed, "if you live according to the flesh, you will die. For I think that the present temporal sufferings are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in you. For if you suffer with him, you will also be glorified with him." (46, 1) "We know that to those who love God and are called by His will, all things work together for good. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom he predestined, he also called; and whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified."115 Do you not see what is said here about martyrdom for the sake of love? (2) But if you seek martyrdom for the sake of the benefits it brings, hear: "We are saved in hope. But hope, when it sees, is not hope. For if anyone sees, then what can he hope for? But when we hope for what we do not see, then we wait with patience."116 (3) "If you suffer for righteousness," says Peter, "then you are blessed; and do not be afraid of their fear, and do not be troubled. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; Be always ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give an account of your hope, with meekness and fear. Have a good conscience, so that those who reproach your good life in Christ may be put to shame by those who reproach your good life in Christ. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for good deeds than for evil ones."117
(47:1) But if anyone tries to ensnare you with a wicked sophistry, saying, "How is it possible for the weak flesh to resist all the energies and spirits of the Powers?"2 You will answer them that, trusting in the Almighty Lord, we are fighting against the powers of darkness and against death itself. (3) "As soon as you call, there I am," a helper who protects us. (4) "Do not shun the fiery temptation that is sent to you to test you, as an adventure that is strange to you," says Peter, "but as you participate in Christ's sufferings, rejoice, and at the manifestation of his glory you will rejoice and triumph. If you are cursed for the name of Christ, then you are blessed, for the spirit of the glory of God rests upon you."118 (5) "As it is written: For your sake we are slain, as sheep given up to the slaughter. But we overcome all this by the power of Him who loved us."119
(48, 1) Everything you want to know,
You can't tear it out by torture. You can inject
I was hit with a terrible thorn from head to toe.
You can bind me with a heavy chain,
says in the tragedy a certain woman who has not lost her courage under torture.120 2 And Antigone, condemning Creon's decision, bravely says:
It was not Zeus who pronounced this sentence on me.121
(3) God pronounces his judgment upon us, and this sentence we must trust. "For with the heart they believe unto righteousness, and with the mouth they confess unto salvation. For the Scriptures say, Whosoever believeth in it shall not be ashamed."122 (4) Simonides justly writes:
It is true: