The Teacher's Progress and the Veil of Sin

Regarding the one called fifty, having learned forty, we say that nothing has been learned out. No one can do good without sinning, not even one person on earth. I desire to attain a higher intellect; but do not write an unasked-for reproach upon me. Concerning Jesus alone it has been said: 'Before evil things come, he chooses the good' (Matt 20:16). Only the Child, according to Jesus, who 'did not know sin' (Luke 2:52), by the choice of the evil ones, chose the good; but all the others, after knowing this evil—the kind that is punished, not the kind that is merely falling into it, failed. 'Therefore there is no man who will do good and will not sin.' All possess the good along with sin, but sin is that which has been spoken of, that which exists prior to virtue.

Behold, many, thinking they have an alertness of intellect and having surrendered to their own alertness, imagine they know all things; and when they begin to rise up regarding those things they think they know, they fall into such ignorance as to say they have unlearned the learning. And we know by experience: many times I have reasoned about a certain thing, thinking it was easy to understand, and it appeared more difficult to all those with individual intellects. This ignorance is before knowledge; and it is not contrary to knowledge, but before knowledge. He who thus thinks he knows, if he does not find himself as one who knows nothing, he is unable to receive knowledge.

Therefore, there is only one, concerning whom this has been said: 'Before evil things come, he chose the good' (Matt 20:16). Even if it does not seem so to Apollinarius and those with him, their doctrine is refuted. 'Before evil things come to pass'; he was never able to sin, because until he became subject to passion, he did not extend this into a disposition. He is able, therefore, to be led to the same state, but it can also be understood otherwise: that in the human temple, the God Logos has come to be. And the God Logos is wisdom, and from this intellect all improvement is. Since, then, I am speaking of the things of the economy, this ought to be shown here. Being a child, he did not say those things which he would have said having become a perfect man. He was therefore progressing in advancement. Thus it should be taken: a teacher, or another similarly having the nature of instruction.

When six disciples have come and are filled with knowledge, he descends with them and says those things which those being led in are able to hear, not what he himself is able to say, and it is shaped according to the ignorance of those being led, and as if he instructs them knowing only those things. Just as much as the child progresses, so the teacher progresses; but while the child progresses by the reception of lessons, the teacher progresses by the manifestation of the power that is present.

Take for me the sun having descended upon this sensible horizon; but run and get a covering to quickly obstruct the sight, as if the covering were not there. Just as much as a revelation becomes regarding sight, so much also happens of the sun. And I say the sun progresses, not by the reception of light, but by the ability to illuminate the remainder, which previously was not able to shine in this way. Sin, therefore, is a covering of the soul. If, therefore, one does not cast off wickedness, the light shows itself more clearly to itself. Thus, therefore, I say the teacher progresses in wisdom, not by the reception of wisdom, but by the manifestation of greater wisdom.

In reality, every progress was hindered, unless—come now—the worthy saints, being visible, were able to work and to know so many things. If indeed men, being known, have done and have spoken great things, this is for the progress of virtue and its manifestation. And indeed, regarding all words which they will speak, do not give your heart, so that you may not hear your slave as he is rebuking you, because many times he will act wickedly. And indeed, regarding many words which men will speak, there is a certain ignorance and sin;... of those beginning the discoveries of the learned.

And saying, 'do not give your heart,' he passes into a moral lesson. You know that the... sins and iniquities occurring against someone, provoke him to indignation. If therefore you command, and the slaves are easy-tempered toward those commanding, do not 'give your heart' to this, because you also will be harmed there. If, therefore, a slave curses you, observe him: whether he does what was commanded or does not do it, not how he does it or does not do it. For later you want to know this, so that you may honor freedom, so that you may give to him that which he did not have before. Observe.