Letter 710

To the same person. If there had been no persecution, the martyrs would never have come to light; if Satan did not exist to tempt and afflict us, it would not be plainly evident who is eager and who is worthless and sluggish.

Εἰ μὴ ἐγένετο διωγμὸς, οὐκ ἐφαίνοντο μάρτυρες· εἰ μὴ ὑπῆρχεν ὁ Σατανᾶς πειράζων καὶ θλίβων ἡμᾶς, οὐκ ἂν εὔδηλον ἦν, τίς πρόθυμος, τίς ἀδόκιμος καὶ νωθρός.