Letter 346

To Frumentius the Count. "Circumcision is nothing, says the Apostle, and uncircumcision is nothing" [1 Corinthians 7:19]. For neither of the things mentioned contributes anything toward the salvation of the soul and toward divine knowledge. What, then, might be the thing that is profitable and that procures benefit for a person? Clearly, the keeping of the commandments of God.

« Περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστι, φησὶν ὁ Ἀπόστολος, καὶ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν. » Οὐδέτερον γὰρ τῶν εἰρημένων συμβάλλεται πρὸς σωτηρίαν ψυχῆς, καὶ θείαν γνῶσιν. Τί οὖν ἂν εἴη τὸ λυσιτελοῦν, καὶ ὄνησιν προξενοῦν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ; Δῆλον ὅτι ἡ τήρησις τῶν ἐντολῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ.