Letter 618

To Ariston the Bishop. Having been honored by your love of God [theophilia, a courtesy title] with countless benefactions in various ways, beyond my worth, and seeking out some recompense that I might fittingly repay to you, yet finding none at all, I put forward to you a great debtor, namely God. For "the one who has done good to me has lent to God." And "the Lord will repay on my behalf," as David has said.

Μυρίαις εὐεργεσίαις παρὰ τῆς σῆς θεοφιλίας διαφόρως ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀξίαν τετιμημένος ἐγώ, περιζητῶν τέ τινα ἀμοιβὴν κατὰ τὸ πρέπον ἀνταποδώσω ὑμῖν, καὶ μηδαμῶς εὑρίσκων, μέγαν σοι χρεωφειλέτην προβάλλομαι, τὸν Θεὸν δηλονότι· « Ὁ γὰρ ἐμοὶ πεποιηκώς, τῷ Θεῷ δεδάνεικε. » « Κύριος δὲ ἀνταποδώσει ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, » ὡς ὁ Δαυΐδ εἴρηκε.