Instructed by the holy Scriptures and especially by the gospel, Pachomius endured many temptations from the demons. The holy Scriptures did not mention in detail the saints’ struggle, since they used concise language in showing us the way to eternal life. Thus, for example, the law given to our ancestor Abraham was summarized in one saying, Be well-pleasing before me and be blameless.^[1] But since we are like infants, when our parents break the bread for us, we need to be given as well the true water, as it is written.^[2] Therefore, what we have heard and known and our ancestors have told us should not be hidden from the next generation.^[3] For, as we have been taught, we know that these words of the psalm are about the signs and portents accomplished by God for Moses and those after him. And after the model of the benefit given by them, we have also recognized in the parents of our time their children and imitators, so that to us and to the rising generation,^[4] until the end of the world, it might be made known that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.^[5]

But God’s righteousness cried out, If you will come to me righteous, I will deal with you justly. If you walk treacherously, I will do so also, says the Lord of hosts.^[1] He is suggesting that he will punish the treacherous ways of hardened sinners. The righteousness that is his by nature is indicated by the iota of the name Jesus.^[2] His goodness to those who believe out of obedience is immoveable and unwavering. Since I called and you did not obey, the Lord says, you have disregarded my advice and have not heeded my reprimand.^[3] The Lord’s reprimand is very beneficial. The Lord also says, through David, that these people are an unjust and rebellious generation, a generation that does not set its heart straight and whose spirit does not trust in God. They did not keep God’s covenant and did not want to walk according to his law.^[4] These are the reasons for his frustration and why he will come as a judge to pass judgment on those who do not want to choose to live a good life. On account of this he treats them quite severely in the hope of thwarting their march toward death. At any rate, through David he states very clearly his reason for his threat: They did not believe in his wondrous deeds. When he killed them, they sought him and returned and came straight to God. They remembered that God was their helper and the most high God their redeemer.^[5] In this way, he knew that they repented because of fear after they scorned his love for humankind. As a rule, people who have little regard for what is good behave kindly and remember to love humankind out of fear of justice.

Let us turn back to the one who performed these miracles. He is himself the bread that came down from heaven; but bread that nourishes and never diminishes; bread that can be eaten but cannot be eaten up. This bread was also signified by manna, of which it was said, He gave them the bread of heaven; people ate the bread of angels. Who can the bread of heaven be, but Christ? But for people to eat the bread of angels, the Lord of angels became a human being. Because if he had not become this, we would not have his flesh; if we did not have his flesh, we would not eat the bread of the altar.

This^[1] is where you are going; the same one is the way by which you are going. You do not go through one thing to something else; you do not come through something else to Christ. You come through Christ to Christ. How through Christ to Christ? Through Christ the man to Christ the God, through the Word made flesh to the Word which in the beginning was God with God, from that which people ate to that which every day the angels eat. For so it was written, He gave them the bread of heaven; people ate the bread of the angels. Who is the bread of angels? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.^[2] How did people eat the bread of angels? And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.^[3]

Let us, then, attach ourselves to those who are religiously devoted to peace, and not to those who wish for it hypocritically. For somewhere it is said, This people honors me with its lips, but its heart is far removed from me.^[1] And again, They blessed with their mouth, but they cursed with their heart.^[2] And again it says, They loved him with their mouth, but they lied to him with their tongue. Their heart was not straightforward with him, and they were not faithful to his covenant. Therefore let the deceitful lips that speak evil against the right-eous be struck dumb.^[3] And again, May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips and the tongue that boasts unduly and those who say, ‘We will boast of our tongues; our lips are our own; who is Lord over us?’ Because of the wretchedness of the poor and the groans of the needy I will now arise, says the Lord. I will place him in safety: I will act boldly in his cause.^[4] 1

The Spirit speaks with the authority of the Lord: The Spirit said to [Peter], ‘Rise and go down, and accompany them without hesitation; for I have sent them.’ ^[1] Are these the words of an abject inferior? Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.^[2] Does a slave give commands like this? Isaiah says, The Lord God and his Spirit have sent me,^[3] and the Spirit came down from the Lord and led them.^[4] Do not try again to convince me that this leading by the Spirit is some lowly service. Scripture testifies that it is the work of God: He led forth his people like sheep, it says, and You who lead Joseph like a flock,^[5] and He led them in safety so that they were not afraid. Therefore, when you hear that the Comforter will bring to remembrance all that I have said to you and will guide you into all truth,^[6] do not quibble over the meaning.

The blessed David fell into several errors, which God, who wisely orders all things, has caused to be recorded for the good of them that were to come after. But it was not on their account that Absalom,^[1] parricide, murderer, impious and altogether vile, started his wild war against his father. The reason of his beginning that most unrighteous struggle was because he coveted the sovereignty. The divine David, however, when these events were coming to pass, began to remember the wrong that he had done. I too am conscious within myself of the guilt of many errors, but I have kept undefiled the dogmatic teaching of the apostles. And they who have trampled on all laws human and divine and condemned me in my absence have not sentenced me for what I have done wrong, for my secret deeds are not made manifest to them; but they have contrived false witness and false charges against me, or rather in their open attack on the doctrines of the apostles have proscribed me for my obedience to them.^[2] So the Lord awoke as one out of sleep; he put his enemies to rout and put them to everlasting disgrace. Counterfeit and spurious doctrines he has scattered to the winds, and he has provided for the free preaching of those which he has handed down to us in the holy Gospels. To me this suffices for complete delight. I do not even long for a city in which I have passed all my time in hard work; all I long for is to see the establishment of the truth of the Gospels. And now the Lord has satisfied this longing. I am therefore very glad and happy, and I sing praises to our generous Lord, and I invite your honor to rejoice with me, and, with our praises, to put up the earnest prayer that the people who say now one thing and now another and change about to suit the hour, like the chameleons who assume the color of the leaves, may be strengthened by the loving-kindness of the Lord, established on the rocks and, of his mercy, made to pay the highest honor to the truth.