Prefatory Letter

… concerning … you took my … and opened my senses to your spiritual [gifts]. And from whatever of the holy scriptures you attained, you showed me, because my lack was filled from you, and my hunger was sated by your teaching, and my thirst was quenched from the spring of your righteousness. For many things were placed in my thought that I might ask you, but all of them are held back in me by restraint. When I came to you, you would instruct me concerning all matters. Before everything, this which compelled me, I desire that you write and instruct me concerning faith: what it is, and what its foundation is, and upon what foundation it ascends, and by what it is established, and how it is and is perfected, and what works are required for it. For I believe only the faith that there is one God who made the heavens and the earth from the beginning, and he established the world by his powers, and he made humanity in his image, and he is the one who accepted Abel’s offering, and he punished Cain because of his wickedness, and he saved Noah because of his righteousness, and he chose Abraham because of his faith, and he spoke with Moses because of his humility, and also through all the prophets he spoke, and he again sent his Messiah into the world. For in these, my brother, I thus believe that they are. Because of this, my brother, I ask of you that you write to me and show me what works are required for this faith, and explain them to me.