Letter 50: To Yoḥanan the priest and Teʿi, leader of the faithful of Erbil

To the lovers of God, my beloved brothers, Yoḥanan the priest and archdeacon, and Teʿi, head of the faithful of Erbil, and all those who with them wrote to me: Ishoʿyahb in the Lord, greeting. I have received and read what you wrote to me. And concerning your zeal in love of goodness, and the demonstration of your affection toward my lowliness, I gave thanks to the Lord. Yet there is no negligence for the sake of the lowliness of my person toward those who are with you, as the saying goes, "the disciples of the apostles." For by which evangelism or by which fair person is it possible to help at this time? A comparison like this: either on account of the hope of spiritual benefits a person is moved toward the Christianity of his own region, or by the desire for bodily life and the rest of those things that pertain to the human way of life, especially successful undertakings, they are zealous. And when I bow to the grace of the Lord, I confess that in measured quantities I am able to be occupied with these things. And I have not neglected, by the power of God, my lowliness to be troubled by the hope of the additional things of the time: those things that in other places are found, and that a person may take up the inheritance of his labor, and measured orders that in vain were established by force, and the change of good customs that were established for correction, and the establishments in a secure vessel of heretics and pagans, and the fruits that with these are mixed for the benefit of spiritual life, along with the rest of those things that are strengthened by good examples, and it is fitting to begin with those that are with these lesser ones. It is not as I thought: that a person who is well distinguished—for the name "Sīfīqā" does not benefit people at all. Therefore, it is good that each one remain in the village to which he was called.

... while striving in the works that are fitting for our Lord, as it were with the help of your joy, that you might seek from me a king. I have to show you who is suitable for the service of your church and for the internal administration, if the Lord wills. For there are, by the grace of God, those who are suitable for this, and moreover they are well-known, and the Lord knows who are his own. And he acts with his wisdom for his church in the administration that is suitable, and he finds within all the gifts of his help. Therefore, be diligent in the service of your office, my beloved brothers. And let the purpose of your hope be turned towards the friends of God. For he, by his wisdom, accomplishes your work in every desire. And your staff is not negligent. And he fills your deficiency with the mercy of his grace. And concerning my insignificance, pray that the remainder of my days may be spent in a life that is pleasing to the will of God. Completed.