Letter 71

Isidore of PelusiumUnknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An inquirer
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore explains why heresies multiplied after Christ's coming.

Among the pagans — though the devil led them wherever he pleased, even into idolatry — and among the Jews — though he drove them to idol worship and murder — the devil nevertheless spawned many heresies. If among Christians there are even more, no one should be surprised. Before Christ's coming in the flesh, the devil saw everyone drunk on wickedness and virtually no one sober, so he sowed only a few seeds of discord. But when the saving Word came down from heaven, bringing us the doctrines of heavenly citizenship and warning the devil through his threats against sinners of the punishment awaiting him — "Depart into the fire prepared for the devil and his angels" [Matthew 25:41] — then the common enemy of all mankind, seeing our race gradually shaking off wickedness and embracing virtue, casting out impiety and welcoming godliness, and hearing of the judgment prepared against him — then he unleashed everything he had. More heresies after Christ is not a sign of weakness in the faith. It is a sign that the devil is desperate.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.