Notice

is relevant, as it mentions how this man taught publicly in Caesarea at the request of the bishops and interpreted the Scriptures before he was even ordained. From this, the author Alexander original: "Alexander"; likely Alexander of Jerusalem, who, along with Theoctistus of Caesarea, invited Origen to preach while still a layman, causing a controversy with Origen's own bishop, Demetrius concludes that such a practice is still permitted in the Christian Church.

XIX. to XXV.

Among the epistles of the martyr Caecilius Cyprian Cyprian (c. 210–258 AD) was the Bishop of Carthage and a hugely influential Latin writer who died as a martyr, there are also several from other martyrs and confessors of those times which can provide us with many wholesome reminders. To this end, the most prominent ones have been incorporated here, and their number and order are listed according to the latest edition by John, Bishop of Oxford original: "Joannis Oxoniensis Episcopi"; referring to John Fell (1625–1686), whose 1682 edition of Cyprian’s works became a scholarly standard. Cyprian’s own writings, however, are already to be found (in the selected letters) as a sample. Only two more have been added here for the sake of the benefit that might be hoped for in these times.

XXVI. to XXIX.

1. Furthermore, one could have included several letters from Caesarius, Basil, Ephrem the Syrian, and others. However, the best of these already appear in the above-mentioned letters; and as for the rest, every reader—who, alongside knowledge of antiquity, has also prayed to GOD for the spirit of testing and discernment—will easily be able to recognize whether they could have contributed anything to common edification, which is the sole purpose here.

2. Therefore, we come now directly to that Teacher of the Church whom the ancients specifically titled a "Teacher of God" or Theologian original: "Theologum"; this title was specifically associated with Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390 AD) in the early church due to his defense of the doctrine of the Trinity—