YA525-530 Chapter 1

(4 page lacuna, and at least part of it must be a continuation of this list to include Anna, and the mother of the prophet Sampson, and Elizabeth, the mother of John, who was filled with the holy spirit from the time he was in his mother's womb who are mentioned below. What else is missing is, of course, unknown but it seems that we begin again at the main (?) point of Shenoute's argument.) So we are foolish, or blind,

when male monks in our community refuse argumentatively and disobediently to do certain labors that they are capable of doing,

taking care either of people who are entrusted to them, duties, or any other kind of good work

that we can do for one another through God for the salvation of our souls.

But you are stupid and wickedly stubborn

when female monks in your community choose to be barren women through God yet still argumentatively and ignorantly insist on renouncing certain labors

that they are capable of doing, taking care either of people, duties, or any other kind of good work that you do for one another in fear of the Lord.

Given that the woman who lives with a husband according to the flesh usually is willing to have sons and daughters,

and given that Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Anna, and the mother of the prophet Sampson, and Elizabeth, the mother of John, who was filled with the holy spirit from the time he was in his mother's womb

given that these women and others of the ancient holy women called out to the Lord, praying and beseeching that they not be barren women,

then, whenever female monks in your community renounce people who are entrusted to them through God, how greatly will they be disgraced since they chose to be barren women and widows?

For God despised many of our ancestors, both men and women, from the first until now

because they did not wish to labor with others, so that they exist to them as sons and daughters through God.

But on account of sloth and arrogance many men renounce, so that they do not labor with others through God

even as some themselves labor with them;

likewise, many women renounced so that they do not labor with others through God,

even as others themselves labor with them,

And because of their arrogance and their love of their bodily rest they were willing that they be barren

and the Lord shut the womb of their souls like a barren woman, and caused the counsels of the teaching to dry up in our community like empty breasts, so that they should not again teach others, from this moment, through God.

But the Lord blessed many of our ancestors down from the beginning until now, both men and women,

because they were willing to take on labor with others through God.

in the manner of our ancient ancestors and the prophets and apostles, who were 'father' to a great many people through God;

and in the manner of Deborah, who was judge and mother in Israel; and of Odolla (Hulda), the prophet whom Josiah, the righteous king . . . and Anna, the daughter of Phanuuel.

This is not the time for parents who have children through God to say in their ignorance,

The Lord will give eunuchs and virgins choice rank and a reputation better than sons and daughters.'

Just so [it is not the time] for male monks in our community and female ones in yours,

to choose to renounce those who are entrusted to them, and to not take care of them, saying,

'We are pleasing to God,'

or, 'These people and others are not our concern.'

And in their stubbornness they insert the saying of the prophet,

interpreting it according to their heart's desire, 'and their own laziness (bodily comfort?), saying,

'The Lord will give eunuchs and virgins the kingdom of heaven.'

And so they renounce others, and do not take care of them

…

[the eternal teaching] of the apostle, who said,

'Do not let [a person] seek his own salvation, but another's,'

even as he himself did not seek his own salvation, but that of many,

that they might be saved.

But especially the prophet, whose saying the ignorant interpret according to their own desires, saying,

The Lord will give eu[nuchs and virgins?] choice rank [and] a reputation better than sons and daughters,'

he himself, Isaiah, not only took on many labors for the name of God,

but he died for the sake of a great multitude of people, and indeed, for all our sakes.

A father or a mother, who have sons and daughters and grandchildren and numerous possessions

and whom affairs of life make incapable of ever [caring] for their sons and daughters and all the other things of this age,

they therefore care for sons and daughters through God and all kinds of righteous works.

For it is not possible that people like these be servants to their relatives according to the flesh,

and they therefore are servants to others through God.

But people who do not have sons and daughters according to the flesh,

or who have renounced those they did have,

along with their numerous material possessions, because they wished to follow according to the worth of the calling

which called them to this life,

are indeed eunuchs and virgins—and this means you, brethren, as well as everyone everywhere on the whole earth who is celibate,

either those who have not known honorable marriage and the pure bed, or those who took a wife or husband but when they were willing,

through God by the counsel of the one who said,