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[To those preparing in Jerusalem for enlightenment, spoken without preparation, on the word: Almighty. To the words of the prophet Jeremiah: Great in counsel and mighty in deeds, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, etc. (Jer.32:19).] 1. By faith in one God we overthrow every error of the polytheists, having this weapon against the pagans and against every hostile heretical effort; and when we add: in one God the Father, then we take up arms against the circumcision, who reject the Only Begotten Son of God. Yesterday it was said that even before a detailed study about our Lord Jesus Christ, at the very time when we say “Father,” we already show that He is the Father of the Son, so that, just as we imagine in our minds that God exists, we also imagine that He has a Son. Now let us add to this the fact that He is also the Almighty. And we say this, meaning both pagans and Jews, and all heretics in general. 2. For some of the pagans called God the soul of the world, others thought that His power extends to heaven alone, but not to earth, and some, along with them, got lost and misunderstood these words: Thy truth even unto the clouds (Ps. 107:5), they dared to limit the action of God’s providence to clouds and heaven, and to remove everything on earth from God, forgetting what is said in the psalm: Should I ascend into heaven, You there; If I go down to the underworld, you will be there (Ps. 139:8). For if there is nothing higher than heaven, and hell is lower than earth, then, of course, He who owns the underworld also holds the earth. 3. But heretics, as I said before, do not recognize the One Almighty God. The Almighty is the One who possesses everything, has power over everything, but those who say that one is the Lord of the soul, the other of the body, of course, call such a Lord imperfect. For how will He be perfect when He gives something to another? What kind of Almighty is He who has power over the soul, but has no power over the body? And he who rules over bodies, but has no power over souls, also what kind of Almighty is he? But the Lord denounces such, saying in spite of them: fear Him more who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna (Matthew 10:28). If the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ did not have power over both, then how could he punish both? For how can He, having taken a body beyond His control, cast it into Gehenna, if He does not first bind the strong man and steal his weapon (see Matt. 12:29). 4. Divine Scripture and the teaching of truth recognize the One God, who, although He rules over everything by His power, also endures many things according to His will. He also rules over idolaters, but He tolerates them out of His kindness. He also rules over the heretics who are rejected by Him, but tolerates them out of His great condescension; He also rules over the devil, but He also tolerates this: He does not tolerate it out of weakness, as if we were overcome by him. For the devil is the beginning of the creation of the Lord (Job 40:14), which became an object of ridicule, however, not for God Himself (since it is not worthy of Him), but for the Angels created by Him. God allowed the devil to continue to live for two reasons, i.e. so that the devil, having been defeated, would be subjected to greater shame, and people would receive crowns. O all-wise Divine Providence! It turns evil will into a means for the salvation of believers. For just as it turned the brother-hating intention of Joseph's brothers into a means of its own economy and, by allowing them to sell their brother out of hatred, opened the door to the elevation to the kingdom of the one whom it itself wanted, it also allowed the devil to wage war against people, so that the victorious would be rewarded with crowns, and so that after winning the victory he himself, as defeated by the weaker, would be subjected to greater shame, and people would become more glorified because they had won. the one who was once an Archangel. 5. So, nothing is taken away from the power of God, which Scripture also affirms: for everything serves You (Ps. 119:91). But there is only one His Son and one only His Holy Spirit outside of all these. And everything that works works for the Lord through the one Son in the Holy Spirit. So, God rules over everything, and He also tolerates murderers, robbers and fornicators, having appointed, in His long-suffering, a certain time, at which He will reward everyone with their due, so that those who have enjoyed a long reprieve, but who have an unrepentant heart, will suffer the most severe punishment. Although those who reign on earth are kings over people, they are not without power given from above. What is the most, having learned by experience, Nebuchadnezzar said: His dominion... is everlasting and... A kingdom from generation to generation (Dan.4:31). 6. Wealth, gold and silver do not belong to the devil, as some people think. For the faithful [...have a whole world of wealth, but the unfaithful has not an obol.] (Prov. 17:6), but there is nothing that is more infected with unbelief than the devil. God clearly speaks through the prophet: The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine (Hag.2:8), and the devil says: To whom I want, I give (Luke 4:6). If you only use silver well, then it does not deserve blame. And when you use a good thing for evil, then, if you do not want to blame your own disposal of it, you will impiously lay the blame on its Creator. You can even become righteous through possessions. I was hungry, and you gave me food (Matthew 25:35). No doubt this is through estates. I was naked, and you clothed Me (Matthew 25:36). Of course, and this is through property. Do you want to know that property can serve as a gateway to the Kingdom of Heaven? Sell, it is said, your property and distribute to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21). 7. I said this against heretics who curse the acquisition of property and slaves. I don’t want you to be a slave to wealth, nor do I want you to look at what God has given you for your benefit as something hostile. So, never say that wealth belongs to the devil. Although the devil said that he would give all this to Christ, for it was given to him (see Matt. 4:9), these words can be rejected; one should not believe a liar, for it seems that he, being forced by the authority of those who were with him, told the truth. He did not say: I will give all this to You because it is mine, but that it has been given to me. He did not arrogate to himself the right of dominion, but only recognized himself as a trustee and manager. Let the interpreters investigate in due time whether he lied or told the truth. 8. So, one is God the Father Almighty, Whom the heretics dared to dishonor. For they dared to dishonor the Lord of Hosts, who sits on the Cherubim (Ps. 79:2). They dared to blaspheme the Almighty Lord, preached by the prophets. But you worship the only Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 15:6), avoid the error of the polytheists, run away from all heresies and speak according to the example of Job: But I would turn to God, I would commend my work to God, who does great and unsearchable things, wonderful without number... there is terrible splendor around God (Job 5:8–9; 37:22). To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: