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NON-CANONICAL EPISTLES AND RELATED WRITINGS
themselves, for that they will receive their reward.
5
“For even the Hebrews who be lieve in Moses . . . are not saved unless they abide by what has been said to them. 2 “For their believing in Moses lies not with a decision of their own will but with God, who said to Moses. ‘Behold, I come to you in a pillar of cloud that the people may hear me speaking to you and believe forever!’6 Since then it is granted to the Hebrews and to them that are called from the Gentiles to believe the teachers of truth, while it is left to the personal de cision of each individual whether he will perform good deeds, the reward rightly falls to those who do well. 4 “For neither Moses nor Jesus would have needed to come if of themselves people had been willing to perceive the way of discretion. And there is no sal vation in believing in teachers and calling them lords.
6
“Therefore is Jesus concealed from the Hebrews who have received Moses as their teacher, and Moses hidden from those who believe Jesus. 2 “For since through both one and the same teaching becomes known, God ac cepts those who believe in one of them. 3 “But belief in a teacher has as its aim the doing of what God has ordered. 4 “That this is the case our Lord him self declares, saying: ‘I confess to you, Father of heaven and earth, that you have
hidden this from the wise and elder, but have revealed it to simpletons and infants.’7 Thus has God himself hidden the teacher from some since they know be forehand what they ought to do, and has revealed him to others since they know not what they have to do.
7
“Thus the Hebrews are not con demned because they did not know Jesus . . . provided only they act accord ing to the instructions of Moses and do not injure him whom they did not know. 2 “And again the offspring of the Gen tiles are not judged, who . . . have not known Moses, provided only they act according to the words of Jesus and thus do not injure him whom they did not know. 3 “Also it profits nothing if many de scribe their teachers as their lords, but do not do what it befits servants to do. 4 “Therefore our Lord Jesus said to one who again and again called him Lord, but at the same time did not abide by any of his commands. ‘Why call me Lord and not do what I say?’8 For it is not speaking that can profit any one, but doing. 5 “In all circumstances goods works are needed; but if a person has been con sidered worthy to know both teachers as heralds of a single doctrine, then that one is counted rich in God. . . .”
6
Exod 19:9. Luke 6:46.
7
Matt 11:25; Luke 10:21.
8
Matt 7:21;