Chap. xii.—The meek reply of Christ.
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Clement I, Pope, Hermas, active 2nd century, Ignatius, Saint, Bishop of Antioch, Papias, Saint, Bishop of Hierapolis, Polycarp, Saint, Bishop of Smyrna, Crombie, Frederick, Donaldson, James, Sir, and Roberts, Alexander
But the Lord is long-suffering, and does not reduce to nothing him who in his ignorance dares [to utter] such words, but meekly replies, “Get thee hence, Satan.”[1984] He does not say, “Get thee behind me,” for it is not possible that he should be converted; but, “Begone, Satan,” to the course which thou hast chosen. “Begone” to those things to which, through thy malevolence, thou hast been called. For I know who I am, and by whom I have been sent, and whom it behoves me to worship. For “thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”[1985] I know the one [God]; I am acquainted with the only [Lord] from whom thou hast become an apostate. I am not an enemy of God; I acknowledge His pre-eminence; I know the Father, who is the author of my generation.