Miscellanies 1.17.81

Yes, they say it is written, “All who came before the Lord's coming are thieves and robbers.” All, then, who came before the incarnation of the Word are to be understood more generally. But the prophets, since they were sent and inspired by the Lord, are not thieves but servants. At any rate Scripture says, “Wisdom sent her servants, calling with a lofty proclamation to the bowl of wine.” But philosophy, they say, was not sent by the Lord, but came stolen or given by a thief; whether, then, some power or angel, having learned something of the truth and not remaining in it, inspired these things and, having stolen them, taught them. Not that the Lord did not know, who knew the ends of what would be before the foundation of the world and each thing's being; but he did not prevent it. For the theft that came to human beings then had some benefit, not because the one who stole looked to what was profitable, but because providence directed the outcome of the daring deed to what was profitable.