Against Celsus 2.42

Further, since Celsus will have it that Jesus was not blameless either, let him show which of those who accepted his teaching recorded anything truly blameworthy in Jesus; or, if he does not accuse him as blameworthy on the basis of these writings, let him show where he learned that he was not blameless when he said so. Jesus did do what he promised, things worthy of belief, by which he benefited those who paid heed to him. And as we continually see fulfilled what he said before it happened, that “the gospel would be preached” in the whole world, and that his disciples would go into “all the nations” and proclaim his word, and further that they would be brought “before governors and kings” for no other reason than his teaching, we are amazed at him and daily confirm our faith in him. I do not know by what greater and clearer proofs Celsus wished him to make his predictions credible; unless, as it seems, not understanding that the Word became the man Jesus, he wished him to suffer nothing human and not to become for human beings a noble example of bearing what befalls them. Even if these things seem to Celsus most pitiable and most shameful, that is because he regards pain as the greatest of evils and pleasure as the perfect good, a view that none of the philosophers who bring in providence and acknowledge courage, endurance, and greatness of soul to be virtues has accepted. Jesus, then, did not discredit faith in him by what he endured; rather he strengthened it among those who wish to embrace courage, and among those taught by him that to live properly and truly, the blessed life, is not here but “in the age to come,” as it is called in his words, while living in what is called “the present age” is a misfortune, or the first and greatest contest of the soul.