Against Celsus 7.21

If, then, the wording of the law promises wealth to the righteous, let Celsus, according to the “letter” that kills, think that blind wealth is spoken of in the promise; but we think of the sharp-sighted wealth, by which one is rich “in all speech and all knowledge,” and in the sense in which we charge “those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” For “the wealth” in true goods “is the ransom of a man's soul,” according to Solomon; while the poverty opposed to it is destructive, because of which “the poor man does not withstand threat.” As we have explained about wealth, so we must speak about power, by which “one” righteous man is said to pursue “a thousand, and two” to put to flight “ten thousand.” If these things are understood so in the matter of wealth, see whether it does not follow from God's promise that one who is rich “in all speech and all knowledge” and all wisdom and every good work lends “to many nations” out of his wealth in speech, wisdom, and knowledge, as Paul lent, fully preaching “the gospel of Christ” “from Jerusalem” and round about as far as “Illyricum” to all the nations he visited. And since divine things were made known to him by revelation, his soul being enlightened by the divinity of the Word, for this reason he did not borrow, nor did he need a man to minister the word to him. And since it is also written, “You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you,” by the power that comes from the Word he ruled over those from the Gentiles, subjecting them to the teaching of Christ Jesus, and was never placed under men as though they were his superiors. So too he filled the earth.