Against Celsus 7.55

Since, after the list of so many men, he says, “What did your god say like this while he was being punished?”, we might say to him that under the scourges and the many outrages he displayed more fortitude and patience by his silence than any Greek who spoke in adversity; if at least Celsus is willing to believe this too, recorded in good faith by men who loved the truth, who spoke truthfully also of the marvellous things and counted his silence under the scourges among them. And when he was mocked, and clothed in the “scarlet robe,” and the “crown of thorns” was put on his head, and he took the “reed” in his hand instead of a sceptre, he showed the utmost gentleness, saying nothing ignoble or indignant to those who dared so much against him. It was not, then, like one who out of fortitude kept silent under the scourges and out of gentleness endured everything inflicted by those who mocked him, to have said from cowardice, as some think, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as you will.” The apparent request to be excused from what is called the cup has a meaning, which we have examined and explained more fully elsewhere. But to take the saying more simply, see whether the prayer was not spoken with piety toward God, since everyone thinks adversity not something to be chosen for its own sake, yet endures what happens not by choice when the occasion calls. Indeed, the voice was not that of one who gave way; the voice that said, “yet not what I will, but what you will,” was that of one content with what happened and preferring the adversities that come from providence.