On Prayer 30.2

In the same way, then, we must understand being delivered “from the evil one.” God delivered Job not by the devil's not receiving authority to surround him with these particular temptations (for he received it), but by Job's not sinning at all before “the Lord” “in all that happened,” but being shown to be righteous. The one who had said, “Does Job worship the Lord for nothing? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, round about? You have blessed the works of his hands, and made his cattle many on the earth. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and surely he will bless you to your face,” was put to shame, as having then lied against Job; who, having suffered so much, did not, as the adversary said, bless God “to his face,” but even when handed over to the tempter continued to bless the Lord, rebuking his wife when she said, “Say some word against the Lord, and die,” and reproving her with the words, “You have spoken as one of the foolish women speaks. If we have received good things from the hand of the Lord, shall we not bear evil things?” And a second time about Job “the devil said to the Lord: Skin for skin; all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bones and his flesh, and surely he will bless you to your face.” But, conquered by the athlete of virtue, he is shown to be a liar; for though Job suffered the harshest things, he persevered, not sinning at all “with his lips” before “God.” And having wrestled two bouts and conquered, Job does not contend in a third contest so great; for the wrestling in three bouts had to be kept for the Savior, which is recorded in the three Gospels, our Savior, understood according to his humanity, having conquered the enemy three times.