Letter from Corinth

1Stephanus and the elders with him—Daphnus, Eubulus, Theophilus, and Zenon—to Paul, their eternal brother: greetings in the Lord.

2Two men, Simon and Cleobius, have come to Corinth and are overturning the faith of many with evil, corrupt words. You must test and examine these things, for we have never heard such words from you or from the other apostles. Instead, we hold firmly to everything we have received from you or from them. Since, therefore, the Lord has had mercy on us, so that while you are still in the flesh we may hear these things from you again, if possible, either come to us or write to us. For we believe, according to what was revealed to Theonoe, that the Lord has delivered you from the hand of the lawless one.

3These are the things these men say and teach: They say that we must not use the prophets; that God is not Almighty; that there will be no resurrection of the flesh; that man was not made by God; that Christ did not come down in the flesh, nor was he born of Mary; and that the world is not from God, but from the angels.

4Therefore, brother, we pray that you will make every effort to come to us, so that the church of the Corinthians may remain free from offense and the madness of these men may be made plain. Farewell always in the Lord.