Miscellanies 2.6.25

“Lord, who has believed our report?” says Isaiah. “For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God,” says the apostle. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news.” You see how he leads faith up through hearing and the preaching of the apostles to the word of the Lord and the Son of God? Do we not yet understand that the word of the Lord is a demonstration? As playing ball depends not only on the one who throws the ball skillfully, but also requires the one who catches it well, so that the game may be carried out by the rules of ball-playing; so teaching too is trustworthy when the faith of the hearers, being, so to speak, a natural art, helps toward learning.