On Prayer 30.1

It seems to me that Luke, through “Do not bring us into temptation,” has in effect also taught “Deliver us from the evil one.” And it is likely that the Lord said the more concise form to the disciple, as one already benefited, and the clearer form to the many, who needed plainer teaching. God delivers “us from the evil one,” not when the enemy does not approach us at all to wrestle against us through his schemes of whatever kind and through those who serve his will, but when we conquer by standing bravely against what befalls us. So also we have understood the words, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, and he delivers them out of them all.” For God “delivers” from afflictions not when afflictions no longer happen (since Paul too says, “afflicted in every way,” as though never not “afflicted”), but when, “afflicted,” we are by God's help not crushed; “being afflicted,” according to a Hebrew idiom, signifying the circumstance that happens without our choice, while “being crushed” signifies what happens by our choice, when one has been overcome by the affliction and has given in to it. Hence Paul rightly says, “afflicted in every way, but not crushed.” And I think the words in the Psalms are similar to this: “In affliction you have enlarged me.” For the cheerfulness and good spirits of our understanding, given by God in the time of hardships through the cooperation and presence of the Word of God who comforts and saves us, has been called enlargement.