First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ about you all, because the report of your faith is spreading throughout the world.

This is so, because what can be known about God is plain to them; for God himself has made it plain.

Because, although they learned to know God, yet they did not offer him as God either praise or thanksgiving. Their speculations about him proved futile, and their undiscerning minds were darkened.

For they had substituted a lie for the truth about God, and had reverenced and worshiped created things more than the Creator, who is to be praised for ever. Amen.

What then, it may be asked, are we to say about Abraham, the ancestor of our nation?

Sin took advantage of the Commandment to deceive me, and used it to bring about my Death.

Did, then, a thing, which in itself was good, involve Death in my case? Heaven forbid! It was sin that involved Death; so that, by its use of what I regarded as good to bring about my Death, its true nature might appear; and in this way the Commandment showed how intensely sinful sin is.

For these words are the words of a promise-'About this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.'

Nor is that all. There is also the case of Rebecca, when she was about to bear children to our ancestor Isaac.

Every one has heard of your ready obedience. It is true that I am very happy about you, but I want you to be well versed in all that is good, and innocent of all that is bad.