Miscellanies 5.4.26

For example, the apostle, in contrast to the perfection of knowledge, calls the common faith sometimes a foundation and sometimes milk, writing in this way: “Brothers, I could not speak to you as spiritual, but as fleshly, as infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able. But not even now are you able; for you are still fleshly. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and walking according to man?” These are the choices of sinful men; but those who have abstained from them think divine things and partake of knowing food. “According to the grace given me,” he says, “as a wise master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it gold and silver, precious stones.” These are the knowing structures built on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ; but “stubble” and “wood and hay” are the additions of the heresies. “And the fire will test what sort each one's work is.” Hinting at the knowing structure in the letter to the Romans too, he says: “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you.” But it was not possible to write such gifts openly in a letter.