Miscellanies 6.15.124

For instance, Paul circumcised Timothy because of those who had believed from among the Jews, so that the catechumens from the law might not fall away from the faith if he did away with what they had taken up in a rather fleshly way from the law, though he knew well that circumcision does not justify. For he confessed that he became all things to all, preserving the chief doctrines while accommodating himself, so that he might gain all. And Daniel wore the chain under the king of the Persians, not looking on indifferently while the people were afflicted. Liars in truth, then, are not those who accommodate themselves for the sake of the plan of salvation, nor those who err on some particular point, but those who fall away in the most essential matters, who reject the Lord as far as in them lies and deprive the Lord of his true teaching, who do not speak and hand on the Scriptures in a manner worthy of God and the Lord. For the deposit rendered to God is the understanding and practice of the godly tradition according to the Lord's teaching through his apostles. “And what you hear in the ear” (in a hidden way, clearly, and in mystery; for such things are allegorically said to be spoken in the ear) “proclaim,” it says, “on the housetops,” receiving them magnanimously and handing them on in lofty speech, and explaining the Scriptures according to the rule of truth. For neither prophecy nor the Savior himself uttered the divine mysteries simply, so as to be easily grasped by anyone who comes along; he spoke in parables.