On Examples

1. God has provided an example of His unity

by creating unitary individuated being,

as well as a unitary world, unitary mankind and a unitary vegetative <substance>.

 

2. Within substances God has created plurality

in order to provide an example of His Trinity

by means of form, matter and their conjunction.

 

3. Substance is unitary, yet <unfolds itself as> three, as we have said,

this being exemplified by <the> one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

all three, constitute a simple and undivided God.

 

4. God has provided an example to man of very great friendship

insofar as He chose to enjoy personhood with him

in a union of human nature and deity.

 

5. God has set an example to man <so> that, out of love for Him,

the latter should choose to undergo hardship, since He endured the greatest <such> for the sake of man;

sinners, however, pay no heed to this example.

 

6. Christ has set an example of great humility,

of patience, forgiveness and faithfulness,

and He fulfilled by deeds that which He preached.

 

7. God provides an example of <His> goodness by means of bonifying

and an example of <His> greatness by means of magnifying,

yet we provide an example of <our> wickedness by committing evil.

 

8. He who is greedy, proud and ill-mannered

and <who> prefers his <own> honour to the friendship of God

is providing an example <of the fact> that <the latter> is not honoured.

 

9. Sin is increased and spread by a poor example,

while mercy and charity are increased by a worthy (lit. “good”) <such>,

for which reason those who have set a poor example are wicked.

 

10. No man exists who is capable of restoring

the damage that can follow from a poor example,

for which reason a poor example constitutes a very great sin.