Hippolytus, On Christ and Antichrist

Since you wanted to learn accurately the topics you proposed to us, my beloved brother Theophilus, I considered it right to set before your eyes the matters you seek, drawing abundantly from the divine Scriptures as from a holy spring, so that you might rejoice not only by hearing with your ears, but also, having been instructed by the power of the realities themselves, you might be able to glorify God in every way. For this will be a safeguard for you in the present life, free from danger, that you may bring forth from prepared words the things hard for many to know and hard to grasp, sow them in the breadth of your heart as in fertile and pure soil, and overthrow those who contradict and speak against the saving word. But be afraid lest these things be entrusted to unbelieving and blaspheming tongues, for the danger is no ordinary one; rather entrust them to cautious and faithful men who wish to live holily and righteously with fear. For not in vain did the blessed apostle warn Timothy, writing: "Guard the deposit, turning away from profane and empty talk and the contradictions of the falsely named knowledge, which some, by professing it, have missed the faith" (2 Timothy 1:14). And again: "You, therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).