[I Thess. 1:1-5; Luke 10:22-24] No man knoweth… who the Fa ther is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. The Son was on the earth and revealed every thing necessary for us Himself and through the Holy Spirit which acted in the apostles. Consequently, what you find in the Gospels and the ap ostolic writings is all you will and can know about the Father and Godly things. Do not seek more than this, and do not think to find apart from this anywhere else the truth a bout God and God’s plans. What a great treasure we possess!… Every thing has been said already. Do not rack your brains, just accept with faith what has been revealed. It has been revealed that God is one in es sence and triune in persons — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; accept this with faith and uphold it. It has been revealed that the thrice-hypo statical God created all through the word, preserves all in His right hand, and is providential toward everything; accept this with faith and uphold it. It has been revealed that we were in a blessed state and fell, and that for our restoration and redemption the Son of God, the sec ond person of the Most Holy Trinity, was incarnate, suffered, died on the cross, was resurrected and ascend ed into heaven — accept this with faith and uphold it. It has been re vealed that one who desires to be saved must believe in the Lord, and accepting divine grace in the holy mysteries, live, with its help, accord ing to the Lord’s commandments, struggling with the passions and lusts, by means of corresponding spiritual endeavours — accept this with faith and do it. It has been re vealed that whosoever lives accord ing to God’s direction enters after their death into bright dwelling places, the pre-beginning of eternal bliss; while whosoever does not live thus, upon death will pre-begin to experience the torments of hell —accept this [revelation] with faith and thus give yourself understand ing, and inspire yourself for good and spiritual endeavours. Thus ac cept all with faith and keep it faith fully. There is no need to rack your brains over your own invented things. Do not listen to those who show off their intelligence — they do not know where they are going.
Saint Theophan the Recluse