The Spurious Epistles

But the Lord is long-suffering, and does not reduce to nothing him who in his ignorance dares [to utter] such words, but meekly replies, “Get you hence, Satan.” He does not say, “Get behind Me,” for it is not possible that he should be converted; but, “Begone, Satan,” to the course which you have chosen. “Begone” to those things to which, through your malevolence, you have been called. For I know Who I am, and by Whom I have been sent, and Whom it behooves Me to worship. For “you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.” I know the one [God]; I am acquainted with the only [Lord] from whom you have become an apostate. I am not an enemy of God; I acknowledge His pre-eminence; I know the Father, who is the author of my generation.