E01463: Discourse Ad philosophum gentilem written in Coptic by Shenoute, abbot of the White Monastery at Sohag, ob. 465 (Upper Egypt), addressing a pagan philosopher, possibly Gesios of Panopolis, on his second visit to the monastery, discussing proper and improper religious behaviour and belief, stating that a Christian is not only to please God and Christ, but to also satisfy the saints in heaven.

The introduction of the text states that this discourse was given by Shenoute in public, when he was visited by a pagan philosopher for the second time. This was possibly Gesios from Panopolis, known from the so-called Life of Shenoute (see $E1093).

Ed. Leipoldt–Crum Sinuthii archimandritae opera omnia et vita (Paris, 1908) p. 46:
ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ϭⲉ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲉϣ ⲡⲁϥⲉⲛⲉⲃⲓⲱ · ⲥⲉϯ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲛⲉϥϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲩⲙⲧⲟⲛ
ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲩⲙⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ · ϥⲉⲩⲫⲣⲁⲛⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲭⲣⲥ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲉ ·
ϥϯⲙⲧⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲛⲛⲉⲥⲡⲗⲁⲭⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ϩⲛ ⲙⲡⲏⲩⲉ

'Deservedly the bee is loved. The fruits of its labours are given to kings and people for comfort. Deservedly the Christian is loved, for he pleases God and his Christ through all his righteous deeds. And he also comforts the
hearts (σπλάγχνον) of all the saints in heaven.'

Translation: A. Alcock, slightly modified.