Finding The Way

Παρεβαλόν ποτε γεροντες τῷ ἀββᾷ ᾽Αντώνιῳ και ἧν ὁ αββᾶς ᾽Ιωσὴφ μετ' αὐτῶν. Και θέλων ὁ γέρων δοκιμασαι αὐτους, προεβαλετο ῥῆμα ἐκ τῆς Γραφῆς, και ἢρξατο ἐρωτᾷν ἀπο τῶν μικροτέρον, τι ἐστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο. Και ἓκαστος ἒλεγε κατα τὴν ἰδίαν δύναμιν. ῾Ο δὲ γέρων ἑκαστῳ ἒλεγεν· Οὔπω εὗρες. ῾Υστερον ὅλων λέγει τῷ ἀββᾷ ᾽Ιωσηφ· Σὺ πῶς λέγεις εἶναι τὸν λόγον τοῦτον; ᾽Αποκρινεται· Οὐκ οἶδα. Λέγει οὖν ὁ ἀββᾶς ᾽Αντώνιος· Παντως ἀββᾶς ᾽Ιωσηφ εὗρε τὴν ὁδον, ὁτι εἶπεν, Οὐκ οἶδα. ᾽Αποφθέγματα ᾽Αγίων Γερόντων, Παλλαδιος Source: Migne PG 65.80d

One time some elders came to Father Anthony and with them was Father Joseph. The old man wished to test them and choosing a passage from Scripture he began asking them, from the youngest up, what the meaning was, and each spoke according to his ability. But to each the old man said, 'You do not yet understand.' Finally he said to Father Joseph, 'What do you say concerning this passage?' He answered, 'I do not know.' Father Anthony then said, 'Father Joseph has found the way, for he said 'I do not know.' Sayings of the Fathers, Palladius of Galatia