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About that time, Pantaenus, a man highly distinguished for his
learning, had charge of the school of the faithful in Alexandria. A
school of sacred learning, which continues to our day, was established
there in ancient times, and as we have been informed, was managed by
men of great ability and zeal for divine things. Among these it is
reported that Pantaenus was at that time especially conspicuous, as he
had been educated in the philosophical system of those called Stoics.
They say that he displayed such zeal for the divine Word, that he was
appointed as a herald of the Gospel of Christ to the nations in the
East, and was sent as far as India. For indeed there were still
many evangelists of the Word who sought earnestly to use their inspired
zeal, after the examples of the apostles, for the increase and
building up of the Divine Word. Pantaenus was one of these, and is
said to have gone to India. It is reported that among persons there
who knew of Christ, he found the Gospel according to Matthew, which
had anticipated his own arrival. For Bartholomew, one of the
apostles, had preached to them, and left with them the writing of
Matthew in the Hebrew language, which they had preserved till that
time. After many good deeds, Pantaenus finally became the head of
the school at Alexandria, and expounded the treasures of divine
doctrine both orally and in writing.
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