Irenaeus of Lyons · a new plain-English translation from the original language
That justice cannot exist without goodness, nor goodness without justice; that the same one is both wise and judge; a demonstration that the Word of God is both just and good.
Again, wishing to remove from the Father whatever is reproving and judicial, judging this unworthy of God, and thinking they have discovered a God who is good but without wrath, they have said that one God judges and another God saves — not knowing that in doing so they take away the true sense of both, and also justice itself. Should the one who judges lack goodness as well, he would prove neither just nor wise as a judge, whether in granting rewards to those to whom he owes them or in bringing reproach upon those on whom it is fitting; and again, if the good one is only good and nothing more — not also one who tests those upon whom he bestows his goodness — his goodness will fall outside of justice, and his goodness will appear weak, since he does not save all, unless it is done with judgment. So, in calling one God good and another judicial, they destroy God on both counts. For the one who is judicial, if he is not also good, is not God, because it is not possible for God to lack goodness; and again the one who is good, if he is not also judicial, will suffer the same fate as the other, in that he is thereby deprived of being God. And how, besides, could they name the Father of all things wise, unless they were also willing to grant him what belongs to judgment? Being wise, he must also be a tester of things; and testing pertains to judgment; and judgment is accompanied by justice, that it may test rightly; from justice springs forth judgment, and that judgment, once carried out with justice, opens into wisdom. Wisdom, therefore, the Father surpasses all human and angelic wisdom, since he is Lord, and judge, and just, and ruler over all. For he is also good, and merciful, and patient, and he saves those whom it is fitting to save; and neither is his goodness deficient in its just effect, nor is his wisdom diminished — for he saves those he ought to save, and he judges those deserving of judgment; nor does his justice appear harsh, since goodness plainly goes before it and precedes it.
He, then, who makes his sun to rise upon all in kindness, and sends rain upon the just and the unjust, will judge those who, having received his kindness equally with others, have not conducted themselves in a manner worthy of the honor of his gift, but have instead lived in luxury and self-indulgence, contrary to his benevolence, and have even gone so far as to blaspheme him who has done them such great benefits.