Chapter 4

1OF bishops we have heard thus from our Lord Jesus Christ, that the shepherd of the sheep who is ordained bishop of ' all the Churches must needs be blameless, pure and good,” who thinketh not on the care of this world, who is full fifty years old, who hath passed the strength of youth, who is not a slanderer,* nor one that speaketh lics amongst the brethren. For the Gospel saith, “lor every word that a man speaketh thoughtlessly, he shall give account in the day of judgment, that it may condemn him.’”* And _ furthermore it is said, “l’or by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” * Wherefore it is meet that he abound in all good things. But if he be not learned, let him be prudent and intelligent, of middle age. But if the city be a small one, and there be not found therein one (thus) fitted for the office of bishop? and there be found among the young men one prudent and wise, though his years are (but) few, and if those who know him bear witness that he is worthy to be ordained bishop,* if he have lived from his youth perfect in the works of the holy and humble fathers,’ and walketh in the way of righteousness, tried in every work, and if (men) bear witness to him that he is perfect, let him be ordained in peace. For Solomon also when but twelve *® years old became King over the pcople of Israel; and t Joash ¢ ® too became ruler when he was seven years old and afterwards in the eighth year he reigned in righteousness. For the Lord '® spake by the mouth of Isaiah the prophet, and said, ‘‘To whom shall I look, but to him that is meek and humble and quiet, who trembleth at my word?" and again it is said in the Gospel, “Blessed are the meek,'? for they shall inherit the earth.” '® Let him therefore be merciful, for it is said, ‘Blessed arc the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” '4 Let him therefore be a peacemaker, for it is said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall be called the children of God.” '® Let him be pure of shall be condemned in the day ‘* P adds : God. of judgment, "Isa 66, 2 “Mt 12, 37. '? A adds: in heart. © P pope (Eth. papas) and "Mt s, 5. bishop. “Mt 5, 7. heart, without revenge and evil and unrighteousness, for it is said, “ Blessed are the pure in heart; they shall see God.” 76 fii., 2.) Let him, then, be spiritual, and watchful !7 to do good, neither insatiable nor passionate, nor a drunkard, nor vindictive, without hatred and strife, not haughty, nor a lover of money, nor a reviler; neither let him exalt himself, lest he fall into the snare of Satan; for everyone that hath exalted himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be raised to honour. And let such a one be ordained bishop who hath married one elect wife, who is able to order his household aright, a teacher and monitor who hath brought up his children in purity. And let his wife also be faithful, who traineth her children in the true worship and in the fear of the Lord. It is right that the men of his household should obey the bishop in humility and in fear, and let him be ’® master even as it is written. And let them try him that he be blameless, not passionate, (for) thus saith wisdom, “Anger destroyeth the wise man.” 1'® And let him be merciful and charitable, for our Lord saith, ‘And by this shall all know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.” 7° fii., 4.] Let him, then, be a lover of men, who receiveth strangers, who accepteth not persons, a man of understanding, who sheweth favour neither to rich, nor to poor, one who hath a craft,” whose hands are open to give, who receiveth widows, a lover of the poor and the orphans and widows. And moreover let him support those (widows) 7? who have children. But if there be a slothful man, or one who hath spent all his substance in drunkenness and fornication, and desireth to receive alms, let not the bishop show any care for him, nor permit him to enter the church. For me hase ie and watchful. at { ie ae understand how passionate man destroyeth wis- 22° The words are fem. in Eth. dom. 7 P omits: all. {ii., 5-] It is not right for the bishop to judge, accepting the person of the rich, and to neglect the poor. lor God said unto Moses, “ Judge not, accepting the person of the rich, nor turn aside the judgment of the poor, for the judgment is the Lord’s.” 7° But he ought to judge uprightly. The food of the bishop ought to be meat seasoned with moderation, that he may be able to teach and admonish the people, and that he may turn them to God. And let him keep far from all evil, and read the Scriptures at all times and be a lover of wisdom, that he may be able to interpret the Scriptures in the Holy Spirit, (even) the words of the Gospel, the Law and the prophets. The Lord?’ saith, ‘‘Understand ye the words of the Scriptures, for they bear witness of me.” ?* = It becometh a bishop to search out and expound the Scriptures in order, and to satisfy the people with spiritual 7° teaching, and fill®® them with the light of the law of God with much admonition. God saith, “Make the light of wisdom to shine upon you, for it is time.” 3! ‘Thus, then, it is right for the bishop to suffer and toil and wrestle for righteousness’ sake, but above all before the people, that they, when they see his works, may receive his admonition. And, moreover, let him become surety for no man, nor associate with the great, nor be 7? of a double tongue, nor follow after princes, but let him fear God; and let him not hearken to a false accusation against his 2" P For our Lord. *2P adds: of a double heart neighbour. And let him not be slothful in fasting, nor seek occasions for eating, nor say, To-day is a feast, as the Gentiles do, to eat and drink and be wanton: but let him remove from him every idle desire which hath no profit, for all this is despised and hateful before God, and well-pleasing to demons. ,It is meet *? for the bishop to command and admonish the people to remove from them all these works. But let him teach them and turn them, that they may imitate him and follow ** in righteousness. For God said unto the children of Israel, “Observe my law ** and my commandment.” °** And Jesus Christ Himself also, our Lord and our God, first did all, and (then) taught us to imitate Him. Wherefore He saith that he who shall teach and do, shall be great in the Kingdom of heaven."7 It is right for you, O bishops, to teach the people and save them from error, even as Christ hath given you grace. For the Lord spake by the mouth of Ezekiel the prophet, and said, “Son of man, | have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel, and thou shalt hear the word from my mouth, and admonish them by my word. When I say to the sinner, Thou shalt surely die, and he hath not repented, and thou hast not spoken to him, nor admonished him, that he may repent and turn from his way and live, that sinner shall die in his sin, and his blood will I require from thee,** saith the Lord.** But if thou hast admonished the sinner, and he hath not turned from his sin, he shall die in his guilt and thou shalt save thy soul.*® And if the righteous man hath turned from his righteousness and committed sin, while I show him punishment before his face, and thou hast not admonished him,‘! he shall surely die in his guilt, and his righteousness which he hath done I will not remember, and his blood will I require from thy hand. And if thou hast admonished the righteous man, so that 32g : then. ** P from thy hand. ie P aay ** P omits: saith the Lord. © Cf Lev 18, 4. “1 P omits 7 and thou hast not ay ae :, to. : admonished him. he sin not, that righteous man shall surely live, and thou also hast saved thy soul.” 4? ‘As when war and strife arise in the midst of a people, and they seek out a watchman to bring them tidings, that they may be on guard, and if he tell them not beforehand, that they may be saved from defeat, ¢ their ¢ *? blood shall be upon his head, for they heard not the sound of the trumpet. But if he see the sword which cometh on the land, and blow with the trumpet ** a signal to the hosts, and (if) one who hearkeneth hear the sound of the trumpet and get him not away, and the sword come and find him, his blood shall return on his own head, for he heard the sound of the trumpet, and gat him not away, and his blood shall be poured out on him; but he who gat him away saved his life.” *> In like manner the bishop, if he teach the word of life, shall find life eternal.4¢ The sword is eternal 47 condemnation, and the sound of the trumpet is the Holy Gospel, and the watchman is the bishop *® of the Holy Church. The bishop ought to feed (the flock), and teach, and hold fast the word,’? and make men to fear concerning the judgment. Wherefore let him admonish those that walk without knowledge, and make them to see plainly ; and let him teach those that know not, and confirm those that know; and let him gather those that are lost and speak to them at all times concerning their salvation, that, when they hear these things, they may be admonished and do (that which is) good. For God saith by the prophet, ‘‘Testify against this people, and tell them their sins (to see) if they will turn, and repent, and be saved from their iniquity.” °° And Moses also said unto the people, ‘“‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one.” *' And again, it is said in the Holy Gospel, ‘‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” °? And Solomon also saith, ‘ Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father and disregard not the commandment of thy mother.” °° Yet they have not heard unto this day, but have forsaken the Lord the only true God, and He hath called them a generation of transgressors and adulterers, concerning whom we have spoken before. And now know, beloved, ye who have been baptized into the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, that it is not meet that they *4 should sin who have received such grace as this. Know, brethren, that such as these °° who, after they have received baptism, turn back to deeds of sin, shall go down to the condemnation of Gehenna. And (there are) others also who have not been believers, but (who) afterwards t when t¢ °* they have believed and *’ been baptized become blessed before God, even as our Lord saith in the Holy ** Gospel, ‘Blessed are ye when they revile*® you and mock you, and speak all (manner of) evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice,*° for great is your reward in heaven.” *' And if there be anyone against whom they have spoken,*? blessed is he. For it is written, saying, “Every man who is not tried, is not clect before God.” ** [f there be any man who hath transgressed the law, and men curse him, he hath brought the curse on his own head. In like manner we also, if we hear not the commandments of God and do not His will, shall bring a curse upon ourselves, and moreover shall be far from God. For as for such as do not what they themselves teach, and turn not from their own ways, the bishop ought to admonish them, and put to shame those who do thus. But it 1s right that he teach them in the love of Christ how they cught to serve. : It is right for the bishop to seek after ae | oe when. *? P adds: falsely. ’ righteousness, and not honour transgressors, nor be partial in judgment, nor take a bribe from any man, for a bribe blindeth the cyes of the wise, nor turn aside a right cause. And moreover it is said somewhere, “Put away all evil from you.” ** And Solomon also saith, “‘Come not into the place where they encamp; withdraw from them, and turn away. For they sleep not, unless they do evil. Sleep is taken away from them, and they sleep not who feed on sin.” and should order their manner of living, as is fitting, in peace; that the people may lead good lives and turn from their sins. This then is well-pleasing in God’s sight, for when a man turneth from his sin and returneth to repentance, others ** seeing him are taught the true service. Therefore ought the bishop to be watchful to do good, that the beauty of his life may be known unto all; for he is the guide of the people, and the shepherd of the elders’° and rulers and teachers, and of all who are under him. The bishop ought to sit in the church with the priests, and they ought to judge each man, as is fitting; for to them hath the Lord given authority, and hath commanded them, saying, ““Whatsoever ye have bound on earth, let it be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye have loosed on earth, let it be loosed in heaven.” 7? It is right for the bishop to turn the people to the knowledge of God, and to receive the repentance of those who have turned 72 to God, to teach them, and console them in meekness and in love and_ in humility, and with joy of heart; ’° for the Lord God is merciful. For He saith by Ezckiel the prophet, “Say unto them,” as I live; saith 7 the Lord God, I desire not that the sinner should die,”* but that he should repent, and forsake his evil way : and why will ye die, © house of Israel? And thou, son of man, say unto the children of thy people, the righteousness of the righteous shall not save him, when he committeth iniquity, and the sin of the sinner shall not afflict him, if?® he repent of his iniquity : the righteous man also shall not be saved, when he hath sinned. When I speak to the righteous, if he trust in his righteousness and commit sin, all his righteousness 7° I will not remember unto him: in his sin which he hath committed, he shall ™ Ezek 33, 11-16. Pl omits: done, say unto them. dic. And if T say unto the sinner, Thou shalt surely die, and he repent of his sin and do justice and righteousness, and return the pledye of his debt *° and restore what he hath robbed, and walk in the ordinances of life, and commit not sin, he shall surely live, and shall not die in his sin that he hath sinned, neither will { remember unto him his sin and *! his iniquity; for he hath done justice and righteousness, and by it he shall live.” Wherefore sinners shall hope; when they turn from their sins and repent, they shall find a good hope; and they shall inherit the earth. But let them that have not transgressed take heed lest they fall ®? into ** affliction and sorrow and weeping. Know, then, and understand, O man, if thou transgressest and committest sin in this world, and repentest not,** thou hast not life. Repent, then, while thou livest, for after death there is no repentance.** Even as David saith, ‘‘For there is none in death who remembereth thee, and in Sheol who will confess to thee?” 8° It is right, then, brethren, that we should be ready to do good, and should walk in the way of righteousness, in which there is no sorrow. Let us hear, then, and understand that which is said, ‘ Direct my way and my going according to thy word.” §&’ And let us not be wanting in any good work, but observe the holy word which the Holy Gospel saith ** concerning the five wise virgins, and not (be) as the five foolish virgins, whose oil of good works failed, and they went forth from the marriage which is in heaven. Wherefore we ought to take heed to ourselves and fashion ourselves, and mark the time of the bridegroom, lest we fall into sin; but he that doeth righteousness let him take heed to do good ®* even unto the end. It is meet, F Holv-Gospel. then, that the bishop be of understanding and judge uprightly, for the judgment is the Lord’s. Let him admonish sinners, that they may walk in the right way ; and, when they turn, let him receive their repentance in compassion and in mercy. Remember, then, what our Lord saith, “There is great joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.”’ %° But if thou receivest not them that repent, but rejectest them, thou hast scattered thy flock, and hast not understood what David saith, “Deliver not unto the wild beasts the soul that confesseth unto thee.” *' For thus saith the Lord, “That which hath fallen, shall it not arise? and that which hath erred, shall it not turn again? Wherefore hath my people *? transgressed with an evil transgression, and held fast to their own counsel, and refused to leave it? Hearken now and hear me. Say they not thus? Is there not a man that repenteth of his evil, and saith, What have I done? Turn again, O my children that are far away, and I will heal your wounds.” ** Receive them that turn to thee and * repent, O bishop, and be not thou of a double heart, nor make proud thy heart as those who have no mercy. For he who doeth thus feareth not God: but let him rather take thought to fulfil the needs of the people, as it is fitting. Let us take heed, then, to ourselves, and have ** no fellowship with sinners and wicked men who do thus. The righteousness of the righteous (shall be) for himself, but he that committeth sin without law, his iniquity shall return on his own head. For it is said by Ezekiel the prophet, “If a land sin against me, and go astray, and transgress, and I lift up my hands ** against it, and break the strength of bread,*? and send famine against it, and destroy from off it man and beast, if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should not save (it) ** by their righteousness, saith oe rae eccpte: a P Vegeeee % P omits: turn to thee and. saith the Lord God, they shall not save their sons, nor their daughters,*” but they alone shall be saved, and the land shall be destroyed.” !° As it is written, “If ‘there be in this world a righteous man and a sinner, the righteous shall not perish with the sinner.” But He sendeth rain on the good !"' and the evil. And if there be anyone who thinketh and saith, Judgment is cqual against all, it is not so; '"* for in this? warfare there is one that is strong, and again, there is another who is stronger than he: and he that hath conquered shall receive the crown of victory openly. For God condemneth not the righteous with the sinner. Noah was not swallowed up in the waters of the flood: and Lot was not burnt in the fire: and Rahab the harlot perished not. But if ye desire to know what happened amongst us: Judas Iscariot perished, though he was together with us in one ministry ; and Simon the sorcerer received the seal of the Lord; (yet) because these two were evil, their wickedness was made known openly. Judas hanged himself, and Simon flew up (into the air) and was dashed upon the ground. And while Noah was in the ark with his sons, Ham by his wickedness brought a curse upon his children. ' And by this we understand ' that the fathers are not punished for the sin of their children, nor children for the sin of their fathers. And this thing is quite manifest, that wives are not condemned for their husbands, nor young men for their wives, nor servants for their masters, nor masters for their servants, nor kinsmen for their kinsmen, nor friends for their friends, nor sinners for the righteous, nor the rightcous for sinners, but to each one is rendered according to his deeds. For Noah was not recompensed '°° for the sin of the : eople, ag ea i of Te in the fire of Sadun ene sake of Jericho, nor the children of Isra , el f the sake of the Egyptians. We ought not to follow unjust !°* and murderers, who seek i i men of hatred, who are ready '°* to nen deci a everyone shall be requited according to his works even as David saith, “For thou wilt requite everyone according to his works.” ° Therefore it is right that we should help the afflicted, and visit the sick and convert the sinners, who have been wounded by deeds of sin. Let us teach them and instruct them with the word of admonition, that they may be saved from the death of sin. For it is not the whole who need a physician, but the sick; since our Father who is in heaven desireth not that one of these iittle ones should perish. Now, brethren, let us not hearken to the words of fools and those whose hearts are darkened but let us accomplish the good pleasure of God the Father the Creator of all things ™ by our Lord Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.