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Morals

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Chapter 19

That one must not hinder him who does the will of God, whether he follows the commandment because it is God’s commandment or because it seems reasonable; and that the doer must not pay heed to those who would hinder him, though they be close connections, but must abide in his purpose.

Mt. iii. 13; 14; 15 ἡμῖν before ἐστίν*; Mt. xvi. 21; 22; 23 μου εἶ for εἶ ἐμοῦ K; Mk. x. 13 αὐτῶν before ἅψηται, τοῖς προσφέρουσιν for αὐτοῖς K; 14 add καί after πρός με, τῶν οὐρανῶν for τοῦ θεοῦ; Acts xxi. 10; 11 omit τοῦ before Παύλου**; 12 omit αὐτόν*; 13 omit τότε K, add δέ after ἀπεκρίθη; 14; 1 Thess. ii. 15 add ἰδίους K; 16.

That he who does God’s commandment not of a sincere disposition, yet to outward appearance keeps the teaching of the Lord exactly, must not be hindered, because so far as the action goes no one is injured and at times some are even benefited by him. But he must be admonished to have a mind worthy of his action.

Mt. vi. 2; 3; 4 add ἐν τῷ φανερῷ K; Mk. ix. 38 ἀπεκρίθη δέ for ἔφη, add λέγων K, add ὃς οὐκ ἀκολουθεῖ μεθ’ ἡμῶν K (μεθ’ ἡμῶν for ὑμῖν), ἐκωλύσαμεν for ἐκωλύομεν K, omit αὐτόν**, ἀκολουθεῖ for ἠκολουθεῖ K; 39; 40; Phil. i. 15; 16; 17 ἐπιφέρειν for ἐγείρειν K; 18 omit ὅτι K.