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Morals
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Chapter 70
That those who are entrusted with the preaching of the Gospel should with supplication and prayer appoint as deacons or priests men that are blameless and reputable as to their former life.
Mt. ix. 37; 38 omit αὐτοῦ after θερισμόν**; Lk. vi. 13; 14 omit καί before Φιλ. K; 15 omit καί after Θωμᾶν K, add τὸν τοῦ after Ἰάκωβον K; 16 add καί after ὅς K; Lk. x. 1 add καί before ἑτέρους K; 2 οὖν for δέ K; Acts i. 1; 2; 23; 24; 25 κλῆρον for τόπον K; 26 αὐτῶν for αὐτοῖς K; 1 Tim. iii. 1–6, 7 add αὐτόν after δεῖ δέ K; Tit. i. 5 πρεσβυτέρους before κατά**; 6–8; 9 ἐν τῇ ὑγ. διδ. for ἐν τῇ δ. τῇ ὑ.
Note that preaching is assumed to be the main work of a bishop. Cf. Bernard ap. Swete, Early History of the Church and Ministry, p. 236, “That certain of [the presbyters] were set apart as teachers—presbyteri doctores—shows that the teaching office was not regarded as part of their normal function and privilege. Indeed, at this early period [3rd Cent.] presbyters preached but seldom—probably as seldom as a country priest preaches in the Russian Church to-day. The right to preach was delegated, when it was thought desirable by the bishop to do so; but it was not involved in the presbyter’s prerogative.”
That one must not be easy-going as regards ordinations or approach them without circumspection. For to dispense with testing is fraught with danger. But one must denounce the man that is convicted of any crime, that one may not be partaker of his sin and that others may not stumble, but may rather learn to fear.
1 Tim. v. 22; 19; 20 add δέ after τούς.
That he who is chosen must not undertake preaching on his own initiative, but must wait for the time of God’s good pleasure and begin preaching when he is entrusted with it and preach to those to whom he is sent.
See above on 291c.
Mt. x. 5; 6; xv. 22 add αὐτῷ after ἐκραύγασε K; 23; 24; Jn. viii. 42; Acts xi. 19; 20; Rom. i. 1; x. 14 ἀκούσονται for ἀκούσωσι; 15 κηρύξουσιν for κηρύξωσιν K; 1 Tim. i. 1 Ἰησοῦ before Χριστοῦ K. Cf. B.’s attitude towards Greg. Naz.
That he who is called to preach the Gospel must obey at once and not procrastinate.
Lk. ix. 59; 60 add ὁ Κύριος after αὐτῷ**; Gal. i. 15; 16; 17 ἀπῆλθον for ἀνῆλθον.
That one must not teach different doctrine.
Jn. x. 1; 2; 7; 8 omit πρὸ ἐμοῦ K; Gal. i. 8 omit first ὑμῖν; 9; 1 Tim. vi. 3; 4.
That we must teach those entrusted to us all that is ordered by the Lord in the Gospel and through His apostles, and whatsoever is consistent with this.
Cf. the question in the Anglican Ordinal beginning “Are you persuaded...?”
Mt. xxviii. 19; 20; Acts xvi. 4 omit τῶν before ἐν**; 1 Tim. vi. 2 †; Tit. ii. 1.
That he who is entrusted with the word of the Lord’s teaching, if he keep silence about any of the things that are necessary for pleasing God, is responsible for the blood of those who incur danger either by doing what is forbidden or by omitting good works which should be done.
Lk. xi. 52; Acts xviii. 5; 6; xx. 26 ὑμῶν for πάντων**; 27. (The precepts and the counsels.)
That where Scripture has not prescribed things by way of command we should urge each man to do what is the better course.
Mt. xix. 12; 1 Cor. vii. 25-27.
That it is unlawful to put constraint upon others to do what a man has not done himself.
Lk. xi. 46.
That he who is set over the word [i.e. a bishop, or a priest by delegation] should make himself an example to others of every good thing, practising first what he teaches.
Mt. xi. 28; 29; Jn. xiii. 12; 13; 14 τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ for αὐτῶν*, ἀναπεσών for καὶ ἀνέπεσε K; 15 ἔδωκα for δέδωκα K, add ἀλλήλοις*; Acts xx. 35; 1 Cor. xi. 1; 1 Tim. iv. 12.
That he who is set over the word must not feel secure about his own achievements, but realize that the improvement of those entrusted to him is the special and chief work of the business entrusted to him.
Mt. v. 13 βληθῆναι ἔξω καί for βληθὲν ἔξω K; Jn. vi. 37; 38 add Πατρός after με; 39; 40; 1 Thess. ii. 19 add Χριστοῦ.
That he who is set over the word must go the round of all the villages and cities entrusted to him.
B. went round Pontus preaching the gospel and founding monasteries. Cf. Sozomen vi. 17, Socrates iv. 24, Rufinus H.E. ii. 9 Basilius Ponti urbes et rura circumiens.
Mt. iv. 23 ὅλην τὴν Γ. for ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ Γ. K, omit αὐτῶν after συναγωγαῖς**; Lk. viii. 1 καὶ εὐαγγελιζόμενος after θεοῦ**.
That we must summon all to obey the gospel, and proclaim the word with all boldness, and bear witness to the truth, even if some hinder and persecute us in one way or another even unto death.
Mt. x. 27 πρός for εἰς*; 28 φοβεῖσθε for φοβηθῆτε K; Mt. xxii. 8; 9; Jn. xviii. 20 ἐλάλησα for λελάληκα K, add τῇ before συναγωγῇ*; Acts v. 27; 28 add οὐ before παραγγελίᾳ K; 29 omit ὁ before Πέτρος K, μᾶλλον before θεῷ*; Acts xx. 23; 24; 1 Thess. ii. 1; 2 add ἡμῶν after θεοῦ**.
That we should pray for the advance of believers, and rejoice over it.
Jn. xvii. 20; 21 add ἕν after ἡμῖν K; 24 οὕς for ὅ K; Lk. x. 21 omit τῷ ἁγίῳ K; Rom. i. 8 ὑπέρ for περί K; 9; Phil. i. 8 add ἐστιν after μου K; 9; 10; 11 καρπῶν... τῶν for καρπόν... τόν K.
That things done aright by the grace of God must be made known to others also, for the glory of God.
Lk. ix. 10; Acts xiv. 27 ἀπήγγειλαν for ἀνήγγειλαν; Eph. vi. 21 ὑμῖν before γνωρίσει K; 22.
That we must care not only for the present but also for the absent and do all things as the requirement of edification dictates.
Jn. x. 16 με before δεῖ K, γενήσεται for γενήσονται K; 1 Thess. iii. 1 ηὐδοκήσαμεν for εὐδοκήσαμεν*, Τιμόθεον after ἡμῶν**; 2.
That we must bear with those who ask us to confer a benefit.
Mt. ix. 18; 19; Acts ix. 38 ὄκνησαι... αὐτῶν for ὀκνήσῃς... ἡμῶν K.
That we should strengthen those who receive the word of truth by a visitation.
Acts xv. 36 add ἡμῶν after ἀδελφούς K; 1 Thess. ii. 17; 18 διό for διότι K, ἐθελήσαμεν for ἠθελήσαμεν**; 1 Thess. iii. 1 ηὐδοκήσαμεν for εὐδοκήσαμεν*; 2; 3.
That it is the mark of him that loves the Lord to show great affection for those he teaches and to care for them in every way with all earnestness, persevering in his teaching, both in public and private, even unto death if necessary. Jn. x. 11; xxi. 15–17 Ἰωνᾶ for Ἰωάνου (3 t.) K; 17 σύ before πάντα K, πρόβατα for προβατία; Acts xx. 7; 11 omit τόν before ἄρτον K, μέχρις for ἄχρις**; 20; 21 add τήν before πίστιν K, omit Χριστόν after Ἰησοῦν K; 31 add ὑμῶν after ἕκαστον; 1 Thess. ii. 9 αὐτοὶ γὰρ οἴδατε for μνημονεύετε γάρ**, omit εἰς ὑμᾶς**.
That he who is set over the word should be merciful and compassionate, especially towards those whose souls are afflicted.
Mt. ix. 11; 12 add Ἰησοῦς K; 13 add εἰς μετάνοιαν K; 36 εὐσπλαγχνίσθη*, omit καὶ ἐριμμένοι, ὡς for ὡσεί.
That we should have compassion on those entrusted to us and care for them, even in their bodily necessities.
As in the hospitals attached to B.’s monasteries. Mt. xv. 32; Mk. i. 40; 41 ὁ δὲ Ἰ. for καί K, add αὐτοῦ after χεῖρα; Acts vi. 1 καταλιπόντας ἡμᾶς for ἡμᾶς καταλείψαντας; 2; 3 omit οὖν after ἐπισκέψασθε.
That he who is set over the word must not in his anxiety to do the lesser things himself fail in the zeal required for the greater things. Acts vi. 2 as above; 4 προσκαρτερήσωμεν for προσκαρτερήσομεν*.
That we must not use the word of teaching in an ostentatious or huckstering way, flattering the hearers, and satisfying our own pleasures or needs; but we must be such men as speak for the glory of God in His presence.
Mt. xxiii. 5 πλ. δέ for πλ. γάρ K, add τῶν ἱματίων αὐτῶν K; 6 φ. τε for φ. δέ K, τὰς πρωτοκλισίας for τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν; 7 ῥαββί twice K; 8 καθηγήτης for διδάσκαλος K; 9 ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς for ὁ οὐράνιος K; 10; Jn. vii. 16; 17 ποιῇ for θέλῃ ποιεῖν*; 18; 2 Cor. ii. 17 κατενώπιον for κατέναντι K; 1 Thess. ii. 3; 4 add τῷ before θεῷ K; 5 add πρὸς ὑμᾶς*, omit ἐν before προφάσει; 6.
That he who is set over the word must not abuse his power to insult those who are under him, nor even exalt himself over them, but must rather use his rank as an opportunity for practising humility towards them.
Mt. xxiv. 45 οἰκίας for οἰκετείας, δοῦναι for διδόναι, ἐν καιρῷ before τήν*; 46; 47; 48 add ἔρχεσθαι; 49 τε for δέ; 50; Jn. xiii. 13 Κύριος before διδάσκαλος; 14 ὑμῶν after πόδας*; Lk. xxii. 24 μείζων before δοκεῖ**; 25 add Ἰησοῦς; 26; 27 εἰμί before ἐν K; Acts xx. 17; 18; 19 add πολλῶν before δακρύων K; 2 Cor. xi. 19; 20; 21 ἠσθενήσαμεν for ἠσθενήκαμεν K, add ἐν τῷ μέρει τούτῳ.
That one must not preach the gospel by way of contention or envy or irritation against any.
Mt. xii. 18 ηὐδόκησεν for εὐδόκησεν*; 19; Phil. i. 15–17.
That one must not use human advantages in preaching the gospel, lest the grace of God be obscured thereby.
Mt. xi. 25; 1 Cor. i. 17 add ὁ before Χριστός*; 1 Cor. ii. 1; 2 τι before εἰδέναι K; 3 κἀγώ for καὶ ἐγώ; 4 add ἀνθρωπίνης K; 5 ἡμῶν for ὑμῶν.
That we must not imagine that the successful issue of preaching is secured by our own devices, but trust wholly in God.
2 Cor. iii. 4; 5 ἀφ’ ἑαυτῶν after ἐσμεν K; 6; iv. 7.
That he who is entrusted with the preaching of the gospel should acquire nothing beyond his own necessaries.
Mt. x. 9; 10; Lk. ix. 3 omit τήν before ὁδόν*, ῥάβδους for ῥάβδον K, add ἀνά before δύο K; Acts xx. 33; 2 Tim. ii. 4.
That as regards care for worldly things a man must not put himself at the disposal of those who pay undue attention to them.
Lk. xii. 13 αὐτῷ before ἐκ K; 14 omit αὐτῷ*, δικαστήν for κριτήν K; 2 Tim. ii. 4.
That those who, in order to please their hearers, neglect to declare God’s will boldly, enslaving themselves to those they wish to please, no longer have the Lord for their master.
Jn. v. 44; Gal. i. 10.
That the teacher should set before himself this aim, to bring all to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, yet each in his own order.
Mt. v. 48 ὥσπερ for ὡς K; Jn. xvii. 20; 21 add ἕν before ὦσιν K; Eph. iv. 11 omit τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς**; 12; 13. 32That one must instruct adversaries with forbearance and meekness, waiting for their repentance, until one has bestowed the full measure of care upon them. Mt. xii. 19 οὔτε for οὐδέ**; 20; 2 Tim. ii. 24; 25 δῷ for δώῃ K; 26.
That if through fear and caution men shun the presence of him who proclaims the word, then one should yield and not obtrude himself. Lk. viii. 37 ἠρώτησαν for ἠρώτησεν K, Γαδαρηνῶν for Γερασηνῶν K, add τό before πλοῖον K.
That we must depart from those who by reason of their evil disposition do not receive the preaching of the word, and refuse to receive benefits from them even as regards bodily necessities. Mt. x. 14 τῶν λόγων for τοὺς λόγους*, omit ἔξω K, ἐκείνης after οἰκίας**, ἀπό for ἐκ; Lk. x. 10 εἰσέρχησθε for εἰσέλθητε K, δέξωνται for δέχωνται*; 11 ἀπό for ἐκ, omit εἰς τοὺς πόδας K, ἀποματτόμεθα for ἀπομασσόμεθα**, add ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς after ἤγγικεν K; Acts xviii. 5; 6 ἀθῷος for καθαρός**.
That we should depart from the unbelieving after exhausting every form of care towards them.
Mt. xxiii. 37 ὄρνις before ἐπισυνάγει; 38; Acts xiii. 46 omit πρῶτον**, add δέ after ἐπειδή K; 47; Tit. iii. 10; 11.
That in all our dealings with all men we should keep the Lord’s words exactly, doing nothing by partiality.
1 Tim. v. 21.
That he who is set over the word must do and say everything with great circumspection and judgment, aiming at pleasing God, since he must be judged and borne witness to by the very people who are entrusted to him.
Acts xx. 18; 19 add πολλῶν K; 33; 34; 1 Thess. ii. 10; 11 add ὑμεῖς after καθάπερ**.