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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 3: How We Shall Convert the Sinner, or What Our Attitude to Him Shall Be If He is…
As we have been commanded by the Lord: “If thy brother sin, go show him his fault between thee and him alone; if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the Church; and if he refuse to hear the Church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and she publican.”2 Then if this be done ‘sufficient to such a one is p this punishment which was inflicted by the many,”3 since the Apostle wrote: “Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.”4 And again:5 And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him that he may be ashamed.”
Notes
- Mt. xvi. 24. Perhaps quoted from the formula in use.
- See F. 8.
- Mt. xviii. 15 omit δέ*, ἁμάρτῃ for ἁμαρτήσῃ*; 16; 17.
- 2 Cor. ii. 6 ἀρκετόν for ἱκανόν**.
- 2 Tim. iv. 2; quoted by Ben. Reg. ii, describing the qualifications of the abbot.