Chapter 26. Christ Is the Treasure Hidden in the Scriptures. The Church Is the Interpreter of the Scriptures.
Chapter 26
1. If anyone, therefore, reads the Scriptures attentively, he will find in them a discourse about Christ and the symbolic meanings about the new calling. To illustrate, he is the treasure hidden in the field, that is, in this world; for the field is the world, but he has been hidden in the Scriptures, since he was pointed out by types and parables that, humanly speaking, could not be understood before the things prophesied would be fulfilled, namely, the Lord’s coming. And for the same reason the Prophet Daniel said, Shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end, until many learn, and knowledge will increase. At that time when the shattering will be accomplished, many will understand all these things. Jeremiah, likewise, said, In the latter days they shall understand. For every prophecy, before it is fulfilled, is an enigma and contradiction for men. But when the time has come and what was prophesied has taken place, then the prophecy can be given a clear explanation. For this reason, even at present when the Law is read by the Jews, it is like a fable; for they do not have the explanation of all the things pertaining to the coming of God’s Son in human nature. Contrariwise, when it is read by Christians, it is a treasure hidden in the field but disclosed and explained by Christ’s cross. It enriches man’s understanding, shows forth God’s wisdom, manifests his economies relative to man, delineates Christ’s kingdom in advance, announces beforehand that the man who loves God makes so much progress that he will also see God and hear his voice and be glorified by hearing his voice, to the extent that the rest cannot look upon his glorious face. That is what was spoken by Daniel: Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and among the many righteous like stars for ever and ever. It is, therefore, just as we have shown, if one reads the Scriptures. For the Lord discoursed with the disciples after the resurrection from the dead. He showed from the Scriptures that the Christ should suffer and thus enter into his glory, and that forgiveness of sins should be preached in the whole world. And that disciple who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old will be perfect and like the householder.
2. One must, therefore, obey the presbyters of the Church, those, namely, who, as we have shown, possess the succession from the apostles. Together with the succession of the episcopate, they have received the certain charism of the Truth according to the Father’s good pleasure. On the other hand, one ought to hold in suspicion the rest who depart from the original succession and assemble in any manner whatever, and to consider them heretics, and evil-minded, or schismatics and puffed up and pleasing themselves, or again as hypocrites, acting so for the sake of gain, or out of vainglory. Now, all of these have fallen away from the Truth. And as heretics, bringing strange fire, that is, strange doctrines, to God’s altar, they will be burned by heavenly fire, as Nadab and Abihu. Those, however, who rise up against the Truth and exhort others against God’s Church remain in hell, swallowed up by a chasm in the earth, as those who were with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. But those who rend and separate the unity of the Church receive the same punishment as did Jeroboam.
3. Now, those who were believed by many to be presbyters, but who are slaves of their own lusts and do not put the fear of God in first place in their hearts, but who heap contumely on others and are puffed up with the pride of priority seating, and do evil things in secret, and say, No one sees us, are reproved by the Word, who does not judge according to appearance or regard the face, but looks into the heart. They will hear the words that were prophesied by Daniel: You Offspring of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, and lust has perverted your heart, You who are grown old in evil days, now your past sins have come out, making unjust judgments, condemning the innocent, but letting the guilty go free, whereas the Lord said, “The innocent and just you shall not kill.” Our Lord also said in regard to them, But if that wicked servant says to himself, “My master is delayed,” and begins to beat his men-servants and maid-servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not know and in an hour he does not expect, and will cut him off and make him share the lot of the unfaithful.
4. So it is our obligation to keep away from all such presbyters and, contrariwise, to adhere to those who, as we have said, guard the doctrine of the apostles and who together with those of the priestly rank offer sound doctrine and blameless conduct for the formation and correction of the rest. By way of example, Moses, to whom so great leadership was entrusted, relying on a good conscience, justified himself before God when he said, I have not taken anything of theirs out of covetousness; and I have not harmed one of them. Another example, after Samuel had been judge of the people many years, and was leader of Israel without pride, in the end he justified himself. He said: I have lived with you from my youth until this day. Testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed, if I have taken any of your ox or ass, if I have domineered over anyone, or oppressed anyone, or if I have taken a bribe at anyone’s hand, or sandals. Testify against me, and I will restore it to you; And the people said to him: You have not domineered over any of us, or oppressed us, or taken anything from any man’s hand. Then he bore witness to the Lord and said: The Lord is my witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they said, he is witness. Still another example, the Apostle Paul, though he had a clear conscience, said to the Corinthians: We at least are not, like so many, adulterating God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.
5. Such are the presbyters that the Church nourishes. Of them the Prophet also said, And I will give peace to your taskmasters and to your overseers righteousness. The Lord, too, said of them: Who is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Paul teaches us where to find such presbyters when he says, God has appointed in the Church, first Apostles, second Prophets, third teachers. So one must learn the Truth from there where the Lord’s charisms have been placed, with whom, namely, there is the apostolic succession of the Church, and the sound and irreproachable mode of living and the unadulterated and imperishable doctrine. For these guard also our faith in one God who made all things, and they increase the love toward God’s Son, who made so many economies for our sake. They also expound the Scriptures without danger to us, neither blaspheming God nor dishonoring the Patriarchs, nor holding the Prophets in contempt.