CHAPTER VIII S. Paul would have us excel in a similar manner
CHAPTER VIII
S. Paul would have us excel in a similar manner
434. Hear what he says in addressing his disciple: “Pay attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine;” and he mentions the fruit which proceeds from this: “For by doing this, thou wilt save both thyself and them that hear thee.” And again; “The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle towards all men, apt to teach, forbearing.” And he proceeds to say, “But continue thou in what thou hast learned, and been assured of, knowing from whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise.” And again: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” he says, “and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect.”
435. And hear also what he adds to Titus when discoursing upon the institution of bishops. “For,” says he, “a bishop must hold fast the faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to convince gainsayers.”
436. How then will any one who is unskilful, as these say, be able to convince and silence gainsayers? What need is there to pay attention to reading and the Scriptures, if this unskilfulness is to be welcomed? Such things are an excuse and a subterfuge, and pretexts for idleness and sloth.
437. But he says these things are enjoined upon priests.
438. And our discourse is now concerning priests. But it also applies to those who are subordinate; for hear again what he exhorts others to in another epistle: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom.” And again: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man;” and “that they should be ready to give an answer” is spoken to all. And writing to the Thessalonians he says: “Edify one another, as also ye do.”
439. And when he speaks of the priests: “Let the presbyters who rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in word and doctrine.”
440. For this is the most perfect method of doctrine, when by what they do and what they say they conduct their disciples to the blessed life which Christ ordained. For doing is not sufficient for teaching.
441. And the saying is not mine, but that of the Saviour himself: for He says: “He that shall do and teach, the same shall be called great.”| Now if doing were teaching, the second would be superfluous; and it would have sufficed merely to say, “He that shall do.” But now by distinguishing both, he shows, that works are one thing, and words another, and each requires the other in order to perfect edification.
442. Do you not hear what the elect vessel of Christ says to the presbyters of the Ephesians? “Watch therefore; remembering that for three years night and day I ceased not with tears to admonish every one of you.” What need of tears or of admonition by words, with the Apostle’s life so brilliant?
443. The one might contribute a great deal towards aiding us in performing the precepts; I would not affirm that the other by itself could accomplish everything.