Denunciation of Dangerous and Scandalous Association with Maidens. - ANF08. The Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts and Epistles, The Clementia, Apocrypha, Decretals, Memoirs of Edessa and Syriac Documents, Remains of the First Age

Bad Advertisement?

Are you a Christian?

Online Store:

Visit Our Store

Denunciation of Dangerous and Scandalous Association with Maidens.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP

Chapter X.—Denunciation of Dangerous and Scandalous Association with Maidens.

Now, we are persuaded of you, my brethren, that your thoughts are occupied about those things which are requisite for your salvation.³⁷⁹

³⁷⁹ Or “life.”
But we speak thus³⁸⁰

³⁸⁰ The words which follow, “concerning those things which we speak,” appear not to be genuine.—Beelen.
in consequence of the evil rumours and reports concerning shameless men, who, under pretext of the fear of God, have their dwelling with maidens, and so, expose themselves to danger, and walk with them along the road and in solitary places³⁸¹

³⁸¹ Beelen supposes a ἓν διὰ δυοῖν: “along the lonely road.”
alone—a course which is full of dangers, and full of stumbling-blocks and snares and pitfalls; nor is it in any respect right for Christians and those who fear God so to conduct themselves. Others, too, eat and drink with them at entertainments allowing themselves in loose behaviour and much uncleanness—such as ought not to be among believers, and especially among those who have chosen for themselves a life of holiness.³⁸²

³⁸² i.e., virginity.
Others, again, meet together for vain and trifling conversation and merriment, and that they may speak evil of one another; and they hunt up tales against one another, and are idle: persons with whom we do not allow you even to eat bread. Then, others gad about among the houses of virgin brethren or sisters, on pretence of visiting them, or reading the Scriptures to them, or exorcising them. Forasmuch as they are idle and do no work, they pry into those things which ought not to be inquired into, and by means of plausible words make merchandise of the name of Christ. These are men from whom the divine apostle kept aloof, because of the multitude of their evil deeds; as it is written: “Thorns sprout in the hands of the idle;”³⁸³

³⁸³ Prov. xxvi. 9.
and, “The ways of the idle are full of thorns.”³⁸⁴

³⁸⁴ Prov. xv. 19 (LXX.).

E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH