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Chapter
XXXIII.—Authority.
Then Peter: “Do not rashly take
exception, O Simon, against the things which you do not
understand. In the first place, I shall answer your assertion,
that I set forth the words of my Master, and from them resolve matters
about which there is still doubt. Our Lord, when He sent us
apostles to preach, enjoined us to teach all nations628
the things which were committed to
us. We cannot therefore speak those things as they were spoken by
Himself. For our commission is not to speak, but to
teach those things, and from them to show how every one of them
rests upon truth. Nor, again, are we permitted to speak anything
of our own. For we are sent; and of necessity he who is sent
delivers the message as he has been ordered, and sets forth the will of
the sender. For if I should speak anything different from what He
who sent me enjoined me, I should be a false apostle, not saying what I
am commanded to say, but what seems good to myself. Whoever does
this, evidently wishes to show himself to be better than he is by whom
he is sent, and without doubt is a traitor. If, on the contrary,
he keeps by the things that he is commanded, and brings forward most
clear assertions of them, it will appear that he is accomplishing the
work of an apostle; and it is by striving to fulfil this that I
displease you. Blame me not, therefore, because I bring forward
the words of Him who sent me. But if there is aught in them that
is not fairly spoken, you have liberty to confute me; but this can in
no wise be done, for He is a prophet, and cannot be contrary to
Himself. But if you do not think that He is a prophet, let this
be first inquired into.”
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