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| To All the Bishops of Sicily.
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The Epistles of
Zephyrinus.2695
| 2695 The little
that is known of Zephyrinus is derived from Eusebius. That
historian states that Zephyrinus succeeded Victor in the presidency of
the Roman church “about the ninth year of the reign of
Severus” (a.d. 201), and that he died in
the first year of the reign of Antoninus (Heliogabalus, a.d. 218). He is several times alluded to in the
fragments ascribed to Caius, or in connection with them.
The two letters bearing his name are
forgeries. They belong to the famous collection of False
Decretals forged in the ninth century. |
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The First Epistle.
To All the Bishops of
Sicily.
Of the final decision of the trials of bishops, and
graver ecclesiastical cases in the seat of the apostles.
Zephyrinus, archbishop of the
city of Rome, to all the bishops settled in Sicily, in the Lord,
greeting.
We ought to be mindful of the grace of God to us, which
in His own merciful regard has raised us for this purpose to the summit
of priestly honour, that, abiding by His commandments, and appointed in
a certain supervision of His priests, we may prohibit things unlawful,
and teach those that are to be followed. As night does not
extinguish the stars of heaven, so the unrighteousness of the world
does not blind the minds of the faithful that hold by the sure support
of Scripture. Therefore we ought to consider well and attend
carefully to the Scriptures, and the divine precepts which are
contained in these Scriptures, in order that we may show ourselves not
transgressors, but fulfillers of the law of God.
Now patriarchs and primates, in investigating the
case of an accused bishop, should not pronounce a final decision until,
supported by the authority of the apostles, they find that the person
either confesses himself guilty, or is proved so by witnesses
trustworthy and regularly examined, who should not be fewer in number
than were those disciples whom the Lord directed to be chosen for the
help of the apostles—that is, seventy-two. Detractors also,
who are to be rooted out by divine authority, and the advisers of
enemies (auctores inimicorum), we do not admit in the indictment
of bishops or in evidence against them; nor should any one of superior
rank be indicted or condemned on the accusations of inferiors.
Nor in a doubtful case should a decisive judgment be pronounced; nor
should any trial be held valid unless it has been conducted according
to order. No one, moreover, should be judged in his absence,
because both divine and human laws forbid that. The accusers of
those persons should also be free of all suspicion, because the Lord
has chosen that His pillars should stand firm, and not be shaken by any
one who will. For a sentence should not bind any of them if it is
not given by their proper judge, because even the laws of the world
ordain that that be done. For any accused bishop may, if it be
necessary, choose twelve judges by whom his case may be justly
judged. Nor should he be heard or excommunicated or judged until
these be chosen by him; and on his being regularly summoned at first to
a council of his own bishops, his case should be justly heard by them,
and investigated on sound principles. The end of his case,
however, should be remitted to the seat of the apostles, that it may be
finally decided there. Nor should it be finished, as has been
decreed of old by the apostles or their successors, until it is
sustained by its authority. To it also all, and especially the
oppressed, should appeal and have recourse as to a mother, that they
may be nourished by her breasts, defended by her authority, and
relieved of their oppressions, because “a mother cannot,”
and should not, “forget her son.”2696
For the trials of bishops and
graver ecclesiastical cases, as the apostles and their holy successors
have decreed, are to be finally decided along with other
bishops2697
| 2697 The word
“bishops” is omitted in ms. | by the seat of
the apostles, and by no other; because, although they may be
transferred to other bishops, it was yet to the blessed Apostle Peter
these terms were addressed: “Whatsoever thou shalt bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven.”2698
And the other privileges which
have been granted to
this holy seat alone are found embodied both in the constitutions of
the apostles2699
| 2699 This means the
seventy-third apostolic canon, in which it is ordained that episcopal
cases be not decided but by superior bishops, councils, or the Roman
pontiff. [See note 1, p. 612.] | and their
successors, and in very many others in harmony with these. For
the apostles have prefixed seventy2700
| 2700 Another reading has
sixty, and another fifty. Whatever be the reading, it is true
that by these decrees are meant the apostolic canons: and
although their number was only fifty, yet, because sometimes several
decrees are comprehended in one canon, there would be no inconsistency
between the number of sixty or seventy apostolic decrees and the number
of fifty apostolic canons (Sev. Bin.). | decrees,
together with very many other bishops, and have appointed them to be
kept. For to judge rashly of the secrets of another’s heart
is sin; and it is unjust to reprove him on suspicion whose works seem
not other than good, since God alone is Judge of those things which are
unknown to men. He, however, “knoweth the secrets of the
heart,”2701
and not
another. For unjust judgments are to be guarded against by all,
especially however by the servants of God. “And the servant
of the Lord must not strive,”2702
nor harm
any one. For bishops are to be borne by laity and clergy, and
masters by servants, in order that, under the exercise of endurance,
things temporal may be maintained, and things eternal hoped for.
For that increases the worth of virtue, which does not violate the
purpose of religion. You should be earnestly intent that none of
your brothers be grievously injured or undone. Therefore you
ought to succour the oppressed, and deliver them from the hand of their
persecutors, in order that with the blessed Job you may say:
“The blessing of him that was ready to perish will come upon me,
and I consoled the widow’s heart. I put on righteousness,
and clothed myself with a robe and a diadem, my judgment. I was
eye to the blind, and foot to the lame. I was a father to the
poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched out most
carefully. I brake the grinders of the wicked, and plucked the
spoil out of his teeth;”2703
and so
forth. You, therefore, who have been placed in eminence by God,
ought with all your power to check and repel those who prepare snares
for brethren, or raise seditions and offences against them. For
it is easy by word to deceive man, not however God. Therefore you
ought to keep these off, and be on your guard against them, until such
darkness is done away utterly, and the morning star shines upon them,
and gladness arises, most holy brethren. Given on the 20th
September, in the consulship of the most illustrious Saturninus and
Gallicanus.2704
| 2704 Or, Gallus.
But Saturninus and Gallus were consuls in the year 198, while Victor
was yet alive. |
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