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Anonymous, Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
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Constitutions of the holy apostles via Clement.
[Sec. I.—General Commandments.]
[That We Ought Not to Return Injuries, Nor Revenge Ourselves on Him that Does Us Wrong.]
[What Books of Scripture We Ought to Read.]
[That We Ought to Abstain from All the Books of Those that are Out of the Church.]
[Concerning the Subjection of a Wife to Her Husband, and that She Must Be Loving and Modest.]
[That a Woman Must Not Bathe with Men.]
[Concerning a Contentious and Brawling Woman.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[That a Bishop Must Be Well Instructed and Experienced in the Word.]
[What Ought to Be the Characters of a Bishop and of the Rest of the Clergy.]
[In What Things a Bishop is to Be Examined Before He is Ordained.]
[That a Bishop Must Not Be Given to Filthy Lucre, Nor Be a Surety Nor an Advocate.]
[What Ought to Be the Character of the Initiated.]
[Concerning a Person Falsely Accused, or a Person Convicted.]
[That a Bishop Ought Not to Receive Bribes.]
[That a Bishop Who by Wrong Judgment Spares an Offender is Himself Guilty.]
[How a Bishop Ought to Judge Offenders.]
[Instruction as to How a Bishop Ought to Behave Himself to the Penitent.]
[That We Ought to Beware How We Make Trial of Any Sinful Course.]
[That a Priest Must Neither Overlook Offences, Nor Be Rash in Punishing Them.]
[Of Repentance, the Manner of It, and Rules About It.]
[That a Bishop Must Be Unblameable, and a Pattern for Those Who are Under His Charge.]
[How the Governed are to Obey the Bishops Who are Set Over Them.]
[Amon May be an Example to Such as Sin with an High Hand.]
[That Christ Jesus Our Lord Came to Save Sinners by Repentance.]
[According to What Patterns and Dignity Every Order of the Clergy is Appointed by God.]
[What is the Dignity of a Bishop and of a Deacon.]
[After What Manner the Laity are to Be Obedient to the Deacon.]
[That the Deacon Must Not Do Anything Without the Bishop.]
[After What Manner the Bishops are to Be Honoured, and to Be Reverenced as Our Spiritual Parents.]
[That Priests are to Be Preferred Before Rulers and Kings.]
[That Both the Law and the Gospel Prescribe Offerings.]
[The Recital of the Ten Commandments, and After What Manner They Do Here Prescribe to Us.]
[That We are Not to Be Implacable to Him Who Has Once or Twice Offended.]
[That a Judge Must Not Be a Respecter of Persons.]
[After What Manner False Accusers are to Be Punished.]
[That the Deacon is to Ease the Burden of the Bishops, and to Order the Smaller Matters Himself.]
[That Contentions and Quarrels are Unbecoming Christians.]
[That the Judicatures of Christians Ought to Be Held on the Second Day of the Week.]
[What are to Be the Characters of Accusers and Witnesses.]
[That Former Offences Do Sometimes Render After Accusations Credible.]
[Against Judging Without Hearing Both Sides.]
[That Christians Ought Not to Be Contentious One with Another.]
[That Every Christian Ought to Frequent the Church Diligently Both Morning and Evening.]
[That We Must Not Prefer the Affairs of This Life to Those Which Concern the Worship of God.]
[That Christians Must Abstain from All the Impious Practices of the Heathens.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[The Age at Which Widows Should Be Chosen.]
[That We Must Avoid the Choice of Younger Widows, Because of Suspicion.]
[What Character the Widows Ought to Be Of, and How They Ought to Be Supported by the Bishop.]
[That We Ought to Be Charitable to All Sorts of Persons in Want.]
[That the Widows are to Be Very Careful of Their Behavior.]
[That Women Ought Not to Teach, Because It is Unseemly And What Women Followed Our Lord.]
[What are the Characters of Widows Falsely So Called.]
[That Women Ought Not to Baptize, Because It is Impious, and Contrary to the Doctrine of Christ.]
[The Rejection of All Uncharitable Actions.]
[How the Widows are to Pray for Those that Supply Their Necessities.]
[That It Does Not Become Us to Revile Our Neighbours, Because Cursing is Contrary to Christianity.]
[Concerning the Sacred Initiation of Holy Baptism.]
[What is the Meaning of Baptism into Christ, and on What Account Everything is There Said or Done.]
[Of What Character He Ought to Be Who is Initiated.]
[What are the Characters of a Deacon.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[Those Who Have No Children Should Adopt Orphans, and Treat Them as Their Own Children.]
[How the Bishop Ought to Provide for the Orphans.]
[Who Ought to Be Supported According to the Lord’s Constitution.]
[With What Fear Men Ought to Partake of the Lord’s Oblations.]
[Whose Oblations are to Be Received, and Whose Not to Be Received.]
[In What Things We Ought to Be Subject to the Rulers of This World.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[That We are to Avoid Intercourse with False Brethren When They Continue in Their Wickedness.]
[That It is an Horrible and Destructive Thing to Deny Christ.]
[That We Ought to Imitate Christ in Suffering, and with Zeal to Follow His Patience.]
[Concerning James the Brother of the Lord, and Stephen the First Martyr.]
[An Admonition Instructing Men to Avoid the Abominable Sin of Idolatry.]
[Of the Great Week, and on What Account They Enjoin Us to Fast on Wednesday and Friday.]
[How the Passover Ought to Be Celebrated.]
[A Constitution Concerning the Great Passover Week.]
[A Prophetic Prediction Concerning Christ Jesus.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[Who They Were that Ventured to Make Schisms, and Did Not Escape Punishment.]
[That It is Not Lawful to Rise Up Either Against the Kingly or the Priestly Office.]
[That Even Among the Jews There Arose the Doctrine of Several Heresies Hateful to God.]
[Whence the Heresies Sprang, and Who Was the Ringleader of Their Impiety.]
[Who Were the Successors of Simon’s Impiety, and What Heresies They Set Up.]
[How the Heresies Differ from Each Other, and from the Truth.]
[An Exposition of the Preaching of the Apostles.]
[For Those that Confess Christ, But are Desirous to Judaize.]
[That We Must Separate from Heretics.]
[Who Were the Preachers of the Catholic Doctrine, and Which are the Commandments Given by Them.]
[Concerning Books with False Inscriptions.]
[Matrimonial Precepts Concerning Clergymen.]
[An Exhortation Commanding to Avoid the Communion of the Impious Heretics.]
[To Those that Speak Evil of the Law.]
[Which is the Law of Nature, and Which is that Afterwards Introduced, and Why It Was Introduced.]
[That We Who Believe in Christ are Under Grace, and Not Under the Servitude of that Additional Law.]
[That the Law for Sacrifices is Additional, Which Christ When He Came Took Away.]
[That It Pleased the Lord that the Law of Righteousness Should Be Demonstrated by the Romans.]
[That We Ought to Avoid the Heretics as the Corrupters of Souls.]
[Of Some Jewish and Gentile Observances.]
[Of the Love of Boys, Adultery, and Fornication.]
[How Wives Ought to Be Subject to Their Own Husbands, and Husbands Ought to Love Their Own Wives.]
constitutions of the holy apostles
[The Prohibition of Conjuring, Murder of Infants, Perjury, and False Witness.]
[The Prohibition of Malignity, Acceptation of Persons, Wrath, Malice, and Envy.]
[Concerning Augury and Enchantments.]
[The Prohibition of Murmuring, Insolence, Pride, and Arrogance.]
[Concerning Long-Suffering, Simplicity, Meekness, and Patience.]
[Concerning Him that is Double-Minded and Desponding.]
[How Masters Ought to Behave Themselves to Their Servants, and How Servants Ought to Be Subject.]
[Concerning Hypocrisy, and Obedience to the Laws, and Confession of Sins.]
[Concerning the Observance Due to Parents.]
[Concerning the Subjection Due to the King and to Rulers.]
[Concerning the Pure Conscience of Those that Pray.]
[That We Ought to Avoid the Eating of Things Offered to Idols.]
[A Constitution of Our Lord, How We Ought to Baptize, and into Whose Death.]
[Which Days of the Week We are to Fast, and Which Not, and for What Reasons.]
[What Sort of People Ought to Pray that Prayer that Was Given by the Lord.]
[A Thanksgiving at the Divine Participation.]
[A Thanksgiving About the Mystical Ointment.]
[That We Ought Not to Be Indifferent About Communicating.]
[A Constitution Concerning Oblations.]
[What Qualifications They Ought to Have Who are to Be Ordained.]
[A Prediction Concerning Futurities.]
[A Prayer Declarative of God’s Various Providence.]
[A Prayer Declarative of God’s Various Creation.]
[A Prayer, with Thanksgiving, Declarative of God’s Providence Over the Beings He Has Made.]
[A Prayer Commemorative of the Incarnation of Christ, and His Various Providence to the Saints.]
[A Prayer for the Assistance of the Righteous.]
[How the Catechumens are to Be Instructed in the Elements.]
[The Renunciation of the Adversary, and the Dedication to the Christ of God.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Anointing with the Mystical Oil.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Mystical Water.]
[A Thanksgiving Concerning the Mystical Ointment.]
[A Prayer for the New Fruits.]
[Who Were They that the Holy Apostles Sent and Ordained? ]
constitutions of the holy apostles.
[On Whose Account the Powers of Miracles are Performed.]
[Concerning Unworthy Bishops and Presbyters.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Bishop.]
[The Divine Liturgy, Wherein is the Bidding Prayer for the Catechumens.]
[Imposition of Hands Prayer for PenItents.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Faithful.]
[The Constitution of James the Brother of John, the Son of Zebedee.]
[The Bidding Prayer for the Faithful After the Divine Oblation.]
[The Bidding Prayer After the Participation.]
[The Form of Prayer After the Participation.]
[Concerning the Ordination of Presbyters—The Constitution of John, Who Was Beloved by the Lord.]
[Concerning the Ordination of Deacons—The Constitution of Philip.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Deacon.]
[Concerning the Deaconess—The Constitution of Bartholomew.]
[The Form of Prayer for the Ordination of a Deaconess.]
[Concerning the Sub-Deacons—The Constitution of Thomas. ]
[Concerning the Readers—The Constitution of Matthew.]
[Concerning the Confessors—The Constitution of James the Son of Alpheus.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitution Concerning Virgins.]
[The Constitution of Lebbæus, Who Was Surnamed Thaddæus, Concerning Widows.]
[The Same Apostle Concerning the Exorcist.]
[Simon the Canaanite Concerning the Number Necessary for the Ordination of a Bishop.]
[The Same Apostle’s Canons Concerning Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons, and the Rest of the Clergy.]
[Concerning the Blessing of Water and Oil—The Constitution of Matthias.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitution Concerning First-Fruits and Tithes.]
[The Same Apostle’s Constitutions Concerning the Remaining Oblations.]
[Upon Which Days Servants are Not to Work.]
[At What Hours, and Why, We are to Pray.]
[The Constitution of James the Brother of Christ Concerning Evening Prayer.]
[The Bidding Prayer for the Evening.]
[The Thanksgiving for the Evening.]
[The Thanksgiving for the Morning.]
[The Imposition of Hands for the Morning.]
[The Form of Prayer for the First-Fruits.]
[The Bidding Prayer for Those Departed.]
[That Memorials or Mandates Do Not at All Profit the Ungodly Who are Dead.]
[Concerning the Receiving Such as are Persecuted for Christ’s Sake.]
[That a Bishop Must Not Be Given to Filthy Lucre, Nor Be a Surety Nor an Advocate.]
VI. Let not a bishop be given to filthy lucre, especially before the Gentiles, rather suffering than offering injuries; not covetous, nor rapacious; no purloiner; no admirer of the rich, nor hater of the poor; no evil-speaker, nor false witness; not given to anger; no brawler; not entangled with the affairs of this life; not a surety for any one, nor an accuser in suits about money; not ambitious; not double-minded, nor double-tongued; not ready to hearken to calumny or evil-speaking; not a dissembler; not addicted to the heathen festivals; not given to vain deceits; not eager after worldly things, nor a lover of money. For all these things are opposite to God, and pleasing to demons. Let the bishop earnestly give all these precepts in charge to the laity also, persuading them to imitate his conduct. For, says He, “Do ye make the children of Israel pious.” 29 Isa. lii. 5 Isa. lii. 5 Let him be prudent, humble, apt to admonish with the instructions of the Lord, well-disposed, one who has renounced all the wicked projects of this world, and all heathenish lusts; let hint be orderly, sharp in observing the wicked, and taking heed of them, but yet a friend to all; just, discerning; and whatsoever qualities are commendable among men, let the bishop possess them in himself. For if the pastor be unblameable as to any wickedness, he will compel his own disciples, and by his very mode of life press them to become worthy imitators of his own actions. As the prophet somewhere says, “And it will be, as is the priest, so is the people;” 30 Prov. xxi. 19 Prov. xxi. 19 for our Lord and Teacher Jesus Christ, the Son 31 Not in V. mss. of God, began first to do, and then to teach, as Luke somewhere says: 32 Acts i. 1. “ which Jesus began to do and to teach .” 33 Not in V. mss. Wherefore he says: “Whosoever shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of God.” 34 Matt. v. 19. For you bishops are to be guides and watchmen to the people, as you yourselves have Christ for your guide and watchman. Do you therefore become good guides and watchmen to the people of God. For the Lord says by Ezekiel, speaking to every one of you: “Son of man, I have given thee for a watchman to the house of Israel; and thou shalt hear the word from my mouth, and shalt observe, and shalt declare it from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his wickedness, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, and his blood will I require at thine hand. But if thou warn the wicked from his way, that he may turn from it, and he does not turn from it, he shall die in his iniquity, and thou hast delivered thy soul.” 35 Ezek. xxxiii. 7, etc. “In the same manner, if the sword of war be approaching, and the people set a watchman to watch, and he see the same approach, and does not forewarn them, and the sword come and take one of them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood shall be required at the watchman’s hand, because he did not blow the trumpet. But if he blew the trumpet, and he who heard it would not take warning, and the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon him, because he heard the trumpet and took not warning. But he who took warning has delivered his soul; and the watchman, because he gave warning, shall surely live.” 36 Ezek. xxxiii. 2, etc. The sword here is the judgment; the trumpet is the holy Gospel; the watchman is the bishop, who is set in the Church, who is obliged by his preaching to testify and vehemently to forewarn 37 Not in V. mss. concerning that judgment. If ye do not declare and testify this to the people, the sins of those who are ignorant of it will be found upon you. Wherefore do you warn and reprove the uninstructed with boldness, teach the ignorant, confirm those that understand, bring back those that go astray. If we repeat the very same things on the same occasions, brethren, we shall not do amiss. For by frequent hearing it is to be hoped that some will be made ashamed, and at least do some good action, and avoid some wicked one. For says God by the prophet: “Testify those things to them; perhaps they will hear thy voice.” 38 Jer. xxvi. And again: “If perhaps they will hear, if perhaps they will submit.” 39 Ezek. ii. 7, iii. 11. Moses also says to the people: “ If hearing thou wilt hear the Lord God, and do that which is good and right in His eyes .” 40 Ex. xv. 26. And again: 41 Not in V. mss. “Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord.” 42 Deut. vi. 4; Mark xii. 29. And our Lord is often recorded in the Gospel to have said: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” 43 Matt. xi., xiii. And wise Solomon says: “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and reject not the laws of thy mother.” 44 Prov. i. 8. And, indeed, to this day men have not heard; for while they seem to have heard, they have not heard aright, as appears by their having left the one and only true God, and their being drawn into destructive and dangerous heresies, concerning which we shall speak again afterwards.
[Sec. III.—How the Bishop is to Treat the Innocent, the Guilty, and the Penitent.]
[6] Ἔστω δὲ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος μὴ αἰσχροκερδής, καὶ μάλιστα ἐπὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν, βλαπτόμενος μᾶλλον ἢ βλάπτων, μὴ πλεονέκτης, μὴ ἅρπαξ, μὴ ἀποστερητής, μὴ φιλοπλούσιος, μὴ μισόπτωχος, μὴ κατάλαλος, μὴ ψευδομάρτυς, μὴ θυμώδης, μὴ φιλόμαχος, μὴ ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις συμπεπλεγμένος, μὴ ἐγγυώμενός τινα ἢ συνηγορῶν δίκαις χρηματικαῖς, μὴ φίλαρχος, μὴ δίγνωμος, μὴ δίγλωσσος, μὴ πρὸς διαβολὴν ἢ καταλαλιὰν φιλήκοος, μὴ ὑποκριτής, μὴ ταῖς ἑορταῖς τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπορεγόμενος, ἀπάταις κεναῖς μὴ χρώμενος, μηδὲ ἐπιθυμητικός, μὴ φιλάργυρος, ὅτι πάντα τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐχθρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑπάρχει καὶ δαιμόνων φίλα. Ταῦτα δὲ πάντα καὶ τοῖς λαϊκοῖς ὁ ἐπίσκοπος διαβεβαιούμενος παραγγελλέτω, ἐνάγων αὐτοὺς μιμητὰς γίνεσθαι τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ τρόπου: «Εὐλαβεῖς γάρ, φησίν, ποιήσατε τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραήλ.» Ἔστω δὲ σοφός, ταπεινόφρων, νουθετητικὸς ἐν ταῖς κυριακαῖς παιδείαις, καλογνώμων, ἀποτεταγμένος πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐν τῷ βίῳ πονηροῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν καὶ πάσαις ἐθνικαῖς ἐπιθυμίαις. Ἔστω εὐπρόστοχος, ὀξὺς πρὸς τὸ γνῶναι τοὺς φαύλους καὶ φυλάσσεσθαι ἀπ' αὐτῶν, φίλος δὲ ὢν πάντων, δικαιοκριτικός, καὶ ὅσα καλὰ ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἔστιν ἢ ὑπάρχει, ταῦτα ὁ ἐπίσκοπος ἐν ἑαυτῷ κεκτήσθω. Ὅτι ἀνεπίληπτος ἀδικίας ὢν ποιμὴν τοὺς ἰδίους αὐτοῦ μαθητὰς ἀναγκάσει καὶ διὰ τῆς ἀναστροφῆς αὐτοῦ προτρέψασθαι τῶν ἰδίων αὐτοῦ ποιημάτων μιμητὰς ἀξίους γενηθῆναι, ὡς λέγει που καὶ ὁ προφήτης: «Καὶ ἔσται καθὼς ὁ ἱερεύς, οὕτως καὶ ὁ λαός.» Καὶ γὰρ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν καὶ διδάσκαλος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἤρξατο ποιεῖν πρῶτον καὶ τότε διδάσκειν, ὥς που λέγει: «Ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς ποιεῖν τε καὶ διδάσκειν». Διό φησιν: «Ὃς δ' ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ.» Σκοποὺς γὰρ εἶναι δεῖ ὑμᾶς τῷ λαῷ τοὺς ἐπισκόπους, ὅτι καὶ ὑμεῖς σκοπὸν ἔχετε τὸν Χριστόν. Καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν γίνεσθε σκοποὶ ἀγαθοὶ τῷ λαῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι λέγει Κύριος διὰ τοῦ Ἰεζεκιὴλ πρὸς ἕκαστον ὑμῶν φάσκων: «Υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, σκοπὸν δέδωκά σε τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ἀκούσῃ ἐκ στόματός μου λόγον καὶ διαφυλάξεις καὶ διαγγελεῖς αὐτὸν παρ' ἐμοῦ. Ἐν τῷ λέγειν με τῷ ἀνόμῳ: Θανάτῳ ἀποθανῇ, καὶ οὐκ ἐλάλησας τοῦ διαστεῖλαι ἄνομον ἐκ τῆς ἀνομίας αὐτοῦ, ὁ ἄνομος ἐκεῖνος ἐν τῇ ἀνομίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἀποθανεῖται, καὶ τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς χειρός σου ἐκζητήσω: σὺ δὲ ἐὰν διαστείλῃ τῷ ἀνόμῳ ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀποστρέψαι ἀπ' αὐτῆς, καὶ μὴ ἀποστρέψῃ, αὐτὸς ἐν τῇ ἀνομίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἀποθανεῖται, καὶ σὺ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἐρρύσω. Ὡσαύτως καὶ μάχαιρα πολέμου ἐὰν ᾖ ἐρχομένη, καὶ στήσῃ ὁ λαὸς σκοπὸν εἰς προφυλακὴν καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὴν ἐρχομένην μὴ προμηνύσῃ καὶ λάβῃ ψυχήν, ἡ μὲν ψυχὴ τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ αὐτῆς ἐλήφθη, τὸ δὲ αἷμα ἐκ χειρὸς τοῦ σκοποῦ ἐκζητηθήσεται, ὅτι οὐκ ἐσήμανεν ἐν τῇ σάλπιγγι: ἐὰν δὲ σημάνῃ τῇ κερατίνῃ καὶ μὴ φυλάξηται ὁ ἀκούσας καὶ ἔλθῃ ἡ μάχαιρα καὶ λάβῃ αὐτόν, τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἔσται, ὅτι οὐκ ἐφυλάξατο ἀκούσας τῆς κερατίνης, ὁ δὲ φυλαξάμενος τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐρρύσατο, καὶ ὁ σκοπός, ὅτι ἐσήμανεν, ζωῇ ζήσεται.» Μάχαιρα μὲν ἔστιν ἡ κρίσις, σάλπιγξ δὲ τὸ ἱερὸν Εὐαγγέλιον, σκοπὸς δὲ ὁ κατασταθεὶς τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐπίσκοπος, ὃν δεῖ κηρύσσοντα διαμαρτύρεσθαι καὶ διαβεβαιοῦσθαι περὶ τῆς κρίσεως. Ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ διαγγείλητε καὶ διαμαρτύρησθε τῷ λαῷ, εἰς ὑμᾶς ἡ ἁμαρτία τῶν ἀγνοούντων εὑρεθήσεται: διὸ τοὺς ἀναστρεφομένους ἐν ἀπαιδευσίᾳ νουθετεῖτε καὶ ἐλέγχετε μετὰ παρρησίας, τοὺς ἀγνοοῦντας διδάσκετε, τοὺς ἐπισταμένους στηρίζετε, τοὺς πεπλανημένους ἐπιστρέφετε. Τὰ αὐτὰ περὶ τῶν αὐτῶν λέγοντες, ἀδελφοί, οὐχ ἁμαρτησόμεθα: ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ πολλάκις ἀκούειν εἰκός τινας δυσωπηθέντας κἂν ἅπαξ τι τῶν καλῶν ποιῆσαι καὶ τῶν πονηρῶν παραιτήσασθαι. Λέγει γὰρ διὰ τοῦ προφήτου ὁ Θεὸς: «Διαμαρτύρει αὐτοῖς ταῦτα, ἴσως ἀκούσονται τῆς φωνῆς σου.» Καὶ πάλιν: «Ἐὰν ἄρα ἀκούσωσιν, ἐὰν ἄρα ἐνδῶσιν.» Καὶ ὁ Μωϋσῆς φησιν τῷ λαῷ: «Ἄκουε, Ἰσραήλ, Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου Κύριος εἷς ἐστιν.» Καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ πολλάκις μιμνήσκεται λέγων: «Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.» Καὶ ὁ σοφὸς Σολομών φησιν: «Ἄκουε, υἱέ, παιδείαν πατρός σου, καὶ μὴ ἀπώσῃ θεσμοὺς μητρός σου.» Καὶ μέχρι σήμερον οὐκ ἤκουσαν: καὶ οἱ δοκοῦντες δὲ ἀκηκοέναι παρήκουσαν, καταλείψαντες τὸν ἕνα καὶ μόνον ἀληθινὸν Θεὸν καὶ εἰς τὰς ὀλεθρίους καὶ δεινὰς αἱρέσεις κατασυρέντες, περὶ ὧν αὖθις ἐροῦμεν.