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Morals

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Chapter 80

What manner of men Scripture wishes Christians to be, as disciples of Christ, conformed only to the pattern of what they see in Him, or hear from Him. Mt. xi. 29; Jn. xiii. 13-15. 2As sheep of Christ, hearing the voice of their own Shepherd only and following Him. Jn. x. 27; 5 ἀκολουθήσωσιν after ἀκολουθήσουσιν K. 3As branches of Christ, rooted in Him and bearing fruit in Him, both doing and keeping everything whatever that belongs to Him and is worthy of Him. Jn. xv. 5.

As members of Christ, in all working of the commandments of the Lord, or perfectly equipped with the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the worthiness of the Head, which is Christ.

1 Cor. vi. 15; Eph. iv. 15; 16. 5As a bride of Christ, preserving purity, walking only in the things willed by the Bridegroom.

Jn. iii. 28; 2 Cor. xi. 2.

As temples of God, holy, pure, and filled only with what pertains to the worship of God.

Jn. xiv. 23; 2 Cor. vi. 16 ὑμεῖς... ἐστε for ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν K, λέγει γάρ for καθὼς εἶπεν*, ἡ γραφή for ὁ θεός**.

As a sacrifice of God, without blemish or defect, preserving the health of godliness in every limb and part.

Rom. xii. 1.

As children of God, formed after the likeness of God, according to the measure granted to men. Jn. xiii. 34; Gal. iv. 19.

As light in the world, so that both they themselves are nonreceptive of evil and illuminate those who approach them to a knowledge of the truth, and these either become what they should be or reveal what they are.

Mt. v. 14; Phil. ii. 15.

As salt in the world, so that they who associate with them are renewed in the spirit unto incorruptibility.

Mt. v. 13. 11As the word of life, by their mortification as regards present things making sure the hope of the true life.

Phil. ii. 15; 16.

What manner of men Scripture wishes those to be who are entrusted with the preaching of the gospel; as apostles and ministers of Christ, and faithful stewards of God’s mysteries, fulfilling only the things commanded by the Lord without falling short in deed or word.

Mt. x. 16; xxviii. 19; 1 Cor. iv. 1; 2 ὃ δέ for ὧδε K.

As heralds of the Kingdom of heaven, for the destruction of him who holds the power of death in sin.

Mt. x. 7; 2 Tim. iv. 1 add ἐγώ K, Ἰησοῦ before Χριστοῦ K, κατά for καί before τὴν ἐπ. K; 2 add τοῦ θεοῦ after λόγον**.

As a type or rule of piety, to establish the complete rectitude of those that follow the Lord, and to rebuke the perversity of those who in any way whatsoever disobey Him.

Phil. iii. 13; 14 omit τοῦ before θεοῦ**; 15; 16 add κανόνι, τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν K; 1 Tim. iv. 12; 2 Tim. ii. 15.

As an eye in a body, since they discern between good and evil, and guide the members of Christ towards what befits each.

Mt. vi. 22 ᾗ after οὖν.

As shepherds of the sheep of Christ, not even shrinking from laying down their lives for their sakes on occasion, that they may impart to them the gospel of God.

Jn. x. 11; Acts xx. 28 add οὖν K.

As doctors, with much compassion by their knowledge of the teaching of the Lord healing the diseases of souls, to win for them health in Christ and perseverance.

Mt. ix. 12; Rom. xv. 1.

As fathers and nurses of their own children, in the great affection of their love in Christ willing to render to them not only the gospel of God but even their own souls.

Jn. xiii. 33 add χρόνον; 1 Cor. iv. 15; 1 Thess. ii. 7 ἐάν for ἄν, ἱμειρόμενοι for ὁμειρόμενοι; 8.

As God’s fellow-workers, having given themselves wholly on behalf of the Church to such works only as are worthy of God.

1 Cor. iii. 9.

As planters of God’s branches, inserting nothing that is alien to the vine, which is Christ, or that fails to bear fruit, but improving with all diligence such as belong to Him and are fruitful.

Jn. xv. 1; 2; 1 Cor. iii. 6.

As builders of God’s temple, shaping the soul of each one so that he fits harmoniously on to the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

1 Cor. iii. 10 τέθεικα for ἔθηκα K; 11; Eph. ii. 19 omit ἐστέ after ἀλλά K; 20–22.

What is the distinguishing mark¹ of a Christian? Faith working by love. What is the mark of faith? Unhesitating conviction of the truth of the inspired words, unshaken by any argument either based on the plea of physical necessity² or masquerading in the guise of piety.

What is the mark of a believer? To hold fast by such conviction in the strength of what Scripture says and to dare neither to set it at naught nor to add to it. For if what is not of faith is sin, as the apostle says, and faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of God,³ then everything that is outside inspired Scripture, being not of faith, is sin.

What is the mark of love towards God? Keeping His commandments with a view to His glory.

What is the mark of love towards one’s neighbour? Not to seek one’s own good, but the good of the loved one for the benefit of his soul and body.

What is the mark of a Christian? To be born anew in baptism of water and Spirit.

What is the mark of him that is born of water? As Christ died to sin once, that he should thus be dead and unmoved by any sin, as it is written: “All we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. We were buried therefore with Him through baptism into death; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away, that we should no longer be in bondage to sin.”⁴

What is the mark of him that is born of the Spirit? That he should be, according to the measure given him, that very thing of which he was born, as it is written: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.”⁵

What is the mark of him that is born again? To put off the old man with his doings and lusts, and to put on the new man, which is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created him⁶; as it is written: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.”⁷

What is the mark of a Christian? To be cleansed from all pollution of flesh and spirit, in the blood of Christ, to perfect holiness in the fear of God and love of Christ,⁸ and not to have spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but to be holy and without blemish,⁹ and so to eat the body of Christ and drink His blood. “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself.”¹⁰

What is the mark of those who eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord? To keep in perpetual memory Him Who died for us and rose again.

What is the mark of those that keep such a memory? To live unto themselves no longer, but unto Him Who died for them and rose again.

What is the mark of a Christian? That his righteousness should abound in everything, more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, according to the measure of the teaching of the Lord in the gospel.

What is the mark of a Christian? To love one another, even as Christ also loved us.

What is the mark of a Christian? To see the Lord always before him.

What is the mark of a Christian? To watch each night and day and in the perfection of pleasing God to be ready, knowing that the Lord cometh at an hour he thinketh not.

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