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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 235: Is It Expedient to Learn Much by Heart from the Scriptures?
As the brethren fall into two general divisions,2 those who are entrusted with leadership and those whose duty it is to defer and obey, according to their several gifts, I conclude that the one, entrusted with leadership and the care of the larger body, ought to know and learn by heart every thing that they may teach all men what God wishes, showing each one his duty. But let each of the others, remembering the apostle’s words: “Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but so to think as to think soberly, according as God has dealt to each man,”3 learn his own duty diligently and practise it, not being curious “about anything else, that he may become worthy to hear the words of the Lord: Come, good servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things.”4
Notes
- Cf. B. 96. Study of Scripture was obligatory on all at Tabennisi.
- An important piece of evidence, see Intr. p. 45.
- Rom. xii. 3.
- Mt. xxv. 21 δεῦρο for εὖ**, ἀγαθέ before δοῦλε**, omit καὶ πιστέ*.