Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Sophronius of Jerusalem (7th century) vs. Eternal Security in Synodical Letters, 2.1.6

  

6. An apostolic and ancient tradition has prevailed in the holy churches of God throughout the whole world ('Επειδη τε τισ αποστολικη και αρχαια παραδοσις εν ταις κατα πασαν την οικουμενην αγιας <του θεου> εκκλησιαις), whereby those according to the hierarchy frankly refer in all respects to those who have administered the high-priesthood (ιεραρχιας) before them, as to how they should think and maintain the faith which the most wise Paul has handed on to them with the utmost safeguards, lest they run their course in vain (Gal. 2:2), for their entire course becomes vain of the faith is harmed in any respect. For that prophetic man, who listened to God’s utterances and had heaven itself as his school, and became a beholder of paradise before his time and heard things that could not be told (2 Cor. 12:4) to other human beings, who in dread and trepidation, and, as he says himself, was thoroughly afraid lest, after announcing to others the saving message of Christ, he himself should be disqualified (1 Cor. 9:27). Hence Christ’s heavenly disciple also went up to Jerusalem and submitted himself to the divine disciples who were before him, and made known the Gospel teaching which he preached to those who seemed to be superior to others, and made them party to his doctrine, ensuring a safeguard for himself and for those after him who receive his teachings, becoming an excellent model of salvation for all those who wished to follow in his footsteps. Accordingly, we also observe this custom, and because we deem an excellent law all that was done fittingly by older generations, especially when confirmed by apostolic practice, we write how it stands with us concerning the faith, and we wend it to You, wise in the things of God, to be tested, lest we seem to have changed the ancient landmarks which our fathers positioned (Prov. 22:28). You not only know how to distinguish acceptable teachings from spurious ones but also are able, through the perfect love of Christ, to supply what is lacking (2 Cor. 9:12) accurately and firmly. It is those teachings, then, of which I shall discourse, teachings which I, having been born and reared in the holy catholic church, learned thoroughly from the beginning and received as the way to think from childhood, and heard You, who are inspired by God (θεοπνευστων), preach. (Sophronius, Synodical Letters, 2.1.6, in Sophronius of Jerusalem and Seventh-Century Heresy: The Synodical Letters and Other Documents [trans. Pauline Allen; Oxford Early Christian Texts; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009], 71, 73)