Theodoret of Cyrrhus→Basilius|c. 440 AD|theodoret cyrrhus
friendship
From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To: Basilius, Bishop
Date: ~440 AD
Context: Theodoret reproaches a bishop friend for not defending him against theological slanders, pointedly quoting Scripture on the duty not to stay silent in the face of injustice.
To Bishop Basilius,
There is nothing surprising in strangers who do not know me listening in silence to the slanders against me. But that your holiness -- who does know me -- should fail to refute my accusers' lies, or at best do so halfheartedly, is beyond what anyone who knows your character would believe.
I say this not because friendship ought to take precedence over truth, but because the witness of truth is on friendship's side. Your reverence has heard me preach in church many times. In other gatherings where I have spoken on doctrine, you have listened to what I said. I am not aware of any occasion when you found fault with my orthodoxy.
So what is happening now? Why in the world, my dear friend, do you not speak a single word against falsehood, while you allow a friend to be slandered and the truth to be assaulted?
If your silence is because you look down on the helpless and insignificant, remember the Lord's plain command: "Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones who believe in me, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father" [Matthew 18:10]. But if it is the influence of my accusers that has silenced you, then listen to this other law: "You shall not honor the person of the mighty" [Leviticus 19:15], and "Judge righteous judgment," and "You shall not follow a multitude to do evil" [Exodus 23:2].
You could find countless similar passages in Scripture. I thought it unnecessary to pile them up when writing to a man raised on the divine word.
Letter 102
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To Bishop Basilius.
There is nothing remarkable in the reproaches that are directed against me being heard in silence by men who do not know me; but that your holiness should not refute the lies of my revilers, or at least should do so only to a certain extent, and with no great heartiness, passes the belief of any one who knows your character and conduct. And I say this not because friendship ought to be preferred to truth, but because the witness of truth is on the side of friendship. Your reverence has very often heard me preaching in church, and, in other assemblies where I have spoken on doctrinal questions; you have listened to what I have said, and I do not know of any occasion on which you have found fault with me for expressing unorthodox opinions. But what is the case at the present moment? Why in the world, my dear friend, do you not utter a word against falsehood, while you allow a friend to be calumniated and the truth to be assailed? If this is because you disregard the helpless and insignificant, remember the plain proclamation of the commandment of the Lord Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones which believe in me, for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. If however it is the influence of my calumniators which imposes silence upon you, you must listen to the other law which says You shall not honour the person of the mighty and Judge righteous judgment and You shall not follow a multitude to do evil and He that shuts his eyes from seeing evil and stops his ears from hearing of blood. You may find innumerable similar passages in holy Scripture, which I have thought it needless to collect when writing to a man brought up in the divine oracles, and watering Christian people with his teaching. But this I will say, that we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall give account of our words and deeds. I, who for every other reason dread this tribunal, now that I am encompassed with calumny, find my chief consolation in the thought of it.
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From:Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To:Basilius, Bishop
Date:~440 AD
Context:Theodoret reproaches a bishop friend for not defending him against theological slanders, pointedly quoting Scripture on the duty not to stay silent in the face of injustice.
To Bishop Basilius,
There is nothing surprising in strangers who do not know me listening in silence to the slanders against me. But that your holiness -- who does know me -- should fail to refute my accusers' lies, or at best do so halfheartedly, is beyond what anyone who knows your character would believe.
I say this not because friendship ought to take precedence over truth, but because the witness of truth is on friendship's side. Your reverence has heard me preach in church many times. In other gatherings where I have spoken on doctrine, you have listened to what I said. I am not aware of any occasion when you found fault with my orthodoxy.
So what is happening now? Why in the world, my dear friend, do you not speak a single word against falsehood, while you allow a friend to be slandered and the truth to be assaulted?
If your silence is because you look down on the helpless and insignificant, remember the Lord's plain command: "Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones who believe in me, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father" [Matthew 18:10]. But if it is the influence of my accusers that has silenced you, then listen to this other law: "You shall not honor the person of the mighty" [Leviticus 19:15], and "Judge righteous judgment," and "You shall not follow a multitude to do evil" [Exodus 23:2].
You could find countless similar passages in Scripture. I thought it unnecessary to pile them up when writing to a man raised on the divine word.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.