Letter 137

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: John, Archimandrite [head of a monastery] Date: ~451 AD Context: After his vindication, Theodoret compares himself to King David -- acknowledging his own faults but insisting he was condemned not for his sins but for his faithfulness to apostolic teaching. To the Archimandrite John, The blessed David fell into several errors, which God in His wisdom has caused to be recorded for the benefit of those who came after. But it was not because of David's sins that Absalom -- parricide, murderer, and altogether vile -- launched his wild war against his father. Absalom's true motive was that he coveted the throne. David, however, when these events unfolded, began to remember the wrongs he himself had done. I too am conscious of many errors. But I have kept the doctrinal teaching of the apostles undefiled. Those who trampled on every human and divine law and condemned me in my absence did not sentence me for anything I actually did wrong -- my private failings are not known to them. Instead, they manufactured false testimony and slander against me. Or rather, in their open assault on apostolic doctrine, they proscribed me precisely for my loyalty to it. "So the Lord awoke as one out of sleep; He struck His enemies from behind and put them to everlasting shame" [Psalm 78:65-66]. He has scattered counterfeit and spurious doctrines to the winds and has provided for the free preaching of what He handed down to us in the holy Gospels. This is enough for my complete joy. I do not even long for the city where I spent all my time in hard labor. All I longed for was to see the truth of the Gospels established. And now the Lord has satisfied that longing. I am therefore very glad, and I sing praises to our generous Lord. I invite your reverence to rejoice with me, and, along with our praises, to offer the earnest prayer that the men who shift their position with every hour -- like chameleons taking on the color of whatever leaf they sit on -- may be strengthened by the Lord's loving-kindness, established on the rock, and by His mercy brought to honor the truth above all.

Letter 137 Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... To the Archimandrite John. The blessed David fell into several errors, which God, who wisely orders all things, has caused to be recorded for the good of them that were to come after. But it was not on their account that Absalom, parricide, murderer, impious, and altogether vile, started his wild war against his father. The reason of his beginning that most unrighteous struggle was because he coveted the sovereignty. The divine David, however, when these events were coming to pass, began to remember the wrong that he had done. I too am conscious within myself of the guilt of many errors, but I have kept undefiled the dogmatic teaching of the Apostles. And they who have trampled upon all laws human and divine, and condemned me in my absence, have not sentenced me for what I have done wrong, for my secret deeds are not made manifest to them; but they have contrived false witness and calumny against me, or rather in their open attack upon the doctrines of the Apostles have proscribed me for my obedience to them. So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep; He smote His enemies in the hinderparts and put them to a perpetual shame. Counterfeit and spurious doctrines He has scattered to the winds, and has provided for the free preaching of those which He has handed down to us in the holy Gospels. To me this suffices for complete delight. I do not even long for a city in which I have passed all my time in hard work; all I long for is to see the establishment of the truth of the Gospels. And now the Lord has satisfied this longing. I am therefore very glad and happy, and I sing praises to our generous Lord, and I invite your reverence to rejoice with me, and, with our praises, to put up the earnest prayer that the men who say now one thing and now another and change about to suit the hour, like the chameleons who assume the color of the leaves, may be strengthened by the loving-kindness of the Lord, established upon the rocks and, of His mercy, made to pay the highest honour to the truth.