Letter 150

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: John, Bishop of Antioch Date: ~431 AD Context: One of Theodoret's most important theological letters, written before the Council of Ephesus, systematically refuting Cyril of Alexandria's Twelve Anathemas as Apollinarian -- i.e., as denying the full humanity of Christ. To John, Bishop of Antioch, I have been deeply distressed reading the anathemas you sent me and asked me to refute in writing, making their heretical meaning plain to all. I am distressed at the thought that a man appointed to the shepherd's office, entrusted with the care of so great a flock, and charged with healing the sick among his sheep, is himself profoundly unsound -- and is trying to infect his lambs with his disease, treating the sheep in his care more cruelly than wild beasts would. Beasts tear and devour sheep that stray from the flock; but this man, standing in the very midst of it, and trusted as its guardian, introduces hidden error among those who confide in him. Against an open attack it is possible to take precautions, but when the attack comes disguised as friendship, the victim is caught off guard and easily harmed. Enemies who wage war from within are far more dangerous than those who attack from outside. I am more grieved still that he utters his heretical and blasphemous words in the name of true religion and with the dignity of a shepherd, reviving the empty and impious teaching of Apollinaris [who denied Christ had a human rational soul] that was stamped out long ago. On top of all this, he not only holds these views but dares to anathematize those who refuse to share in his blasphemies -- assuming he truly is the author of these productions and they have not been composed in his name by some enemy of the truth who, as the old story has it, "flung the apple of discord in the midst" and fanned the flames. Whether this composition comes from him or from someone else using his name, I, for my part, with the help of the Holy Spirit's light, have investigated this heretical and corrupt doctrine and refuted it as best I could according to the measure of power given me. I have set it against the teaching of the evangelists and apostles, exposed its monstrosity, and shown how far it diverges from divine truth by comparing it with the words of the Holy Spirit and demonstrating the jarring discord between them. Against the boldness of this anathematizing I will say only this: Paul, the clear-voiced herald of truth, anathematized those who corrupted the evangelical and apostolic teaching, and boldly did so even against angels [Galatians 1:8] -- not against those who abided by the theological laws already established. Those he strengthened with blessings, saying: "As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and on the Israel of God" [Galatians 6:16]. Let the author of these writings reap from the Apostle's curse the due harvest of his seeds of heresy. We will abide in the teaching of the holy Fathers.

Letter 150 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... Letter of Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus, to Joannes, Bishop of Antioch. I have been much distressed at reading the anathematisms which you have sent to request me to refute in writing, and to make plain to all their heretical sense. I have been distressed at the thought that one appointed to the shepherd's office, entrusted with the charge of so great a flock and appointed to heal the sick among his sheep, is both himself unsound, and that to a terrible degree, and is endeavouring to infect his lambs with his disease and treats the sheep of his folds with greater cruelty than that of wild beasts. They, indeed, tear and rend the sheep that are dispersed and separated from the flock; but he in its very midst, and while thought to be its saviour and its guardian introduces secret error among the victims of their confidence in him. Against an open assault it is possible to take precautions, but when an attack is made in the guise of friendship, its victim is found off his guard and hurt is easily done him. Hence foes who make war from within are far more dangerous than those who attack from without. I am yet more grieved that it should be in the name of true religion and with the dignity of a shepherd that he should give utterance to his heretical and blasphemous words, and renew that vain and impious teaching of Apollinarius which was long ago stamped out. Besides all this there is the fact that he not only supports these views but even dares to anathematize those who decline to participate in his blasphemies — if he is really the author of these productions and they have not proceeded from some enemy of the truth who has composed them in his name and, as the old story has it, flung the apple of discord in the midst, and so fanned the flame on high. But whether this composition comes from himself or from some other in his name, I, for my part, by the aid of the light of the Holy Ghost, in the investigation of this heretical and corrupt opinion, according to the measure of the power given me, have refuted them as best I could. I have confronted them with the teaching of evangelists and apostles. I have exposed the monstrosity of the doctrine, and proved how vast is its divergence from divine truth. This I have done by comparing it with the words of the Holy Spirit, and pointing out what strange and jarring discord there is between it and the divine. Against the hardihood of this anathematizing, thus much I will say, that Paul, the clear-voiced herald of truth, anathematized those who had corrupted the evangelic and apostolic teaching and boldly did so against the angels, not against those who abided by the laws laid down by theologians; these he strengthened with blessings, saying, And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy and on the Israel of God. Let then the author of these writings reap from the Apostle's curse the due rewards of his labours and the harvest of his seeds of heresy. We will abide in the teaching of the holy Fathers. To this letter I have appended my counter arguments, that on reading them you may judge whether I have effectively destroyed the heretical propositions. Setting down each of the anathematisms by itself, I have annexed the counter statement that readers may easily understand, and that the refutation of the dogmas may be clear.