Prologue in Sermons: September 17

The Unskilled Should Not Take Upon Themselves the Title of Teachers and Interpret the Word of God

September 17

(From the Paterikon: On Anger and Repentance)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

It happens that the literate among you, especially those who have lived in the cities for a considerable time and listened to various scholars, return home and assume the title of teachers. They gather the simpletons around them, begin to read to them from the Divine Scriptures, and interpret the words of Holy Scripture as they please, fully confident that they are doing a good deed. That they read from the Divine Scriptures is truly a good deed on their part, but that they interpret the Divine Words in their own way cannot be called a good deed, for often their arbitrary interpretations give rise to superstitions, prejudices, and most destructive errors. Worst of all, when such teachers are confronted with the idea that this or that passage of Scripture has been interpreted incorrectly, they almost never admit their error, and everyone will assume they are right. This stubbornness often leads them to the point of completely separating from the Church and becoming schismatics. In their own destruction, they lead many others to destruction as well. Had they confessed their error, the Lord would have immediately forgiven them, and the Church would have immediately accepted them into communion.

Two monks, reading the Gospel, came to a passage with an allegorical meaning. Without thinking twice, they interpreted this passage in their own way, applied the interpretation to their lives, and fell into grave sin, for which they were excommunicated from the Church by their bishop. Instead of repenting, the monks began to grumble against him. "We acted according to the Gospel and for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, and he excommunicated us from the Church; let us bring a complaint to the Archbishop of Jerusalem." They did so, but he, too, excommunicated them. The monks did not repent and went to the Archbishop of Antioch. Alas! He, too, confirmed the excommunication. What to do? They went to Rome. And things were no easier. "You were excommunicated before me, and I excommunicate you," the Archbishop of Rome told them. One would think that after this they should confess their sins, but no. "Everyone has judged us with bias," they said. "Let's go to Epiphanios, Archbishop of Cyprus; he is impartial and judges fairly." They went, but even here there was no success. Epiphanios not only failed to acquit them, but he did not even allow them into the city. Only then, fortunately, did the monks finally recognize their error. "Why are we making excuses," they reasoned, "they excommunicated us not without reason. We have sinned!" What then? Oh, how great is God's mercy to repentant sinners! They had barely acknowledged their sin when the Lord announced to Saint Epiphanios that they were forgiven. Epiphanios summoned them, declared their forgiveness, and received them into communion with the Church.

Therefore, brethren, be cautious and do not attempt to interpret what is beyond your capabilities. "Every man," as it is said in the commentary on the 64th canon of the 6th Ecumenical Synod, "must know his own rank and not make himself a shepherd, who is but a sheep, nor should the head think itself to be a foot; but let him obey the rank ordained by God and open his ears to the teaching of the grace-filled word. For not all are prophets and not all are apostles. Therefore, let not the inexperienced teach, nor strive with words about commandments, drawing to themselves the rank of teacher." Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.