S
THE CONFESSION OF DOSITHEUS, 1672 AD, Jerusalem.
"DECREE XIII. "We believe a man to be not simply justified through faith alone, but through
faith which worketh through love, that is to say, through faith and works. But [the notion]
that faith fulfilling the function of a hand layeth hold of the righteousness which is in Christ,
and applieth it unto us for salvation, we know to be far from all Orthodoxy. For faith so
understood would be possible in all, and so none could miss salvation, which is obviously
false. But on the contrary, we rather believe that it is not the correlative (anaphorikon) of
faith, but the faith which is in us, justifieth through works, with Christ (para Christou). But
we regard works not as witnesses certifying our calling, but as being fruits in themselves,
through which faith becometh efficacious, and as in themselves meriting, through the
Divine promises, (2 Cor. 5:10) that each of the Faithful may receive what is done through
his own body, whether it be good or bad, forsooth." (page 132.).
"QUESTION 1. Ought the Divine Scriptures to be read in the vulgar tongue (koinos) by
all Christians? "No. For that all Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable we know, and
is of such necessity, that without the same it is impossible to be Orthodox (Eusebein) at
all. Nevertheless they should not be read by all, but only by those who with fitting
research have inquired into the deep things of the Spirit, and who know in what manner
the Divine Scriptures ought to be searched, and taught, and in fine read But to such as
are not so exercised, or who cannot distinguish, or who understand only literally, or in
any other way contrary to Orthodoxy (Eusebeias) what is contained in the Scriptures,
the Catholic Church, as knowing by experience the mischief arising thereform, forbiddeth
the reading of the same. So that it is permitted for every Orthodox to hear indeed the
Scriptures, that he may believe with the heart unto righteousness, and confess with the
mouth unto salvation; (Rom. 10:10) but to read some parts of the Scriptures, and
especially of the Old [Testament], is forbidden for the aforesaid reasons and others of
the like sort. For it is the same thing thus to prohibit persons not exercised thereto
reading all the Sacred Scriptures, as to require infants to abstain from strong meats."
(pages 152-153.).
THE ACTS AND DECREES OF THE SYNOD OF JERUSALEM, SOMETIMES CALLED THE COUNCIL
OF BETHLEHEM, HOLDEN UNDER DOSITHEUS, PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM IN 1672.
J.N.W.B. ROBERTSON, TRANSLATOR. New York: AMS Press, 1969.
God save us in Christ Jesus, all of us in His mercy. Amen.
In Erie PA USA August 2011 AD Scott R. Harrington
"DECREE XIII. "We believe a man to be not simply justified through faith alone, but through
faith which worketh through love, that is to say, through faith and works. But [the notion]
that faith fulfilling the function of a hand layeth hold of the righteousness which is in Christ,
and applieth it unto us for salvation, we know to be far from all Orthodoxy. For faith so
understood would be possible in all, and so none could miss salvation, which is obviously
false. But on the contrary, we rather believe that it is not the correlative (anaphorikon) of
faith, but the faith which is in us, justifieth through works, with Christ (para Christou). But
we regard works not as witnesses certifying our calling, but as being fruits in themselves,
through which faith becometh efficacious, and as in themselves meriting, through the
Divine promises, (2 Cor. 5:10) that each of the Faithful may receive what is done through
his own body, whether it be good or bad, forsooth." (page 132.).
"QUESTION 1. Ought the Divine Scriptures to be read in the vulgar tongue (koinos) by
all Christians? "No. For that all Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable we know, and
is of such necessity, that without the same it is impossible to be Orthodox (Eusebein) at
all. Nevertheless they should not be read by all, but only by those who with fitting
research have inquired into the deep things of the Spirit, and who know in what manner
the Divine Scriptures ought to be searched, and taught, and in fine read But to such as
are not so exercised, or who cannot distinguish, or who understand only literally, or in
any other way contrary to Orthodoxy (Eusebeias) what is contained in the Scriptures,
the Catholic Church, as knowing by experience the mischief arising thereform, forbiddeth
the reading of the same. So that it is permitted for every Orthodox to hear indeed the
Scriptures, that he may believe with the heart unto righteousness, and confess with the
mouth unto salvation; (Rom. 10:10) but to read some parts of the Scriptures, and
especially of the Old [Testament], is forbidden for the aforesaid reasons and others of
the like sort. For it is the same thing thus to prohibit persons not exercised thereto
reading all the Sacred Scriptures, as to require infants to abstain from strong meats."
(pages 152-153.).
THE ACTS AND DECREES OF THE SYNOD OF JERUSALEM, SOMETIMES CALLED THE COUNCIL
OF BETHLEHEM, HOLDEN UNDER DOSITHEUS, PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM IN 1672.
J.N.W.B. ROBERTSON, TRANSLATOR. New York: AMS Press, 1969.
God save us in Christ Jesus, all of us in His mercy. Amen.
In Erie PA USA August 2011 AD Scott R. Harrington