Chapter 4

1Concerning bishops, we have heard this from our Lord Jesus Christ: the shepherd of the sheep who is ordained bishop of all the churches must be blameless, pure, and good. He must not occupy himself with the cares of this world. He must be a full fifty years old, having passed beyond the vigor of youth. He must not be a slanderer or one who speaks lies among the brethren. For the Gospel says, “For every word that a person speaks thoughtlessly, he shall give an account on the day of judgment, that it may condemn him.” Furthermore, it says, “For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.” Therefore, he should abound in every good thing.

2But if he is not learned, he should be prudent and intelligent, and of middle age. If the city is small and no one in it is found who is fitted for the office of bishop, but among the young men there is one who is prudent and wise, though he is only a few years of age, and if those who know him testify that he is worthy to be ordained bishop—if from his youth he has lived perfectly in the works of the holy and humble fathers, walks in the way of righteousness, has been tested in every work, and is testified to be perfect—let him be ordained in peace. For Solomon also became king over the people of Israel when he was only twelve years old. Joash too became ruler when he was seven years old, and afterward, in his eighth year, he reigned in righteousness.

3For the Lord spoke through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah and said, “To whom shall I look but to the one who is meek, humble, and quiet, and who trembles at my word?” Again, it says in the Gospel, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Therefore, let him be merciful, for it says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Let him be a peacemaker, for it says, “Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall be called the children of God.” Let him be pure in heart, without vengeance, evil, or unrighteousness, for it says, “Blessed are the pure in heart; they shall see God.”

4Let him, then, be spiritual and watchful in doing good. He must not be insatiable or passionate, a drunkard or vindictive. He must be without hatred and strife, neither haughty nor a lover of money nor a reviler. He must not exalt himself, lest he fall into the snare of Satan, for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and the one who humbles himself shall be raised to honor. Let a man be ordained bishop who has married one elect wife and is able to order his household rightly. He must be a teacher and an admonisher who has brought up his children in purity. His wife also must be faithful, training her children in true worship and in the fear of the Lord. The members of his household should obey the bishop in humility and fear, and he should be master, as it is written. Let them test him to ensure that he is blameless and not passionate, for Wisdom says, “Anger destroys the wise man.” Let him be merciful and charitable, for our Lord says, “By this everyone shall know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

5Let him be a lover of people who receives strangers and shows no partiality, a man of understanding who favors neither rich nor poor. Let him have a craft, let his hands be open to give, and let him receive widows. He must be a lover of the poor, orphans, and widows. Moreover, let him support widows who have children. But if there is a slothful man, or one who has spent all his property in drunkenness and fornication and now desires to receive alms, the bishop must show no care for him or permit him to enter the church.

6The bishop must not judge with partiality toward the rich while neglecting the poor. For God said to Moses, “Do not judge with partiality toward the rich, nor turn aside the judgment of the poor, for judgment belongs to the Lord.” Rather, he must judge uprightly. The bishop’s food should be meat seasoned with moderation, so that he may be able to teach and admonish the people and turn them to God. Let him keep far from every evil, read the Scriptures at all times, and be a lover of wisdom, so that he may be able to interpret in the Holy Spirit the words of the Gospel, the Law, and the Prophets. The Lord says, “Understand the words of the Scriptures, for they bear witness concerning me.” It is fitting for a bishop to examine and expound the Scriptures in order, to satisfy the people with spiritual teaching, and to fill them with the light of God’s law through much admonition. God says, “Make the light of wisdom shine upon you, for it is time.” Thus it is right for the bishop to suffer, labor, and struggle for the sake of righteousness, above all before the people, so that when they see his works, they may receive his admonition.

7Moreover, he must not become surety for anyone, associate with the great, be double-tongued, or follow after princes. Rather, let him fear God. He must not listen to a false accusation against his neighbor. Let him not be negligent in fasting, seek occasions for eating, or say, “Today is a feast,” as the Gentiles do, in order to eat, drink, and behave wantonly. Instead, let him remove from himself every idle and unprofitable desire, for all this is despised and hateful before God but pleasing to demons. It is fitting for the bishop to command and admonish the people to remove all these practices from themselves. Let him teach and turn them so that they may imitate him and follow in righteousness. For God said to the children of Israel, “Observe my law and my commandment.” Jesus Christ himself, our Lord and our God, first did everything and then taught us to imitate him. Therefore, he says that whoever teaches and does shall be great in the kingdom of heaven. It is right for you, O bishops, to teach the people and save them from error, just as Christ has given you grace.

8For the Lord spoke through the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel and said, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. You shall hear the word from my mouth and admonish them by my word. When I say to the sinner, ‘You shall surely die,’ and he has not repented, and you have neither spoken to him nor admonished him so that he might repent, turn from his way, and live, that sinner shall die in his sin, and I will require his blood from you, says the Lord. But if you have admonished the sinner and he has not turned from his sin, he shall die in his guilt, and you shall save your soul. If a righteous man has turned from his righteousness and committed sin while I set punishment before his face, and you have not admonished him, he shall surely die in his guilt. I will not remember the righteousness he has done, and I will require his blood from your hand. But if you have admonished the righteous man so that he does not sin, that righteous man shall surely live, and you also have saved your soul.”

9It is like when war and strife arise among a people and they appoint a watchman to bring them news so that they may be on guard. If he does not warn them beforehand so that they may be saved from defeat, their blood shall be upon his head, for they did not hear the sound of the trumpet. But if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet as a signal to the armies, and someone who is listening hears the sound of the trumpet but does not get away, and the sword comes and finds him, his blood shall return upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not get away, and his blood shall be poured out upon him. But the one who got away saved his life. In the same way, if the bishop teaches the word of life, he shall find eternal life. The sword is eternal condemnation, the sound of the trumpet is the Holy Gospel, and the watchman is the bishop of the holy church.

10The bishop must feed the flock, teach, hold fast the word, and make people fear the judgment. Therefore, let him admonish those who walk without knowledge and enable them to see plainly. Let him teach those who do not know, confirm those who know, gather those who are lost, and speak to them at all times concerning their salvation, so that when they hear these things, they may be admonished and do what is good. For God says through the prophet, “Testify against this people and tell them their sins, to see whether they will turn, repent, and be saved from their iniquity.” Moses also said to the people, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one.” Again, it says in the Holy Gospel, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” Solomon also says, “Hear, my son, the instruction of your father, and do not disregard the commandment of your mother.” Yet they have not listened to this day. They have forsaken the Lord, the only true God, and he has called them a generation of transgressors and adulterers, concerning whom we have spoken before.

11And now understand, beloved, you who have been baptized into the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, that those who have received such grace should not sin. Know, brethren, that those who, after receiving baptism, turn back to sinful deeds shall descend to the condemnation of Gehenna. There are also others who were not believers but afterward believed and were baptized, and they became blessed before God, just as our Lord says in the Holy Gospel, “Blessed are you when they revile you, mock you, and falsely speak every kind of evil against you for my sake. Rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven.” If there is anyone against whom they have spoken, blessed is he. For it is written, “Every person who is not tested is not elect before God.” If anyone has transgressed the law and people curse him, he has brought the curse upon his own head. In the same way, if we do not listen to God’s commandments and do his will, we shall bring a curse upon ourselves and shall also be far from God. As for those who do not practice what they themselves teach and do not turn from their own ways, the bishop must admonish them and put those who act in this way to shame. But he should teach them in the love of Christ how they ought to serve.

12The bishop must seek righteousness. He must not honor transgressors, show partiality in judgment, accept a bribe from anyone—for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise—or turn aside a just cause. Moreover, it says somewhere, “Put away every evil from you.” Solomon also says, “Do not enter the place where they encamp. Withdraw from them and turn away. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil. Sleep is taken from them, and those who feed on sin do not sleep.” The bishop should order the people’s manner of life, as is fitting, in peace, so that they may live good lives and turn from their sins. This is pleasing in God’s sight, for when someone turns from his sin and returns in repentance, others who see him are taught true service. Therefore, the bishop must be watchful in doing good, so that the beauty of his life may be known to everyone. For he is the guide of the people and the shepherd of the presbyters, rulers, teachers, and all who are under him.

13The bishop should sit in the church with the presbyters, and they should judge each person as is fitting. For the Lord has given them authority and commanded them, saying, “Whatever you have bound on earth, let it be bound in heaven, and whatever you have loosed on earth, let it be loosed in heaven.” The bishop must turn the people to the knowledge of God and receive the repentance of those who have turned to God. He must teach and console them with meekness, love, humility, and joy of heart, for the Lord God is merciful.

14For he says through the prophet Ezekiel, “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I do not desire that the sinner should die, but that he should repent and forsake his evil way. Why will you die, O house of Israel?’ And you, son of man, say to the children of your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous shall not save him when he commits iniquity, and the sin of the sinner shall not afflict him if he repents of his iniquity. The righteous man also shall not be saved when he has sinned. When I speak to the righteous, if he trusts in his righteousness and commits sin, I will not remember any of his righteousness. He shall die in the sin he has committed. But if I say to the sinner, “You shall surely die,” and he repents of his sin, does justice and righteousness, returns the pledge for his debt, restores what he has robbed, walks in the ordinances of life, and commits no sin, he shall surely live and shall not die in the sin he has committed. Neither will I remember his sin and his iniquity, for he has done justice and righteousness, and by it he shall live.’”

15Therefore, sinners should have hope. When they turn from their sins and repent, they shall find good hope and inherit the earth. But let those who have not transgressed take heed lest they fall into affliction, sorrow, and weeping. Know and understand, O man, that if you transgress and commit sin in this world and do not repent, you do not have life. Repent while you live, for after death there is no repentance. As David says, “For in death there is no one who remembers you, and in Sheol who will confess to you?” Therefore, brethren, we should be ready to do good and should walk in the way of righteousness, in which there is no sorrow. Let us hear and understand what is said: “Direct my way and my going according to your word.” Let us not be deficient in any good work, but let us observe the holy word spoken by the Holy Gospel concerning the five wise virgins. Let us not be like the five foolish virgins, whose oil of good works failed and who went out from the wedding that is in heaven. Therefore, we must take heed to ourselves, fashion ourselves, and mark the time of the bridegroom, lest we fall into sin. Let the one who practices righteousness take heed to continue doing good until the end.

16The bishop, then, must be understanding and judge uprightly, for judgment belongs to the Lord. Let him admonish sinners so that they may walk in the right way, and when they turn, let him receive their repentance with compassion and mercy. Remember what our Lord says: “There is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.” But if you do not receive those who repent, but reject them, you have scattered your flock and have not understood what David says: “Do not deliver to the wild beasts the soul that confesses to you.” For thus says the Lord: “Shall that which has fallen not arise? Shall that which has gone astray not turn back? Why has my people transgressed with an evil transgression, held fast to their own counsel, and refused to leave it? Listen now and hear me. Do they not speak in this way? Is there not a person who repents of his evil and says, ‘What have I done?’ Return, O my children who are far away, and I will heal your wounds.”

17Receive those who turn to you and repent, O bishop. Do not be double-hearted, and do not make your heart proud like those who have no mercy. Whoever acts in this way does not fear God. Rather, let him take care to meet the needs of the people as is fitting. Let us take heed to ourselves and have no fellowship with sinners and wicked people who act in this way. The righteousness of the righteous shall be for himself, but the iniquity of the one who commits sin without law shall return upon his own head.

18For it is said through the prophet Ezekiel, “If a land sins against me, goes astray, and transgresses, and I lift up my hands against it, break the strength of bread, send famine against it, and destroy from it human beings and animals—even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would not save it by their righteousness, says the Lord God. They shall not save their sons or their daughters, but they alone shall be saved, and the land shall be destroyed.” As it is written, “If there is in this world a righteous person and a sinner, the righteous shall not perish with the sinner.” But he sends rain upon the good and the evil. If anyone thinks and says, “Judgment is equal against all,” it is not so. For in this warfare there is one who is strong, and there is another who is stronger than he; and the one who has conquered shall receive the crown of victory publicly.

19God does not condemn the righteous with the sinner. Noah was not swallowed up in the waters of the flood. Lot was not burned in the fire, and Rahab the prostitute did not perish. If you wish to know what happened among us, Judas Iscariot perished even though he shared one ministry with us, and Simon the sorcerer received the seal of the Lord. Yet because these two were evil, their wickedness became publicly known. Judas hanged himself, and Simon flew up into the air and was dashed upon the ground. While Noah was in the ark with his sons, Ham, through his wickedness, brought a curse upon his children.

20From this we understand that fathers are not punished for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their fathers. It is also entirely clear that wives are not condemned for their husbands, nor young men for their wives, nor servants for their masters, nor masters for their servants, nor relatives for their relatives, nor friends for their friends, nor sinners for the righteous, nor the righteous for sinners. Rather, each person is repaid according to his deeds. Noah was not held accountable for the sin of the people, nor Lot for the sin of Sodom, nor Rahab for the sake of Jericho, nor the children of Israel for the sake of the Egyptians.

21We ought not to follow the unjust and murderers, who seek [the supplied text is damaged here] people of hatred, who are ready [the supplied text is damaged here]. Everyone shall be repaid according to his works, just as David says, “For you will repay everyone according to his works.” Therefore, we should help the afflicted, visit the sick, and convert sinners who have been wounded by sinful deeds. Let us teach and instruct them with words of admonition so that they may be saved from the death of sin. For it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick, since our Father in heaven does not desire that one of these little ones should perish. Now, brethren, let us not listen to the words of fools and of those whose hearts are darkened. Rather, let us accomplish the good pleasure of God the Father, the Creator of all things, through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.