Here reading,
punctuation, and sense are obscure. The Ben. Ed. have
ἔξω μὲν
ὄντες, τῆς
κοινωνίας
εἴργονται, and
render “Si sint quidem laici, a boni communione
arcentur.” But ἔξω
ὄντες, standing alone, more
naturally means non-Christians. Balsamon and Zonaras in
Pandects have ἔξω
μὲν ὄντες
τῆς
᾽Εκκλησιας
εἰργονται
τῆς
κοινωνίας
τοῦ
ἀγαθοῦ.