{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-1665","native_reference":{"book_number":610,"chapter_from":4,"chapter_to":4,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":12,"verse_to":12},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>Athanasius of Alexandria</b>: But the wise servants of the Lord, who have really put on the new nature created in the likeness of God, listen to what he says. They apply to themselves the commandment given to Timothy, \"Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.\" They keep the Easter feast so properly that even unbelievers, seeing their orderliness, must say, \"God is truly with them.\"<br/><i>— FESTAL LETTERS 2.4</i></p><p><b>Augustine of Hippo</b>: In what way is it said that bad shepherds kill the sheep? By leading bad lives, by setting a bad example. Was it for nothing that a servant of God was told, one prominent among the members of the supreme shepherd, \"Offering yourself in all company as an example of good works\"; and \"Be a model to the faithful\". You see, even a strong sheep often enough, when he notices his pastor leading a bad life, if his eyes wander from the rules of the Lord and are attracted by human considerations, begins to say to himself, \"If my pastor lives like that, who am I not to behave as he does?\" He has killed a strong sheep. So if he has killed a strong sheep, what must he be doing for the others, seeing that by his bad life he has slaughtered what he hadn't fattened himself, but has found fat and sturdy?<br/><i>— Sermons 46.9</i></p><p><b>Augustine of Hippo</b>: However, the life of the speaker has greater weight in determining whether he is obediently heard than any grandness of eloquence. For he who speaks wisely and eloquently but lives wickedly may benefit many students, even though, as it is written, he \"may be unprofitable to his own soul.\" … And thus they benefit many by preaching what they do not practice; but many more would be benefitted if they were to do what they say. For there are many who seek a defense of their evil lives in those of their superiors and teachers, responding in their hearts or, if it breaks forth so far, with their lips, and saying, \"Why do you not do what you preach that I do?\" Thus it happens that they do not obediently hear one who does not hear himself, and they condemn the word of God which is preached to them along with the preacher himself. Hence, when the apostle, writing to Timothy, said, \"Let no man despise thy youth,\" he added the reason why he was not to be despised and said, \"but be an example of the faithful in word, in conduct, in charity, in faith, in chastity.\"<br/><i>— ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 4.27.59-60</i></p><p><b>Augustine of Hippo</b>: Let me, however, say that the source of these evils is pride, and a desire for the praises of men, which also frequently produces hypocrisy. This is successfully resisted only by him who is penetrated with love and fear of God, through the multiplied declarations of the divine books; provided, however, that such a man exhibit in himself a pattern both of patience and of humility, by assuming as his due less praise and honour than is offered to him: at the same time neither accepting all nor refusing all that is rendered to him by those who honour him; and as to the portion which he does accept, receiving it not for his own sake, seeing that he ought to live wholly in the sight of God and to despise human applause, but for the sake of those whose welfare he cannot promote if by too great self-abasement he lose his place in their esteem. For to this pertains that word, \"Let no man despise thy youth;\" while he who said this says also in another place, \"If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.\"<br/><i>— Letters 22.2.7</i></p><p><b>Basil of Caesarea</b>: So, then, the supeio guide is to be mindful of the apostle's pecept, \"Be an example to the faithful.\" He should make his life a shining model fo the obsevance of evey commandment of the Lod, so that thee may be no excuse fo those unde his guidance to think the Lod's commands impossible o eadily to be set aside. He should conside fist, then, that which is fist in impotance. He should be, by the love of Chist, so confimed in humility that, even if he is silent, the example of his actions may affod moe effective instuction than any wods. If, indeed, the goal of Chistianity is the imitation of Chist accoding to the measue of his incanation, insofa as is confomable with the vocation of each individual, they who ae entusted with the guidance of many othes ae obliged to animate those still weake than themselves, by thei assistance, to the imitation of Chist. The Long Rules, q...</p><p><b>Basil of Caesarea</b>: So, then, the superior guide is to be mindful of the apostle's precept, \"Be an example to the faithful.\" He should make his life a shining model for the observance of every commandment of the Lord, so that there may be no excuse for those under his guidance to think the Lord's commands impossible or readily to be set aside. He should consider first, then, that which is first in importance. He should be, by the love of Christ, so confirmed in humility that, even if he is silent, the example of his actions may afford more effective instruction than any words. If, indeed, the goal of Christianity is the imitation of Christ according to the measure of his incarnation, insofar as is conformable with the vocation of each individual, they who are entrusted with the guidance of many others are obliged to animate those still weaker than themselves, by their assistance, to the imitation of Christ.<br/><i>— THE LONG RULES, Q.43.R</i></p><p><b>Clement of Alexandria</b>: \"This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.\" And again, to him who desires to become a Gnostic, it is written, \"But be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in purity.\" For perfection in faith differs, I think, from ordinary faith.<br/><i>— The Stromata Book 4</i></p><p><b>Cyprian</b>: But if, further, he shall harass and provoke you with his insults, you must exercise against him the power of your dignity, by either deposing him or excommunicating him. For if the Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, said, \"Let no man despise thy youth\"<br/><i>— Epistle LXIV</i></p><p><b>Ignatius of Antioch</b>: Now it becomes you also not to treat your bishop too familiarly on account of his youth, but to yield him all reverence, having respect to the power of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not judging rashly, from the manifest youthful appearance [of their bishop], but as being themselves prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. It is therefore fitting that you should, after no hypocritical fashion, obey [your bishop], in honour of Him who has wired us [so to do], since he that does not so deceives not [by such conduct] the bishop that is visible, but seeks to mock Him that is invisible. And all such conduct has reference not to man, but to God, who knows all secrets.</p><p>Now it becomes you also not to despise the age of your bishop, but to yield him all reverence, according to the will of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not having regard to the manifest youth [of their bishop], but to his knowledge in God; inasmuch as \"not the ancient are [necessarily] wise, nor do the aged understand prudence; but there is a spirit in men.\" For Daniel the wise, at twelve years of age, became possessed of the divine Spirit, and convicted the elders, who in vain carried their grey hairs, of being false accusers, and of lusting after the beauty of another man's wife. Samuel also, when he was but a little child, reproved Eli, who was ninety years old, for giving honour to his sons rather than to God. In like manner, Jeremiah also received this message from God, \"Say not, I am a child.\" Solomon too, and Josiah, [exemplified the same thing.] The former, being made king at twelve years of age, gave that terrible and difficult judgment in the case of the two women concerning their children. The latter, coming to the throne when eight years old cast down the altars and temples [of the idols], and burned down the groves, for they were dedicated to demons, and not to God. And he slew the false priests, as the corrupters and deceivers of men, and not the worshippers of the Deity. Wherefore youth is not to be despised when it is devoted to God. But he is to be despised who is of a wicked mind, although he be old, and full of wicked days. Timothy the Christ-bearer was young, but hear what his teacher writes to him: \"Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word and in conduct.\" It is becoming, therefore, that ye also should be obedient to your bishop, and contradict him in nothing; for it is a fearful thing to contradict any such person. For no one does [by such conduct] deceive him that is visible, but does [in reality] seek to mock Him that is invisible, who, however, cannot be mocked by any one. And every such act has respect not to man, but to God. For God says to Samuel, \"They have not mocked thee, but Me.\" And Moses declares, \"For their murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord God.\" No one of those has, [in fact, ] remained unpunished, who rose up against their superiors. For Dathan and Abiram did not speak against the law, but against Moses, and were cast down alive into Hades. Korah also, and the two hundred and fifty who conspired with him against Aaron, were destroyed by fire. Absalom, again, who had slain his brother, became suspended on a tree, and had his evil-designing heart thrust through with darts. In like manner was Abeddadan beheaded for the same reason. Uzziah, when he presumed to oppose the priests and the priesthood, was smitten with leprosy. Saul also was dishonoured, because he did not wait for Samuel the high priest. It behoves you, therefore, also to reverence your superiors.<br/><i>— Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: \"Let no man despise thy youth.\" Observe that it becomes a priest to command and to speak authoritatively, and not always to teach. But because, from a common prejudice, youth is apt to be despised, therefore he says, \"Let no man despise thy youth.\" For a teacher ought not to be exposed to contempt. But if he is not to be despised, what room is there for meekness and moderation? Indeed the contempt that he fails into personally he ought to bear; for teaching is commended by longsuffering. But not so, where others are concerned; for this is not meekness, but coldness. If a man revenge insults, and ill language, and injuries offered to himself, you justly blame him. But where the salvation of others is concerned, command, and interpose with authority. This is not a case for moderation, but for authority, lest the public good suffer. He enjoins one or the other as the case may require. Let no one despise thee on account of thy youth. For as long as thy life is a counterpoise, thou wilt not be despised for thy youth, but even the more admired: therefore he proceeds to say, \"But be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in purity.\" In all things showing thyself an example of good works: that is, be thyself a pattern of a Christian life, as a model set before others, as a living law, as a rule and standard of good living, for such ought a teacher to be. \"In word,\" that he may speak with facility, \"in conversation, in charity, in faith, in\" true \"purity, in temperance.\"<br/><i>— Homily on 1 Timothy 13</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"780da534d2eaee35c4eec54be3077752547c6dda2ac9916f5365659143d39006","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":1665,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"f9a890eb348d312e979db13d1fdd7eb4981e89f785771afb9bf1b89614131154","translator":null,"work":null}