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The Epistle to Bishop Basilides

Dionysius of Alexandria

Canon 4

About this work

A canonical letter answering practical questions about the timing of Easter observance, preparation for communion, bodily purity, conscience, and pastoral judgment in disputed cases within the church.

Author: Dionysius of Alexandria
Date: Mid-3rd century
Origin: Alexandria
Genre: Letter

Canon IV.

As to those who are overtaken by an

involuntary

flux

in

the

night

-

time

,

let

such

follow

the

testimony

of

their

own

conscience

,

and

consider

themselves

as

to

whether

they

are

doubtfully

minded

in

this

matter

or

not

.

And

he

that

doubteth

in

the

matter

of

meats

,

the

apostle

tells

us

,

“

is

damned

if

he

eat

.

”

In

these

things

,

therefore

,

let

every

one

who

approaches

God

be

of

a

good

conscience

,

and

of

a

proper

confidence

,

so

far

as

his

own

judgment

is

concerned

.

And

,

indeed

,

it

is

in

order

to

show

your

regard

for

us

(

for

you

are

not

ignorant

,

beloved

,

)

that

you

have

proposed

these

questions

to

us

,

making

us

of

one

mind

,

as

indeed

we

are

,

and

of

one

spirit

with

yourself

.

And

I

,

for

my

part

,

have

thus

set

forth

my

opinions

in

public

,

not

as

a

teacher

,

but

only

as

it

becomes

us

with

all

simplicity

to

confer

with

each

other

.

And

when

you

have

examined

this

opinion

of

mine

,

my

most

intelligent

son

,

you

will

write

back

to

me

your

notion

of

these

matters

,

and

let

me

know

whatever

may

seem

to

you

to

be

just

and

preferable

,

and

whether

you

approve

of

my

judgment

in

these

things

.

That

it

may

fare

well

with

you

,

my

beloved

son

,

as

you

minister

to

the

Lord

in

peace

,

is

my

prayer

.

Notes

1
διακρίνονται.
2
Rom. xiv. 23. [Gr. κατακέκριται is condemned self-condemned. Wordsworth cites Cicero, De Officiis, i. 30.]
3
[The entire absence of despotic authority in these episcopal teachings is to be noted. 2 Cor. i. 24.]