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Canonical Epistle

Peter of Alexandria

Canon 4

About this work

Pastoral canons addressing Christians who compromised under persecution, distinguishing circumstances and degrees of responsibility while prescribing periods and forms of repentance and reconciliation within the church.

Author: Peter of Alexandria
Date: c. AD 306
Origin: Alexandria
Genre: Canon Law

The canons are transmitted in a complex textual history that should be reviewed against critical editions.

Canon IV.

To those who are altogether reprobate, and unrepentant

‹ Canon 3 Canon 5 ›

,

who

possess

the

Ethiopian’s

unchanging

skin

,

and

the

leopard’s

spots

,

it

shall

be

said

,

as

it

was

spoken

to

another

fig

-

tree

,

“

Let

no

fruit

grow

on

thee

henceforward

for

ever

;

and

it

presently

withered

away

.

”

For

in

them

is

fulfilled

what

was

spoken

by

the

Preacher

:

“

That

which

is

crooked

cannot

be

made

straight

;

and

that

which

is

wanting

cannot

be

numbered

.

”

For

unless

that

which

is

crooked

shall

first

be

made

straight

,

it

is

impossible

for

it

to

be

adorned

;

and

unless

that

which

is

wanting

shall

first

be

made

up

,

it

cannot

be

numbered

.

Hence

also

,

in

the

end

,

will

happen

unto

them

what

is

spoken

by

Esaias

the

prophet

:

“

They

shall

look

upon

the

carcases

of

the

men

that

have

transgressed

against

Me

;

for

their

worm

shall

not

die

,

neither

shall

their

fire

be

quenched

;

and

they

shall

be

an

abhorring

unto

all

flesh

.

”

Since

as

by

the

same

also

has

been

predicted

,

“

But

the

wicked

are

like

the

troubled

sea

,

when

it

cannot

rest

,

whose

waters

cast

up

mire

and

dirt

.

There

is

no

peace

,

saith

my

God

,

to

the

wicked

.

”

Balsamon. What has been previously said of the lapsed, has been said of the repentant. But against those who are unrepentant, he brings forward the cursing of another fig-tree, to which the Lord said, because of its unprofitableness, “No fruit grow on thee hence-forward for ever.”

Zonaras. What has been previously said of the lapsed, has been said of the repentant. Against those whom, from desperation or depraved opinion, are impenitent, and carry about with them perpetually the inherent and indelible blackness of sin, as of an Ethiopian’s skin, or the leopard’s spots, he brings forward the cursing of another fig-tree. To which the Lord said for its barrenness, “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.” And he says that in them must be fulfilled that word of the Preacher: “That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.” Then having explained these things, he subjoins the words of Isaiah.

Notes

1
Jer. iii. 23.
2
Matt. xxi. 19.
3
Eccles. i. 15.
4
Isa. lxvi. 24.
5
Isa. lvii. 20, 21.