NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons.Letter CLXXXVIII. 2611(Canonica Prima.)To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons. 2612“Even a fool,” it is said, “when he asks questions,” is counted wise. 2613 But when a wiseman asks questions, he makes even a fool wise. And this, thank God, is my case, as oftenas I receive a letter from your industrious self. For we become more learned and wiser thanwe were before, merely by asking questions, because we are taught many things which wedid not know; and our anxiety to answer them acts as a teacher to us. Assuredly at thepresent time, though I have never before paid attention to the points you raise, I have beenforced to make accurate enquiry, and to turn over in my mind both whatever I have heardfrom the elders, and all that I have been taught in conformity with their lessons.I. As to your enquiry about the Cathari, 2614 a statement has already been made, andyou have properly reminded me that it is right to follow the custom obtaining in each region,because those, who at the time gave decision on these points, held different opinions concerningtheir baptism. But the baptism of the Pepuzeni 2615 seems to me to have no authority;and I am astonished how this can have escaped Dionysius, 2616 acquainted as he was withthe canons. The old authorities decided to accept that baptism which in nowise errs fromthe faith. Thus they used the names of heresies, of schisms, and of unlawful congregations.2617 By heresies they meant men who were altogether broken off and alienated inmatters relating to the actual faith; by schisms 2618 men who had separated for some ecclesi-2611 Placed in 347.2612 In this letter Basil replies to several questions of Amphilochius concerning the Canons, and also concerningthe interpretation of some passages of Holy Scripture. Maran dates it at the end of 374.2613 Prov. xvii. 28, lxx.2614 i.e.the followers of Novatian. cf. Eusebius vi. 43. cf. De. Sp. Scto. ch. x. p. 17 and note.2615 Or Pepuziani, another name for the Montanists. “Epiphanius may safely be disregarded, who, treatingof the Montanists, in the 48th section of his work on heresies, treats of the Pepuziani, in the 49th, as a kindred,but distinct, sect.” Dr. Salmon in D.C.B. iv. 303. The name is derived from Pepuza in Western Phrygia, theMontanist, or Cataphrygian, “Jerusalem.” (Eus. H.E. v. 18.)2616 i.e. of Alexandria. Jerome (Vir. illust. lxix.) says that he agreed with Cyprian and the African Synod onthe rebaptizing of heretics. The Ben. note says: “Videtur hac in re major auctoritas Basilio attribuenda quamHieronymo. Plus operæ insumpserat Basilius in ea re examinanda.”2617 παρασυναγωγή.2618 Archbp. Trench (N.T. Syn. 330) quotes Augustine (Con. Crescon. Don. ii. 7): “Schisma est recens congregationisex aliquâ sententiarum diversitate dissensio; hæresis autem schisma inveteratum;” and Jerome (Ep.ad Tit. iii. 10): “Inter hæresim et schisma hoc esse arbitrantur, quod hæresis perversum dogma habeat; schisma649