Original Douay–Rheims Annotations2 John 1
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read 2 John 1 in the Bible2 John 1:10
This doctrine.
◦ The Apostles, and true Pastors their lawful successors, and the Church of God in holy Councel, use to set down the true doctrine in those points which Heretics call into controversy. Which being once done and declared to the faithful, they need no other mark or description to know an Heretic or false teacher by, but that he cometh with another doctrine than that which is set down to them. Neither can the Heretics shift themselves, as now a days they would do, saying, o let us first be proved Heretics by the Scriptures, let them define an Heretic. No, this is not the Apostle's rule. Many a good honest shepherd knoweth a wolf, that cannot define him. but the Apostle saith, If he bring not this set doctrine, he is a seducer. So holy Church saith now, Christ is really in the B. Sacrament, under form of bread and wine &c. If therefore he bring not this doctrine, he is a seducer, and an Heretic and we must avoid him, whether in his own definitions and censures he seem to himself an Heretic or no.
- ◦ To bring willfully another doctrine than the Catholic Church setteth down, is always a mark of seducers & Heretics.
Receive him not.
◦ Though in such times and places where the community or most part be infected, necessity often forceth the faithful to converse with such in worldly affairs, to salute them, to eat and speak with them, and the Church by decree of Councel, for the more quietness of timorous consciences provideth, that they incur not excommunication or other censures for communicating in worldly affairs with any in this kind, except they be by name excommunicated or declared to be Heretics: yet even in worldly conversation and secular acts of our life, we must avoid them as much as we may, because their familiarity is many ways contagious and noisome to good men, namely to the simple: but in matter of religion, in praying, reading their books, hearing their sermons, presence at their service, partaking of their Sacraments, and all other communicating with them in spiritual thins, it is a great damnable sin to deal with them.
- ◦ When & wherein to converse with Heretics, is tolerable, when & wherein, it is damnable.
Nor say, God save you.
[1] S. Irenæus ( li. 3. c. 3. ) reporteth a notable story of this holy Apostle touching this point, out of S. Polycarpus, which is this. There be some (saith he) that have heard Polycarpe say, that when John the disciple of our Lord was going to Ephesus, into a bath, to wash himself, and saw Cerinthus the Heretic within the same, he suddenly skipt out, saying that he feared lest the bath should fall, because Cerinthus the enemy of truth was within. So saith he of S. John, and addeth also a like worthy example of [2] S. Polycarpe himself: who on a time meeting Marcion the Heretic, and the said Marcion calling upon him, and asking him whether he knew him not: Yes, quoth Polycarpe, I know thee for Satan's son and heir. So great fear (saith S. Irenæus) had the Apostles and their disciples to communicate in word only, with such as were adulterers or corrupters of the truth. as S. Paul also warned, when he said, [3] A man that is an Heretic, after the first and second admonition avoid. So far Irenæus. If then, to speak with them or salute them, is so earnestly to be avoided according to this Apostle's example & doctrine: what a sin is it to flatter them, to serve them, to marry with them, and so forth?
- 1 S. John would not be in one bath with Cerinthus the Heretic.
- 2 The like zeal of S. Polycarp, and other Apostolic men in not communicating with Heretics.
- 3 Tit. 3.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
2 John 1:6
From the beginning.
◦ This is the rule of a Christian Catholic man, to walk in the faith and worship of God which he hath received from the beginning. Which is that which we now call according to the Scriptures, the tradition of the Apostles: that which is come to us from man to man, from Bishop to Bishop, and so from the Apostles. So shall a faithful man avoid seducers that rise up in every age, teaching new doctrine.