The Law of Truth

Patristic theology, and traditional teachings of Orthodoxy from the Church fathers of apostolic times to the present. All forum Rules apply. No polemics. No heated discussions. No name-calling.


Post Reply
User avatar
Sean
Member
Posts: 365
Joined: Thu 22 July 2004 6:26 pm
Faith: Old Calendar Greek Orthodox
Jurisdiction: HOTCA

The Law of Truth

Post by Sean »

Being one who leans more toward the strict ecclesiology, I also try not to immoderately dwell on polemics, as so many of we Traditionalists often do. The following are words from St. Dionysios the Aereopagite entitled On The Law of Truth, which deals with just such a subject:

Section I.
I, at any rate, am not conscious, when speaking in reply to Greeks or others, of fancying to assist good men, in case they should be able to know and speak the very truth, as it really is in itself. For, when this is correctly demonstrated in its essential nature, according to a law of truth, and has been established without flaw, every thing which is otherwise, and simulates the truth, will be convicted of being other than the reality, and dissimilar, and that which is seeming rather than real. It is superfluous then, that the expounder of truth should contend with these or those [i.e. Greeks or others]. For each affirms himself to have the royal coin, and perchance has some deceptive image of a certain portion of the true. And, if you refute this, first the one, and then the other, will contend concerning the same. But, when the true statement itself has been correctly laid down, and has remained unrefuted by all the rest, every thing which is not so in every respect is cast down of itself, by the impregnable stability of the really true. Having then as I think well understood this, I have not been over zealous to speak in reply to Greeks or to others; but it is sufficient for me (and may God grant this), first to know about truth, then, having known, to speak as it is fitting to speak.

Post Reply