Abridged Exposition of Divine Dogmas

“An Abbreviated Exposition of Divine Dogmas” is the 5th book of the work of the blessed one. Theodoret of Cyrus “A Brief Exposition of Heretical Fictions,” written around 453 by Bl. Theodoret tries to systematically present Christian dogma and proposes to compare Orthodox teaching with the heretical errors that he cited in the previous 4 books. The treatise consists of 29 chapters. The first chapters are devoted to triadology. Chapter 1 sets out the doctrine of God. In chapters 2-3 blzh. Theodoret defends the equality and co-eternity of the Son and the Holy Spirit with the Father. Chapters 4-9 talk about creation, spiritual entities, and anthropology. Everything is created by the Most Holy Trinity, and is not the result of the interaction of eons, as the Gnostics taught. Intelligent beings created by God are divided into 2 types: disembodied spirits (angels and demons) and humans. Human nature has 2 components: an immortal soul and a body made up of 4 elements. Blzh. Theodoret rejects the doctrine of pre-existence and transmigration of souls. Chapter 10 deals with Divine Providence. The author criticizes the teaching that God does not provide for His creation, that God’s Providence is limited to the sublunary sphere. Chapters 11-15 are devoted to Christology and soteriology. Blzh. Theodoret denounces the heresies of the Manichaeans, Gnostics, Arians and others. He emphasizes that the Church calls the One and the Same Son, Only Begotten, Logos and Jesus Christ, applying the last name to the Lord after the incarnation, and the others - both before and after it. Chapters 16-17 speak about the goodness and righteousness of God, about the unity of the two Testaments. Blzh. Theodoret criticizes 2 main misconceptions of Marcion: the opposition of the just Demiurge and the good God and the denial that the Old and New Testaments go back to the same Lawgiver. Chapter 18 deals with baptism, which not only grants remission of past sins, but also gives the faithful an image of the future resurrection, participation in the sufferings of Christ and participation in His Resurrection (chapter 18). Chapters 19-23 deal with eschatology. The immortal soul is not resurrected, but returns to the body. The Second Coming of Christ will be preceded by the appearance of the Antichrist. Each person will receive a fair reward or punishment. The kingdom of the righteous will not be earthly and limited in time, as the supporters of chiliasm teach, but eternal and incorruptible (chapters 19-23). Chapters 24-29 are devoted to issues of morality and presentation of Orthodox teaching on marriage. Honey, even without comparison with anything else, seems sweet to every person; and when compared with any bitterness, it turns out to be sweeter. Everyone recognizes health as desirable; but it is even more desirable after illness. And silence is more pleasant after a storm. Likewise, sensible people know about the truth that it is an acquisition worthy of acquisition; however, what makes it more luminous and divine is the lie that is compared to it. Therefore, since we have shown the vileness of lies, revealed heretical fables and their wickedness, abomination and improbability have become clear; Having now compared the Gospel teaching with them, we will show the difference between light and darkness, between complete health and the most serious illness. But it is impossible to find a similarity adequate to the present comparison; because darkness, although it does not have light, nevertheless satisfies the necessary needs of people, and the night brings peace to those who have worked during the day. And the disease was useful for many; because, during this time, having come to know the Savior and Creator, they began to ask Him for deliverance from suffering and, having received what they asked, they took care of virtue. The consequence of these worthless fables and unspeakable blasphemies is all kinds of harm for those who believe them. Therefore, it is impossible to find a similarity corresponding to the difference between these opposing dogmas; it is better to say that only the most obvious can be found. For what is the distance between God and the devil, such is the difference between the teachings of God and the devil. And this will be shown more clearly by comparing with these fables the babble of God’s words, emitting rays of mental light. But first of all, it must be said what we have been taught about the Beginning of all things. You might be interested in: