Правило 3 (4) Григория Неокесарийского

Did not Achan (from the host of Zerah (Josh. 7)) sin by taking from the accursed, and wrath came upon the entire host of Israel: he was the only one who sinned, but not the only one who died in his sin. And now it is fitting for us to consider as accursed all self-interest, not ours, but that of others. For just as Achan took from the spoil, so do these now they take from the booty: but he took the enemy’s, and these are now taking from their brothers. Pernicious self-interest. (Ap. 72; Dvukr. 10; Basil the Great. 61; Gregory of Nyssa. 6, 8). This rule calls the cursed (άνάθεμα) every thing that is not ours, but someone else’s, and which we appropriate for ourselves out of selfish calculations. The holy father used this term here by analogy with a fact that took place during the time of Joshua. When Jericho was besieged, Joshua declared that everything that would be conquered in this city would be dedicated to God. However, a certain Achan appropriated several precious things from what he had conquered. When this was discovered, he, his wife and children were stoned, and all their property was destroyed. According to this rule, those Christians who appropriated any of the spoils of war during the onslaught of the barbarians should be subjected to even more severe punishment, for Achan appropriated for himself things that belonged to the enemy, they are also brotherly property. In other words, all those who appropriate anything from war booty for themselves, if what was appropriated did not belong to the enemy, are subject to heavy punishment; if the booty of war belonged to the enemy, but it was previously agreed that all of it would be given to the church, therefore, dedicated to God, in this case, persons who appropriate any of this booty by stealing are also subject to severe punishment, but, nevertheless, according to the thought of St. father, not as hard as the first ones. You might be interested in: