As for ourselves, if the Gentile philosophy, which deals methodically with all these points [concerning the principles of anger and of desire], were really adequate for a demonstration, it would certainly be superfluous to add a discussion on the soul to those speculations. But while the latter [presumably Aristotle is meant] proceeded, on the subject of the soul, as far in the direction of supposed consequences as the thinker pleased, we are not entitled to such licence, I mean that of affirming what we please; we make the Holy Scriptures the rule and measure of every tenet; we necessarily fix our eyes upon that, and approve that alone which may be made to harmonize with the intention of those writings.
(St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection)
And to those who are expert only in the technical methods of proof a mere demonstration suffices to convince; but as for ourselves, we were agreed that there is something more trustworthy than any of these artificial conclusions, namely, that which the teachings of Holy Scripture point to: and so I [Gregory] deem that it is necessary to inquire, in addition to what has been said, whether this inspired teaching harmonizes with it all. And who, she [Gregory’s sister Macrina] replied, could deny that truth is to be found only in that upon which the seal of Scriptural testimony is set? (St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection)
How can we use those things, which we find not in the Scriptures!
(St. Ambrose c. 339-397, Offic. Lib. 1, c. 23)
When we receive money, we do not trust to those who give it to us; we wish to
count it ourselves: and when there is a question of Divine things, would it not
be a folly rashly and blindly to receive the opinions of others, when we have a
rule by which we can examine everything? I mean the Divine law. It is for this
reason that I conjure you all, without resting in the slightest degree on the
judgment of others, to consult the Scriptures.
(St. John Chrysostom c. 347-407, Homil. xiii. in 2 Cor.)
`Tis from ignorance of Scripture that all our evils arise; hence the plague of
so many heresies, hence our careless lives, our fruitless labors… They err who
look not to the bright rays of the divine Scriptures, because they walk in
darkness.
(St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Romans)
Look for no other teacher; thou hast the oracles of God; none teaches thee like
these.
(St. John Chrysostom, Homil. IX in Ep. Coloss.)
When you shall see the wicked heresy, which is the army of Antichrist, standing
in the holy places of the church, then let those who are in Judea head for the
mountains, that is, those who are Christians should head for the Scriptures. For
the true Judea is Christendom, and the mountains are the Scriptures of the
prophets and apostles, as it is written: “Her foundations are in the holy
mountains.” But why should all Christians at this time head for the Scriptures?
Because in this period in which heresy has taken possession of the churches
there can be no proof of true Christianity nor any other refuge for Christians
who want to know the truth of the faith except the divine Scriptures. Earlier we
showed in many ways which is the church of Christ, and which heathenism. But now
there is for those who want to know which is the true church of Christ no way to
know it except only the through the Scriptures. Why? Because heresy has
everything just like the church. How, then, will anyone who wants to know which
is the true church of Christ know it in the midst of this great confusion
resulting from this similarity, except only through the Scriptures? The Lord,
therefore, knowing that there would be such a great confusion of things in the
last days, commands that Christians who…want to gain steadfastness in the true
faith should take refuge in nothing else but the Scriptures. Otherwise, if they
look to other things, they will be offended and will perish, because they will
not know which is the true church, and as a result they will fall into the
abomination of desolation which stands in the holy places of the church.
(Traditionally ascribed to St. John Chrysostom, Glossa Ordinaria 49th Homily, on
Mat. 24)
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