ACC ~ John 10 v8

“GOOD SHEPHERD” IMPLIES “BAD SHEPHERDS” EXIST TOO

AUGUSTINE: He could not have added good if there were not bad shepherds as well. They are thieves and robbers, or at best mercenaries. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 46.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:256**.

WOLVES TAKE ADVANTAGE

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: These are rapacious wolves hidden in sheepskins, human traffickers, and opportunistic soul seducers, secretly, but [later] proved to be robbers. They strive by fraud and force to catch us who are unsophisticated and have less power of speech. STROMATEIS 1.8. [1]

[1] ANF 2:309*.

STRANGERS TO THE GOSPEL CANNOT PROCLAIM IT

ORIGEN: Those who teach with a dishonest and defiled soul steal. Of them it might be said, “All who came before me are thieves and robbers.” Such people use the gospel without being affected by it in faith or in living. Instead, they use the good news of the word in a way in which it was not intended. Such a person is a thief, and it will be said of him, “you who preach not to steal—you still steal.” [1] FRAGMENTS ON JEREMIAH 21. [2]

[1] Rom 2:21.

[2] FC 97:290**; GCS 6:208.

Jn