THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
The more discerning of the brethren were wary of the heretics, recognizing in them the ancient serpent, the dragon, that communicated through them, representing the adversary, as documented in the writings of the Apostle Paul and echoed by Christ. They declared, “Do not force us to accept your novel teachings without first examining the works of the Church fathers and being guided by the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit, which has been bestowed upon the Church as her illumination. If we find no foundation in these writings that upholds our faith, we shall depart from our unity and align ourselves with you, who have separated from it, and we will oppose it ourselves.
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Only then will we attentively consider your perspective, even if it contradicts our own.” They have departed from us, yet they were not truly part of us; had they truly belonged, they would have remained. Their departure revealed that not all among us were genuine (1 Jn. 2:19). They expressed this not as an indication of potential reconciliation with the apostates, but rather as a testament to their unwavering conviction in the faith of the fathers, and their readiness to confront the heretics.