Letter 28: Both our shared affection and the matter itself demand, beloved brothers, that I keep nothing from you — so that we...

Cyprian of CarthagePresbyters|c. 251 AD|Cyprian of Carthage|Human translated
property economics

Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons in Rome, his brothers, greetings.

Both our shared affection and the matter itself demand, beloved brothers, that I keep nothing from you — so that we may work from a common plan for the good administration of the Church.

After my earlier letter, which I sent by Saturus the reader and Optatus the subdeacon, the combined arrogance of certain lapsed individuals — who refuse to repent and make amends to God — boiled over. They wrote to me not asking that peace might be given to them, but claiming it as already given, because they say that Paulus has granted peace to everyone. You will find their letter enclosed, along with my brief reply.

And so that you may also know the kind of letter I subsequently wrote to the clergy here, I have enclosed a copy of that as well.

If, after all of this, their arrogance still cannot be checked — by my letters or by yours — and they refuse to yield to wise counsel, then I will take whatever measures the Lord, according to his Gospel, has instructed us to take.

Farewell, beloved brothers.

Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)

Latin / Greek Original

Original text not yet available in this corpus.

This letter still needs a Latin or Greek source-text backfill. The source link, when available, is preserved so the text can be checked and added later.

View source

Revision history

  1. 2026-03-20v2.1.0-import

    Initial corpus import from New Advent / NPNF.

    Fields: letter text, metadata, source links. Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/050628.htm

Related Letters

Cyprian of CarthagePresbytersc. 251 · cyprian carthage #27

You have acted rightly and with proper discipline, beloved brothers.

Basil of CaesareaPresbytersc. 371 · basil caesarea #253

The anxious care which you have for the Churches of God will to some extent be assuaged by our very dear and very reverend brother Sanctissimus the presbyter, when he has told you of the love and kindness felt for us by all the West. But, on the other hand, it will be roused afresh and made yet keener, when he has told you in person what zeal is...

Basil of CaesareaPresbytersc. 371 · basil caesarea #238

I have received your letter, my reverend brethren, but it told me nothing that I did not already know, for the whole country round about was already full of the report announcing the disgrace of that one among you who has fallen, and through lust of vain glory has brought on himself very shameful dishonour, and has through his self-love lost the...

Cyprian of CarthagePresbytersc. 248 · cyprian carthage #4

Being safe by God's grace, dear brothers, I greet you and rejoice to hear that all is well with you too.

Pope Gregory the GreatPresbytersc. 592 · gregory great #3029

Gregory to the presbyters, deacons, and clergy of the church of Mediolanum. We have received your Love's epistle, which, though it bore no subscription, was accredited by the persons of the bearers, the presbyter Magnus and the cleric Hippolytus. Having read it, we find that you are all agreed in favour of our son Constantius, deacon of your chu...