The development of doctrine

On Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the beginning of the letter of the apostle Paul to Timothy (6:1-10) entitled  "Concerning slaves and false teachers". Our treasure, which follows, is from the first instruction by Saint Vincent of Lerins, priest. Saint Vincent of Lérins was a fifth century Gallic monk and author of early Christian writings. Vincent was born in Toulouse, Gaul, to a noble family. In his early life he engaged in secular pursuits; it is unclear whether these were civil or military. He entered Lérins Abbey where under the pseudonym Peregrinus. He wrote the Commonitorium, which offers guidance in the orthodox teaching of Christianity, about three years after the Council of Ephesus. Saint Vincent defended the Marian title of Theotokos (God-bearer) in opposition to the teachings of Patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople, which were condemned by the Council of Ephesus. Eucherius of Lyon called him a "conspicuously eloquent and knowledgeable" holy man. Gennadius of Massilia wrote that Vincent died during the reigns of the Roman Emperor Theodosius II in the East and Valentinian III in the West. Therefore, his death must have occurred in or before the year 450. His relics are preserved at Lérins. The First Letter of Paul to Timothy insists on the need to shun unorthodox teachings and dangerous speculations and reiterates the qualities expected of bishops and deacons. Paul encouraged Timothy and offered strength to help him carry on after Paul's impending death. Paul was aware that his time was short, and he desired to see Timothy, whom Paul figuratively called "my dearly beloved son".