The Unskilled Leader
An unskilled pilot is ready for shipwreck, and an ignorant leader for the loss of disciples. An inexperienced shepherd turns away the sheep's ankles, and an ignorant leader the disciples' paths. An ignorant shepherd is not recognized in the mist among sheep, nor in a time of trials will an inexperienced teacher say anything useful.
A general of war and a doctor of passions is the skilled leader; for he will either not allow one to be wounded, or having been wounded, he will quickly heal. An inattentive disciple is a straying piece of wood and will not be straightened by continuous rebuke. A discordant brother is a lyre-string sounding out of tune and being dissolved from the common melody through fellowship. A brother eating only the honey of bees' toil and a sluggish brother diminishes the fellowship, a profitable practice. A cowardly soldier.
Greek
De magistris et discipulis sub nomine Nili Ancyrani fragmenta e codd. Paris. gr. 1188 + 1066 43 Ἄτεχνος κυβερνήτης ἕτοιμος ναυαγία καὶ ἀνεπιστήμων ἡγούμενος ἀπώλεια μαθητῶν. Ἄπειρος ποιμὴν ἐξέστρεψεν ἀστραγάλους προβάτων καὶ ἡγούμενος ὁδοὺς μαθητῶν. Οὐ διαγνώσεται ἐν ὁμίχλῃ ἀνὰ μέσον προβάτων ἀνεπιστήμων ποιμὴν οὐδ' ἐν καιρῷ πειρασμῶν ἐρεῖ τι συμφέρον διδάσκαλος ἄπειρος. Στρατηγὸς πολέμου καὶ παθῶν ἰατρός ἐστιν ἐπιστήμων ἡγούμενος· ἢ γὰρ τρωθῆναι οὐκ ἐάσει ἢ τρωθέντα ταχέως ἰάσεται. Ἀνήκοος μαθητὴς διεστραμμένον ξύλον καὶ οὐ μὴ ὀρθωθῇ ἐλεγχόμενος συνεχῶς. Ἀσύμφωνος ἀδελφὸς ἀπηχούσης λύρας νευρὰ καὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ λυομένη τοῦ κοινοῦ μέλους. Κηφὴν ἐσθίει μελισσῶν πόνους καὶ ῥᾴθυμος ἀδελφὸς ἐλαττοῖ συνοδίας ἐνάρετον πρᾶξιν. ∆ειλὸς στρατιώτης
About this text
A guide to spiritual leadership and discipleship, offering wisdom on guiding others toward virtue and faith.
Original English Translation — new OET from PG Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.