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Simony

(for derivation see Simon Magus). Buying or selling things spiritual or connected with the spiritual. Early ch. councils and syns. (e.g., Council of Chalcedon,* Canon II; 533 Council of Orléans,* Canons II and IV; 786–787 Council of Nicaea,* Canon V; Quinisext* Syn., Canons XXII and XXIII) condemned simony. Gregory I (see Popes, 4) vigorously and repeatedly denounced it. In the mid-11th c., until Gregory VII (see Popes, 7) opposed it, the papacy was bought. Simony also lent itself as an abuse that led to and was involved in the investiture* During the Reformation many efforts to eliminate simony originated within and outside the ch. See also Benefice.


Edited by: Erwin L. Lueker, Luther Poellot, Paul Jackson
©Concordia Publishing House, 2000, All rights Reserved. Reproduced with Permission

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The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod


Original Editions ©Copyright 1954, 1975, 2000
Concordia Publishing House
All rights reserved.

Content Reproduced with Permission

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