First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 4: The Defense of the Faith

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T he G ospel M essage

Verbal Proclamation B arnabas 11 b : Note how He has described at the same time both the water and the cross. For these words imply, “Blessed are they who place their trust in the cross and have gone down into the water. For,” says He, “they will receive their reward in due time.” Then He declares, “I will reward them.” But now He says, “Their leaves will not fade.” 3 This means that every word which proceeds out of your mouth in faith and love will tend to bring conversion and hope to many. Common Hope I gnatius to the P hiladelphians 5: My friends, I am greatly overflowing in love for you, and extremely rejoiceful as I seek your safety. Yet it is not I, but Jesus Christ, for whose sake I am bound and fear all the more because I am imperfect. But your prayer to God will make me perfect so that I may reach that portion which through mercy has been assigned to me. I take safety in the gospel as to the flesh of Jesus and in the apostles as to the elders of the church. And let us also love the prophets because they too have proclaimed the gospel and placed their hope in Him and waited for Him. In Him they also believed and were saved through union to Jesus Christ. They were holy men, worthy of love and admiration, approved by Jesus Christ, and reckoned along with us in the gospel of the common hope.

3 Source unknown.