First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 4: The Defense of the Faith

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He sent His only-begotten Son, to whom He has promised a kingdom in heaven and will give it to those who have loved Him. Then, when you have received this knowledge, with what joy do you think you will be filled? Or, how will you love Him who has first so loved you? And if you love Him you will be an imitator of His goodness. Do not marvel that a person may become an imitator of God. He can if he is willing. For happiness is not found by ruling over his neighbors, or by seeking to hold superiority over those who are weaker, or by being rich and showing violence toward those that are inferior. No one can become an imitator of God by these things. These things do not at all encompass His majesty. On the contrary, an imitator of God is one who takes upon himself the burden of his neighbor. He is ready to benefit another who is deprived by whatever means he is better. The one who has received from God and provides for the needy becomes as God to them. 4 This one is an imitator of God. Then you will see while you are still on earth that God rules in the heavens. Then you will begin to speak the mysteries of God. Then you will both love and admire those that suffer punishment because they will not deny God. Then you will condemn the deceit and error of the world because you will know what it is to live truly in heaven. When this happens, you will despise that which is believed to be death here on earth and you will fear what is truly death, that which is reserved for those who will be condemned to the eternal fire which afflicts those who are committed to it even until the end. Then you will

4 In other words, “The one who has received from God and provides for the needy does the work of God for them.”