First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

and anger, God does not dwell. To all who repent, the Lord grants forgiveness if they turn in sorrow to the unity of God and to communion with the bishop. I gnatius to P olycarp 6: Pay attention to the bishop so that God may give attention to you. My soul is for those who are submissive to the bishop, to the elders, and to the deacons. May my share be along with them in God! Labor together with one another. Strive in company together. Run together. Suffer together. Rest together and awake together. Do these as the stewards and associates and servants of God. Please Him under whose command you fight and from whom you receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism endure as your arms. Let your faith endure as your helmet. Let your love endure as your spear. Let your patience endure as a complete set of armor. Let your works be the charge assigned to you so that you may receive a worthy reward. Be patient, therefore, with one another. Be meek as God is toward you. May I find joy in you forever! Silence of the Bishop I gnatius to the E phesians 6: Now even more, if anyone sees the bishop keeping silent then he should revere him all the more. For we should receive everyone who the Master of the house sends to be over His household just as we should receive Him who sent him. It is evident, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as we would upon the Lord Himself. For Onesimus himself greatly commends your good order in God. He reports that you all live according to the truth and that no heresy C haracter of L eaders