First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

has any place among you. Indeed, you do not listen to anyone unless they speak the truth about Jesus Christ. I gnatius to the P hiladelphians 1: Your bishop, I know, did not obtain the ministry of the fellowship from himself, neither by people, nor through vainglory, but by the love of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am struck with admiration for his meekness and who by his silence is able to accomplish more than those who talk vainly. For he is attuned with the instructions even as the harp is with its strings. For this reason, my soul blesses his mind toward God. I know it to be virtuous and complete, and that his stability as well as freedom from all anger is according to the example of the infinite meekness of the living God. Compassion and Mercy P olycarp to the P hilippians 6: And let the elders be compassionate and merciful to all. They must bring back those that wander, visit all the sick, and not neglecting the widow, the orphan, or the poor. They must always “aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man” (2 Cor 8:21), abstaining from all wrath, respect of persons, and unjust judgment. They must keep away from all covetousness, not quickly holding against any one, not severe in judgment as knowing that we are all under a debt of sin. If then we entreat the Lord to forgive us, we ought also ourselves to forgive. For we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and “must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor 5:10). Let us then serve Him in fear and with all