First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

reverence, even as He Himself has commanded us, as did the apostles who preached the gospel to us, and also the prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Lord. Let us be passionate in the pursuit of that which is good, keeping ourselves from causes of offence, from false brethren, and from those who in hypocrisy bear the name of the Lord and lead foolish people into error. Love All the Disciples I gnatius to P olycarp 2: If you love the good disciples, no thanks are due to you on that account. Rather, seek with gentleness to calm the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Ease irritations with gentle applications. In all things be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt 10:16). For this purpose, you are composed of both flesh and spirit, that you may deal tenderly with those that present themselves visibly before you. In respect to those that are not seen, ask that they be revealed to you in order that you may not lack anything, but may flourish in every gift. The times call for you to seek God, just as the sailors seek for harbor when the winds are tossed with tempest. Be sober as an athlete of God. The prizes set before you are immortality and eternal life, of which you are also persuaded. In all things may my soul be for the things that you have loved just as my chains also. Leadership and the Community I gnatius to the M agnesians 6–7: Since, therefore, I have seen in the persons mentioned above the whole multitude of you in faith and love, I encourage you to strive to do all things in divine harmony. Your bishop presides in the