First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

B arnabas 21 b : I implore you who are leaders, if you will receive any counsel from my good intentions. You have among yourselves those to whom you may show kindness. Do not fail them. The day on which all things will perish with the Evil One is near. The Lord is also near as is His reward. Again, and yet again, I implore you, be good lawgivers to one another. Remain faithful counselors to one another. Do away with all hypocrisy from among you. And may God who rules over all the world give you wisdom, intelligence, understanding, knowledge of His judgments with patience. And be a God-learner, inquiring diligently what the Lord asks from you. And do it that you may be safe on the day of judgment. And if you have any remembrance of what is good, be mindful of me and meditate on these things in order that both my desire and watchfulness may result in some good. I implore you, asking this as a favor. While you are still in this fair vessel, do not fail in any one of those things, but unceasingly seek after them, and fulfill every commandment. For these things are worthy. For this reason, I have been all the more serious about writing to you as my ability enables so that I might cheer you. Restoring Leaders P olycarp to the P hilippians 11: I am greatly grieved for Valens who was once an elder among you. He failed to understand the place that was given him. I encourage you, therefore, to refrain from covetousness and be innocent and truthful. “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess 5:22). For if a person cannot oversee himself in such matters, how will he instruct others? If a person does not keep himself from covetousness, he will be defiled