First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

146

First Christian Voices

Eucharist to not be the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins and which the Father, from His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God suffer death in the midst of their disputes. But it was better for them to treat the Eucharist with respect that they also might rise again. See that you all follow the bishop even as Jesus Christ followed the Father. And follow the elders as you would the apostles and respect the deacons just as you do God’s commandments. Let no one conduct matters connected with the church without the bishop. Let the Eucharist be deemed proper when administered by the bishop or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop appears, there let the gathered also be, just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the universal church. It is not permitted either to baptize or to celebrate a love feast without the bishop. But whatsoever he approves, that is also pleasing to God so that everything that is done may be trusted and valid. It is fitting, therefore, that you should avoid such persons and not to speak of them either in private or in public. Instead, give attention to the prophets and above all to the gospel in which the suffering has been revealed to us as well as the resurrection which has been fully proved. But avoid all divisions as the beginning of evils. Baptism and the Cross in the Prophets B arnabas 11 a : Let us further inquire whether the Lord took any thought to foreshadow the water and the cross. Concerning the water, indeed, it is written in reference to the Israelites, that they should not receive the baptism which leads to the remission of sins. Instead, they