First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (Isa 53:1–12) And again He says, I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” (Ps 22:6–8) You see, dear ones, the example which has been given us. For if the Lord humbled Himself in such a way, what will those of us do who have come under the yoke of His grace because of Him? I gnatius to the E phesians 10 b –12: And let us seek to be imitators of the Lord even though unjustly treated, even destitute, and more condemned, so that no weed of the devil may be found in you. Instead, you must remain in all holiness and seriousness in Jesus Christ, both with respect to the flesh and spirit. The end times are upon us. Let us therefore be of humble spirit and fear the patience of God, so that it does not lead to our judgment. For let us either stand in awe of the wrath to come, or show respect for the grace which is at present displayed—one of these two things. Only let us