First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 8: Warnings Against Division and the Demonic

185

rather exceeding purity. For many who are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as are willing in the exercise of repentance, will return into the unity of the church. They also will belong to God as they may live according to Jesus Christ. Do not err, my friends. If anyone follows him that makes a schism in the church, he will not inherit the kingdom of God. If anyone walks according to a strange opinion, he agrees not with the suffering. Repent from Division F irst C lement 51–52: Let us therefore ask for forgiveness from all those sins which through any influence of the Adversary we have committed. Those who have been the leaders of sedition and disagreement should have respect for the common hope. For those who live in fear and love would rather that they themselves be involved in suffering than their neighbors. They prefer to bear blame themselves, rather than see the harmony which has been virtuously and righteously handed down to us who suffer. For it is better that a person should acknowledge his sins rather than harden his heart. In a similar way, the hearts of those who stirred up sedition against Moses the servant of God were hardened and their condemnation was made apparent. For they went down alive into Hades and death swallowed them up. Pharaoh with his army and all the princes of Egypt as well as the chariots with their riders were sunk in the depths of the Red Sea and perished for no other reason than that their foolish hearts were hardened after so many signs and wonders had been performed in the land of Egypt by Moses the servant of God ( Exod 14 ).