First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 2: The Godhead

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by you in faith, exhortation, patience, and longsuffering. Yet inasmuch as love does not allow me to be silent, I have therefore taken upon myself first to exhort you that you would all run together in unity with the mind of God. For just as Jesus Christ, our inseparable life, knows the mind of the Father, so also the bishops appointed throughout the world know the mind of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is fitting that you should run together in accordance with the mind of your bishop, as you are doing. For your renowned body of elders, worthy of God, is attuned exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp. Therefore, in your one accord and harmonious love Jesus Christ is sung. Now each of you become a part of the choir. So, by being harmonious in love and taking up the song of God in unison you may with one voice sing to the Father through Jesus Christ. In this way He may both hear you and recognize by your works that you are indeed members of His Son. It is beneficial, therefore, that you should live in a spotless unity so you may always enjoy communion with God. I gnatius to the E phesians 15 b : There is nothing hidden from God. Our very secrets are near to Him. Let us therefore do all things as those who have Him living in us, that we may be His temples and He may be in us as our God. For indeed He is, and He will reveal Himself before our faces. For these reasons we rightly love Him. God Hears Prayer I gnatius to the T rallians 13: The love of the Smyrnaeans and Ephesians greets you. Remember the church that is in Syria in your prayers, from which also I am not worthy