First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

Chapter 3: God the Son

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inasmuch as God had promised, “I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven” (Gen 26:4). All these, therefore, were highly honored, and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they worked, but through the operation of God’s will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have done from a pure heart. Rather, we are justified by the faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen. I gnatius to the E phesians 7: For some are in the habit of carrying about the Name in wicked deceitfulness, while they practice things unworthy of God. You must flee these people as you would wild beasts. For they are ravenous dogs who bite secretly. You must be on your guard against them inasmuch as they are people who can scarcely be cured. There is one Physician who possesses both flesh and spirit, both made and not made. He is God existing in flesh, true life in death, both of Mary and of God, first possible and then impossible. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. I gnatius to the E phesians 19 a : Now the virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as was also her giving birth and the death of the Lord—three mysteries of a scream which were accomplished in silence by God. How, then, was He revealed to the world? A star shined out in heaven brighter than all the other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck people with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light