Bishops and Presbyters

Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians 6

Ignatius of Antioch · d. c. 110 AD

The more anyone sees a bishop keeping silent, the more let him stand in awe of him. Whoever the Master of the house sends to run his household, we must welcome as we would welcome the one who sent him (Matthew 10:40; John 13:20). Plainly, then, we must regard the bishop as the Lord himself.

Onesimus himself warmly praises your good order in God. You all live by the truth, and no faction makes its home among you. In fact, you do not even listen to anyone more than to one who speaks truly about Jesus Christ.

Greek

Καὶ ὅσον βλέπει τις σιγῶντα ἐπίσκοπον, πλειόνως αὐτὸν φοβείσθω: πάντα γάρ, ὃν πέμπει ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἰς ἰδίαν οἰκονομίαν, οὕτως δεῖ ἡμᾶς αὐτὸν δέχεσθαι, ὡς αὐτὸν τὸν πέμψαντα, τὸν οὖν ἐπίσκοπον δῆλον ὅτι ὡς αὐτὸν κύριον δεῖ προσβλέπειν.

αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν Ὀνήσιμος ὑπερεπαινεῖ ὑμῶν τὴν ἐν θεῷ εὐταξίαν, ὅτι πάντες κατὰ ἀλήθειαν ζῆτε καὶ ὅτι ἐν ὑμῖν οὐδεμία αἵρεσις κατοικεῖ: ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ ἀκούετέ τινος πλέον, ἢ περὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ λαλοῦντος ἐν ἀληθείᾳ.

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