Ignatius — Epistle to the Trallians 3
Likewise, let everyone honor the deacons as Jesus Christ, and the bishop too, for he is a figure of the Father, and the presbyters as God's council and the apostles' band. Without these, nothing is called a church.
I am sure you feel the same about all this. For I have received the sample of your love, and I keep it with me in your bishop. His very bearing is a great lesson, and his gentleness is power. I think even the godless honor him.
Because I love you, I spare you, though I could write more sharply on this point. I did not think myself fit for this, that I, a condemned man, should issue you commands like an apostle.
Greek
Ὁμοίως πάντες ἐντρεπέσθωσαν τοὺς διακόνους ὡς Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, ὡς καὶ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ὄντα τύπον τοῦ πατρός. τοὺς δὲ πρεσβυτέρους ὡς συνέδριον θεοῦ καὶ ὡς σύνδεσμον ἀποστόλων. χωρὶς τούτων ἐκκλησία οὐ καλεῖται.
περὶ ὧν πέπεισμαι ὑμᾶς οὕτως ἔχειν. τὸ γὰρ ἐξεμπλάριον τῆς ἀγάπης ὑμῶν ἔλαβον καὶ ἔχω μεθ̓ ἑαυτοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ ὑμῶν, οὖ αὐτὸ τὸ κατάστημα μεγάλη μαθητεία, ἡ δὲ πραότης αὐτοῦ δύναμις: ὃν λογίζομαι καὶ τοὺς ἀθέους ἐντρέπεσθαι.
ἀγαπῶν ὑμᾶς φείδομαι, συντονώτερον δυνάμενος γράφειν ὑπὲρ τούτου. οὐκ εἰς τοῦτο ᾠήθην, ἵνα ὤν κατάκριτος ὡς ἀπόστολος ὑμῖν διατάσσωμαι.