Œuvres Ignace d'Antioche (35-110) Epistulae VII genuinae Epistles of Ignatius
The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp Shorter and Longer Versions

Chapter VI.--The duties of the Christian flock.

Give ye 1 heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you. My soul be for theirs 2 that are submissive to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to the deacons, and may my portion be along with them in God! Labour together with one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer together; sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates, 3 and servants of God. Please ye Him under whom ye fight, and from whom ye receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism endure as your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience as a complete panoply. Let your works be the charge 4 assigned to you, that ye may receive a worthy recompense. Be long-suffering, therefore, with one another, in meekness, as God is towards you. May I have joy of you for ever! 5

Give ye 6 heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you. My soul be for theirs 7 that are submissive to the bishop, to the presbytery, and to the deacons: may I have my portion with them from God! Labour together with one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer together; sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates, 8 and servants of God. Please ye Him under whom ye fight, and from whom ye shall receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism endure as your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience as a complete panoply. Let your works be the charge assigned to you, that you may obtain for them a most worthy 9 recompense. Be long-suffering, therefore, with one another, in meekness, and God shall be so with you. May I have joy of you for ever! 10

  1. As this Epistle, though sent to the bishop, was meant to be read to the people, Ignatius here directly addresses them.  ↩

  2. Comp. chap. ii. etc.  ↩

  3. Or, "assessors." ↩

  4. A military reference, simply implying the idea of faithful effort leading to future reward.  ↩

  5. Comp. Ignatius' Epistle to the Ephesians, chap. ii.  ↩

  6. As this Epistle, though sent to the bishop, was meant to be read to the people, Ignatius here directly addresses them.  ↩

  7. Comp. chap. ii. etc.  ↩

  8. Or, "assessors." ↩

  9. Literally, "worthy of God." ↩

  10. Comp. Ignatius' Epistle to the Ephesians, chap. ii.  ↩

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