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Die sieben Briefe des Ignatius von Antiochien (BKV)

7. Kap. Schon Früher mahnte ich zur Eintracht.

1. Wenn mich auch einige dem Fleische nach irreführen wollten, so lässt sich doch der Geist nicht irreführen, da er von Gott ist. Denn er weiß, woher er kommt und wohin er geht, und das Verborgene untersucht er. Ich schrie in ihrer Mitte, ich rief mit lauter Stimme, mit Gottes Stimme: Haltet euch an den Bischof, das Presbyterium und die Diakonen. 2. Wenn aber einige vermuteten, ich hätte so gesprochen, weil ich vorher von der Spaltung einiger gehört hätte, so ist mir der, in dem ich die Fesseln trage, Zeuge, dass ich von menschlichem Fleische es nicht wusste. Aber der Geist hatte es mir kund getan, indem er also sprach: Ohne Bischof tuet nichts, euer Fleisch bewahret als einen Tempel Gottes, die Eintracht liebet, die Spaltungen S. 145 fliehet, werdet Nachahmer Jesu Christi, wie auch er selbst seines Vaters (Nachahmer ist).

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Epistles of Ignatius

Chapter VII.--I have exhorted you to unity.

For though some would have deceived me according to the flesh, yet the Spirit, as being from God, is not deceived. For it knows both whence it comes and whither it goes, ¹ and detects the secrets [of the heart]. For, when I was among you, I cried, I spoke with a loud voice: Give heed to the bishop, and to the presbytery and deacons. Now, some suspected me of having spoken thus, as knowing beforehand the division caused by some among you. ² But He is my witness, for whose sake I am in bonds, that I got no intelligence from any man. ³ But the Spirit proclaimed these words: Do nothing without the bishop; keep your bodies ⁴ as the temples of God; ⁵ love unity; avoid divisions; be the followers of Jesus Christ, even as He is of His Father.

For though some would have deceived me according to the flesh, yet my spirit is not deceived; for I have received it from God. For it knows both whence it comes and whither it goes, and detects the secrets [of the heart]. For when I was among you, I cried, I spoke with a loud voice--the word is not mine, but God's--Give heed to the bishop, and to the presbytery and deacons. But if ye suspect that I spake thus, as having learned beforehand the division caused by some among you, He is my witness, for whose sake I am in bonds, that I learned nothing of it from the mouth of any man. But the Spirit made an announcement to me, saying as follows: Do nothing without the bishop; keep your bodies ⁶ as the temples of God; love unity; avoid divisions; be ye followers of Paul, and of the rest of the apostles, even as they also were of Christ.