Chap. i.—Acknowledgment of their excellence.
|
I know that ye possess an unblameable and sincere mind in patience, and that not only in present practice,[1] but according to inherent nature, as Polybius your bishop has shown me, who has come to Smyrna by the will of God and Jesus Christ, and so sympathized in the joy which I who am bound in Christ Jesus possess, that I beheld your whole multitude in him. Having therefore received through him the testimony of your good-will, according to God, I gloried to find you, as I knew you were, the followers of God. |
I know that ye possess an unblameable and sincere mind in patience, and that not only for present use,[2] but as a permanent possession, as Polybius your bishop has shown me, who has come to Smyrna by the will of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son, with the co-operation of the Spirit, and so sympathized in the joy which I, who am bound in Christ Jesus, possess, that I beheld your whole multitude in Him. Having therefore received through him the testimony of your good-will according to God, I gloried to find that you were the followers of Jesus Christ the Saviour. |
Chap. ii.—Be subject to the bishop, etc.
|
For, since ye are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, |
Be ye subject to the bishop as to the Lord, for "he watches for your souls, as one that shall give account to God."[3] Wherefore also, ye appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, |
