Chapter 3

1Exhorts them to follow their bishop and pastors; but especially their bishop. 6 Thanks them for their kindness, 11 and acquaints them with the ceasing of the persecution at Antioch . SEE that ye all follow your bishop, as Jesus Christ, the Father; and the presbytery, as the Apostles. And reverence the deacons, as the command of God.
2Let no man do anything of what belongs to the church separately from the bishop.
3Let that eucharist be looked upon as well established, which is either offered by the bishop, or by him to whom the bishop has given his consent.
4Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people also be: as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic church.
5It is not lawful without the bishop, neither to baptize, nor to celebrate the Holy Communion; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing unto God; that so whatever is done, may be sure and well done.
6For what remains, it is very reasonable that we should repent whilst there is yet time to return unto God.
7It is a good thing to have a due regard both to God, and to the bishop: he that honours the bishop, shall be honoured of God. But he that does anything without his knowledge, ministers unto the devil.
8Let all things therefore abound to you in charity; seeing that ye are worthy.
9Ye have refreshed me in all things; so shall Jesus Christ you. Ye have loved me both when I was present with you, and now being absent, ye cease not to do so.
10May God be your reward, from whom whilst ye undergo all things, ye shall attain unto him.
11Ye have done well in that ye have received Philo, and Rheus Agathopus, who followed me for the word of God, as the deacons of Christ our God.
12Who also gave thanks unto the Lord for you, forasmuch as ye have refreshed them in all things. Nor shall any thing that you have done be lost to you.
13My soul be for yours, and my bonds which ye have not despised, nor been ashamed of. Wherefore neither shall Jesus Christ, our perfect faith, be ashamed of you.
14Your prayer is come to the church of Antioch which is in Syria. From whence being sent bound with chains becoming God, I salute the churches; being not worthy to be called from thence, as being the least among them.
15Nevertheless by the will of God I have been thought worthy of this honour; not for that I think I have deserved it, but by the grace of God.
16Which I wish may be perfectly given unto me, that through your prayers I may attain unto God.
17And therefore that your work may be fully accomplished both upon earth and in heaven; it will be fitting, and for the honour of God, that your church appoint some worthy delegate, who being come as far as Syria, may rejoice together with them that they are in peace; and that they are again restored to their former state, and have again received their proper body.
18Wherefore I should think it a worthy action, to send some one from you with an epistle, to congratulate with them their peace in God; and that through your prayers they have now gotten to their harbor.
19For inasmuch as ye are perfect yourselves, you ought to think those things that are perfect. For when you are desirous to do well, God is ready to enable you thereunto.
20The love of the brethren that are at Troas salute you; from whence I write to you by Burrhus whom you sent with me, together with the Ephesians your brethren; and who has in all things refreshed me.
21And I would to God that all would imitate him, as being a pattern of the ministry of God. May his grace fully reward him.
22I salute your very worthy bishop, and your venerable presbytery; and your deacons, my fellow-servants; and all of you in general, and every one in particular, in the name of Jesus Christ, and in his flesh and blood; in his passion and resurrection both fleshly and spiritually; and in the unity of God with you.
23Grace be with you, and mercy, and peace, and patience, for evermore.
24I salute the families of my brethren, with their wives and children; and the virgins that are called widows. Be strong in the power of the Holy Ghost. Philo, who is present with me salutes you.
25I salute the house of Tavias, and pray that it may be strengthened in faith and charity, both of flesh and spirit.
26I salute Alce my well-beloved, together with the incomparable Daphnus, and Eutechnus, and all by name.
27Farewell in the grace of God. To the Smyrnæans from Troas . Footnotes 185:1 Messenger or Minister. 185:2 Vid. Vossius, a martyr or confessor. Vid. Annot. in loc. 185:3 Vid. Vossius Annot. in Ep. ad. Smyrn. p. 261. See chap. iii. v. 11. 185:4 Comp. 1 Cor. vii. 25. 186:1 Unto the Lord. 186:2 Matt. iii. 15. 186:3 Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc. 186:4 i.e. Christians. 186:5 Incorporeal and dæmoniac. 186:6 Ex. Evang. Sec. Hebr. See Dr. Grabe Spicileg. tom. ii. p. 26. 186:7 Death. 186:8 Admonish. 186:9 Have so. 187:1 Had true flesh. 187:2 It is. 187:3 Matt. xix. 12. 187:4 Vid. Epist. Interpol. 187:5 Vid. Annot. Coteler. in loc. Or, Prayers. 187:6 Vid. Coteler. Annot. 187:7 Love. 188:1 Multitude. 188:2 Make a love-feast. 188:3 Return to a sound mind. 188:4 Does worship. 188:5 Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc. 188:6 Unto. 188:7 Ways. 188:8 Vid. Epist. Interpol. 188:9 Spirit. 188:10 All the. 188:11 i.e. the bishop of that church. 188:12 Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc. 188:13 Bulk, greatness. 188:14 Help you. 189:1 Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc. 189:2 i.e. The deaconesses See the reason for the name, Voss. Annot. in loc. Add. Coteler. ib. 189:3 See Voss. Annot. ex Epist. Interpol. Next: The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp