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  ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THEIR EXCELLENCE
  by Ignatius of Antioch
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Summary: The church at Smyrna demonstrates excellence through their
unblameable and sincere mind, patience, and commitment to following
Jesus Christ.

Topics: "Christian Unity", "Steadfast Faith"
Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 1:9, Ephesians 4:3, Philippians 1:27, 1 Peter 1:7, 1 John 2:6

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DESCRIPTION
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Ignatius of Antioch commends the believers in Smyrna for their blameless
and sincere patience, acknowledging their steadfast faith as a permanent
possession. He expresses gratitude for their unity in Christ and their
commitment to following Jesus as their Savior, as testified by their
bishop Polybius. Ignatius rejoices in the joy shared with the believers
in Smyrna, emphasizing the importance of being followers of Jesus
Christ.

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CONTENT
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I know that ye possess an unblameable and sincere mind in patience, and
that not only for present use, 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.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ignatius-of-antioch/acknowledgment-of-their-excellence/
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