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  HAVE RESPECT TO THE BISHOP AS TO CHRIST HIMSELF
  by Ignatius of Antioch
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of respecting and honoring
the bishop as a representative of Christ, and living in unity as one
body and one spirit.

Topics: "Church Leadership", "Christian Unity"
Scripture References: Matthew 10:40, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:4, 1 Timothy 1:2, Hebrews 13:17

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DESCRIPTION
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Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the reverence and respect that should be
given to bishops, as they are sent by the Master of the house to oversee
His household, equating the bishop's position to standing before the
Lord Himself. He praises the church for their good order, adherence to
the truth, and unity in following Jesus Christ as the true Shepherd and
Teacher. Ignatius highlights the oneness of the believers in faith,
baptism, and the Lord, emphasizing the importance of being taught by
faithful instructors like Paul and Timothy.

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CONTENT
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The more, therefore, you see the bishop silent, the more do you
reverence him. For we ought to receive every one whom the Master of the
house sends to be over His household, as we would do Him that sent him.
It is manifest, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as
we would look upon the Lord Himself, standing, as he does, before the
Lord. For "it behoves the man who looks carefully about him, and is
active in his business, to stand before kings, and not to stand before
slothful men."

And indeed Onesimus himself greatly commends your good order in God,
that ye all live according to the truth, and that no sect `has any
dwelling-place among you. Nor indeed do ye hearken to any one rather
than to Jesus Christ, the true Shepherd and Teacher.

And ye are, as Paul wrote to you, "one body and one spirit, because ye
have also been called in one hope of the faith. Since also "there is one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over
all, and through all, and in all." Such, then, are ye, having been
taught by such instructors, Paul the Christ-bearer, and Timothy the most
faithful.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ignatius-of-antioch/have-respect-to-the-bishop-as-to-christ-himself/
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