CHAPTER 2
1 For if I in this little time have had such a familiarity with your ᵃbishop, I mean not a carnal, but spiritual acquaintance with him; how much more must I think you happy who are so joined to him, ᵇas the church is to Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ to the Father; that so all things may agree in the same unity?
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3 He therefore that does not come together in the same place with it, is proud, and has already ᵃcondemned himself. For it is written, ᵇGod resisteth the proud. Let us take heed therefore, that we do not set ourselves against the bishop, that we may be subject to God.
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4 The more any one sees his bishop silent, the more let him revere him. For whomsoever the master of the house sends to be over his own household, we ought in like manner to receive him, as we would do him that sent him. It is therefore evident that we ought to look upon the bishop, even as we would do upon the Lord ᵃhimself.
5 And indeed Onesimus himself does greatly commend your good order in God: that you all live according to the truth, and that no heresy dwells among you. For neither do ye hearken to any one more than to Jesus Christ speaking to you in truth.
6 For some there are who ᵃcarry about the name of Christ ᵇin deceitfulness, but do things ᶜunworthy of God; whom ye must ᵈflee, as ye would do so many wild beasts. For they are ᵉravening dogs, who bite secretly: against whom ye must ᶠguard yourselves, as men hardly to be cured.
7 There is one physician, both fleshly and spiritual; made and not made; God incarnate; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passable, then impassible; even Jesus Christ our Lord.
8 Wherefore let no man deceive you; as indeed neither are ye deceived. being wholly the servants of God. For inasmuch as there is no contention nor strife among you, ᵃto trouble you, ᵇye must needs live according to God's will. My soul be for yours; and I myself the expiatory offering for your church of Ephesus, so famous ᶜthroughout the world.
9 They that are of the ᵃflesh cannot do the works of the spirit; neither they that are of the spirit the works of the flesh. As he that has faith ᵇcannot be an infidel; nor he that is an infidel have faith. But even those things which ye do according to the flesh are spiritual; forasmuch as ye do all ᶜthings in Jesus Christ.
10 Nevertheless I have ᵃheard of some who have passed by you, having ᵇperverse ᶜdoctrine; whom ye did not suffer to sow ᵈamong you; but stopped your ears, that ye might not receive those things that were sown by them; as becoming the ᵉstones of the temple of the Father, prepared for his building; and drawn up on high by the Cross of Christ, as by an engine.
11 Using the Holy Ghost as the ᵃrope: your faith being your; and your ᵇcharity the way that leads unto God.
12 Ye are therefore, with all your companions in the same journey, full of God; his spiritual temples, ᵃfull of Christ, full of holiness: adorned in all things with the commands of Christ.
13 In whom also I rejoice that I have been thought worthy by this present epistle to converse, and joy together with you; that with respect to the other life, ye love nothing but God only.