Chapter I.--Praise of the Ephesians.
I have become acquainted with your name, much-beloved in God, which ye have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Being the followers [490] of God, and stirring up [491] yourselves by the blood of God, ye have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to you. For, on hearing that I came bound from Syria for the common name and hope, trusting through your prayers to be permitted to fight with beasts at Rome, that so by martyrdom I may indeed become the disciple of Him "who gave Himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God," [492] [ye hastened to see me [493] ]. I received, therefore, [494] your whole multitude in the name of God, through Onesimus, a man of inexpressible love, [495] and your bishop in the flesh, whom I pray you by Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to be like him. And blessed be He who has granted unto you, being worthy, to obtain such an excellent bishop.
I have become acquainted with your greatly-desired name in God, which ye have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Christ Jesus our Saviour. Being the followers [496] of the love of God towards man, and stirring up [497] yourselves by the blood of Christ, you have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to you. For, on hearing that I came bound from Syria for the sake of Christ, our common hope, trusting through your prayers to be permitted to fight with beasts at Rome, that so by martyrdom I may indeed become the disciple of Him "who gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God," [498] [ye hastened to see me [499] ]. I have therefore received your whole multitude in the name of God, through Onesimus, a man of inexpressible love, [500] and who is your bishop, whom I pray you by Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to be like him. Blessed be God, who has granted unto you, who are yourselves so excellent, to obtain such an excellent bishop.
[490] Literally, "imitators;" comp. Eph. v. 1.
[491] Comp. in the Greek, 2 Tim. i. 6.
[492] Eph. v. 2.
[493] This is wanting in the Greek.
[494] Literally, "since therefore," without any apodosis.
[495] Or, "unspeakably beloved."
[496] Literally, "imitators;" comp. Eph. v. 1.
[497] Comp. in the Greek, 2 Tim. i. 6.
[498] Eph. v. 2.
[499] This is wanting in the Greek.
[500] Or, "unspeakably beloved."
Chapter II.--Congratulations and entreaties.
As to my fellow-servant Burrhus, your deacon in regard to God and blessed in all things, [501] I beg that he may continue longer, both for your honour and that of your bishop. And Crocus also, worthy both of God and you, whom I have received as the manifestation [502] of your love, hath in all things refreshed [503] me, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ shall also refresh [504] him; together with Onesimus, and Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto, by means of whom, I have, as to love, beheld all of you. May I always have joy of you, if indeed I be worthy of it. It is therefore befitting that you should in every way glorify Jesus Christ, who hath glorified you, that by a unanimous obedience "ye may be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment, and may all speak the same thing concerning the same thing," [505] and that, being subject to the bishop and the presbytery, ye may in all respects be sanctified.
As to our fellow-servant Burrhus, your deacon in regard to God and blessed in all things, I pray that he may continue blameless for the honour of the Church, and of your most blessed bishop. Crocus also, worthy both of God and you, whom we have received as the manifestation [506] of your love to us, hath in all things refreshed [507] me, and "hath not been ashamed of my chain," [508] as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will also refresh [509] him; together with Onesimus, and Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto, by means of whom I have, as to love, beheld all of you. May I always have joy of you, if indeed I be worthy of it. It is therefore befitting that you should in every way glorify Jesus Christ, who hath glorified you, that by a unanimous obedience "ye may be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, and may all speak the same thing concerning the same thing," [510] and that, being subject to the bishop and the presbytery, ye may in all respects be sanctified.
[501] Or, "our most blessed deacon in all things pertaining to God."
[502] Literally, "pattern."
[503] Comp. 1 Cor. xvi. 18, etc.
[504] Comp. 1 Cor. xvi. 18, etc.
[505] 1 Cor. i. 10.
[506] Literally, "pattern."
[507] Comp. 1 Cor. xvi. 18, etc.
[508] Comp. 2 Tim. i. 16.
[509] Comp. 1 Cor. xvi. 18, etc.
[510] 1 Cor. i. 10.