Chapter VI.--Have respect to the bishop as to Christ Himself.
Now the more any one sees the bishop keeping silence, [527] the more ought he to revere him. For we ought to receive every one whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household, [528] as we would do Him that sent him. It is manifest, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as we would upon the Lord Himself. And indeed Onesimus himself greatly commends your good order in God, that ye all live according to the truth, and that no sect [529] has any dwelling-place among you. Nor, indeed, do ye hearken to any one rather than to Jesus Christ speaking in truth.
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, [530] 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." [531] 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. [532] 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." [533] Such, then, are ye, having been taught by such instructors, Paul the Christ-bearer, and Timothy the most faithful.
[527] That is, "showing forbearance."
[528] Comp. Matt. xxiv. 25.
[529] Or, "heresy."
[530] Comp. Matt. xxiv. 25.
[531] Prov. xxii. 29, after LXX.
[532] Eph. iv. 4.
[533] Eph. iv. 5, 6.
Chapter VII.--Beware of false teachers.
For some are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, whom ye must flee as ye would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men who can scarcely be cured. There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first possible and then impossible,-- [534] even Jesus Christ our Lord.
But some most worthless persons are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, and hold opinions contrary to the doctrine of Christ, to their own destruction, and that of those who give credit to them, whom you must avoid as ye would wild beasts. For "the righteous man who avoids them is saved for ever; but the destruction of the ungodly is sudden, and a subject of rejoicing." [535] For "they are dumb dogs, that cannot bark," [536] raving mad, and biting secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, since they labour under an incurable disease. But our Physician is the only true God, the unbegotten and unapproachable, the Lord of all, the Father and Begetter of the only-begotten Son. We have also as a Physician the Lord our God, Jesus the Christ, the only-begotten Son and Word, before time began, [537] but who afterwards became also man, of Mary the virgin. For "the Word was made flesh." [538] Being incorporeal, He was in the body; being impassible, He was in a passible body; being immortal, He was in a mortal body; being life, He became subject to corruption, that He might free our souls from death and corruption, and heal them, and might restore them to health, when they were diseased with ungodliness and wicked lusts.
[534] This clause is wanting in the Greek, and has been supplied from the ancient Latin version.
[535] Prov. x. 25, Prov. xi. 3.
[536] Isa. lvi. 10
[537] Or, "before the ages."
[538] John i. 14.