Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol I: IGNATIUS: Chapter III.—Honour your youthful...

Chapter III.—Honour your youthful bishop.

Now it becomes you also not to treat your bishop too familiarly on account of his youth, 643 but to yield him all reverence, having respect to 644 the power of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not judging rashly, from the manifest youthful appearance 645 [of their bishop], but as being themselves prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. It is therefore fitting that you should, after no hypocritical fashion, obey [your bishop], in honour of Him who has willed us [so to do], since he that does not so deceives not [by such conduct] the bishop that is visible, but seeks to mock Him that is invisible. And all such conduct has reference not to man, 646 but to God, who knows all secrets.

Now it becomes you also not to despise the age of your bishop, but to yield him all reverence, according to the will of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not having regard to the manifest youth [of their bishop], but to his knowledge in God; inasmuch as “not the ancient are [necessarily] wise, nor do the aged understand prudence; but there is a spirit in men.” 647 For Daniel the wise, at twelve years of age, became possessed of the divine Spirit, and convicted the elders, who in vain carried their grey hairs, of being false accusers, and of lusting after the beauty of another man’s wife. 648 Samuel also, when he was but a little child, reproved Eli, who was ninety years old, for giving honour to his sons rather than to God. 649 In like manner, Jeremiah also received this message from God, “Say not, I am a child.” 650 Solomon too, and Josiah, [exemplified the same thing.] The former, being made king at twelve years of age, gave that terrible and difficult judgment in the case of the two women concerning their children. 651 The latter, coming to the throne when eight years old 652 cast down the altars and temples [of the idols], and burned down the groves, for they were dedicated to demons, and not to God. And he slew the false priests, as the corrupters and deceivers of men, and not the worshippers of the Deity. Wherefore youth is not to be despised when it is devoted to God. But he is to be despised who is of a wicked mind, although he be old, and full of wicked days. 653 Timothy the Christ-bearer was young, but hear what his teacher writes to him: “Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word and in conduct.” 654 It is becoming, therefore, that ye also should be obedient to your bishop, and contradict him in nothing; for it is a fearful thing to contradict any such person. For no one does [by such conduct] deceive him that is visible, but does [in reality] seek to mock Him that is invisible, who, however, cannot be mocked by any one. And every such act has respect not to man, but to God. For God says to Samuel, “They have not mocked thee, but Me.” 655 And Moses declares, “For their murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord God.” 656 No one of those has, [in fact,] remained unpunished, who rose up against their superiors. For Dathan and Abiram did not speak against the law, but against Moses, 657 and were cast down alive into Hades. Korah also, 658 and the two hundred and fifty who conspired with him against Aaron, were destroyed by fire. Absalom, again, 659 who had slain his brother, became suspended on a tree, and had his evil-designing heart thrust through with darts. In like manner was Abeddadan 660 beheaded for the same reason. Uzziah, 661 when he presumed to oppose the priests and the priesthood, was smitten with leprosy. Saul also was dishonoured, 662 because he did not wait for Samuel the high priest. It behoves you, therefore, also to reverence your superiors.