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The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Long Version)
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Chapter 11: An Encouragement to Fear God, etc.
THE FINAL TIMES HAVE COME UPON US: Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit and fear the patience of God, lest we despise the riches of His goodness and restraint. For let us either fear the wrath to come, or let us love the present joy in the life that is now; and let our present and true joy be only this, to be found in Christ Jesus, that we may truly live. Do not at any time desire to even breathe apart from Him. For He is my hope; He is my boast; He is my never-failing riches, because of whom I carry these bonds from Syria to Rome, these spiritual jewels, in which may I be perfected through your prayers, and become a partaker of the sufferings of Christ, and have fellowship with Him in His death, His resurrection from the dead, and His everlasting life. May I attain this, so that I may be found among the Christians of Ephesus, who have always been in contact with the apostles by the power of Jesus Christ, with Paul, John, and Timothy the most faithful.