The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Short Version)

For if I, in this brief time, have enjoyed such fellowship with your bishop—not merely on a human level, but spiritually—how much more fortunate are you, who are so united with him as the Church is to Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is to the Father, so that all things may agree in unity! Let no one deceive themselves: if anyone is not within the altar, they are deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two has such power, how much more that of the bishop and the whole Church! He, therefore, who does not assemble with the Church has shown his pride and condemned himself. For it is written, “God resists the proud.” Let us be careful, then, not to oppose the bishop, so that we may be subject to God.