Chapters
Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version)
Chapters
More
Chapter 7: I Have Encouraged You to Unite
FOR EVEN THOUGH SOME WOULD HAVE DECEIVED ME ACCORDING TO THE FLESH: my spirit is not deceived; for I have received it from God. It knows both where it comes from and where it goes, and it detects the secrets of the heart. When I was among you, I cried out and spoke with a loud voice—the word is not mine, but God’s—Pay attention to the bishop, the presbytery, and the deacons. But if you suspect that I spoke this way because I had learned beforehand about the division caused by some among you, He is my witness, for whose sake I am in bonds, that I learned nothing of it from the mouth of any man. Instead, the Spirit made an announcement to me, saying the following: Do nothing without the bishop; keep your bodies as the temples of God; love unity; avoid divisions; be followers of Paul, and of the rest of the apostles, just as they were of Christ.