Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version)

MOREOVER: it is reasonable that we should return to soberness of conduct and, while we still have the opportunity, exercise repentance towards God. For “in Hades there is no one who can confess their sins.” For “behold the person, and their work is before them.” And the Scripture says, “My son, honor God and the king.” And I say, indeed honor God as the Author and Lord of all things, but the bishop as the high-priest, who bears the image of God—of God, as a ruler, and of Christ, in his role as a priest.

After Him, we must also honor the king. For there is no one superior to God, or even like Him, among all beings that exist. Nor is there anyone in the Church greater than the bishop, who ministers as a priest to God for the salvation of the whole world. Nor, again, is there anyone among rulers to be compared with the king, who secures peace and good order for those over whom he rules. He who honors the bishop shall be honored by God, just as he who dishonors him shall be punished by God.

For if one who rises up against kings is justly deemed worthy of punishment, as they disrupt public order, how much more severe a punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy of, who presumes to do anything without the bishop, thus both destroying the Church’s unity and causing its order to fall into confusion? For the priesthood is the highest point of all good things among men, against which anyone mad enough to strive dishonors not man, but God, and Christ Jesus, the First-born, and the only High Priest by nature, of the Father.

Therefore, let all things be done by you with good order in Christ. Let the laity be subject to the deacons; the deacons to the presbyters; the presbyters to the bishop; the bishop to Christ, just as He is to the Father. As you, brothers, have refreshed me, so will Jesus Christ refresh you. You have loved me when absent, as well as when present. God will recompense you, for whose sake you have shown such kindness towards His prisoner.

For even if I am not worthy of it, yet your zeal to help me is admirable. For “he who honors a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward.” It is also evident that he who honors a prisoner of Jesus Christ shall receive the reward of the martyrs.