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  PRESERVE HARMONY
  by Ignatius of Antioch
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Summary: Ignatius of Antioch exhorts the community to strive for divine
harmony, unity, and love, recognizing the importance of their roles
within the church.

Topics: "Church Unity", "Christian Leadership"
Scripture References: Romans 15:5, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:3, Colossians 3:14

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DESCRIPTION
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Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the importance of unity and harmony
within the church, urging believers to follow the leadership of their
bishop as representatives of God, the presbyters as representatives of
the apostles, and the deacons as ministers of Jesus Christ. He
highlights the eternal nature of Jesus Christ as the only-begotten Son
of God, encouraging love and unity among believers, looking at each
other through the lens of Christ. Ignatius stresses the need for
believers to be united under the bishop and subject to God in Christ,
avoiding anything that may cause division.

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CONTENT
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Since therefore I have, in the persons before mentioned, beheld the
whole multitude of you in faith and love, I exhort you to study to do
all things with a divine harmony, while your bishop presides in the
place of God, and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the
apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are
entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ.

He, being begotten by the Father before the beginning of time, was God
the Word, the only-begotten Son, and remains the same for ever; for "of
His kingdom there shall be no end," says Daniel the prophet. Let us all
therefore love one another in harmony, and let no one look upon his
neighbour according to the flesh, but in Christ Jesus.

Let nothing exist among you which may divide you; but be ye united with
your bishop, being through him subject to God in Christ.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ignatius-of-antioch/preserve-harmony/
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