========================================================================
  SPEAKING WELL OF THE BISHOP
  by Ignatius of Antioch
========================================================================

Summary: The bishop was selected by the love of Jesus Christ and God the
Father, and his character, mind, and spirit reflect the virtues of the
living God.

Topics: "Church Leadership", "Christian Humility"
Scripture References: Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:12, James 1:19, 1 Peter 5:2

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ignatius of Antioch praises the bishop, highlighting his selection by
the love of Jesus Christ and God the Father, not for vainglory but for
the common good. He admires the bishop's meekness and ability to achieve
much through silence, in harmony with the commandments of the Lord.
Ignatius compares the bishop's blamelessness to that of Zacharias the
priest, declaring his mind towards God as virtuous and perfect,
reflecting the meekness and stability of the living God.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Having beheld your bishop, I know that he was not selected to undertake
the ministry which pertains to the common [weal], either by himself or
by men, or out of vainglory, but by the love of Jesus Christ, and of God
the Father, who raised Him from the dead; at whose meekness I am struck
with admiration, and who by His silence is able to accomplish more than
they who talk a great deal. For he is in harmony with the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord, even as the strings are with the harp, and
is no less blameless than was Zacharias the priest.

Wherefore my soul declares his mind towards God a happy one, knowing it
to be virtuous and perfect, and that his stability as well as freedom
from all anger is after the example of the infinite meekness of the
living God.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ignatius-of-antioch/speaking-well-of-the-bishop/
========================================================================