========================================================================
  WORTHY OF CREDIT
  by Ignatius of Antioch
========================================================================

Summary: Stand firm against false teachings and endure suffering for the
sake of God, looking for Christ who suffered for our sakes.

Topics: "Persevering Faith", "Eternal Rewards"
Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 16:13, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Colossians 1:11, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1

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

Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the importance of standing firm in faith
despite the presence of those who teach false doctrines, likening it to
an anvil being beaten. He encourages believers to endure hardships like
a noble athlete, bearing all things for the sake of God, who will also
bear with them and bring them into His kingdom. Ignatius urges
continuous growth in zeal and diligence, reminding listeners to be
conquerors in this world while looking forward to the eternal rewards in
Christ, who, though eternal and invisible, became visible and suffered
in every way for humanity's sake.

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

Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines,
fill thee with apprehension. Stand firm, as does an anvil which is
beaten. It is the part of a noble athlete to be wounded, and yet to
conquer. And especially, we ought to bear all things for the sake of
God, that He also may bear with us. Be ever becoming more zealous than
what thou art. Weigh carefully the times. Look for Him who is above all
time, eternal and invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes;
impalpable and impassible, yet who became passible on our account; and
who in every kind of way suffered for our sakes.

Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines,
fill thee with apprehension. Stand firm, as does an anvil which is
beaten.

It is the part of a noble athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer. And
especially we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also
may bear with us, and bring us into His kingdom. Add more and more to
thy diligence; run thy race with increasing energy; weigh carefully the
times. Whilst thou art here, be a conqueror; for here is the course, and
there are the crowns. Look for Christ, the Son of God; who was before
time, yet appeared in time; who was invisible by nature, yet visible in
the flesh; who was impalpable, and could not be touched, as being
without a body, but for our sakes became such, might be touched and
handled in the body; who was impassible as God, but became passible for
our sakes as man; and who in every kind of way suffered for our sakes.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ignatius-of-antioch/worthy-of-credit/
========================================================================