Have Respect to the Bishop as to Christ Himself
The sermon emphasizes the importance of respecting and honoring the bishop as a representative of Christ, and living in unity as one body and one spirit.
Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the reverence and respect that should be given to bishops, as they are sent by the Master of the house to oversee His household, equating the bishop's position to standing before the Lord Himself. He praises the church for their good order, adherence to the truth, and unity in following Jesus Christ as the true Shepherd and Teacher. Ignatius highlights the oneness of the believers in faith, baptism, and the Lord, emphasizing the importance of being taught by faithful instructors like Paul and Timothy.
Text
The more, therefore, you see the bishop silent, the more do you reverence him. For we ought to receive every one whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household, as we would do Him that sent him. It is manifest, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as we would look upon the Lord Himself, standing, as he does, before the Lord. For "it behoves the man who looks carefully about him, and is active in his business, to stand before kings, and not to stand before slothful men."
And indeed Onesimus himself greatly commends your good order in God, that ye all live according to the truth, and that no sect `has any dwelling-place among you. Nor indeed do ye hearken to any one rather than to Jesus Christ, the true Shepherd and Teacher.
And ye are, as Paul wrote to you, "one body and one spirit, because ye have also been called in one hope of the faith. Since also "there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." Such, then, are ye, having been taught by such instructors, Paul the Christ-bearer, and Timothy the most faithful.
Sermon Outline
- Respect the Bishop as Christ
- The Bishop's Role
- The Church's Unity
- The church is one body and one spirit
- The church has one hope of faith
Key Quotes
“It behoves the man who looks carefully about him, and is active in his business, to stand before kings, and not to stand before slothful men.” — Ignatius of Antioch
“We ought to receive every one whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household, as we would do Him that sent him.” — Ignatius of Antioch
Application Points
- We should respect and honor the bishop as a representative of Christ, and follow their guidance in the church.
- Living in unity as one body and one spirit is essential for the health and prosperity of the church.
- We should strive to be active and engaged in our faith, just as the bishop is called to be.