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Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to Hero, a Deacon of Antioch
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The Epistle of Ignatius to Hero, a Deacon of Antioch
Chapter I.—Exhortations to earnestness and moderation.
Chapter II.—Cautions against false teachers.
Chapter III.—Exhortations as to ecclesiastical duties.
Chapter IV.—Servants and women are not to be despised.
Chapter V.—Various relative duties.
Chapter VI—Exhortations to purity and caution.
Chapter VII.—Solemn charge to Hero, as future bishop of Antioch.
The bishops, Onesimus, Bitus, Damas, Polybius, and all they of Philippi (whence also I have written to thee), salute thee in Christ. Salute the presbytery worthy of God: salute my holy fellow-deacons, of whom may I have joy in Christ, both in the flesh and in the spirit. Salute the people of the Lord, from the smallest to the greatest, every one by name; whom I commit to thee as Moses did [the Israelites] to Joshua, who was their leader after him. And do not reckon this which I have said presumptuous on my part; for although we are not such as they were, yet we at least pray that we may be so, since indeed we are the children of Abraham. Be strong, therefore, O Hero, like a hero, and like a man. For from henceforth thou shalt lead28 Comp. Deut. xxxi. 7, 23. in and out the people of the Lord that are in Antioch, and so “the congregation of the Lord shall not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”29 Num. xxvii. 17.