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To the Philadelphians
St Ignatius of Antioch, Lake, Loeb 1912
Chapter 3
Warning against schism
Abstain from evil growths, which Jesus Christ does not tend, because they are not the planting of the Father. Not that I have found division among you but “filtering.”1
For as many as belong to God and Jesus Christ,—these are with the bishop. And as many as repent and come to the unity of the Church,—these also shall be of God, to be living according to Jesus Christ.
“Be not deceived,” my brethren, if any one follow a maker of schism, “he does not inherit the kingdom of God;” if any man walk in strange doctrine he has no part in the Passion.
Notes
- The meaning is that the Christians at Philadelphia had “filtered out” the impurity of heresy from their church.