Apostolic FathersChristianityScholarly ReconstructionGreek / Latin / Syriac textual traditionsShareApostolic Fathers 187Ante-Nicene Christian Library - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableAnte-Nicene Christian LibraryLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Apostolic Fathers 1Apostolic Fathers 2Apostolic Fathers 3Apostolic Fathers 4Apostolic Fathers 5Apostolic Fathers 6Apostolic Fathers 7Apostolic Fathers 8Apostolic Fathers 9Apostolic Fathers 10Apostolic Fathers 11Apostolic Fathers 12Apostolic Fathers 13Apostolic Fathers 14Apostolic Fathers 15Apostolic Fathers 16Apostolic Fathers 17Apostolic Fathers 18Apostolic Fathers 19Apostolic Fathers 20Apostolic Fathers 21Apostolic Fathers 22Apostolic Fathers 23Apostolic Fathers 24Apostolic Fathers 25Apostolic Fathers 26Apostolic Fathers 27Apostolic Fathers 28Apostolic Fathers 29Apostolic Fathers 30Apostolic Fathers 31Apostolic Fathers 32Apostolic Fathers 33Apostolic Fathers 34Apostolic Fathers 35Apostolic Fathers 36Apostolic Fathers 37Apostolic Fathers 38Apostolic 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564Apostolic Fathers 565Apostolic Fathers 566Apostolic Fathers 567Apostolic Fathers 568Apostolic Fathers 569Apostolic Fathers 570Apostolic Fathers 571Apostolic Fathers 572Apostolic Fathers 573Apostolic Fathers 574Apostolic Fathers 575›Longer.Apostolic Fathers 187ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1Now it becomes you also not to despise the age of your bishop, but to yield him all reverence, according to the will of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not having regard to the manifest youth [of their bishop], but to his knowledge in God; inasmuch as “not the ancient are [necessarily] wise, nor do the aged understand prudence; but there is a spirit in men.”[905] For Daniel the wise, at twelve years of age, became possessed of the divine Spirit, and convicted the elders, who in vain carried their grey hairs, of being false accusers, and of lusting after the beauty of another man’s wife.[906] Samuel also, when he was but a little child, reproved Eli, who was ninety years old, for giving honour to his sons rather than to God.[907] In like manner, Jeremiah also received this message from God, “Say not, I am a child.”[908] Solomon too, and Josiah, [exemplified the same thing.] The former, being made king at twelve years of age, gave that terrible and difficult judgment in the case of the two women concerning their children.[909] The latter, coming to the throne when eight years old,[910] cast down the altars and temples [of the idols], and burned down the groves, for they were dedicated to demons, and not to God. And he slew the false priests, as the corrupters and deceivers of men, and not the worshippers of the Deity. Wherefore youth is not to be despised when it is devoted to God. 2But he is to be despised who is of a wicked mind, although he be old, and full of wicked days.[911] Timothy the Christ-bearer was young, but hear what his teacher writes to him: “Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word and in conduct.”[912] It is becoming, therefore, that ye also should be obedient to your bishop, and contradict him in nothing; for it is a fearful thing to contradict any such person. For no one does [by such conduct] deceive him that is visible, but does [in reality] seek to mock Him that is invisible, who, however, cannot be mocked by any one. And every such act has respect not to man, but to God. For God says to Samuel, “They have not mocked thee, but me.”[913] And Moses declares, “For their murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord God.”[914] No one of those has, [in fact,] remained unpunished, who rose up against their superiors. For Dathan and Abiram did not speak against the law, but against Moses,[915] and were cast down alive into Hades. Korah also,[916] and the two hundred and fifty who conspired with him against Aaron, were destroyed by fire. Absalom, again,[917] who had slain his brother, became suspended on a tree, and had his evil-designing heart thrust through with darts. In like manner was Abeddadan[918] beheaded for the same reason. Uzziah,[919] when he presumed to oppose the priests and the priesthood, was smitten with leprosy. 3Saul also was dishonoured,[920] because he did not wait for Samuel the high priest. It behoves you, therefore, also to reverence your superiors. ‹Previous chapterApostolic Fathers 186Next chapterApostolic Fathers 188›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the United States via Project Gutenberg