Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp & others · a new plain-English translation from the original language
It is right, then, that we, having come face to face with examples so many and so great, should bow the neck and take our place in obedience, so that, having set aside the empty rebellion, we may arrive without any blame at the goal truly set before us. For you will give us joy and gladness if you heed what we have set down under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and tear out the unlawful anger bred by your jealousy, in keeping with the plea we have made for peace and harmony in this letter. And we have sent you men who are trustworthy and sensible, who have conducted themselves blamelessly among us from youth to old age; they will also serve as witnesses between you and us. We have done this so that you may know that our whole concern, both now and always, has been that you should be at peace as quickly as possible.
May the God who watches over everything, ruler of every spirit and sovereign over all flesh — the one who selected the Lord Jesus Christ, and selected us as well through him, to become a people set apart as his own — grant to each soul calling on his magnificent and holy name: faith, reverence, peace, endurance and patience, self-mastery, purity, and good sense, so that it may find favor with his name by means of Jesus Christ, our high priest and protector. Through him, glory and greatness, might and honor belong to God, now and for every age to come. Amen.
Please send back to us promptly, joyfully and in peace, the men we dispatched from among our own — Claudius Ephebus, Valerius Bito, and Fortunatus alongside them — so that they can bring us swift word of the harmony and peace we have longed and prayed for, and so that we in turn may take all the sooner joy in the stability restored among you. May the favor of our Lord Jesus Christ remain upon you, and upon everyone everywhere whom God has called through him; through whom belong to him glory, honor, might and greatness, an everlasting throne, from age to age forever. Amen. Letter of the Romans to the Corinthians.
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