Skip to Content
intertextual.bible
Go to Related Reading
About this book

Ignatius

Epistle to the Ephesians

About this book

Meeting Together Often

Chapter 13

1 So be eager to meet together more often to give thanks to God⁠ and to glorify Him. For when you meet together often, the powers of Satan are overthrown, and his destructive work comes to nothing in the harmony of your faith. 2 Nothing is better than peace, by which all warfare among those in heaven and those on earth is brought to an end.

Texts in conversation

Compare Barnabas 4:10 and Didache 16:2 and Ignatius, Epistle to the Ephesians 13:1

Early Christian

Share:

Summary

In the Didache, an early church manual, readers are urged to gather often and seek what benefits their souls. In the Letter of Barnabas, believers are told to gather and seek the common good, and Ignatius, an early bishop, urges frequent gatherings.

Passages

Barnabas 4:10

Early Christian · Epistle of Barnabas
9 But although I would gladly write many things, not as a teacher but as one who loves you so that you may not fail in what we possess, I was eager to write to you, being your devoted servant. Therefore, let us be cautious in these last days. For the entire duration of our faith will profit us nothing, unless now, in the time of lawlessness and impending offenses, we, as God’s children, stand firm so the Black One may not force his way in. 10 Let us flee from all vanity; let us altogether hate the works of the evil way. Do not stand apart secretly, as though you were already justified, but gather yourselves together and deliberate about the common good.
70–135 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Barnabas

Didache 16:2

Early Christian
1 Protect your life, keep your lamps burning, and always be ready. You do not know when the Lord will come. 2 Frequently gather together and seek what benefits your souls. The entirety of your faith won't be of value unless you're found perfect at the end. 3 In the last days, false prophets and corruptors will increase, the faithful will be led astray, and love will turn into hate.
90–120 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Didache

Ignatius, Epistle to the Ephesians 13:1

Early Christian
1 So be eager to meet together more often to give thanks to God and to glorify Him. For when you meet together often, the powers of Satan are overthrown, and his destructive work comes to nothing in the harmony of your faith.
107–117 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Ignatius, Epistle to the Ephesians

References

“... [...] ("assemble frequently") urges frequent gatherings of the community (should we understand this to mean that they should take place during the week and not only on the Lord's day?), or else that the assemblies should be large. Ignatius Eph. 13.1 sounds very similar: [...] ("Hasten then to come together more frequently for thanksgiving and praise of God. For when you come together frequently ... "). The gathering is for the good of souls: [...] means "what your souls need." The reference to the usefulness of coming together is traditional: compare Barn. 4.10: [...] ("But when you come together seek for the common good") ...”
Kurt Niederwimmer, The Didache: A Commentary, ed. Harold W. Attridge (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998), 215.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Your feedback

Barnabas 4:10 and Didache 16:2 and Ignatius, Epistle to the Ephesians 13:1

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library