WikiChristian - User contributions [en]

User:Mustaphile

2006-09-28T23:03:11Z

Mustaphile: I'm back (again) :)

==Latest news==
I've been away in the U.S. for three months, so I've haven't been very active. I've popped back in now and hope to make my usual regualar checks while online to see how things are going.

==Introduction==
Hi all. I'm from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Coast%2C_Queensland Gold Coast], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland Queensland], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia Australia]. I'll get back to editing this user page at a later date. For now I'm exploring.....

Ok, I'm back. Time to jazz up the page a bit.{{smile}}

[[Image:Mustaphile.jpg]]
==Useful links==
*[[Special:Specialpages]]
==Useful templates==
*<nowiki>{{todo}}</nowiki>
*<nowiki>{{smile}}</nowiki>
*<nowiki>{{Please leave this line alone (sandbox heading)}}</nowiki>

==ToDo lists==
I've created a template for ToDo lists to be used on talk pages to keep a record of pending tasks. Hopefully everyone finds it useful. :)

==Added a tutorial section==

I put in a tutorial section to help new users, as it's pretty confusing getting started on wiki's I think. It's largely taken from the Wikipedia tutorial with some modifications made to suit this site. The examples need a bit of work still to look more like examples of a 'christian' flavour.
==Orphaned redirect==
Don't know what to do with this [[Bible Dictionary: Baptism, Christian]]

==Issues with the Todo template==
I think I have found the solution now, but I am all out of energy so I am going to quickly list the relevant pages I was reading so I can come back to this later.
*http://www.wikichristian.org/index.php?title=WikiChristian_talk:General_disclaimer&action=purge
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Articlespace
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Todo#Namespace_friendly_version
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:ARTICLESPACE/all

Finished doing all the necessary additions yesterday. It should be working fine now.

==Emoticons==
I've been suffering with the lack of emoticons on wikis for the purpose of chats, so I've created my '''<nowiki>{{smile}}</nowiki>''' template to redress this deficiency. {{smile}}

Hi Mustaphile,

I have upgraded your rights so that you will be able to block users that vandalize using a login name. Please let me know if you experience any problems. I appreciate the work you do at wikichristian. Your leadership, commitment and determination are much appreciated. God bless,

----
--[[User:Prab|Prab]] 04:26, 1 February 2006 (EST)

User talk:Prab

2006-06-24T03:14:59Z

Mustaphile: /* user permissions */

I had some spare time and the inclination today to do some editing. :) Is there any way you are able to remove the error from the .htm files that are being used as a source for those pages? The error with the mispelled ''Mathew'' exist in these files too, so in their current state they are going to be adding to the workload in terms of editing out the spelling error before pasting the content into the articles. This is more of a 'spurt' of activity for me, so there is no real rush for any of this to occur. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 18:23, 20 April 2006 (EDT)

Hi Mustaphile,

Yes, it is possible to search replace. I went ahead and changed it in all the pages along with some other changes that may help. However, there may still be a few things such as removing the space below Mathew Henry link etc. to make it appear the way we want may still have to be done manually. I will keep trying to see if we could do that in an easier way. I uploaded the new updated files.

[[User:Prab|Prab]]

==I've noticed something strange==
The Talk:Main Page was moved by Willy on Wheels and then moved back and then it shows me as moving Talk:Main Page to Bitch. I never visited the page on the 11th of May, nor did I move the Talk:Main Page, so I'm curious how the edit history comes to show me as making the move. It's a mystery. I thought perhaps someone might have cracked my account, but my password is definitely not a weak password. It's most disconcerting.

# (cur) (last) 03:04, 11 May 2006 MustaphiIe m (Talk:Main Page moved to Bitch)
# (cur) (last) 18:58, 19 April 2006 Muser m (Talk:Main Page on Wheels moved to Talk:Main Page)
# (cur) (last) 03:47, 19 April 2006 Willy on Wheels m (Talk:Main Page moved to Talk:Main Page on

-edit-

Ah I see now. I think it is someone who has signed up with my name but is using a capital 'I' for Idiot, instead of an lower case 'l' for larry. I noticed this as I was editing this message. :)
--[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 02:17, 12 May 2006 (PDT)

== Thanks ==

Thanks for sorting out the Birmingham page i was really tired so i went to bed before finishing it... I live in Birmingham so if you think of anything that you cannot find out easily that i could ask the archbishop myself or somehting else jsut say :-)

God bless
Anton.

== Happy to Help ==

I am happy to help in this worthy project. I would sure think of you when I am in Birmingham and you are welcome to visit us when in Philadelphia. God Bless.

--[[User:Prab|Prab]] 15:39, 15 May 2006 (PDT)

==Added new sysop==
I've added user Ymmotrojam to the list of sysops. I assume thats ok to do. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 22:50, 19 May 2006 (PDT)

== user permissions ==

Prab, just thought I'd make note of the conversation on [[Talk:Main Page]] about restricting the ability to move pages to only sysops and higher. --[[User:Ymmotrojam|Tom]] 23:07, 19 May 2006 (PDT)
:I'd be supportive of this restriction. The latest vandalism would be resolved quite effectively with this one measure. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 01:39, 1 June 2006 (PDT)

::As a fellow wiki admin, I'd almost want to make wikichristian over again from scratch, starting off with the latest version of mediawiki, and the latest spam protection measures... I can't imagine how junked up the database must be with all the spam it has gotten, and I'm not entirely surprised that the site has had corruption errors in the past. You could even save the 'user' table in the database so that people don't have to re-register. That's just me though... {{smile}} --[[User:Ymmotrojam|Tom]] 02:08, 1 June 2006 (PDT)

:: I agree that we should restrict the ability of the users to move the pages. The mediawiki version we are using is pretty recent and we do use spam protection measures such as wordpress. However, it is a constant process and we will have to keep upto date with the latest antispam features.

--[[User:Prab|Prab]] 03:05, 14 June 2006 (PDT)

:::I've been distracted for a couple of weeks now, as I am on vacation in the U.S.. I've popped back in to see how things are going and the 'move pages' problem is still there. I don't have the time to go through it all in detail at the moment, so I hope someone else can pick up the slack and fix the latest vandalism. I'll be more active when I get back from my vacation. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 20:14, 23 June 2006 (PDT)

User talk:Mustaphile http://www.givemepink.com

2006-06-24T03:06:59Z

Mustaphile:

User talk:Mustaphile

2006-06-24T03:06:38Z

Mustaphile: revert

I just have to put something in here, as the red link is driving me crazy. :) --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 02:19, 5 May 2005 (PDT)

----

Hi Mustaphile,

I like the ideas you bring in to the wiki and I think the tutorials are really great. You seem to be well versed with [[wiki]'s as you use templates and formatting rules that the average user may not be able to use. We would like to have you as one of the sysops and would like to welcome you to the community of wikichristian sysops.

[[User:Prab|Prab]] 19:50, 6 May 2005 (EST)

Hi Mustaphile,

I appreciate the work you do and the quality and leadership you bring to the wikichristian project. I am sorry for the spelling mistake in the name Mathew in Mathew Henry Bible Commentary. The good news is that I can fix the problem by search replacing it in the frontpage web by a simple mouse click in all the pages and reupload the files. I will go ahead and do it in a day or two. Thank you and God bless.

[[User:Prab|Prab]]

== sysop request ==

I noted this on my talk page as well, but would it be possible for me to be a sysop? I'd like to help fight this vandalism... and do other admin stuff... :-) --[[User:Ymmotrojam|Tom]] 22:39, 19 May 2006 (PDT)

== "from orthodoxwiki" ==

I found it rather interesting that recent spammers are putting a "from orthodoxwiki" after their spam. It's almost as though they trying to make both wikis look bad at the same time... hmm.. --[[User:Ymmotrojam|Tom]] 17:46, 21 May 2006 (PDT)

User talk:Prab

2006-06-01T08:39:04Z

Mustaphile: /* user permissions */

User talk:Ymmotrojam

2006-06-01T08:36:28Z

Mustaphile: Thanks

== request for sysopship ==

I would like to be one so I can combat vandals and such... --[[User:Ymmotrojam|Tom]] 22:32, 19 May 2006 (PDT)
:Yeah, I think thats a good idea. I don't think Prab will mind me doing so. {{smile}} --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 22:48, 19 May 2006 (PDT)
==regarding 'orthodoxwiki'==
Yeah, I popped over to the orthodox wiki to see what the relationship is, and it seems the same person is over there harassing the sysops and generaling vandalising things as well. I would assume its some misguided attempt to make people believe that someone from the orthodox wiki is coming to this wiki and vandalising things. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 18:12, 21 May 2006 (PDT)
:I noticed that Magda tried banning an ip range over there. It might be something for us to look at. I don't see anymore edits by the vandal since that time, unless the new user SRBO that was blanking pages not long after that is the same person again. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 18:31, 21 May 2006 (PDT)
(Block log); 22:01 . . Magda (Talk) (blocked "User:82.50.0.0/16" with an expiry time of 1 year: vandalism)

Thanks for your help with the latest vandalism. {{smile}} --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 01:36, 1 June 2006 (PDT)

Text:The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

2006-05-31T14:18:49Z

Mustaphile: The First Epistle of Clement to the MUSTAPHILE moved to The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (text)

== INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS ==

''See [[About the First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians]]''

== The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians ==

=== Chapter I. The Salutation. Praise of the Corinthians Before the Breaking Forth of Schism Among Them. ===

The Church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.

Owing, dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury. For who ever dwelt even for a short time among you, and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established? Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality? And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge? For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you. Ye enjoined young men to be of a sober and serious mind; ye instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as in duty bound; and ye taught them that, living in the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs becomingly, and be in every respect marked by discretion.

=== Chapter II. Praise of the Corinthians Continued. ===

Moreover, ye were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it, and were more willing to give than to receive. Content with the provision which God had made for you, and carefully attending to His words, ye were inwardly filled with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes. Thus a profound and abundant peace was given to you all, and ye had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy designs, ye did, with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if ye had been guilty of any involuntary transgression. Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God's elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience. Ye were sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbours: their deficiencies you deemed your own. Ye never grudged any act of kindness, being "ready to every good work." Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, ye did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.

=== Chapter III. The Sad State of the Corinthian Church After Sedition Arose in It from Envy and Emulation. ===

Every kind of honour and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, "My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked." Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honoured, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.

=== Chapter IV. Many Evils Have Already Flowed from This Source in Ancient Times. ===

For thus it is written: "And it came to pass after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God; and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his sheep, and of the fat thereof. And God had respect to Abel and to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He did not regard. And Cain was deeply grieved, and his countenance fell. And God said to Cain, Why art thou grieved, and why is try countenance fallen? If thou offerest rightly, but dost not divide rightly, hast thou not sinned? Be at peace: thine offering returns to thyself, and thou shalt again possess it. And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field. And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." Ye see, brethren, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother. Through envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother. Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death, and to come into bondage. Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he heard these words from his fellow-countryman, "Who made thee a judge or a ruler over us? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday?" On account of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their abode without the camp. Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades, through the sedition which they excited against God's servant Moses. Through envy, David underwent the hatred not only of foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul king of Israel.

=== Chapter V. No Less Evils Have Arisen from the Same Source in the Most Recent Times. The Martyrdom of Peter and Paul. ===

But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the Church] have been persecuted and put to death. Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.

=== Chapter VI. Continuation. Several Other Martyrs. ===

To these men who spent their lives in the practice of holiness, there is to be added a great multitude of the elect, who, having through envy endured many indignities and tortures, furnished. us with a most excellent example. Through envy, those women, the Danaids and Dircae, being persecuted, after they had suffered terrible and unspeakable torments, finished the course of their faith with stedfastness, and though weak in body, received a noble reward. Envy has alienated wives from their husbands, and changed that saying of our father Adam, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." Envy and strife have overthrown great cities and rooted up mighty nations.

===Chapter VII. An Exhortation to Repentance.===

These things, beloved, we write unto you, not merely to admonish you of your duty, but also to remind ourselves. For we are struggling on the same arena, and the same conflict is assigned to both of us. Wherefore let us give up vain and fruitless cares, and approach to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us attend to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look stedfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God, which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed, and learn that, from generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all such as would be converted unto Him. Noah preached repentance, and as many as listened to him were saved. Jonah proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites; but they, repenting of their sins, propitiated God by prayer, and obtained salvation, although they were aliens [to the covenant] of God.

=== Chapter VIII. Continuation Respecting Repentance. ===

The ministers of the grace of God have, by the Holy Spirit, spoken of repentance; and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it, "As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance ; "adding, moreover, this gracious declaration Repent O house of Israel, of your iniquity. Say to the children of My people, Though your sins reach from earth to heaven, I and though they be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, yet if ye turn to Me with your whole heart, and say, Father! I will listen to you, as to a holy people." And in another place He speaks thus: "Wash you, and become clean; put away the wickedness of your souls from before mine eyes; cease from your evil ways, and learn to do well; seek out judgment, deliver the oppressed, judge the fatherless, and see that justice is done to the widow; and come, and let us reason together. He declares, Though your sins be like crimson, I will make them white as snow; though they be like scarlet, I will whiten them like wool. And if ye be willing and obey Me, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse, and will not hearken unto Me, the sword shall devour you, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these things." Desiring, therefore, that all His beloved should be partakers of repentance, He has, by His almighty will, established [these declarations].

===Chapter IX. Examples of the Saints.===

Wherefore, let us yield obedience to His excellent and glorious will; and imploring His mercy and loving-kindness, while we forsake all fruitless labours, and strife, and envy, which leads to death, let us turn and have recourse to His compassions. Let us stedfastly contemplate those who have perfectly ministered to His excellent glory. Let us take (for instance) Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience, was translated, and death was never known to happen to him. Noah, being found faithful, preached regeneration to the world through his ministry; and the Lord saved by him the animals which, with one accord, entered into the ark.

===Chapter X. Continuation of the Above.===

Abraham, styled "the friend," was found faithful, inasmuch as he rendered obedience to the words of God. He, in the exercise of obedience, went out from his own country, and from his kindred, and from his father's house, in order that, by forsaking a small territory, and a weak family, and an insignificant house, he might inherit the promises of God. For God said to him, "Get thee out from thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, into the land which I shall show thee. And I will make thee a great nation, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shall be blessed. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." And again, on his departing from Lot, God said to him. "Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou now art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, [so that] if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." And again [the Scripture] saith, "God brought forth Abram, and spake unto him, Look up now to heaven, and count the stars if thou be able to number them; so shall thy seed be. And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." On account of his faith and hospitality, a son was given him in his old age; and in the exercise of obedience, he offered him as a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains which He showed him.

===Chapter XI. Continuation. Lot.===

On account of his hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved out of Sodore when all the country round was punished by means of fire and brimstone, the Lord thus making it manifest that He does not forsake those that hope in Him, but gives up such as depart from Him to punishment and torture. For Lot's wife, who went forth with him, being of a different mind from himself and not continuing in agreement with him [as to the command which had been given them], was made an example of, so as to be a pillar of salt unto this day. This was done that all might know that those who are of a double mind, and who distrust the power of God, bring down judgment on themselves and become a sign to all succeeding generations.

===Chapter XII. The Rewards of Faith and Hospitality. Rahab.===

On account of her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. For when spies were sent by Joshua, the son of Nun, to Jericho, the king of the country ascertained that they were come to spy out their land, and sent men to seize them, in order that, when taken, they might be put to death. But the hospitable Rahab receiving them, concealed them on the roof of her house under some stalks of flax. And when the men sent by the king arrived and said "There came men unto thee who are to spy out our land; bring them forth, for so the king commands," she answered them, "The two men whom ye seek came unto me, but quickly departed again and are gone," thus not discovering the spies to them. Then she said to the men, "I know assuredly that the Lord your God hath given you this city, for the fear and dread of you have fallen on its inhabitants. When therefore ye shall have taken it, keep ye me and the house of my father in safety." And they said to her, "It shall be as thou hast spoken to us. As soon, therefore, as thou knowest that we are at hand, thou shall gather all thy family under thy roof, and they shall be preserved, but all that. are found outside of thy dwelling shall perish." Moreover, they gave her a sign to this effect, that she should hang forth from her house a scarlet thread. And thus they made it manifest that redemption should flow through the blood of the Lord to all them that believe and hope in God. Ye see, beloved, that there was not only faith, but prophecy, in this woman.

===Chapter XIII. An Exhortation to Humility.===

Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit saith, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness"), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: "Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you ; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you." By this precept and by these rules let us establish ourselves, that we walk with all humility in obedience to His holy words. For the holy word saith, "On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek and peaceable, and that trembleth at My words?"

===Chapter XIV. We Should Obey God Rather Than the Authors of Sedition.===

It is right and holy therefore, men and brethren, rather to obey God than to follow those who, through pride and sedition, have become the leaders of a detestable emulation. For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and tumults, so as to draw us away from what is good. Let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender mercy and benignity of our Creator. For it is written, "The kind-hearted shall inhabit the land, and the guiltless shall be left upon it, but transgressors shall be destroyed from off the face of it." And again [the Scripture] saith, "I saw the ungodly highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon: I passed by, and, behold, he was not; and I diligently sought his place, and could not find it. Preserve innocence, and look on equity: for there shall be a remnant to the peaceful man."

===Chapter XV. We Must Adhere to Those Who Cultivate Peace, Not to Those Who Merely Pretend to Do So.===

Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it. For [the Scripture] saith in a certain place, "This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." And again: "They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart." And again it saith, "They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue; but their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant." "Let the deceitful lips become silent," [and "let the Lord destroy all the lying lips,] and the boastful tongue of those who have said, Let us magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, and for the sighing of the needy, will I now arise, saith the Lord: I will place him in safety; I will deal confidently with him."

===Chapter XVI. Christ as an Example of Humility.===

For Christ is of those who are humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him. For He says, "Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We have declared [our message] in His presence: He is, as it were, a child, and like a root in thirsty ground; He has no form nor glory, yea, we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness; but His form was without eminence, yea, deficient in comparison with the [ordinary] form of men. He is a man exposed to stripes and suffering, anti acquainted with the endurance of grief: for His countenance was turned away; He was despised, and not esteemed. He bears our iniquities, and is in sorrow for our sakes; yet we supposed that [on His own account] He was exposed to labour, and stripes, and affliction. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; [every] man has wandered in his own way; and the Lord has delivered Him up for our sins, while He in the midst of His sufferings openeth not His mouth. He was brought as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before her shearer is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away; who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth. For the transgressions of my people was He brought down to death. And I will give the wicked for His sepulchre, and the rich for His death, because He did no iniquity, neither was guile found in His mouth. And the Lord is pleased to purify Him by stripes.If ye make an offering for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived seed. And the Lord is pleased to relieve Him of the affliction of His soul, to show Him light, and to form Him with understanding, to justify the Just One who ministereth well to many; and the Himself shall carry their sins. On this account He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoil of the strong; because His soul was delivered to death, and He was reckoned among the transgressors, and He bare the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered." And again He saith, "I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All that see Me have derided Me; they have spoken with their lips; they have wagged their head, [saying] He hoped in God, let Him deliver Him, let Him save Him, since He delighteth in Him." Ye see, beloved, what is the example which has been given us; for if the Lord thus humbled Himself, what shall we do who have through Him come under the yoke of His grace?

===Chapter XVII. The Saints as Examples of Humility.===

Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne [in Scripture]. Abraham was specially honoured, and was called the friend of God; yet he, earnestly regarding the glory of God, humbly declared, "I am but dust and ashes." Moreover, it is thus written of Job, "Job was a righteous man, and blameless, truthful, God-fearing, and one that kept himself from all evil." But bringing an accusation against himself, he said, "No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but of one day." Moses was called faithful in all God's house; and through his instrumentality, God punished Egypt with plagues and tortures. Yet he, though thus greatly honoured, did not adopt lofty language, but said, when the divine oracle came to him out of the bush, "Who am I, that Thou sendest me? I am a man of a feeble voice and a slow tongue." And again he said, "I am but as the smoke of a pot."

===Chapter XVIII. David as an Example of Humility.===

But what shall we say concerning David, to whom such testimony was borne, and of whom79 God said, "I have found a man after Mine own heart, David the son of Jesse; and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him?" Yet this very man saith to God, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression. Wash me still more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done that which was evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified in Thy sayings, and mayest overcome when Thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in my sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, Thou hast loved truth; the secret and hidden things of wisdom hast Thou shown me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; my bones, which have been humbled, shall exult. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and establish me by Thy governing Spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: my tongue shall exult in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall show forth Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it; Thou wilt not delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a bruised spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise."

===Chapter XIX. Imitating These Examples, Let Us Seek After Peace.===

Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have rendered not only us, but also all the generations before us, better; even as many as have received His oracles in fear and truth. Wherefore, having so many great and glorious examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from the beginning was the mark set before us; and let us look stedfastly to the Father and Creator of the universe, and cleave to His mighty and surpassingly great gifts and benefactions, of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding, and look with the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us reflect how free from wrath He is towards all His creation.

===Chapter XX. The Peace and Harmony of the Universe.===

The heavens, revolving under His government, are subject to Him in peace. Day and night run the course appointed by Him, in no wise hindering each other. The sun and moon, with the companies of the stars, roll on in harmony according to His command, within their prescribed limits, and without any deviation. The fruitful earth, according to His will, brings forth food in abundance, at the proper seasons, for man and beast and all the living beings upon it, never hesitating, nor changing any of the ordinances which He has fixed. The unsearchable places of abysses, and the indescribable arrangements of the lower world, are restrained by the same laws. The vast unmeasurable sea, gathered together by His working into various basins, never passes beyond the bounds placed around it, but does as He has commanded. For He said, "Thus far shalt thou come, and thy waves shall be broken within thee." The ocean, impassible to man, and the worlds beyond it, are regulated by the same enactments of the Lord. The seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, peacefully give place to one another. The winds in their several quarters88 fulfil, at the proper time, their service without hindrance. The ever-flowing fountains, formed both for enjoyment and health, furnish without fail their breasts for the life of men. The very smallest of living beings meet together in peace and concord. All these the great Creator and Lord of all has appointed to exist in peace and harmony; while He does good to all, but most abundantly to us who have fled for refuge to His compassions through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.

===Chapter XXI. Let Us Obey God, and Not the Authors of Sedition.===

Take heed, beloved, lest His many kindnesses lead to the condemnation of us all. [For thus it must be] unless we walk worthy of Him, and with one mind do those things which are good and well-pleasing in His sight. For [the Scripture] saith in a certain place, "The Spirit of the Lord is a candle searching the secret parts of the belly." Let us reflect how near He is, and that none of the thoughts or reasonings in which we engage are hid from Him. It is right, therefore, that we should not leave the post which His will has assigned us. Let us rather offend those men who are foolish, and inconsiderate, and lifted up, and who glory in the pride of their speech, than [offend] God. Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us esteem those who have the rule over us; let us honour the aged among us; let us train up the young men in the fear of God; let us direct our wives to that which is good. Let them exhibit the lovely habit of purity [in all their conduct]; let them show forth the sincere disposition of meekness; let them make manifest the command which they have of their tongue, by their manner of speaking; let them display their love, not by preferring one to another, but by showing equal affection to all that piously fear God. Let your children be partakers of true Christian training; let them learn of how great avail humility is with God-how much the spirit of pure affection can prevail with Him-how excellent and great His fear is, and how it saves all those who walk in it with a pure mind. For He is a Searcher of the thoughts and desires [of the heart]: His breath is in us; and when He pleases, He will take it away.

===Chapter XXII. These Exhortations are Confirmed by the Christian Faith, Which Proclaims the Misery of Sinful Conduct.===

Now the faith which is in Christ confirms all these [admonitions]. For He Himself by the Holy Ghost thus addresses us: "Come, ye children, hearken unto Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth to see good days? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are [open] unto their prayers. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles." "Many are the stripes [appointed for] the wicked; but mercy shall compass those about who hope in the Lord."

===Chapter XXIII. Be Humble, and Believe that Christ Will Come Again.===

The all-merciful and beneficent Father has bowels [of compassion] towards those that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His favours upon those who come to Him with a simple mind. Wherefore let us not be double-minded; neither let our soul be lifted up on account of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Far from us be that which is written, "Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened unto us." Ye foolish ones! compare yourselves to a tree: take [for instance] the vine. First of all, it sheds its leaves, then it buds, next it puts forth leaves, and then it flowers; after that comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. Ye perceive how in a little time the fruit of a tree comes to maturity. Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, "Speedily will He come, and will not tarry;" and, "The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom ye look."

===Chapter XXIV. God Continually Shows Us in Nature that There Will Be a Resurrection.===

Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, and the day arises; the day [again] departs, and the night comes on. Let us behold the fruits [of the earth], how the sowing of grain takes place. The sower goes forth, and casts it into the ground; and the seed being thus scattered, though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out of its dissolution the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit.

===Chapter XXV. The Phoenix an Emblem of Our Resurrection.===

Let us consider that wonderful sign [of the resurrection] which takes place in Eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about. There is a certain bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives five hundred years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near that it must die, it builds itself a nest of frankincense, and myrrh, and other spices, into which, when the time is fulfilled, it enters and dies. But as the flesh decays a certain kind of worm is produced, which, being nourished by the juices of the dead bird, brings forth feathers. Then, when it has acquired strength, it takes up that nest in which are the bones of its parent, and bearing these it passes from the land of Arabia into Egypt, to the city called Heliopolis. And, in open day, flying in the sight of all men, it places them on the altar of the sun, and having done this, hastens back to its former abode. The priests then inspect the registers of the dates, and find that it has returned exactly as the five hundredth year was completed.

===Chapter XXVI. We Shall Rise Again, Then, as the Scripture Also Testifies.===

Do we then deem it any great and wonderful thing for the Maker of all things to raise up again those that have piously served Him in the assurance of a good faith, when even by a bird He shows us the mightiness of His power to fulfil His promise? For [the Scripture] saith in a certain place, "Thou shalt raise me up, and I shall confess unto Thee;" and again, "I laid me down, and slept; I awaked, because Thou art with me;" and again, Job says, "Thou shalt raise up this flesh of mine, which has suffered all these things."

===Chapter XXVII. In the Hope of the Resurrection, Let Us Cleave to the Omnipotent and Omniscient God.===

Having then this hope, let our souls be bound to Him who is faithful in His promises, and just in His judgments. He who has commanded us not to lie, shall much more Himself not lie; for nothing is impossible with God, except to lie. Let His faith therefore be stirred up again within us, and let us consider that all things are nigh unto Him. By the word of His might He established all things, and by His word He can overthrow them. "Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done? or, Who shall resist the power of His strength?" When and as He pleases He will do all things, and none of the things determined by Him shall pass away. All things are open before Him, and nothing can be hidden from His counsel. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handy-work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. And there are no words or speeches of which the voices are not heard."

===Chapter XXVIII. God Sees All Things: Therefore Let Us Avoid Transgression.===

Since then all things are seen and heard [by God], let us fear Him, and forsake those wicked works which proceed from evil desires; so that, through His mercy, we may be protected from the judgments to come. For whither can any of us flee from His mighty hand? Or what world will receive any of those who run away from Him? For the Scripture saith in a certain place, "Whither shall I go, and where shall I be hid from Thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I go away even to the uttermost parts of the earth, there is Thy right hand; if I make my bed in the abyss, there is Thy Spirit." Whither, then, shall any one go, or where shall he escape from Him who comprehends all things?

===Chapter XXIX. Let Us Also Draw Near to God in Purity of Heart.===

Let us then draw near to Him with holiness of spirit, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him, loving our gracious and merciful Father, who has made us partakers in the blessings of His elect.116 For thus it is written, "When the Most High divided the nations, when He scattered the sons of Adam, He fixed the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. His people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the lot of His inheritance." And in another place [the Scripture] saith, "Behold, the Lord taketh unto Himself a nation out of the midst of the nations, as a man takes the first-fruits of his threshing-floor; and from that nation shall come forth the Most Holy.

===Chapter XXX. Let Us Do Those Things that Please God, and Flee from Those He Hates, that We May Be Blessed.===

Seeing, therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those things which pertain to holiness, avoiding all evil-speaking, all abominable and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, seeking after change, all abominable lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. "For God," saith [the Scripture], "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." Let us cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God. Let us clothe ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being justified by our works, and not our words. For [the Scripture] saith, "He that speaketh much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech deem himself righteous? Blessed is he that is born of woman, who liveth but a short time: be not given to much speaking." Let our praise be in God, and not of ourselves; for God hateth those that commend themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be borne by others, as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers. Boldness, and arrogance, and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God; but moderation, humility, and meekness to such as are blessed by Him.

===Chapter XXXI. Let Us See by What Means We May Obtain the Divine Blessing.===

Let us cleave then to His blessing, and consider what are the means of possessing it. Let us think over the things which have taken place from the beginning. For what reason was our father Abraham blessed? was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith? Isaac, with perfect confidence, as if knowing what was to happen, cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice Jacob, through reason of his brother, went forth with humility from his own land, and came to Laban and served him; and there was given to him the sceptre of the twelve tribes of Israel.

===Chapter XXXII.-We are Justified Not by Our Own Works, But by Faith.===

Whosoever will candidly consider each particular, will recognise the greatness of the gifts which were given by him. For from him have sprung the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God. From him also [was descended] our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. From him [arose] kings, princes, and rulers of the race of Judah. Nor are his other tribes in small glory, inasmuch as God had promised, "Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven." All these, therefore, were highly honoured, and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they wrought, but through the operation of His will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

===Chapter XXXIII. But Let Us Not Owe Up the Practice of Good Works and Love. God Himself is an Example to Us of Good Works.===

What shall we do, then, brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be followed by us! But rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every good work. For the Creator and Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works. For by His infinitely great power He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible wisdom He adorned them. He also divided the earth from the water which surrounds it, and fixed it upon the immoveable foundation of His own will. The animals also which are upon it He commanded by His own word into existence. So likewise, when He had formed the sea, and the living creatures which are in it, He enclosed them [within their proper bounds] by His own power. Above all, with His holy and undefiled hands He formed man, the most excellent [of His creatures], and truly great through the understanding given him-the express likeness of His own image. For thus says God: "Let us make man in Our image, and after Our likeness. So God made man; male and female He created them." Having thus finished all these things, He approved them, and blessed them, and said, "Increase and multiply." We see, then, how all righteous men have been adorned with good works, and how the Lord Himself, adorning Himself with His works, rejoiced. Having therefore such an example, let us without delay accede to His will, and let us work the work of righteousness with our whole strength.

===Chapter XXXIV. Great is the Reward of Good Works with God. Joined Together in Harmony, Let Us Implore that Reward from Him.===

The good servant receives the bread of his labour with confidence; the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face. It is requisite, therefore, that we be prompt in the practice of well-doing; for of Him are all things. And thus He forewarns us: "Behold, the Lord [cometh], and His reward is before His face, to render to every man according to his work." He exhorts us, therefore, with our whole heart to attend to this, that we be not lazy or slothful in any good work. Let our boasting and our confidence be in Him. Let us submit ourselves to His will. Let us consider the whole multitude of His angels, how they stand ever ready to minister to His will. For the Scripture saith, "Ten thousand times ten thousand stood around Him, and thousands of thousands ministered unto Him, and cried, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord of Sabaoth; the whole creation is full of His glory." And let us therefore, conscientiously gathering together in harmony, cry to Him earnestly, as with one mouth, that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. For [the Scripture] saith, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which He hath prepared for them that wait for Him."

===Chapter XXXV. Immense is This Reward. How Shall We Obtain It?===

How blessed and wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God! Life in immortality, splendour in righteousness, truth in perfect confidence, faith in assurance, self-control in holiness! And all these fall under the cognizance of our understandings [now]; what then shall those things be which are prepared for such as wait for Him? The Creator and Father of all worlds, the Most Holy, alone knows their amount and their beauty. Let us therefore earnestly strive to be found in the number of those that wait for Him, in order that we may share in His promised gifts. But how, beloved, shall this be done? If our understanding be fixed by faith rewards God; if we earnestly seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we do the things which are in harmony with His blameless will; and if we follow the way of truth, casting away from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, along with all covetousness, strife, evil practices, deceit, whispering, and evil-speaking, all hatred of God, pride and haughtiness, vainglory and ambition. For they that do such things are hateful to God; and not only they that do them, but also those that take pleasure in them that do them. For the Scripture saith, "But to the sinner God said, Wherefore dost thou declare my statutes, and take my covenant into thy mouth, seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee? When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst with him, and didst make thy portion with adulterers. Thy mouth has abounded with wickedness, and thy tongue contrived deceit. Thou sittest, and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things thou hast done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest, wicked one, that I should be like to thyself. But I will reprove thee, and set thyself before thee. Consider now these things, ye that forget God, lest He tear you in pieces, like a lion, and there be none to deliver. The sacrifice of praise will glorify Me, and a way is there by which I will show him the salvation of God."

===Chapter XXXVI. All Blessings are Given to Us Through Christ.===

This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Saviour, even Jesus Christ, the High Priest of all our offerings, the defender and helper of our infirmity. By Him we look up to the heights of heaven. By Him we behold, as in a glass, His immaculate and most excellent visage. By Him are the eyes of our hearts opened. By Him our foolish and darkened understanding blossoms up anew towards His marvellous light. By Him the Lord has willed that we should taste of immortal knowledge, "who, being the brightness of His majesty, is by so much greater than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." For it is thus written, "Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire." But concerning His Son the Lord spoke thus: "Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession." And again He saith to Him, "Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." But who are His enemies? All the wicked, and those who set themselves to oppose the will of God.

===Chapter XXXVII. Christ is Our Leader, and We His Soldiers.===

Let us then, men and brethren, with all energy act the part of soldiers, in accordance with His holy commandments. Let us consider those who serve under our generals, with what order, obedience, and submissiveness they perform the things which are commanded them. All are not prefects, nor commanders of a thousand, nor of a hundred, nor of fifty, nor the like, but each one in his own rank performs the things commanded by the king and the generals. The great cannot subsist without the small, nor the small without the great. There is a kind of mixture in all things, and thence arises mutual advantage. Let us take our body for an example. The head is nothing without the feet, and the feet are nothing without the head; yea, the very smallest members of our body are necessary and useful to the whole body. But all work harmoniously together, and are under one common rule for the preservation of the whole body.

===Chapter XXXVIII. Let the Members of the Church Submit Themselves, and No One Exalt Himself Above Another.===

Let our whole body, then, be preserved in, Christ Jesus; and let every one be subject to his neighbour, according to the special gift bestowed upon him. Let the strong not despise the weak, and let the weak show respect unto the strong. Let the rich man provide for the wants of the poor; and let the poor man bless God, because He hath given him one by whom his need may be supplied. Let the wise man display his wisdom, not by [mere] words, but through good deeds. Let the humble not bear testimony to himself, but leave witness to be borne to him by another. Let him that is pure in the flesh not grow proud of it, and boast, knowing that it was another who bestowed on him the gift of continence. Let us consider, then, brethren, of what matter we were made,-who and what manner of beings we came into the world, as it were out of a sepulchre, and from utter darkness. He who made us and fashioned us, having prepared His bountiful gifts for us before we were born, introduced us into His world. Since, therefore, we receive all these things from Him, we ought for everything to give Him thanks; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

===Chapter XXXIX. There is No Reason for Self-Conceit.===

Foolish and inconsiderate men, who have neither wisdom nor instruction, mock and deride us, being eager to exalt themselves in their own conceits. For what can a mortal man do? or what strength is there in one made out of the dust? For it is written, "There was no shape before mine eyes, only I heard a sound, and a voice [saying], What then? Shall a man be pure before the Lord? or shall such an one be [counted] blameless in his deeds, seeing He does not confide in His servants, and has charged even His angels with perversity? The heaven is not clean in His sight: how much less they that dwell in houses of clay, of which also we ourselves were made! He smote them as a moth; and from morning even until evening they endure not. Because they could furnish no assistance to themselves, they perished. He breathed upon them, and they died, because they had no wisdom. But call now, if any one will answer thee, or if thou wilt look to any of the holy angels; for wrath destroys the foolish man, and envy killeth him that is in error. I have seen the foolish taking root, but their habitation was presently consumed. Let their sons be far from safety; let them be despised before the gates of those less than themselves, and there shall be none to deliver. For what was prepared for them, the righteous shall eat; and they shall not be delivered from evil."

===Chapter XL. Let Us Preserve in the Church the Order Appointed by God.===

These things therefore being manifest to us, and since we look into the depths of the divine knowledge, it behoves us to do all things in [their proper] order, which the Lord has commanded us to perform at stated times. He has enjoined offerings [to be presented] and service to be performed [to Him], and that not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done, He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will, in order that all things being piously done according to His good pleasure, may be acceptable unto Him. Those, therefore, who present their offerings at the appointed times, are accepted and blessed; for inasmuch as they follow the laws of the Lord, they sin not. For his own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests, and their own special ministrations devolve on the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen.

===Chapter XLI. Continuation of the Same Subject.===

Let every one of you, brethren, give thanks to God in his own order, living in all good conscience, with becoming gravity, and not going beyond the rule of the ministry prescribed to him. Not in every place, brethren, are the daily sacrifices offered, or the peace-offerings, or the sin-offerings and the trespass-offerings, but in Jerusalem only. And even there they are not offered in any place, but only at the altar before the temple, that which is offered being first carefully examined by the high priest and the ministers already mentioned. Those, therefore, who do anything beyond that which is agreeable to His will, are punished with death. Ye see, brethren, that the greater the knowledge that has been vouchsafed to us, the greater also is the danger to which we are exposed.

===Chapter XLII. The Order of Ministers in the Church.===

The apostles have preached the Gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ [has done so] from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe. Nor was this any new thing, since indeed many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus saith the Scripture in a certain place, "I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith."

===Chapter XLIII. Moses of Old Stilled the Contention Which Arose Concerning the Priestly Dignity.===

And what wonder is it if those in Christ who were entrusted with such a duty by God, appointed those [ministers] before mentioned, when the blessed Moses also, "a faithful servant in all his house," noted down in the sacred books all the injunctions which were given him, and when the other prophets also followed him, bearing witness with one consent to the ordinances which he had appointed? For, when rivalry arose concerning the priesthood, and the tribes were contending among themselves as to which of them should be adorned with that glorious title, he commanded the twelve princes of the tribes to bring him their rods, each one being inscribed with the name of the tribe. And he took them and bound them [together], and sealed them with the rings of the princes of the tribes, and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness on the table of God. And having shut the doors of the tabernacle, he sealed the keys, as he had done the rods, and said to them, Men and brethren, the tribe whose rod shall blossom has God chosen to fulfil the office of the priesthood, and to minister unto Him. And when the morning was come, he assembled all Israel, six hundred thousand men, and showed the seals to the princes of the tribes, and opened the tabernacle of witness, and brought forth the rods. And the rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed, but to bear fruit upon it. What think ye, beloved? Did not Moses know beforehand that this would happen? Undoubtedly he knew; but he acted thus, that there might be no sedition in Israel, and that the name of the true and only God might be glorified; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

===Chapter XLIV. The Ordinances of the Apostles, that There Might Be No Contention Respecting the Priestly Office.===

Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there would be strife on account of the office188 of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed those [ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by them, or afterwards by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and who have blame-lessly served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry. For our sin will not be small, if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties. Blessed are those presbyters who, having finished their course before now, have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure [from this world]; for they have no fear lest any one deprive them of the place now appointed them. But we see that ye have removed some men of excellent behaviour from the ministry, which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honour.

===Chapter XLV. It is the Part of the Wicked to Vex the Righteous.===

Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them. There you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who themselves were holy. The righteous were indeed persecuted, but only by the wicked. They were cast into prison, but only by the unholy; they were stoned, but only by transgressors; they were slain, but only by the accursed, and such as had conceived an unrighteous envy against them. Exposed to such sufferings, they endured them gloriously. For what shall we say, brethren? Was Daniel cast into the den of lions by such as feared God? Were Ananias, and Azarias, and Mishael shut up in a furnace of fire by those who observed the great and glorious worship of the Most High? Far from us be such a thought! Who, then, were they that did such things? The hateful, and those full of all wickedness, were roused to such a pitch of fury, that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose [of heart], not knowing that the Most High is the Defender and Protector of all such as with a pure conscience venerate His all-excellent name; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. But they who with confidence endured [these things] are now heirs of glory and honour, and have been exalted and made illustrious by God in their memorial for ever and ever. Amen.

===Chapter XLVI.Let Us Cleave to the Righteous: Your Strife is Pernicious.===

Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow; since it is written, "Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall [themselves] be made holy." And again, in another place, [the Scripture] saith, "With a harmless man thou shalt prove thyself harmless, and with an elect man thou shalt be elect, and with a perverse man thou shalt show thyself perverse." Let us cleave, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not [all] one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that "we are members one of another? " Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, "Woe to that man [by whom offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones. Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continueth.

===Chapter XLVII. Your Recent Discord is Worse Than the Former Which Took Place in the Times of Paul.===

Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the time when the Gospel first began to be preached? Truly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, because even then parties had been formed among you. But that inclination for one above another entailed less guilt upon you, inasmuch as your partialities were then shown towards apostles, already of high reputation, and towards a man whom they had approved. But now reflect who those are that have perverted you, and lessened the renown of your far-famed brotherly love. It is disgraceful, beloved, yea, highly disgraceful, and unworthy of your Christian profession, that such a thing should be heard of as that the most stedfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians should, on account of one or two persons, engage in sedition against its presbyters. And this rumour has reached not only us, but those also who are unconnected with us; so that, through your infatuation, the name of the Lord is blasphemed, while danger is also brought upon yourselves.

===Chapter XLVIII. Let Us Return to the Practice of Brotherly Love.===

Let us therefore, with all haste, put an end to this [state of things]; and let us fall down before the Lord, and beseech Him with tears, that He would mercifully be reconciled to us, and restore us to our former seemly and holy practice of brotherly love. For [such conduct] is the gate of righteousness, which is set open for the attainment of life, as it is written, "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go in by them, and will praise the Lord: this is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter in by it." Although, therefore, many gates have been set open, yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ by which blessed are all they that have entered in and have directed their way in holiness and righteousness, doing all things without disorder. Let a man be faithful: let him be powerful in the utterance of knowledge; let him be wise in judging of words; let him be pure in all his deeds; yet the more he seems to be superior to others [in these respects], the more humble-minded ought he to be, and to seek the common good of all, and not merely his own advantage.

===Chapter XLIX. The Praise of Love.===

Let him who has love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ. Who can describe the [blessed] bond of the love of God? What man is able to tell the excellence of its beauty, as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable. Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love beareth all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love admits of no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in harmony. By love have all the elect of God been made perfect; without love nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love has the Lord taken us to Himself. On account of the Love he bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.

===Chapter L. Let Us Pray to Be Thought Worthy of Love.===

Ye see, beloved, how great and wonderful a thing is love, and that there is no declaring its perfection. Who is fit to be found in it, except such as God has vouchsafed to render so? Let us pray, therefore, and implore of His mercy, that we may live blameless in love, free from all human partialities for one above another. All the generations from Adam even unto this day have passed away; but those who, through the grace of God, have been made perfect in love, now possess a place among the godly, and shall be made manifest at the revelation of the kingdom of Christ. For it is written, "Enter into thy secret chambers for a little time, until my wrath and fury pass away; and I will remember a propitious day, and will raise you up out of your graves." Blessed are we, beloved, if we keep the commandments of God in the harmony of love; that so through love our sins may be forgiven us. For it is written, "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not impute to him, and in whose mouth there is no guile." This blessedness cometh upon those who have been chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

===Chapter LI. Let the Partakers in Strife Acknowledge Their Sins.===

Let us therefore implore forgiveness for all those transgressions which through any [suggestion] of the adversary we have committed. And those who have been the leaders of sedition and disagreement ought to have respect to the common hope. For such as live in fear and love would rather that they themselves than their neighbours should be involved in suffering. And they prefer to bear blame themselves, rather than that the concord which has been well and piously handed down to us should suffer. For it is better that a man should acknowledge his transgressions than that he should harden his heart, as the hearts of those were hardened who stirred up sedition against Moses the servant of God, and whose condemnation was made manifest [unto all]. For they went down alive into Hades, and death swallowed them up. Pharaoh with his army and all the princes of Egypt, and the chariots with their riders, were sunk in the depths of the Red Sea, and perished, for no other reason than that their foolish hearts were hardened, after so many signs and wonders had been wrought in the land of Egypt by Moses the servant of God.

===Chapter LII. Such a Confession is Pleasing to God.===

The Lord, brethren, stands in need of nothing; and He desires nothing of any one, except that confession be made to Him. For, says the elect David, "I will confess unto the Lord ; and that will please Him more than a young bullock that hath horns and hoofs. Let the poor see it, and be glad." And again he saith, "Offer unto God the sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows unto the Most High. And call upon Me in the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." For "the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit."

===Chapter LIII.-The Love of Moses Towards His People.===

Ye understand, beloved, ye understand well the Sacred Scriptures, and ye have looked very earnestly into the oracles of God. Call then these things to your remembrance. When Moses went up into the mount, and abode there, with fasting and humiliation, forty days and forty nights, the Lord said unto him, "Moses, Moses, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people whom thou didst bring out of the land of Egypt have committed iniquity. They have speedily departed from the way in which I commanded them to walk, and have made to themselves molten images." And the Lord said unto him, "I have spoken to thee once and again, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people: let Me destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make thee a great and wonderful nation, and one much more numerous than this." But Moses said, "Far be it from Thee, Lord: pardon the sin of this people; else blot me also out of the book of the living." O marvellous love! O insuperable perfection! The servant speaks freely to his Lord, and asks forgiveness for the people, or begs that he himself might perish along with them.

Chapter LIV. He Who is Full of Love Will Incur Every Loss, that Peace May Be Restored to the Church.===

Who then among you is noble-minded? who compassionate? who full of love? Let him declare, "If on my account sedition and disagreement and schisms have arisen, I will depart, I will go away whithersoever ye desire, and I will do whatever the majority commands; only let the flock of Christ live on terms of peace with the presbyters set over it." He that acts thus shall procure to himself great glory in the Lord; and every place will welcome him. For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." These things they who live a godly life, that is never to be repented of, both have done and always will do.

===Chapter LV. Examples of Such Love.===

To bring forward some examples from among the heathen: Many kings and princes, in times of pestilence, when they had been instructed by an oracle, have given themselves up to death, in order that by their own blood they might deliver their fellow-citizens [from destruction]. Many have gone forth from their own cities, that so sedition might be brought to an end within them. We know many among ourselves who have given themselves up to bonds, in order that they might ransom others. Many, too, have surrendered themselves to slavery, that with the price which they received for themselves, they might provide food for others. Many women also, being strengthened by the grace of God, have performed numerous manly exploits. The blessed Judith, when her city was besieged, asked of the elders permission to go forth into the camp of the strangers; and, exposing herself to danger, she went out for the love which she bare to her country and people then besieged; and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hands of a woman. Esther also, being perfect in faith, exposed herself to no less danger, in order to deliver the twelve tribes of Israel from impending destruction. For with fasting and humiliation she entreated the everlasting God, who seeth all things; and He, perceiving the humility of her spirit, delivered the people for whose sake she had encountered peril.

===Chapter LVI. Let Us Admonish and Correct One Another.===

Let us then also pray for those who have fallen into any sin, that meekness and humility may be given to them, so that they may submit, not unto us, but to the will of God. For in this way they shall secure a fruitful and perfect remembrance from us, with sympathy for them, both in our prayers to God, and our mention of them to the saints. Let us receive correction, beloved, on account of which no one should feel displeased. Those exhortations by which we admonish one another are both good [in themselves] and highly profitable, for they tend to unite us to the will of God. For thus saith the holy Word: "The Lord hath severely chastened me, yet hath not given me over to death." "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." "The righteous," saith it, "shall chasten me in mercy, and reprove me; but let not the oil of sinners make fat my head." And again he saith, "Blessed is the man whom the Lord reproveth, and reject not thou the warning of the Almighty. For He causes sorrow, and again restores [to gladness]; He woundeth, and His hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in the seventh no evil shall touch thee. In famine He shall rescue thee from death, and in war He shall free thee from the power of the sword. From the scourge of the tongue will He hide thee, and thou shalt not fear when evil cometh. Thou shalt laugh at the unrighteous and the wicked, and shalt not be afraid of the beasts of the field. For the wild beasts shall be at peace with thee: then shalt thou know that thy house shall be in peace, and the habitation of thy tabernacle shall not fail. Thou shall know also that thy seed shall be great, and thy children like the grass of the field. And thou shall come to the grave like ripened corn which is reaped in its season, or like a heap of the threshing-floor which is gathered together at the proper time." Ye see, beloved, that protection is afforded to those that are chastened of the Lord; for since God is good, He corrects us, that we may be admonished by His holy chastisement.

===Chapter LVII. Let the Authors of Sedition Submit Themselves.===

Ye therefore, who laid the foundation of this sedition, submit yourselves to the presbyters, and receive correction so as to repent, bending the knees of your hearts. Learn to be subject, laying aside the proud and arrogant self-confidence of your tongue. For it is better for you that ye should occupy a humble but honourable place in the flock of Christ, than that, being highly exalted, ye should be cast out from the hope of His people. For thus speaketh all-virtuous Wisdom: "Behold, I will bring forth to you the words of My Spirit, and I will teach you My speech. Since I called, and ye did not hear; I held forth My words, and ye regarded not, but set at naught My counsels, and yielded not at My reproofs; therefore I too will laugh at your destruction; yea, I will rejoice when ruin cometh upon you, and when sudden confusion overtakes you, when overturning presents itself like a tempest, or when tribulation and oppression fall upon you. For it shall come to pass, that when ye call upon Me, I will not hear you; the wicked shall seek Me, and they shall not find Me. For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; nor would they listen to My counsels, but despised My reproofs. Wherefore they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and they shall be filled with their own ungodliness." ...

===Chapter LVIII. Blessings Sought for All that Call Upon God.===

May God, who seeth all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh-who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar people-grant to every soul that calleth upon His glorious and holy Name, faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing of His Name, through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty, and power, and honour, both now and for evermore. Amen.

===Chapter LIX. The Corinthians are Exhorted Speedily to Send Back Word that Peace Has Been Restored. The Benediction.===

Send back speedily to us in peace and with joy these our messengers to you: Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, with Fortunatus: that they may the sooner announce to us the peace and harmony we so earnestly desire and long for [among you], and that we may the more quickly rejoice over the good order re-established among you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and with all everywhere that are the called of God through Him, by whom be to Him glory, honour, power, majesty, and eternal dominion, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

----

Return to [[The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians]] contents page.

Return to [[Writings of the Early Church Fathers]] contents page.

[[Category:Early Church Writings]]

The Five Pillars of Islam

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Mustaphile: The Five Pillars of Islam MUSTAPHILE moved to The Five Pillars of Islam

===Introduction===
The Five Pillars are universal and undisputed. The Five Pillars are mentioned in the Qur'an, but not explained. The ''[[Sunnah]]'' is neccessary to understand them.

===Declaration of Faith: ''Shahadah''===
"There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet." The shahadah is the pinicle of belief. Muslims speak this often; it is a convert's first words spoken as a Muslim.

===Prayer: ''Salat''===
The five daily prayers are obligatory for all Muslims. ''Salat'' begins with ablution, purification washing. Prayer is divided into repititions of rak'as, standing, bowing, sitting, prostrating, quoting the Qur'an, and reciting prayers. Each prayer is begun by the ''adhan'', the call to prayer. In Muslim countries, the ''adhan'' is recited through the minarets of mosques, the reason they were built.

The prayers are ''salat-ul-fair'', the morning prayer, ''salat-ul-zuhr'', the noon prayer, ''salat-ul-asr'', the afternoon prayer, ''salat-ul-maghrib'', the evening prayer, and ''salat-ul-isha'', the night prayer. The prayers are not identical, some are longer than others. Muslims may choose to extend their prayers as they wish. The times are in accordance with the position of the sun, so the times do not stay the same.

The ''Qibla'', direction of ''salat'' points to the [[Kaaba]] in Mecca, thus every Muslim faces the same point. And because the prayers are at different times on the earth, the prayers never stop. Originally the ''Qibla'' faced Jerusalem, but was later changed.

===Almsgiving: ''Zakat''===

===Fasting during Ramadan: ''Sawm''===

===Pilgrimage: ''Hajj''===

Text:Fragments of Papias

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Mustaphile: Fragments of Papias MUSTAPHILE moved to Fragments of Papias

==Introductory Note to the Fragments of Papias.==

[a.d. 70-155.] It seems unjust to the holy man of whose comparatively large contributions to early Christian literature such mere relics have been preserved, to set them forth in these versions, unaccompanied by the copious annotations of Dr. Routh. If even such crumbs from his table are not by any means without a practical value, with reference to the Canon and other matters, we may well credit the testimony (though disputed) of Eusebius, that he was a learned man, and well versed in the Holy Scripture. All who name poor Papias are sure to do so with the apologetic qualification of that historian, that he was of slender capacity. Nobody who attributes to him the millenarian fancies, of which he was but a narrator, as if these were the characteristics rather than the blemishes of his works, can fail to accept this estimate of our author. But more may be said when we come to the great name of Irenaeus, who seems to make himself responsible for them.

Papias has the credit of association with Polycarp, in the friendship of St. John himself, and of "others who had seen the Lord." He is said to have been bishop of Hierapolis, in Phrygia, and to have died about the same time that Polycarp suffered; but even this is questioned. So little do we know of one whose lost books, could they be recovered, might reverse the received judgment, and establish his claim to the disputed tribute which makes him, like Apollos, "an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures."

The following is the original Introductory Notice:-

The principal information in regard to Papias is given in the extracts made among the fragments from the works of Irenaeus and Eusebius. He was bishop of the Church in Hierapolis, a city of Phrygia, in the first half of the second century. Later writers affirm that he suffered martyrdom about a.d. 163; some saying that Rome, others that Pergamus, was the scene of his death.He was a hearer of the Apostle John, and was on terms of intimate intercourse with many who had known the Lord and His apostles. From these he gatherer! the floating traditions in regard to the sayings of our Lord, and wove them into a production divided into five books. This work does not seem to have been confined to an exposition of the sayings of Christ, but to have contained much historical information.

Eusebius288 speaks of Papias as a man most learned in all things, and well acquainted with the Scriptures. In another passage he describes him as of small capacity. The fragments of Papias are translated from the text given in Routh's Reliquiae Sacrae, vol. i.

==Fragments of Papias==

===I. From the Exposition of the Oracles of the Lord.===

[The writings of Papias in common circulation are five in number, and these are called an Exposition of the Oracles of the Lord. Irenaeus makes mention of these as the only works written by him, in the following words: "Now testimony is borne to these things in writing by Papias, an ancient man, who was a hearer of John, and a friend of Polycarp, in the fourth of his books; for five books were composed by him." Thus wrote Irenaeus. Moreover, Papias himself, in the introduction to his books, makes it manifest that he was not himself a hearer and eye-witness of the holy apostles; but he tells us that he received the truths of our religion from those who were acquainted with them [the apostles] in the following words: ]

But I shall not be unwilling to put down, along with my interpretations, whatsoever instructions I received with care at any time from the elders, and stored up with care in my memory, assuring you at the same time of their truth. For I did not, like the multitude, take pleasure in those who spoke much, but in those who taught the truth; nor in those who related strange commandments, but in those who rehearsed the commandments given by the Lord to faith, and proceeding from truth itself. If, then, any one who had attended on the elders came, I asked minutely after their sayings,-what Andrew or Peter said, or what was said by Philip, or by Thomas, or by James, or by John, or by Matthew, or by any other of the Lord's disciples: which things Aristion and the presbyter John, the disciples of the Lord, say. For I imagined that what was to be got from books was not so profitable to me as what came from the living and abiding voice.

===II.===

[The early Christians] called those who practised a godly guilelessness, children, [as is stated by Papias in the first book of the Lord's Expositions, and by Clemens Alexandrinus in his Paedagogue.]

===III.===

Judas walked about in this world a sad example of impiety; for his body having swollen to such an extent that he could not pass where a chariot could pass easily, he was crushed by the chariot, so that his bowels gushed out.

===IV.===

[As the elders who saw John the disciple of the Lord remembered that they had heard from him how the Lord taught in regard to those times, and said]: "The days will come in which vines shall grow, having each ten thousand branches, and in each branch ten thousand twigs, and in each true twig ten thousand shoots, and in every one of the shoots ten thousand clusters, and on every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes, and every grape when pressed will give five-and-twenty metretes of wine. And when any one of the saints shall lay hold of a cluster, another shall cry out, `I am a better cluster, take me; bless the Lord through me.' In like manner, [He said] that a grain of wheat would produce ten thousand ears, and that every ear would have ten thousand grains, and every grain would yield ten pounds of clear, pure, fine flour; and that apples, and seeds, and grass would produce in similar proportions; and that all animals, feeding then only on the productions of the earth, would become peaceable and harmonious, and be in perfect subjection to man." [Testimony is borne to these things in writing by Papias, an ancient man, who was a hearer of John and a friend of Polycarp, in the fourth of his books; for five books were composed by him. And he added, saying, "Now these things are credible to believers. And Judas the traitor," says he, "not believing, and asking, `How shall such growths be accomplished by the Lord? 'the Lord said, `They shall see who shall come to them.' These, then, are the times mentioned by the prophet Isaiah: `And the wolf shall lie, down with the lamb, 'etc. (Isa. xi. 6 ff.)."]

===V.===

As the presbyters say, then those who are deemed worthy of an abode in heaven shall go there, others shall enjoy the delights of Paradise, and others shall possess the splendour of the city; for everywhere the Saviour will be seen, according as they shall be worthy who see Him. But that there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce an hundred-fold, and that of those who produce sixty-fold, and that of those who produce thirty-fold; for the first will be taken up into the heavens, the second class will dwell in Paradise, and the last will inhabit the city; and that on this account the Lord said, "In my Father's house are many mansions:" for all things belong to God, who supplies all with a suitable dwelling-place, even as His word says, that a share is given to all by the Father, according as each one is or shall be worthy. And this is the couch in which they shall recline who feast, being invited to the wedding. The presbyters, the disciples of the apostles, say that this is the gradation and arrangement of those who are saved, and that they advance through steps of this nature; and that, moreover, they ascend through the Spirit to the Son, and through the Son to the Father; and that in due time the Son will yield up His work to the Father, even as it is said by the apostle, "For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." For in the times of the kingdom the just man who is on the earth shall forget to die. "But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."

===VI.===

[Papias, who is now mentioned by us, affirms that he received the sayings of the apostles from those who accompanied them, and he moreover asserts that he heard in person Aristion and the presbyter John. Accordingly he mentions them frequently by name, and in his writings gives their traditions. Our notice of these circumstances may not be without its use. It may also be worth while to add to the statements of Papias already given, other passages of his in which he relates some miraculous deeds, stating that he acquired the knowledge of them from tradition. The residence of the Apostle Philip with his daughters in Hierapolis has been mentioned above. We must now point out how Papias, who lived at the same time, relates that he had received a wonderful narrative from the daughters of Philip. For he relates that a dead man was raised to life in his day. He also mentions another miracle relating to Justus, surnamed Barsabas, how he swallowed a deadly poison, and received no harm, on account of the grace of the Lord. The same person, moreover, has set down other things as coming to him from unwritten tradition, amongst these some strange parables and instructions of the Saviour, and some other things of a more fabulous nature. Amongst these he says that there will be a millennium after the resurrection from the dead, when the personal reign of Christ will be established on this earth. He moreover hands down, in his own writing, other narratives given by the previously mentioned Aristion of the Lord's sayings, and the traditions of the presbyter John. For information on these points, we can merely refer our readers to the books themselves; but now, to the extracts already made, we shall add, as being a matter of primary importance, a tradition regarding Mark who wrote the Gospel, which he [Papias] has given in the following words]: And the presbyter said this. Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatsoever he remembered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said, he accompanied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his hearers], but with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord's sayings. Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them. For of one thing he took especial care, not to omit anything he had heard, and not to put anything fictitious into the statements. [This is what is related by Papias regarding Mark; but with regard to Matthew he has made the following statements]: Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could. [The same person uses proofs from the First Epistle of John, and from the Epistle of Peter in like manner. And he also gives another story of a woman who was accused of many sins before the Lord, which is to be found in the Gospel according to the Hebrews.]

===VII.===

Papias thus speaks, word for word: To some of them [angels] He gave dominion over the arrangement of the world, and He commissioned them to exercise their dominion well. And he says, immediately after this: but it happened that their arrangement came to nothing.

===VIII.===

With regard to the inspiration of the book (Revelation), we deem it superfluous to add another word; for the blessed Gregory Theologus and Cyril, and even men of still older date, Papias, Irenaeus, Methodius, and Hippolytus, bore entirely satisfactory testimony to it.

===IX.===

Taking occasion from Papias of Hierapolis, the illustrious, a disciple of the apostle who leaned on the bosom of Christ, and Clemens, and Pantaenus the priest of [the Church] of the Alexandrians, and the wise Ammonius, the ancient and first expositors, who agreed with each other, who understood the work of the six days as referring to Christ and the whole Church.

===X.===

(1.) Mary the mother of the Lord; (2.) Mary the wife of Cleophas or Alphaeus, who was the mother of James the bishop and apostle, and of Simon and Thaddeus, and of one Joseph; (3.) Mary Salome, wife of Zebedee, mother of John the evangelist and James; (4.) Mary Magdalene. These four are found in the Gospel. James and Judas and Joseph were sons of an aunt (2) of the Lord's. James also and John were sons of another aunt (3) of the Lord's. Mary (2), mother of James the Less and Joseph, wife of Alphaeus was the sister of Mary the mother of the Lord, whom John names of Cleophas, either from her father or from the family of the clan, or for some other reason. Mary Salome (3) is called Salome either from her husband or her village. Some affirm that she is the same as Mary of Cleophas, because she had two husbands.

----

Return to [[Volume I (ECF)|Volume I]] contents page.

Return to [[Writings of the Early Church Fathers]] contents page.

Jack Miles (overview)

2006-05-31T14:18:20Z

Mustaphile: Jack Miles (overview) MUSTAPHILE moved to Jack Miles (overview)

'''Jack Miles'''' work has appeared in numerous national publications, including The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times.

His first book, ''[[God: A Biography]]'', won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1996 and has been translated into sixteen languages.

His second book, ''[[Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God]]'', was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2002. Since publishing it, Dr. Miles has been named a MacArthur Fellow for the period 2003-2007.

Born in [[Chicago]] in 1942, Jack Miles was a [[Jesuit]] seminarian from 1960 to 1970, studying at the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] in [[Rome]] and the [[Hebrew University]] in [[Jerusalem]] before completing a doctorate in the department of Near Eastern Languages at Harvard. He is fluent in several languages.

Over a period of nearly 20 years (1975-95), Jack Miles was successively an editor at Doubleday, the executive editor at the University of California Press, the literary editor at the Los Angeles Times, and a member of the Times editorial board, writing on politics and culture.

Jack Miles has been a Mellon visiting professor of humanities at Caltech, the director of the Humanities Center at the [[Claremont Graduate University]], a Regents' Lecturer at the University of California, and a visiting fellow with the Committee on the Conceptual Foundations of Science at the University of Chicago.

Currently senior advisor to the president of the J. Paul Getty Trust, a foundation supporting art and scholarship, Jack Miles lives in Southern California with his wife, Jacqueline, a psychologist. Their daughter, Kathleen is attending Berkeley.

BIOGRAPHY USED WITH PERMISSION BY THE AUTHOR & JACKMILES.COM WEBMASTER

'''External links'''

[http://www.jackmiles.com/ JackMiles.com]

[http://www.ericdavid.info Eric David]

----

Go to [[Jack miles]] contents page

Pope John Paul II dies (April 2, 2005)

2006-05-31T14:17:45Z

Mustaphile: Pope John Paul II dies (MUSTAPHILE) moved to Pope John Paul II dies (April 2, 2005)

[[Pope John Paul II]], the third longest-serving pontiff in history, has died at the age of 84.

The Pope died in his private apartment at the Vatican at 2137 local time (1937 GMT) on Saturday, surrounded by his closest Polish aides.

----

'''External links'''

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4399715.stm BBC - Pope John Paul II dies]

Wikipedia's article on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II Pope John Paul II]

----

Return to [[News]] contents page

Natural theology

2006-05-31T14:15:13Z

Mustaphile: Natural theology MUSTAPHILE moved to Natural theology

''In brief'': Natural theology is the branch of philosophy and theology concerned with what can be known or rationally believed about God on the basis of human reason. It includes both the development and analysis of arguments for God's existence, as well as reflection on the nature and attributes of God.

----

'''Overviews'''
* [[An overview of natural theology]]
* [[Revelation of God (theopedia)]]

'''Articles and opinions'''
* [[Comments regarding natural theology]]

'''Quotes'''
* [[Quotes about natural theology]]

'''See also'''
* [[Creation science, intelligent design and evolution]]

----

Go to [[Theology]] contents page

Luke

2006-05-31T14:14:48Z

Mustaphile: Luke MUSTAPHILE moved to Luke

''In brief'': The Gospel of Luke is the third of the four accounts of the life of Jesus in New Testament. Although the text does not name its author, the modern consensus follows the traditional view that this gospel and the Acts of the Apostles were both written by Luke.

''This page refers to the Gospel According to Luke. '''See also''' ''
* [[Luke (the Gospel writer)]]

----

'''Overviews of the Gospel according to Luke'''
* [[An introduction to the Gospel according to Luke]]
* [[Bible Dictionary: Luke]]
* [[Bible Dictionary: Luke, Gospel of]]
* [[Gospel of Luke (theopedia)]]

'''Different translations of the Gospel according to Luke'''
* [[Bible, English, King James, Luke]]
* [[Bible, English, World English, Luke]]
* [[Bible, English, American Standard Version, Luke]]

'''Studies in Luke'''
* [[Apologetics: Luke]]
* [[Mathew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible: Luke]]

'''Articles / opinions'''
* [[Ccomments about the gospel of Luke]]

'''Quotes'''
* [[Quotes about the Gospel according to Luke]]

'''Related topics'''
* [[Jesus]]
* [[Luke (the Gospel writer)]]

----

Return to [[Bible]] contents page

Moore College (Sydney, Australia)

2006-05-31T14:14:44Z

Mustaphile: Moore College (Sydney, Australia) MUSTAPHILE moved to Moore College (Sydney, Australia)

''In brief'': Moore Theological College, otherwise known as just Moore College, is the Theological Training Seminary for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Australia. It has a strong tradition of Conservative, Calvinist and Evangelical Theology.

----

'''Overviews'''
* [[About Moore Theological College]]
* [[Moore College (wikipedia)]]

'''Articles and opinions'''
* [[Comments about Moore College]]

'''Quotes'''
* [[Quotes about Moore College]]

'''See also'''
* [[The Anglican Church in New South Wales]]

'''External links'''
* [http://www.moore.edu.au/ Official website of Moore College]

----

Go to [[Churches in New South Wales]] contents page

A Mighty Stronghold is our God (lyrics)

2006-05-31T14:13:59Z

Mustaphile: A Mighty Stronghold is MUSTAPHILE moved to A Mighty Stronghold is our God (lyrics)

{{stub}}

A mighty stronghold is our God

A sure defence and weapon

He'll help us out of every need

Whatever now may happen

The ancient evil fiend

Has deadly ill in mind

Great power and craft are his

His armour gruesome is

On earth is not his equal

With our own strength is nothing done

Soon we are lost, dejected

But for us fights the rightful Man

Whom God himself elected

You ask, "Who may this be?"

Christ Jesus is he

The Lord Sabaoth's Son

Our God, and he alone

Shall hold the field victorious

And though the world were full of fiends

All lurking to devour us

We tremble not nor fear their bands

They shall not overpower us

The prince of this world's ill

May scowl upon us still

He cannot do us harm

To judgement he has come

One word can swiftly fell him

The Word they must allow to stand

For this they win no merit

Upon the field, so near at hand

He gives to us his Spirit

And though they take our life

Goods, honour, child and wife

Though we must let all go

They will not profit so

To us remains the Kingdom

{{song}}
[[Category:Songs]]

Song lyrics:A

2006-05-31T14:11:34Z

Mustaphile: Song lyrics:A MUSTAPHILE moved to Song lyrics:A

{{stub}}

[[Above All (song)|Above All]]

[[All creatures of our God and king]]

[[All people that on earth do dwell]]

[[All things are possible]]

[[Amazing Grace (song)|Amazing Grace]]

[[Amazing grace, amazing love]]

[[Amazing love]]

[[Angels from the realms of glory]]

[[As the deer]]

[[Away in a manger]]

[[Awesome God]]

{{song}}

User talk:Ymmotrojam

2006-05-31T14:08:36Z

Mustaphile: User talk:MUSTAPHILE moved to User talk:Ymmotrojam

Song lyrics:A

2006-05-31T14:01:29Z

Mustaphile: Song lyrics:A MUSTAPHILE MUSTAPHILE moved to Song lyrics:A MUSTAPHILE

Pauline epistles

2006-05-31T14:01:26Z

Mustaphile: Pauline epistles MUSTAPHILE moved to Pauline epistles

The Pauline [[Introductions to the New Testament letters | epistles]] include:

[[Romans]]

[[1 Corinthians]]

[[2 Corinthians]]

[[Galatians]]

[[Ephesians]]

[[Philippians]]

[[Colossians]]

[[1 Thessalonians]]

[[2 Thessalonians]]

[[1 Timothy]]

[[2 Timothy]]

[[Titus]]

[[Philemon]]

These letters are titled the Pauline epistles because they each make an internal claim to have been written by [[Paul the Apostle]].

God is not a Secret (lyrics)

2006-05-31T14:01:16Z

Mustaphile: God is not MUSTAPHILE moved to God is not a Secret (lyrics)

''(A song by the [[Newsboys]])''

You don't understand

This is not what you think it is

You don't get it man

You want to boil it down to show biz

Your in-depth research shows

Drop the God, emphasize the beat

I've heard that positive pop you dig

I'd rather be buried in wet concrete

Take back your free advice

I don't accept

I will not play those games

God is not a secret to be kept

You don't understand

I'm not talking multiple choice

You don't get it man

If the cross offends you, find another voice

I am not running for office here

I won't keep it purposefully vague

I've heard New Age Life-force trip

I'd rather be dipped in bubonic plague

Take back your free advice

I don't accept

I will not play those games

God is not a secret to be kept

If we keep silent

If we mass defect

These very rocks will scream

God is not a secret to be kept

And would I wash my hands again?

Would I deny my saviour when

He hung inside that public square?

Did not my silence put him there?

[[Category:Songs]]

{{song}}

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints

2006-05-31T14:00:24Z

Mustaphile: The Church of Jesus Christ and MUSTAPHILE moved to The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints

''' ''See [[Mormonism]]'' '''

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints is the main Mormon sect with over 12 million adherents world-wide, with about half in the United States of America. It is discussed under [[Mormonism]]

User talk:Ann2911

2006-05-27T03:49:51Z

Mustaphile: Thanks

Thank you for your contributions and welcome to Wikichristian. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 20:49, 26 May 2006 (PDT)

User talk:Markmorgans

2006-05-27T03:48:31Z

Mustaphile: Thanks

Thank you for your contributions and welcome to Wikichristian. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 20:48, 26 May 2006 (PDT)

User talk:Christopherc

2006-05-27T03:46:55Z

Mustaphile: Welcome

Thank you for your contributions and welcome to Wikichristian. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 20:46, 26 May 2006 (PDT)

Hope Community Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

2006-05-24T07:48:37Z

Mustaphile: /* Hope Community Church */

== Hope Community Church ==

"Vintage Christianity for the next generation..."

We are a 10-year-old church with many attendees coming from the University of Minnesota and other colleges in the Twin Cities. We are dual-affiliated with the Baptist General Conference [http://www.bgcworld.org] and the Evangelical Free Church of America [http://www.efca.org]. We exist to point people towards salvation in Christ alone and to the Bible as the relevant and inerrant Word of God.

Summer service times:
* 9:00 am

Fall, Winter, Spring service times:
* 9:00am
* 10:30am "Connection Time"
* 11:00am

Senior Pastor: Steve Treichler 
Associate Pastor: Cor Chmieleski
== Location ==
707 10th Ave. S. 
Minneapolis, MN 55414

(next to the Metrodome)

== Website ==
[http://www.hopecc.com www.hopecc.com]

Hope Community Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

2006-05-24T07:45:50Z

Mustaphile: minor edits

== Hope Community Church ==

"Vintage Christianity for the next generation..."

We are a 10-year-old church with many attendees coming from the University of Minnesota and other colleges in the Twin Cities. We are dual-affiliated with the Baptist General Conference [http://www.bgcworld.org] and the Evangelical Free Church of America [http://www.efca.org]. We exist to point people towards salvation in Christ alone and to the Bible as the relevant and inerrant Word of God.

Summer service times:
* 9:00 am

Fall, Winter, Spring service times:
* 9:00am
* 10:30am "Connection Time"
* 11:00am

Senior Pastor: Steve Treichler
Associate Pastor: Cor Chmieleski

707 10th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55414

(next to the Metrodome)
== Website ==
[http://www.hopecc.com www.hopecc.com]

WikiChristian:Site support

2006-05-22T01:49:27Z

Mustaphile: added some content with regards to donations.

Please see the [[Wiki christian server status]] page for information regarding helping with the Wikichristian server.

WikiChristian:Community Portal

2006-05-22T01:44:32Z

Mustaphile: moved comments to the talk page..

[[Wikichristian]] is '''both''' a [[Christian]] [[wikipedia:encyclopedia|encyclopedia]] and a [[wikipedia:wiki|wiki]] community. You can [[wikichristian:How to edit a page|edit]] and [[Help:Starting a new page|create]] articles on Wikichristian. Learn how to contribute with the [[wikichristian:Tutorial|tutorial]] (or just play around in our [[wikichristian:Sandbox|sandbox]]). Due to the repeated attacks of vandalism on our wiki, we had to protect many immature pages. If you would like to edit a [[Wikichristian:protected page|protected page]], please contact one of the [[Special:Listadmins|sysops]] or leave a message in the [[WikiChristian talk:Community Portal|talk page]] here. Thank you for the understanding and for your help in building and preserving this site.

You may also be interested in other [[Christian wikis]].

__NOTOC__
{| cellspacing="3" cellpadding="3"
|- valign="top"
== <center>[[Wikichristian:Introduction|Introduction]] - [[Wikichristian:Tutorial|Tutorial]]</center> ==

|style="border: solid 1px #aaaaaa;" width="50%" valign="top"|

=== Looking for something to do? ===

----

'''The following are some prioritized suggestions.'''
[[Image:Evolution-tasks.png|right|<nowiki></nowiki>]]
* Write new [[articles]] for Wikichristian. To get started, create the article title on the [[articles]] page.
* Write articles linked off the [[Main Page]]. Links shown in red are to topical pages that still need to be written.
* Write articles for any of the pages listed on [[Special:Wantedpages|Wanted pages]]. Wanted pages are articles that do not exist, but already have at least two links to them from other articles.
* Look at the [[Special:Shortpages|Short pages]] page. Many articles here may be just the start of an article that need a lot more information. You may be able to add to these.
* Otherwise, browse the [[Main Page|Wikichristian content]], and see if you can add more information or correct anything within this archive.
* For a more complete list of places to help, consult our [[Wikichristian:To_do_list|To-do List]]

|style="border: solid 1px #aaaaaa;" width="50%" valign="top"|

=== Collaborative Projects ===

----

'''We have a number of big projects that require assistance.''' 
====The Book of First Samuel (Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible)====
* Our current collaborative project is the '''Book of First Samuel''' within the [[Mathew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible|Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible]] article. Details of how you can get involved and help make WikiChristian the best Christian resource online are on the [[Talk:Mathew_Henry_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible|Talk]] page of the [[Mathew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible|Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible]] article.
|- valign="top"
|style="border: solid 1px #aaaaaa;" width="50%" valign="top"|

=== Guide to Writing for Wikichristian ===

----

*Wikichristian is a collaborative effort and your help is needed. Before getting started please view our [[guidelines]].

*If you are unfamiliar with the Wiki software, then authoring within Wikichristian will require a little education. To help you get started view our [[how to edit]] page.

*To take the next step and learn how to accomplished more advanced features within your page view our [[formatting help]] page.

|style="border: solid 1px #aaaaaa;" width="50%" valign="top"|

=== Administration and Maintenance ===

----

* Want to contact an [[Special:Listadmins|administrator]]?

* Got something to say about Wikichristian? Suggestions, questions, or complaints? Use the [[Wikichristian:discussions|discussions page]].

* Found a page you don't think belongs on Wikichristian? [[Wikichristian:recommend deletion|Recommend it for deletion]].

* Spotted some vandalism? [[Wikichristian:vandalism|Please notify us!]]

|}

Please see [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_i18n documentation on customizing the interface]
and the [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User%27s_Guide User's Guide] for usage and configuration help.

[[Category:help]]

==Directory Listing of Churches==

Please visit the [[Directory listing of churches around the world]] and add your church into the database. It would be a wonderful and remarkable thing if WikiChristian could have a listing of all the churches in the world with a short description of the church making a note of the service times and the address. For example, the church I go to is [[St Matthew's and St Bart's Anglican Churches in Adelaide, South Australia]], which can be reached by following: [[Churches in Australasia and the Pacific islands]] -> [[Churches in Australia]] -> [[Churches in South Australia]] -> [[Churches in Adelaide and its suburbs]]. So, if your a regular attender of a church, why not add it to the database? --[[User:Graham grove|Graham grove]] 09:48, 19 Sep 2005 (EDT)

==Bible Contributors==

Users who contribute to the Bible-centric sections of this site, please visit [[Bible Contributors]] and share your thoughts, opinions, and vision. Thanks! [[User:Cpark|Cpark]] 03:20, 12 Oct 2005 (EDT)

WikiChristian talk:Community Portal

2006-05-22T01:44:28Z

Mustaphile: added comments from article to the talk page.

{{archivebox|[[Wikichristian talk:Community Portal/Archive 1|1]]}}

==Collaborative Project (First Samuel)==
I've kick started a collaborative project with a fairly simple and easily attainable goal. The completion of First Samuel in the [[Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible]] article. Please see the [[Wikichristian:Community Portal|Community Portal]] Collaborative Projects notice for further information. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 14:11, 20 April 2006 (EDT)

==Welcome Stranger==

Someone may be impersonating [[User:Mustaphile]]. Totally uncharacteristic. [[User:Athrash|Athrash]] | [[User_talk:Athrash|{Talk)]] 00:04, 11 May 2006 (PDT)
:Yeah, they signed up with my nickname, but substituted a capital 'i' for the lowercase 'l' in my nickname. The way the fonts look on the screen its barely noticeable. :) --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 02:42, 12 May 2006 (PDT)

WikiChristian:Page Layout

2006-05-22T01:42:55Z

Mustaphile: added category Category:help

=="Stub" pages that need work==

There are plenty of pages that have only minimal content and require a lot of work. A link to the list of stubs can be found here: [[Stub]]

==Starting A New Page==

New pages can be created by following a link to a nonexistent page ("red link") or by editing the last part of the URL of another page in the same project. It is useful to create a page by following a link, or create links to the new page right after creating the page, to avoid the new page being isolated. You can search for any existing articles with the same or similar content and create a new page if none exists. In order to create a new page, go to any relevant existing pages, and enclose the word or words in double square brackets '''<nowiki>[[like this]]</nowiki>''' and the link will be displayed '''[[like this]]'''

==Test your skills==

You can test your editing skills in [[sand box]].

==Style==

When editing or creating a page, there are no set guidelines as to what the page should look like or how it should be laid out. The following are some ideas, but by no means prescriptive rules that need to be followed

Different sorts of pages may include
* '''Contents page''' of a topic
** '''Why have contents pages? Why not make this like wikipedia?''' These are reasonable questions. If you are creating a page for a topic, you do not need to make a contents page. There are many advantages to a contents page for the topic however, including:
*** The page doesn't get absolutely enormous
*** People can write specific sub-page that contain opinions
*** If this was only meant to be an encyclopedia, then Wikipedia would suffice, and there would be no need for WikiChristian - having a contents page allows this to be more a text-book and forum for discussion than a plain encyclopedia
** '''How to lay-out a contents page?''' If creatining or editing a contents page, one standardized approach could be as follows (for an example see the [[Grace]] contents page)
*** Start with a famous quote or a Bible quote
*** Then have a brief 2 or 3 sentence summary or definition of the subject
*** Then have a sub-heading '''Definitions / explanations''' followed by links to specific articles defining or explaining the topic
*** Then have a sub-heading '''Articles / opinions''' followed by (1) a link where people can write short comments and opinions about the topic and (2) links of longer opinion articles
*** Then have a sub-heading '''Quotes''' followed by links for famous quotes about the topic, and Bible quotes about the topic
*** Then have other miscellaneous sub-headings, depending on the topic, these may include: Travel stories, Testimonies, Songs about, Famous people etc...

''Below, see an example of the code for a contents page. Click here to see how the page would look [[Sample contents page]]''

<pre>
{{box2 | text=''But the Lord said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." ([[2 Corinthians]] 12: 9)''}}

''In brief:'' grace is God's love poured out on undeserving humanity. All have fallen
short of the glory of God - all have sinned. Yet God loves us still.
Nothing we do can restore us to a right relationship with God.
It is only through faith in Christ, in his death and resurrection that we can return to God.''

----

'''Definitions and explanations'''
* [[Summarising of Grace (extracts from Compass)]]
* [[The Christian teaching of Grace]]
* [[Prevenient Grace]]
* [[Divine Grace (wikipedia)]]
* [[Bible Dictionary: Grace]]

'''Articles / opinions'''
* [[Some short comments and thoughts on what Grace means by various users]]
* [[Grace - Justification by faith alone (By G.G.)]]

'''Quotes'''
* [[Bible quotes about Grace]]
* [[Famous quotes about Grace]]

'''Testimonies'''
* [[Stories of grace]]

'''Songs about grace'''
* [[Words to Amazing Grace|Words to the hymn ''Amazing Grace'']]
* [[Words to When I survey the wondrous Cross|Words to the hymn ''When I survey the wondrous Cross'']]

----

Go to [[Justification, salvation and grace]] contents page
</pre>

* '''Encyclopedia or dictionary''' style definition of a word
* '''Short comments page''' of a topic
* '''Opinion page''' explaining your particular viewpoint of a topic
* '''Quotes page''' with famous quotes about a topic or Bible qoutes about a topic
* '''Miscellaneous''' more speciliazed pages
** These include
*** Pages related to the [[Song information and lyrics]] section including: Song lyrics; Song chords; About the song
*** Pages related to the [[Travel stories]] secttion including: Extracts from personal travellogues
*** Original uncopyrighted texts related to the [[Bible]] and [[Bible studies, sermons, commentaries and references]] such as the text of the World English Bible and Pilgrim's Progress and so on

However you decide to organize your page, the main thing is to try to keep its structure logical and the page easy to find. Good luck and thanks for contributing.

[[Category:Help]]

WikiChristian:Page Layout

2006-05-22T01:42:07Z

Mustaphile: added category Category:help

User talk:Ymmotrojam

2006-05-22T01:34:04Z

Mustaphile: /* regarding 'orthodoxwiki' */

User talk:Ymmotrojam

2006-05-22T01:31:28Z

Mustaphile: /* regarding 'orthodoxwiki' */ additional comment

== request for sysopship ==

I would like to be one so I can combat vandals and such... --[[User:Ymmotrojam|Tom]] 22:32, 19 May 2006 (PDT)
:Yeah, I think thats a good idea. I don't think Prab will mind me doing so. {{smile}} --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 22:48, 19 May 2006 (PDT)
==regarding 'orthodoxwiki'==
Yeah, I popped over to the orthodox wiki to see what the relationship is, and it seems the same person is over there harassing the sysops and generaling vandalising things as well. I would assume its some misguided attempt to make people believe that someone from the orthodox wiki is coming to this wiki and vandalising things. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 18:12, 21 May 2006 (PDT)
:I noticed that Magda tried banning an ip range over there. It might be something for us to look at. I don't see anymore edits by the vandal since that time. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 18:31, 21 May 2006 (PDT)
(Block log); 22:01 . . Magda (Talk) (blocked "User:82.50.0.0/16" with an expiry time of 1 year: vandalism)

User talk:Ymmotrojam

2006-05-22T01:12:52Z

Mustaphile: reply to comment on user page

User talk:Mustaphile http://www.givemepink.com

2006-05-21T23:21:49Z

Mustaphile: Reverted edit of ASDamick from OrthodoxWiki, changed back to last version by Ymmotrojam

User talk:Pastor Kam

2006-05-21T00:24:16Z

Mustaphile:

Thank you for your valuable contributions on Veggies Tales. {{smile}} --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 17:24, 20 May 2006 (PDT)

Category:Christian websites

2006-05-20T09:02:53Z

Mustaphile: added some text to get rid of red link for this category

This is the category for Christian websites.

User talk:Prab

2006-05-20T05:50:01Z

Mustaphile: added sysop

User talk:Ymmotrojam

2006-05-20T05:48:14Z

Mustaphile: reply to message

Featured Article

2006-05-20T04:57:05Z

Mustaphile: Reverted edit of Mustafuck, changed back to last version by Mustaphile

Web Directory: Bible Study

2006-05-19T00:16:52Z

Mustaphile: revert old content

[[Image:CoffeeBible_sm.gif|right]]

The Bible is the written word of God. For the believers, the Bible is the source of inspiration, direction and the daily bread for the soul. In this directory, we aim to provide the best Bible Study Resources on the internet.

==Bible Study Resources==

* [http://www.ccel.org/wwsb/ The World wide Study Bible]

* [http://bible.crosswalk.com/ Bible Study Tools]

* [http://www.bible.org/ Trust worthy Bible Study Tools]

* [http://www.e-sword.net/ Free Bible Software] "Without payment you have received; without payment you are to give." (Mat 10:8 ISV)

* [http://bibledatabase.com/ FREE Bibles and Bible Study Software Downloads]

{{dir}}

{{stub}}

Web Directory: Bible Study

2006-05-19T00:16:05Z

Mustaphile: removed redirect

User talk:Lamorak

2006-05-18T23:47:28Z

Mustaphile: Thanks

==Recent Vandalism==
Thank you for your assistance with cleaning up vandalism on the wiki. {{smile}} --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 16:47, 18 May 2006 (PDT)

Famous Christians

2006-05-18T23:42:39Z

Mustaphile: fixed typo

''In brief,'' Some of the more well known Christians have included Paul the apostle, Augustine, Martin Luther and C.S. Lewis. Yet every person impacts on the world in some way. We may not remember who the man was that led Billy Graham to Christ, but he certainly has changed the world.

----

[[Characters of the Bible]]

[[Apostles]]

[[Authors]]

[[Saints]]

[[Song writers]]

[[Theologians and Evangelists]]

[[Miscellaneous Famous People - Christians and non-Christians]]

----

Go to the [[WikiChristian:Main contents page|Main contents page]]

Featured Article

2006-05-18T23:27:22Z

Mustaphile: Featured Article NEEDS A FUCK moved to Featured Article

User talk:Prab

2006-05-18T23:21:32Z

Mustaphile: Mustaphile and the I of Idiot (himself) moved to User talk:Prab

Famous Christians

2006-05-18T23:07:20Z

Mustaphile: revert to old content

''In brief,'' Some of the more well known Christians have included Paul the apostle, Augustine, Martin Luther and C.S. Lewis. Yet every person impacts on the world in some way. We may not remember who the man was that led Billy Graham to Christ, but he certainly has changed the world.

----

[[Characters of the Bible]]

[[Apostles]]

[[Authors]]

[[Saints]]

[[Song riters]]

[[Theologians and Evangelists]]

[[Miscellaneous Famous People - Christians and non-Christians]]

----

Go to the [[WikiChristian:Main contents page|Main contents page]]

WikiChristian:Vandalism

2006-05-18T23:02:13Z

Mustaphile:

i was looking under recent changes, and i noticed this I.P had made a lot of them.
202.150.194.38
he hes edited loads of pages, posted racist comments. i have removed some of the racist and stupid things he put on there, leaving it blank, as i am new to wikipedia i did not no how to restore it.

please sort this ******* child dout. thanks

Blank is good, the one text did not appear to be about the ascension. [[User:Athrash|Athrash]] | [[User_talk:Athrash|{Talk)]] 09:00, 31 March 2006 (EST)

I checked recent changes and saw that the user Majortommy has vandalized about 25 pages with obscenities. I attempted to clean up a few pages, but he has redirected many of them.

[[User:Lamorak|Lamorak]] 11:52, 18 May 2006 (PDT)
:Thank you for your efforts in cleaning up. I'm going over the edits now and will ban the username. --[[User:Mustaphile|Mustaphile]] 16:02, 18 May 2006 (PDT)

WikiChristian:Community Portal

2006-05-12T09:43:24Z

Mustaphile: /* Welcome Stranger */ fixed typo

WikiChristian:Community Portal

2006-05-12T09:42:44Z

Mustaphile: /* Welcome Stranger */