Page 14 - Adiabene letters_Neat
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1 j• ri'i-rs j (rniu Qataris        55


                                  from us,108 I mean, the capitation109 to whom the capitation
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                                  belongs, the tribute110 111 whom the tribute belongs, fear to whom


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                                                    to

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                                  fear and honour to whom honour belongs. But Christ did not
                                 ordain servitude to the law, that is, of each person in his love
                                 because he wished that any of our possessions should be given by
                                 us to him, but so that he himself might give to us from what is his,
                                 namely, the gift of the Spirit, by whom you shall be made strong in
                                 order to take up becomingly the adoption of sons’” and the
                                 kingdom of God through priestly power, which flows forth
                                 spiritually from our Lord through the successors of the holy
                                 Church according to the spiritual tradition,”2 abiding and
                                 proceeding unchanged within the Church from age to age,”3 and
                                 deprived of his knowledge and power your bishops and those of
                                 Fars presented and handed themselves over to the satanic error
                                 before the comingof Satan.
                                     Therefore, we warn diem that the coming of Satan is already
                                 near, and the rebellion which was written about has already arrived,
                                 and die man of sin, the son of perdition”4 will shortly reveal
                                 himself.”5 And behold I am a mighty preacher for you and an
                                 unwavering admonitor, diat you should abide firmly in the fear of
                                 our Lord and you should be entirely prepared against all error of
                                 iniquity that occurs to the perished, who were unwilling to accept
                                 the love of truth, by which they might live. Now arise and gird your
                                 loins with truth. Put shoes on your feet as preparation for the
                                 Gospel of peace.”6 Put on the helmet of salvation. Grasp the
                                 sword of the spirit which is the power of God. Take up for
                                 yourselves the shield of faith from the treasury of the Lord and
                                 from the legal authority, which shares out spiritual gifts justly in

                                     l0s Reference to Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:14, Luke 11:22.
                                     109 ki
                                     110
                                     111 N V>. m
                                     1,2 k—oj Iko.
                                     1,3
                                     ”4 Reference lo 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
                                     1,5
                                     1,6 Reference to Acts 12:7, 8.
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