doctrines," must not upset you. Stand firm, like an anvil
To Porycarp
whatever meets your eye; but pray that what is kept secret may be revealed to you. In this way you will be lacking in nothing and abound in every gift. 3 As a pilot calls on winds and a storm-tossed mariner looks havenward, so the times call on you to win your way to God. As God's athlete, be sober; the stake is immortality and eternal life. Of this you are firmly convinced. For your sake I sacrifice myself—chains and all, which are your delight.
3. Men that seem worthy of confidence, yet teach strange doctrines," must not upset you. Stand firm, like an anvil under the hammer. It is like a great athlete to take blows and yet win the fight. For God's sake above all we must endure everything, so that God, in turn, may endure us. 2 Increase your zeal. Read the signs of the times. Look for Him who is above all time—the Timeless, the Invisible, who for our sake became visible, the Impassible, who became subject to suffering on our account and for our sake endured everything.
4, Widows must not be neglected.** After the Lord, you must be their guardian. Nothing must be done without your approval; nor must you do anything without God's approval, as indeed you do not. Be calm.
2 Let meetings be held as frequently as possible. Seek out all by name. 3 Do not treat slaves, male or female, with a haughty air, but neither must they give themselves airs; on the contrary, for the glory of God they should render all the better service so as to obtain a better freedom from God. They should not pine for release at the expense of the community; otherwise, they turn out to be slaves of unruly appetites.
5. Pay no attention to their wily stratagems; ** and do more preaching on this subject. Tell my sisters to love the Lord and to be content with their husbands in body and