ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

Chapter II.—Maintain union with the bishop.

Wherefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked 80 doctrines; but where the shepherd is, there do ye as sheep follow. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of credit, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive⁸⁸⁹⁸⁸⁹    Comp. 2 Tim. iii. 6. those that are running towards God; but in your unity they shall have no place.

Wherefore, as children of light and truth, avoid the dividing of your unity, and the wicked doctrine of the heretics, from whom “a defiling influence has gone forth into all the earth.”⁸⁹⁰⁸⁹⁰    Jer. xxiii. 15. But where the shepherd is, there do ye as sheep follow. For there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing,⁸⁹¹⁸⁹¹    Comp. Matt. vii. 15. who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive⁸⁹²⁸⁹²    Comp. 2 Tim. iii. 6. those that are running towards God; but in your unity they shall have no place.