# To the Ephesians 5.3

- Author: [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/ignatius-of-antioch/)
- Work: [To the Ephesians](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-ephesians/) (*Ad Ephesios*)
- Date: ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:178; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 172–277 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Also in: PG 5:649a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-ephesians/5/3/

Summary: Those who avoid the assembly are proud; to be subject to God, do not oppose the bishop.

## Greek text

ὁ οὖν μὴ ἐρχόμενος ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ οὗτος ἤδη ὑπερηφανεῖ καὶ ἑαυτὸν διέκρινεν. γέγραπται γάρ· Ὑπερηφάνοις ὁ θεὸς ἀντιτάσσεται, σπουδάσωμεν οὖν μὴ ἀντιτάσσεσθαι τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ, ἵνα ὦμεν θεῷ ὑποτασσόμενοι.

## English translation (Claude)

So whoever does not come to the assembly is already proud and has separated himself. For it is written, “God opposes the proud.” Let us be eager, then, not to oppose the bishop, so that we may be subject to God.

## Scripture references

- Prov 3:34: quotation, high confidence
- Jas 4:6: quotation, medium confidence
- 1 Pet 5:5: quotation, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- “The assembly” (ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό): literally “to the same place,” the church's gathering.
- “Has separated himself” (ἑαυτὸν διέκρινεν): or “has passed judgment on himself.”
- The quotation is Prov 3:34 in the Greek form also quoted in Jas 4:6 and 1 Pet 5:5.

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Eph. 5.3 (PG 5:649a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-ephesians/5/3/).