Chapter II.—I rejoice in your messengers.

Chapter II.—I rejoice in your messengers.

Since, then, I have had the privilege of seeing you, through Damas your most worthy bishop, and through your worthy presbyters Bassus and Apollonius, and through my fellow-servant the deacon Sotio, whose friendship may I ever enjoy, inasmuch as he is subject to the bishop as to the grace of God, and to the presbytery as to the law of Jesus Christ, [I now write⁶³⁸The apodosis is here wanting in the original, but must evidently be supplied in some such way as above. to you].

Since, then, I have had the privilege of seeing you, through Damas your most worthy⁶³⁹Literally, “worthy of God.” bishop, and through your worthy⁶⁴⁰Literally, “worthy of God.” presbyters Bassus and Apollonius, and through my fellow-servant the deacon Sotio, whose friendship may I ever enjoy,⁶⁴¹Literally, “whom may I enjoy.” inasmuch as he, by the grace of God, is subject to the bishop and presbytery, in the law of Jesus Christ, [I now write⁶⁴²The apodosis is here wanting in the original, but must evidently be supplied in some such way as above. to you].