shenoute.true.BV119-122 Chapter 1

…place(s?) and not in another place.

For it is not the matter for someone who is a solitary to tend to people who are not near him all the time in the congregation, and he does not […] his bread with them.

And he is not with them because he may be seen and because he will know everything and this person will be seeking the news from the ones in the other congregation, and he will struggle to speak to them the word of God every day.

Even more on the Saturdays they gather together when he teaches, he and these two men and the ones who are appointed there to keep the scriptures for us.

And if he is able to visit the ones who are in the village from year to year, he and these two men with some others who fear (?God) …

… who receives … can(?) … to go … that of this man … teach according to fasting each one at his time.

… to his work.

For we brethren all of us are a single shepherd who tends to sheep.

One thing is to fight, another thing is to go according to rank.

For what was said, 'He is the one who made some apostles, others prophets' is not hidden from each other.

Each one speaks his word in his time, being in this single place.

And it is the way that the saints … speak while … as it is written …

…phet … with the … but … and …

Paul used to speak with Barnabas and with .. who were silent.

Jacob answered.

At times they would speak one by one, not being divided, but being together.

And this is the way that the Lord Jesus would send them two by two, and also the great prophet from ancient times Moses and Aaron.

At times it was Moses who would speka, and at times it was Aaron who would speak when they were together.

At times it was Moses who would carry the staff, and at times also it was Aaron who would carry the staff, but not without Moses—all these things according to the command of God … in obedience … according to rank.

But if one says, 'These are brothers' and 'Because of this matter they are at ease' and 'This is the way that there is no envy or malicious thing moving to them.'

Therefore he is a brother according to the flesh and not a spiritual brother who takes care for his heart out of arrogance that causes everyone trouble who gives it a place i.n their heart

For the people of God in this time —Israel— are appointed in this way to rule over thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens when the holy Moses became their leader.

… over … and over… all the fathers … over all the … and over all the people.

In this way also Joshua (Jesus [son of Naue]) after him also … judges according to this way up to the holy Samuel and afterwards the kings and the ones with them, each one according to his rank.

If this matter does not please the proud person, then let him remember that there is a time coming when God and his Christ Jesus who is over everything so that the heavens and earth and all the things in them are in his hands, in the way of these things, (they) will rule, and he will have the saints judge all of the world.

… the earth … death … dwells in them … gathers together with their companions, and they see the one who will care for their souls, and a ruler will be established for them, indeed the one through whom everything came to be established, whom the ones who rule over these congregations and all their other companions who are appointed with them, and the house-leaders, and the ones who are appointed with them, and the old men with … who will be in this way each one alone, and they will not hide any deed, nor anything else at all from each other down to a small shoe.

And another truly faithful person who was appointed with them, and they shall not do anything without asking their companions, and their words and their actions will be examined together every ten days … each time

… find their …

If … pleases him … that is at the gate, which they will … near each other every week.

And they speak with the people who came, and they took care in every thing and the thing that is reckoned to be, all of it.

And the way that I will appoint them to it together, while I am alive, they shall do it every time.

And it shall not be said to them, 'Each one will give an account before God or for his place.'

And it shall be said, 'You (all) will give an account for these places,' and 'God will seek out the soul of the ones who dwell in these…