“Let no one become haughty because of his position. For faith and love are everything; nothing is preferable to them. But take note of those who spout off false opinions about the gracious gift of Jesus Christ that has come to us, and see how they are opposed to the mind of God. They have no interest in love, in the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the one who is in chains or the one set free, the one who is hungry or the one who thirsts…It would be better for them to engage in acts of love.”
Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, anticipating his martyrdom in Rome under Trajan (98-117), writes to the Church in Smyrna urging them to avoid haughtiness and live out their faith with humility and love. Cf. Matthew 25:31-46. This excerpt is from his letter, To The Smyrneans, 6.1.5-6.2.6.