The Epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch

The Complete Collection

Translated & Edited by T.R. Holliday

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English translation

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The Epistles of Saint Ignatius of Antioch Second Edition
Compiled, translated, and edited by Tyler "Paisios" Rhain Holliday

Published by Theologians Press
Copyright © 2026 Tyler Rhain Holliday. All rights reserved.

The translation, preface, editorial notes, glossary, and all original content are the intellectual property of Tyler Rhain Holliday. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by copyright law.

Second Edition, May 2026

Preface

This edition of the Epistles of Saint Ignatius of Antioch presents a revised and corrected modern translation. It takes the public domain English version of the Ante Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, as its starting point and thoroughly retranslates it with the authoritative Greek critical edition of Kirsopp Lake. Where the older English departs from the Greek, the text has been brought back into conformity with the original; diction has been modernized, and American English spelling is used throughout. This volume contains the seven authentic letters of the Saint, together with an appendix containing the Martyrdom Hagiography composed by his two companions, Philo of Cilicia and Rheus Agathopus; the spurious epistles are included for historical completeness as well, and in addition this edition contains a glossary and indexes for biblical references, apologetic topics with citations, and a geographical map. May the Lord Jesus Christ and His saints guide us all toward uncorrupted truth, and may He grant us the discernment needed to be faithful servants of the one and only most Holy Trinity. Amen.

Editor's Note

In translating these works from the original Greek, I have noticed that the ANF translation contains dozens of departures from the Greek. To be entirely fair, that editorial work was made by two nineteenth-century scholars working within the limitations of their era. The most significant of these departures are addressed in the footnotes throughout this volume.

Editor's Note on the Spurious Epistles

This collection includes, in the appendix, the universally recognized spurious epistles attributed to Ignatius — later forgeries composed under his name long after his martyrdom in Rome. They are included because they offer valuable insight into the ecclesiastical, theological, and heretical debates of the fourth and fifth centuries, such as Arianism, Apollinarianism, and related debates.

Introduction

Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d. c. 107–108 A.D.) is considered one of the most important writers among the Early Church Fathers, alongside Clement of Rome and Polycarp of Smyrna. What is known about the life of Ignatius is that according to legend, he was among the children blessed by Jesus. It is historically known that he was a disciple of Saint John the Apostle and was appointed the third Bishop of Antioch, succeeding Evodius, who was himself the successor of Saint Peter. Saint John Chrysostom affirms that his ordination came at the hands of the Apostles:

"'And what is the proof of this?' says one. They who said these things ordained him… But had they not seen all this virtue planted in the soul of this martyr, [they] would not have entrusted him with this office." (See the Homily of St. Ignatius by St. John Chrysostom)

Ignatius is known for his seven letters given in this book. These letters were written while he was arrested by the Romans and being transported in chains "by land and sea, both by night and day" (Rom. 5) from Antioch to Rome. His sentence was to face a brutal execution by wild lions in a Roman Amphitheater during the reign of Emperor Trajan.

These letters provide some of the earliest insight into early Christian theology and the traditional church structure. The Eucharist, the authority of Bishops, and unity of the Christian Church are among the most emphasized topics in these letters. Even though he was drawing closer to death day by day, the Saint was more than ready to die for the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. As his words reflect: "I write to the Churches, and command them all, that I shall willingly die for God, unless you hinder me…Allow me to become food for the wild beasts, through which it is possible to become one with God. I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ." — The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans, Chapter 4.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus (God-bearer), to the Church which is at Ephesus, in Asia, deservedly most blessed, being blessed in the greatness and fullness of God the Father, and predestinated before the ages of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory, being united and elected through the true passion by the will of the Father, and Jesus Christ, our God: Abundant greetings through Jesus Christ, and His undefiled joy.

Ἰγνάτιος ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, τῇ εὐλογημένῃ ἐν μεγέθει θεοῦ πατρὸς πληρώματι, τῇ προωρισμένῃ πρὸ αἰώνων εἶναι διὰ παντὸς εἰς δόξαν παράμονον ἄτρεπτον, ἡνωμένῃ καὶ ἐκλελεγμένῃ ἐν πάθει ἀληθινῷ, ἐν θελήματι τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τῇ ἀξιομακρίστῳ, τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Ἐφέσῳ τῆς Ἀσίας, πλεῖστα ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ καὶ ἐν ἀμώμῳ χαρᾷ χαίρειν.

Chapter 1. Praise of the Ephesians

I have become acquainted with your name, much-beloved in God, which you have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Jesus Christ our Savior. Being the followers of God, and being rekindled by the blood of God, you have perfectly accomplished the work which was natural to you. For, on hearing that I came bound from Syria for the common name and hope, trusting through your prayers to be permitted to fight with beasts at Rome, that so by martyrdom I may indeed become the disciple of Him who gave Himself for us, as an offering and sacrifice to God, (Eph. 5:2) 1 you hurried to see me. Since then, I received your whole multitude in the name of God, through *Onesimus, a man of indescribable love, and your bishop in the flesh, whom I pray that by Jesus Christ you love, and that you would all seek to be like him. And blessed is He who has granted unto you, being worthy, to obtain such an excellent bishop.

1. Ἀποδεξάμενος ἐν θεῷ τὸ πολθαγάπητόν σου ὀνομα, ὃ κέτησθε φύσει δικαίᾳ κατὰ πίστιν καὶ ἀγάπην ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, τῷ σωτῆρι ἡμων· μιμηταὶ ὄντες θεοῦ, ἀναζωπυρήσαντες ἐν αἵματι θεοῦ τὸ συγγενικὸν ἔργον τελείως ἀπηρτίσατε· 2. ακούσαντες γὰρ δεδεμένον ἀπὸ Συρίας ὑπὲρ τοῦ κοινοῦ ὀνόματος καὶ ἐλπίδος, ἐλπίζοντα τῇ προσευχῇῃ̈ ὑμων ἐπιτυχεῖν ἐν ῾Ρώμῃ θηριομαχῆσαι, ἵνα διὰ τοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν δυνηθῶ μαθητὴς εἶναι, ἰδεῖν ἐσπουδάσατε· 3. ἐπεὶ οὖν τὴν πολυπλήθειαν ὑμων ἐν ὀνόματι θεοῦ ἀπείληφα ἐν Ὀνησίμῳ, τῷ ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀδιηγήτῳ, ὑμῶν δὲ ἐπισκόπῳ, ὃν εὔχομαι κατὰ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ὑμᾶς ἀγαπᾶν καὶ πάντας ὑμας αὐγῷ ἐν ὁμοιότητι εἶναι. εὐλογητὸς γὰρ ὁ χαρισάμενος ὑμῖν ἀξίοις οὖσι τοιοῦτον ἐπίσκοπον κεκτῆσθαι.

Chapter 2. Congratulations and entreaties

As to my fellow-servant Burrhus, your deacon in accordance with God and blessed in all things, I pray that he may continue longer, both for your honor and that of your bishop. And Crocus also, worthy both of God and you, whom I have received as the living example of your love, has in all things refreshed me, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ shall also refresh him; (1 Cor. 16:18, etc.) 2 together with Onesimus, and Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto, through whom I have seen all of you with eyes of love. May I always have joy of you, if indeed I am worthy of it. It is therefore fitting that you should in every way glorify Jesus Christ, who has glorified you, that by a unanimous obedience you may be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment, and may all speak the same thing concerning the same thing, 3 and that, being subject to the bishop and the presbytery, you may in all respects be sanctified.

1. Περὶ δὲ τοῦ συνδούλου μου Βούρρου, τοῦ κατὰ θεὸν διακόνου ὑμῶν ἐν πᾶσιν εὐλογημένου, εὔχομαι παραμεῖναι αὐτὸν εἰς τιμὴν ὑμῶν καὶ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου· καὶ Κρόκος δέ, ὁ θεοῦ ἄξιος καὶ ὑμῶν, ὃν ἐξεμπλάριον τῆς ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ἀγάπης ἀπέλαβον, κατὰ πάντα με ἀνέπαυσεν, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀναψύξαι, ἁμα Ὀνησίμῳ καὶ Βούρρῳ καὶ Εὔπλῳ καὶ Φρόντωνι, δι’ ὧν πάντας ὑμᾶς κατὰ ἀγάπην εἶδον. 2. ὀναίμην ὑμῶν διὰ παντός, ἐάνπερ ἄξιος ὦ. πρέπον οὖν ἐστὶν κατὰ πάντα τρόπον δοξάζειν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν δοξάσαντα ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἐν μιᾷ ὑποταγῇ κατηρτισμένοι, ὑποτασσόμενοι τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ, κατὰ πάντα ἦτε ἡγιασμένοι.

Chapter 3. Exhortations to unity

I do not issue orders to you, as if I were some great person. For though I am bound in the name of Christ, I am not yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For now, I begin to be a disciple, and I speak to you as fellow-disciples with me. For it was needful for me to have been anointed by you in faith, exhortation, patience, and long-suffering. But since love does not permit me to be silent regarding you, I have therefore taken it upon myself first to urge you that you would all run together in accordance with the will of God. For even Jesus Christ, our inseparable life, is the will of the Father; as also bishops, appointed to the utmost bounds of the earth, are so by the will of Jesus Christ.

1. Οὐ διατάσσομαι ὑμῖν ὡς τις. εἰ γὰρ καὶ δέδεμαι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι, οὔπω ἀπήρτισμαι ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ· νῦν γὰρ ἀρχὴν ἔχω τοῦ μαθητεύεσθαι, καὶ προσλαλῶ ὑμῖν ὡς συνδιδασκαλίταις μου. ἐμὲ γὰρ ἔδει ὑφ’ ὑμῶν ὑπαλειφθῆναι πίστει, νουθεσίᾳ, ὑπομονῇ, μακροθυμίὰ. 2. ἀλλ’ ἐπεὶ ἡ ἀγάπη οὐκ ἐᾷ με σιωπᾶν περὶ ὑμῶν, διὰ τοῦτο προέλαβον παρακαλεῖν ὑμᾶς, ὅπως συντρέχητε τῇ γνώμῃ τοῦ θεοῦ. καὶ γὰρ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, τὸ ἀδιάκριτον ἡμῶν ζῆν, τοῦ πατρὸς ἡ γνώμη, ὡς καὶ οἱ ἐπίσκοποι, οἱ κατὰ τὰ πέρατα ὁρισθέντες, ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ γνώμῃ εἰσίν.

Chapter 4. The same continued

Therefore, it is fitting that you should run together in accordance with the will of your bishop, which is what you already do. For your justly renowned presbytery, worthy of God, is fitted as exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp. Therefore, in your concord and harmonious love, Jesus Christ is sung. And you, man by man, become a choir, that being harmonious in love, and taking up the song of God in unison, you may with one voice sing to the Father through Jesus Christ, so that He may hear you, and perceive by your works that you are indeed the members of His Son. It is profitable, therefore, that you should live in an unblameable unity, that thus you may always enjoy communion with God.

1. Ὅθεν πρέπει ὑμῖν συντρέχειν τῇ τοῦ ἐπι-σκόπου γνώμῃ ὅπερ καὶ ποιεῖτε. τὸ γὰρ ἀξιονόμαστον ὑμῶν πρεσβυτέριον, τοῦ θεοῦ ἄξιον, οὕτως συνήρμοσται τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ, ὡς χορδαὶ κιθάρᾳ. διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τῇ ὁμονοίᾳ ὑμῶν καὶ συμφώνῳ ἀγάπῃ Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἄδεται. 2. καὶ οἱ κατ’ ἄνδρα δὲ χορὸς γίνεθε, ἵνα σύμωνοι ὄντες ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ, χρῶμα θεοῦ λαβόντες ἐν ἑνότητι, ᾄδητε ἐν φωνῇ μιᾷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῷ πατρί, ἵνα ὑμῶν καὶ ἀκούσῃ καὶ ἐπιγινώσκῃ, δι’ ὧν εὖ πράσσετε, μέλη ὄντας τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ. χρήσιμον οὖν ἐστὶν ὑμᾶς ἐν ἀμώμῳ ἑνότητι εἶναι, ἵνα καὶ θεοῦ πάντοτε μετέχητε.

Chapter 5. The praise of unity

For if I in this brief space of time, have enjoyed such fellowship with your bishop — I mean not of a mere human, but of a spiritual nature — how much more do I count you blessed who are so joined to him as the Church is to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ is to the Father, that so all things may be harmonious in unity! Let no man deceive himself: if anyone is not within the *altar, he is deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two possesses such power, (Mat. 18:19) 4 how much more is that of the bishop and the whole Church! He, therefore, that does not become one with the Church, has by this shown his pride, and condemned himself. For it is written, "God resists the proud (Proverbs 3:34 LXX)…" 5 Let us be careful, then, not to oppose the bishop, in order that we may be subject to God.

1. Εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἐν μικρῷ χρόνῳ τοιαύτην συνήθειαν ἔσχον πρὸς τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ὑμῶν, οὐκ ἀνθρωπίνην οὖσαν, ἀλλὰ πνευματικήν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς μακαρίζω τοὺς ἐγκεκραμένους οὕτως, ὡς ἡ ἐκκλησία Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, καὶ ὡς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς τῷ πατρί, ἵνα πάντα ἐν ἑνότητι σύμφωνα ῇ; 2. μηδεὶς πλανάσθω· ἐὰν μὴ τις ᾖ ἐντος τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου, ὑστερεῖται τοῦ ἄρτου τοῦ θεοῦ. εἰ γὰρ ἑνὸς καὶ δευτέρου προσευχὴ τοσαύτην ἰσχὺν ἔχει, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἥ τε τοῦ ἐπισκόπου καὶ πάσης τῆς ἐκκλησίας; 3. ὁ οὖν μὴ ἐρχομενος ἐπί τὸ αὐτὸ οὗτος ἤδη ὑπερηφανει καὶ ἑαυτὸν διέκρινεν. γέγραπται γάρ· Ὑπερηφάνοις ὁ θεὸς ἀντιτάσσεται, σπουδάσωμεν οὖν μὴ ἀντιτάσσεσθαι τῷ ἐπι-σκόπῳ, ἵνα ὦμεν θεῷ ὑποτασσόμενοι.

Chapter 6. Have respect to the bishop as to Christ Himself

Now, the more anyone sees the bishop keeping silence, the more ought he to revere him. For we ought to receive everyone whom the Master of the house sends to manage His household, (Mat. 24:45) 6 as we would do Him that sent him. It is manifest, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as we would upon the Lord Himself. And indeed, Onesimus himself greatly commends your good order in God, that you all live according to the truth, and that no sect has any dwelling-place among you. Nor do you listen to anyone other than Jesus Christ, who speaks the truth.

1. Καὶ ὅσον βλέπει τις σιγῶντα ἐπίσκοπον, πλειόνως αὐτὸν φοβείσθω· πάντα γάρ, ὃν πέμπει ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἰς ἰδίαν οἰκονομίαν, οὕτως δεῖ ἡμᾶς αὐτὸν δέχεχθαι, ὡς αὐτὸν τὸν πέμψαντα. τὸν οὖν ἐπίσκοπον δῆλον ὅτι ὡς αὐτὸν κύριον δεῖ προσβλέπειν. 2. αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν Ὀνήσιμος ὑπερ-επαινεῖ ὑμῶν τὴν ἐν θεῷ εὐταξίαν, ὅτι πάντες κατὰ ἀλήθειαν ζῆτε καὶ ὅτι ἐν ὑμῖν οὐδεμία αἴρεσις καοικεῖ· ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ ἀκούετέ τινος πλέον, ἢ περὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ λαλοῦντος ἐν ἀληθείᾳ.

Chapter 7. Beware of false teachers

For some are in the habit of carrying about the name of Jesus Christ in wicked deceit, while yet they practice things unworthy of God, whom you must flee as you would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly. You must be on your guard, because they are men who can scarcely be cured. There is only one Physician, who is of both flesh and spirit; both *begotten and unbegotten; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passible and then impassible — even Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. Εἰώθασιν γάρ τινες δόλῳ πονηρῷ τὸ ὄνομα περιφέρειν, ἄλλα τινὰ πράσσοντες ἀνάξια θεοῦ· οὒς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ὡς θηρία ἐκκλίνειν· εἰσὶν γὰρ κύνες λυσσῶντες, λαθροδῆκται· οὓς δεῖ ὑμᾶς φθλάσσεσθαι ὄντας δυσθεραπεύτος. 2. εἷς ἰατρός ἐστιν, σαρκικός τε καὶ πνευματικός, γεννητὸς καὶ ἀγέννητος, ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ θεός, ἐν θανάτῳ ζωὴ ἀληθινή, καὶ ἐκ Μαριας καὶ ἐκ θεοῦ, πρῶτον παθητὸς καὶ τότε ἀπαθής, Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν.

Chapter 8. Renewed praise of the Ephesians

Let not then anyone deceive you, as indeed you are not deceived, since you are entirely devoted to God. For since there is no strife raging among you which might distress you, you are certainly living in accordance with God's will. I am far inferior to you and require to be sanctified by your Church of Ephesus, so renowned throughout the world. Those who are carnal cannot do the things which are spiritual, and those that are spiritual cannot do the things which are carnal; like how faith cannot do the works of unbelief, nor unbelief the works of faith. But even those things which you do according to the flesh are spiritual; for you do all things in Jesus Christ.

1. Μὴ οὖν τις ὑμᾶς ἐξαπατάτω, ὥσπερ οὐδὲ ἐξαπατᾶσθε, ὅλοι ὄντες θεοῦ. ὅταν γὰρ μηδεμία ἔρις ἐνήρεισται ἐν ὑμῖν ἡ δυναμένη ὑμᾶς βασανίσαι, ἄρα κατὰ θεὸν ζῆτε. περίψημα ὑμῶν καὶ ἁγνίζομαι ὑμῶν Ἐφεσίων, ἐκκλησίας τῆς διαβοή-του τοῖς αἰῶσιν. 2. οἱ σαρκικοὶ τὰ πνευματικὰ πράσσειν οὐ δύναται, οὐδὲ οἱ πνευματικοὶ τὰ σαρκικά, ὥσπερ οὐδὲ ἡ πίστις τὰ τῆς ἀπιστίας οὐδε ἡ ἀπιστία τὰ τῆς πίστεως. ἃ δὲ καὶ κατὰ σάρκα πράσσετε, ταῦτα πνευματικά ἐστιν· ἐν Ἰησοῦ γὰρ Χριστῷ πάντα πράσσετε.

Chapter 9. You have given no heed to false teachers

Nevertheless, I have heard of some who have passed through from there to you, having false doctrine, whom you did not allow to sow among you. But you stopped your ears that you might not receive those things which were sown by them, as being stones of the temple of the Father, (1 Pet. 2:5) 7 prepared for the building of God the Father and drawn up on high by the instrument of Jesus Christ, which is the cross, (Joh. 12:32) 8 making use of the Holy Spirit as a rope; while your faith was how you ascended, and your love the way which led up to God. You, therefore, as well as all your fellow-travelers are God-bearers, temple-bearers, Christ-bearers, bearers of holiness, adorned in all respects with the commandments of Jesus Christ, in whom also I exult that I have been thought worthy, by means of this Epistle, to converse and rejoice with you, because with respect to your Christian life you love nothing but God only.

1. Ἔγνων δὲ παροδεύσαντάς τινας ἐκεῖθεν, ἔχον-τας κακὴν διδαχήν· οὓς οὐκ εἰάσατε σπεῖραι εἰς ὑμᾶς, βύσαντες τὰ ὦτα, εἰς τὸ μὴ παραδέξασθαι τὰ σπειρόμενα ὑπ’ αὐτῶν, ὡς ὄντες λίθοι ναοῦ πατρός, ἡτοιμασμένοι εἰς οἰκοδομὴν θεοῦ πατρός, αναφερόμενοι εἰς τὰ ὕψη διὰ τῆς μηχανῆς Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν σταυρός, σψοινίῳ ψρώμενοι τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ· ἡ δὲ πίστις ὑμῶν ἀναγωγεὺς ὑμῶν, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη ὁδὸς ἡ ἀναφέρουσα εἰς θεόν. 2. ἐστὲ οὖν καὶ σύνοδοι πάντες, θεοφόροι καὶ ναοφόροι, χριστοφόροι, ἁγιοφόροι, κατὰ πάντα κεκοσμημένοι ἐντολαῖς Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· οἷς καὶ ἀγαλλιώμενος ἠξιώθην δι’ ὧν γράφω προσομιλῆσαι ὑμῖν καὶ συγχαρῆναι, ὅτι κατ’ ἀνθρωπων βίον οὐδὲν ἀγαπᾶτε εἰ μὴ μόνον τὸν θεόν.

Chapter 10. Exhortations to prayer, humility, etc.

And pray without ceasing on behalf of other men. (1 Thes. 5:16-18) 9 For there is in them hope of repentance that they may *become one with God. See then, that they be instructed by your works, if in no other way. Be meek in response to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their blasphemies return your prayers; in contrast to their error, be steadfast in the faith; (Col. 1:23) 10 and for their cruelty, manifest your meekness. While we take care not to imitate their conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true kindness; and let us seek to be followers of the Lord (whoever is more unjustly treated, more deprived, more condemned?), that so no plant of the devil may be found in you, but you may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ, both with respect to the flesh and spirit.

1. Καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἄλλων δὲ ἀνθρώπων ἀδια-λείπτως προσεύχεσθε, ἔστιν γὰρ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐλπὶς μετανοίας, ἵνα θεοῦ τύχωσιν. ἐπιτρέψατε οὖν αὐτοῖς κἂν ἐκ τῶν ἔργων ὑμῖν μαθητευθῆναι. 2. πρὸς τὰς ὀργὰς αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς πραεῖς, πρὸς τὰς μεγαλορημοσύνας αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς ταπεινόφρονες, πρὸς τὰς βλασφημίας αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς τὰς προσευχάς, πρὸς τὴν πλαπνην αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς ἥμεροι, μὴ σπουδάζοντες ἀντιμιμήσασθαι αὐτούς. 3. ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν εὑρεθῶμεν τῇ ἐπιειδειᾳ· μιμηταὶ δὲ τοῦ κυρίου σπου-δάζωμεν εἶναι, τίς πλέον ἀδικηθῇ, τίς ἀποστερηθῇ, τίς ἀθετηθῇ· ἵνα μὴ τοῦ διαβόλου βοτάνη τις εὑρεθῇ ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ ἐν πάσῃ ἁγνείᾳ καὶ σωφροσύνῃ μένητε ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῳ̈ σαρκικῶς καὶ πνευματικῶς.

Chapter 11. An exhortation to fear God, etc.

The end times have come upon us. Let us therefore be *ashamed, and fear the patience of God, lest we be judged. For let us either fear the wrath to come — or show regard for the present grace — one of the two. Only in one way or another let us be found in Christ Jesus to the true life. Apart from Him let nothing attract you, for whom I bear about these chains, these spiritual jewels, by which I may arise through your prayers, of which I pray I may always be a partaker, that I may be found in the lot of the Christians of Ephesus, who have always been of the same mind with the apostles through the power of Jesus Christ.

1. Ἔσχατοι καιροί, λοιπὸν αἰσχυνθῶμεν, φοβηθῶμεν τὴν μακροθυμίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἡμῖν εἰς κρίμα γένηται. ἢ γὰρ τὴν μέλλουσαν ὀργὴν φοβη-θῶμεν, ἢ τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν χάριν ἀγαπηπσωμεν, ἓν τῶν δύο· μόνον ἐν Χριτῷ Ἰησοῦ εὑρεθῆναι εἰς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ζῆν. 2. χωρὶς τούτου μηδὲν ὑμῖν πρεπέτω, ἐν ᾧ τὰ δεσμὰ περιφέρω, τοὺς πνευματικοὺς μαργαρίτας, ἐν οἷς γένοιτό μοι ἀνατῆναι τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν, ἧς γένοιτό μοι ἀεὶ μέταχον εἶναι, ἵνα ἐν κλήρῳ Ἐφεσίων εὑρεθῶ τῶν Χριστιανῶν, οἱ καὶ τοῖς ἀποστόλοις πάντοτε συνῄνεσαν ἐν δυνάμει Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Chapter 12. Praise of the Ephesians

I know both who I am, and to whom I write. I am a condemned man; you have received mercy; I am subject to danger; you are established in safety. You are the passageway of those being lifted up to God. You are initiated into the mysteries of the Gospel with Paul, the holy, the martyred, the deservedly most blessed, at whose feet I may be found, when I shall become one with God; who in all his Epistles makes mention of you in Christ Jesus.

1. Οἰδα, τίς εἰμι καὶ τίσιν γράφω. ἐγὼ κατάκριτος, ὑμεῖς ἠλεημένοι· ἐγὼ ὑπὸ κίνδυνον, ὑμεῖς ἐστηρυγμένοι· 2. πάροδός ἐστε τῶν εἰς θεὸν ἀναιρουμένων, Παύλου συμμύσται τοῦ ἡγιασμένου, τοῦ μεμαρτυρημένον, ἀξιομακαρίστον, οὗ γένοιτό μοι ὑπὸ τὰ ἴχνη εὑρεθῆναι, ὅταν θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω, ὃς ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιστολῇ μνημονεύει ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

Chapter 13. Meet together frequently for the worship of God

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when you assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth, is brought to an end.

1. Σπουδάζετε οὖν πυκνότερον συνέρχεσθαι εἰς εὐχαριστίαν θεοῦ καὶ εἰς δόξαν. ὅταν γὰρ πυκνῶς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ γίνεσθε, καθαιροῦνται αἱ δυνάμεις τοῦ Χατανᾶ, καὶ λύεται ὁ ὄλεθρος αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁμονοίᾳ ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως. 2. οὐδέν ἐστιν ἄμεινον εἰρήνης, ἐν ᾗ πᾶς πόλεμος καταργεῖται ἐπουραίων καὶ ἐπιγείων.

Chapter 14. Exhortations to faith and love

None of these things is hid from you, if you perfectly possess that faith and that love towards Christ Jesus which are the beginning and the end of life. For the beginning is faith, and the end is love. Now these two, one in unity, are God, while all other things which are required for a holy life follow them. No man who is truly making a profession of faith sins; (1 Joh. 3:7) 11 nor does he that possesses love hate anyone. The tree is made manifest by its fruit; (Mat. 12:33) 12 so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognized by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession, but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end.

1. Ὧν οὐδεν λανθάνει ὑμᾶς, ἐὰν τελείως εἰς Ἰησοῦ Χριστὸν ἔχητε τὴν πίστιν καὶ τήν ἀγάπην, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀρχὴ ζωῆς καὶ τέλος· ἀρχὴ μὲν πίστις, τέλος δὲ ἀγάπη. τὰ δὲ δύο ἐν ἑνοτητι γενόμενα θεός ἐστιν, τὰ δὲ ἀλλα πάντα εἰς καλοκἀγαθίαν ακόλουθά ἐστιν. 2. οὐδεὶς πίστιν ἐπαγγελλόμενος ἁμαρτάνει, οὐδὲ ἀγάπην κεκτημένος μισεῖ. φανερὸν τὸ δένδρον ἀπὸ τοῦ καρποῦ αὐτοῦ. οὕτως οἱ ἐπαγ-γελλόμενοι Χριστοῦ εἶναι δι’ ὧν πράσσουσιν ὀφθήσονται. οὐ γὰρ νῦν ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἔργον, ἀλλ’ ἐν δυνάμει πίστεως ἐάν τις εὑρεθῇ εἰς τέλος.

Chapter 15. Exhortation to confess Christ by silence as well as speech

It is better for a man to be silent and be a Christian, than to talk and not to be one. It is good to teach, if he who speaks also acts. There is then one Teacher, who spoke and it was done; while even those things which He did in silence are worthy of the Father. He who possesses the word of Jesus, is truly able to hear even His very silence, that he may be perfect, and may both act as he speaks, and be recognized by his silence. There is nothing which is hid from God, but our very secrets are near to Him. Let us therefore do all things as those who have Him dwelling in us, that we may be His temples, (1 Cor. 6:19) 13 and He may be in us as our God, which indeed He is, and will manifest Himself before our faces. For this reason, we justly love Him.

1. Ἄμεινόν ἐστιν σιωπᾶν καὶ εἶναι, ἢ λαλοῦντα μὴ εἶναι. καλὸν τὸ διδάσκειν, ἐὰν ὁ λέγων ποιῇ. εἷς οὖν διδάσκαλος, ὃς εἶπεν, καὶ ἐγένετο· καὶ ἃ σιγῶν δὲ πεποίηκεν ἄξια τοῦ πατρός ἐστιν. 2. ὁ λόγον Ἰησοῦ κεκτημένος ἀληθῶς δύναται καὶ τῆς ἡσυχιας αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν, ἵνα τέλειος ᾖ, ἵνα δι’ ὧν λαλεῖ πράσσῃ καὶ δι’ ὧν σιγᾷ γινώσκηται. 3. οὐδὲν λανθάνει τὸν κύριον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ ἡμῶν ἐγγυς αὐτῷ ἐστιν, πάντα οὖν ποιῶμεν ὡς αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν κατοικοῦντος, ἵνα ὦμεν αὐτοῦ ναοὶ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ἡμῖν θεὸς ἡμῶν· ὅπερ καὶ ἔστιν καὶ φανήσεται πρὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν, ἐξ ὧν δικαίως ἀαπῶμεν αὐτον.

Chapter 16. The fate of false teachers

Do not be deceived, my brethren. Those that corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If then, those who do this as respects the flesh have suffered death, how much more shall this be the case with anyone who corrupts by wicked doctrine the faith of God, for which Jesus Christ was crucified! Such a one becoming defiled in this way, shall go away into everlasting fire, and so shall everyone who listens to him.

1. Μὴ πλανᾶσθε, ἀδελφοί μου· οἱ οἰκοφθόροι βασιλείαν θεοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν. 2. εἰ οὖν οἱ κατὰ σάρκα ταῦτα πράσσοντες ἀπέθανον, πόσῳ μᾶλλον, ἐὰν πίστιν θεοῦ ἐν κακῇ διδασκαλίᾳ φθείρῃ, ὑπὲρ ἧς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐσταυρώθη; ὁ τοιοῦτος ῥυπαρὸς γενόμενος, εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ ἄσβεστον χωρήσει, ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ ἀκούων αὐτου.

Chapter 17. Beware of false doctrines

For this end did the Lord allow the oil to be poured upon His head, (Matt. 26:7) 14 that He might breathe immortality into His Church. Be not anointed with the foul odor of the doctrine of the prince of this world; let him not lead you away captive from the life which is set before you. And why are we not all wise, having received the knowledge of God, who is Jesus Christ? Why do we foolishly perish, not recognizing the gift which the Lord has truly sent?

1. Διὰ τοῦτο μύρον ἔλαβεν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος, ἵνα πνέῃ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀφθαρσίαν. μὴ ἀλείφεσθε δυσωδίαν τῆς διδασκαλίας τοῦ ἄρχοντος τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, μὴ αἰχμαλωτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ προκειμένου ζῆν. 2. διὰ τί δὲ οὐ πάντες φρόνιμοι γινόμεθα λαβόντες θεοῦ γνῶσιν, ὁ ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός; τί μωρῶς ἀπολλύμεθα, αγνοοῦντες τὸ χάρισμα, ὃ πεππομφεν ἀληθῶς ὁ κύριος;

Chapter 18. The glory of the cross

Let my spirit be counted as nothing for the sake of the cross, which is a stumbling-block to those that do not believe, (1 Cor. 1:18) 15 but to us salvation and life eternal. "Where is the wise man? Where the disputer? Where is the boasting of those who claim to be wise? (1 Cor. 1:20)" 16 For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by the Virgin Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Spirit. He was born and baptized, that by His passion He might purify the water.

1. Περίψημα τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα τοῦ σταυροῦ, ὃ ἐστιν σκάνδαλον τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν, ἡμῖν δὲ σωτηρία καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος. ποῦ σωφός; ποῦ συζητητής; ποῦ καύχησις τῶν λεγομένων συνετῶν; 2. ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς ὁ Χριστὸς ἐκυοφορήθη ὑπὸ Μαρίας κατ’ οἰκονομίαν θεοῦ ἐκ σπέρματος μὲν Δαυείδ, πνεύματος δὲ ἁγίου· ὃς ἐγεννήθη καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη, ἵνα τῷ πάθει τὸ ὕδωρ καθαρίσῃ.

Chapter 19. Three celebrated mysteries

Now the virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as was also her offspring, and the death of the Lord; three mysteries of a cry which were accomplished in the silence of God. How, then, was He revealed to the ages? A star shined in heaven above all the other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light was exceedingly great above them all. And there was agitation felt as to where this new spectacle came from, so unlike anything else in the heavens. Thus, every kind of magic was destroyed, and every bond of wickedness disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the old kingdom abolished, God Himself being manifested in human form for the renewal of eternal life. And now that took a beginning which had been prepared by God. From then on, all things were in a state of turmoil, because He intended to abolish death.

1. Καὶ ἔλαθεν τὸν ἄρχοντα τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου ἡ παρθενία Μαρίας καὶ ὁ τοκετὸς αὐτῆς, ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ θάνατος τοῦ κυρίου· τρία μυστήρια κραυγῆς, ἅτινα ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ θεοῦ ἐπράχθη. 2. πῶς οὖν ἐφανερώθη τοῖς αἰῶσιν; ἀστὴρ ἐν οὐρανῷ ἔλαμψεν ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς ἀστέρας, καὶ τὸ φῶς αὐτοῦ ἀνεκλάλητον ἦν καὶ ξενισμὸν παρεῖχεν ἡ καινότης αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ πάντα ἄστρα ἅμα ἡλίῳ καὶ σελήνῃ χορὸς ἐγένετο τῷ ἀστέρι, αὐτὸς δὲ ἦν ὑπερβάλλων τὸ φῶς αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ´πάντα· ταραχή τε ἦν, πόθεν ἡ καινότης ἡ ἀνόμοιος αὐτοῖς. 3. ὅθεν ἐλύετο πᾶσα μαγεία καὶ´πᾶς δεσμὸς ἠφανίζετο κακίας· ἄγνοια καθῃρεῖτο, παλαιὰ βασι-λεία διεφθείρετο θεοῦ ἀνθρωπίνως φανερουμένου εἰς καινότητα ἀϊδίου ζωῆς· ἀρχὴν δὲ ἐλάμβανεν τὸ παρὰ θεῷ ἀπηρτισμένον. ἔνθεν τὰ πάντα συνεκινεῖτο διὰ τὸ μελετᾶσθαι θανάτου κατάλυσιν.

Chapter 20. Promise of another letter

If Jesus Christ shall graciously permit me through your prayers, and if it is His will, I shall, in a second little work which I will write to you, explain to you further the nature of the divine plan which I have begun to describe concerning the new man, Jesus Christ, in His faith and in His love, in His suffering and in His resurrection, especially if the Lord reveals to me that you come together man by man in common through grace, individually, in one faith, and in Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David according to the flesh, being both the Son of man and the Son of God, so that you obey the bishop and the presbytery with an undivided mind, breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote to prevent us from dying, but that we should live forever in Jesus Christ.

1. Ἐάν με καταξιώσῃ Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν καὶ θέλημα ᾖ, ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ βιβλιδίῳ, ὃ μέλλω γράφειν ὑμῖν, προσδηλώσω ὑμῖν, ἧς ἠρξάμην οἰκονομίας εἰς τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, ἐν τῇ αὐτου πίστει καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγαπῃ, ἐν πάθει αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναστάσει· 2. μάλιστα ἐὰν ὁ κύριος μοι ἀποκαλύψῃ, ὅτι οἱ κατ’ ἄνδρα κοινῇ πάντες ἐν χάριτι ἐξ ὀνόματος συνέρχεσθε ἐν μιᾷ πίστει καὶ ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, τῷ κατὰ σάρκα ἐκ γένους Δαυείδ, τῷ ἀνθρώπου καὶ υἱῷ θεοῦ, εἰς τὸ ὑπακούειν ὑμᾶς τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ ἀπερισπάστῳ κιανοίᾳ, ἕνα ἄρτον κλῶντες, ὅς ἐστιν φάρμακον ἀθανασιας, ἀντίδοτος τοῦ μὴ ἀποθανεῖν, ἀλλὰ ζῆν ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ διὰ παντός.

Chapter 21. Conclusion

My life be given for yours, and for those whom, for the honor of God, you have sent to Smyrna; where I also write to you, giving thanks unto the Lord, and loving *Polycarp even as I do you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ also remembered you. Pray for the Church, which is in Syria, where I am being taken in chains to Rome, being the last of the faithful who are there, even as I have been thought worthy to be chosen to show you the honor of God. Farewell in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, our common hope.

1. Ἀντίψυχον ὑμῶν ἐγὼ καὶ ὧν ἐπέμψατε εἰς θεοῦ τιμὴν εἰς Σμύρναν, ὅθεν καὶ γράφω ὑμῖν, εὐχαριστῶν τῷ κυρίῳ, ἀγαπῶν Πολύκαρπον ὡς καὶ ὑμᾶς· μνημονεύετέ μου, ὡς καὶ ὑμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός. 2. προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἐν Συρίᾳ, ὅθεν δεδεμένος εἰς ῾Ρώμην ἀπάγομαι, ἔσχατος ὣν τῶν ἐκεῖ πιστῶν, ὥσπερ ἠξιώθην εἰς τιμὴν θεοῦ εὑρεθῆναι. ἔρρωσθε ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, τῇ κοινῇ ἐλπίδι ἡμῶν.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus (God-bearer), to the Church blessed in the grace of God the Father, in Jesus Christ our Savior, in whom I greet the Church which is at Magnesia, near the Meander, and wish it abundant greetings in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ.

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, τῇ εὐλογημένῃ ἐν χάριτι θεοῦ πατρὸς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ σωτῆρι ἡμῶν, ἐν ᾧ ἀσπάζομαι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν οὖσαν ἐν Μαγνησίᾳ τῇ πρὸς Μαιὰνδρῳ καὶ εὐχομαι ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ πλεῖστα χαίρειν.

Chapter 1. Reason of writing the epistle

Having been informed of your godly love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced greatly and determined to speak with you in the faith of Jesus Christ. For as one who has been thought worthy of the most honorable of all names, in those chains which I bear about, I sing praises to the Churches, in which I pray for a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, the constant source of our life, and of faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred, but especially of Jesus and the Father, in whom, if we endure all the assaults of the prince of this world and escape, we shall become one with God.

1. Γνοὺς ὑμῶν τὸ πολυεύτακτον τῆς κατὰ θεὸν ἀγάπης, ἀγαλλιώμενος προειλόμην ἐν πίστει Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ προσλαλῆσαι ὑμῖν. 2. καταξιωθεὶς γὰρ ὀνόματος θεοπρεπεστάτου, ἐν οἷς περιφέρω δεσμοῖς ᾄ δω τὰς ἐκκλησίας, ἐν αἷς ἕνωσιν εὔχομαι σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ διὰ παντὸς ἡμῶν ζῆν, πίστεώς τε καὶ ἀγάπης, ἧς οὐδὲν προκέκριται, τὸ δὲ κυριώτερον Ἰησοῦ και πατρός· ἐν ᾧ ὑπομένοντες τὴν πᾶσαν ἐπήρειαν τοῦ ἄρχοντος τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου καὶ διαφυγόντες θεοῦ τευξόμεθα.

Chapter 2. 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 Zotion* — in whom I may ever rejoice, since 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 write to you.

1. Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἠξιώθην ἰδεῖν ὑμᾶς διὰ Δαμᾶ τοῦ ἀξιοθέον ὑμῶν ἐπισκόπου καὶ πρεσβυτέρων ἀξίων Βάσσου καὶ Ἀπολλωνίου καὶ τοῦ συνδούλου μου διακόνον Ζωτίωνος, οὗ ἐγὼ ὀναίμην, ὅτι ὑποτάσσεται τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ ὡς χάριτι θεοῦ καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ ὡς νόμῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Chapter 3. Honor your youthful bishop

Now it is fitting for you also not to take advantage of the bishop's youth, but give him all reverence, having respect to the power of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not judging rashly, from the apparent youthful appearance of their bishop, but as being themselves wise in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. It is therefore fitting that you should, after no hypocritical fashion, obey your bishop, in honor of Him who has willed us so to do, for whoever does not do so does not merely deceive the bishop that is visible but seeks to mock Him that is invisible. And all such conduct has reference not to man, but to God, who knows all secrets.

1. Και ὑμῖν δὲ πρέπει μὴ συγχρᾶσθαι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν θεοῦ πατρὸς πᾶσαν ἐντροπὴν αὐτῷ ἀπονέμειν, καθὼς ἔγνων καὶ τοὺς ἁγίους πρεσβυτέρους οὐ προσειληφότας τὴν φαινομένην νεωτερικὴν τάξιν, ἀλλ’ ὡς φρονίμους ἐν θεῷ συγχωροῦντας αὐτῷ, οὐκ αὐτῷ δέ, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τῷ πάντων ἐπισκόπῳ. 2. εἰς τιμὴν οὖν ἐκείνου τοῦ θελήσαντος ἡμᾶς πρέπον ἐστὶν ἐπακούειν κατὰ μηδεμίαν ὑπόκρισιν· ἐπεὶ οὐχ ὅτι τὸν ἐπίσκοπον τοῦτον τὸν βλεπόμενον πλανᾷ τις, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἀόρατον παραλογίζεται. τὸ δὲ τοιοῦτον οὐ πρὸς σάρκα ὁ λόγος, ἀλλὰ πρὸς θεὸν τὸν τὰ κρύφια εἰδότα.

Chapter 4. Some wickedly act independently of the bishop

It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so in reality: as some indeed give a man the title of "bishop" but do all things without him. Now such people seem to me to be not possessed of a good conscience, seeing they are not steadfastly assembling according to the commandment.

1. Πρέπον οὖν ἐστιν μὴ μόνον καλεῖσθαι Χριστιανούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἶναι· ὥσπερ καί τινες ἐπίσκοπον μὲν καλοῦσιν, χωρὶς δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα πράσσουσιν. οἱ τοιοῦτοι δὲ οὐκ εὐσυνείδητοί μοι εἶναι φαίνονται διὰ τὸ μὴ βεβαίως κατ’ ἐντολὴν συναθροίζεσθαι.

Chapter 5. Death is the fate of all such

Seeing then all things have an end, these two things are simultaneously set before us — death and life; and everyone shall depart to his own place. For as there are two kinds of coins, the one of God, the other of the world, and each of these has its *special character stamped upon it. So, the unbelieving bear the stamp of this world; but the believing, in love, bear the stamp of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not ready to die into His passion, His life is not in us.

1. Ἐπεὶ οὖν τέλος τὰ πράγματα ἔχει καὶ πρόκειται τὰ δύο ὁμοῦ, ὅ τε θάνατος καὶ ἡ ζωή, καὶ ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν ἴδιον τόπον μέλλει χωρεῖν· 2. ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐστιν νομίσματα δύο, ὃ μὲν θεοῦ, ὃ δὲ κόσμου, καὶ ἕκαστον αὐτῶν ἴδιον χαρακτῆρα ἐπικείμενον ἔχει, οἱ ἄπιστοι τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, οἱ δὲ πιστοὶ ἐν ἀγάπῃ χαρακτῆρα θεοῦ πατρὸς διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δι’ οὗ ἐὰν μὴ αὐθαιρέτως ἔχωμεν τὸ ἀποθανεῖν εἰς τὸ αὐτοῦ πάθος, τὸ ζῆν αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἡμῖν.

Chapter 6. Preserve harmony

Since, therefore, in the people before mentioned I have beheld the whole multitude of you in faith and love, I urge you to strive to do all things with a divine harmony, while your bishop presides in the place of God, and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before the beginning of time, and in the end was revealed. Do all then, imitating the same divine conduct, pay respect to one another, and let no one look upon his neighbor after the flesh, but continually love each other in Jesus Christ. Let nothing exist among you that may divide you; but be united with your bishop, and those that preside over you, as an example and teaching of incorruptibility.

1. Ἐπεῖ οὖν ἐν τοῖς προγεγραμμένοις προσώποις τὸ πᾶν πλῆθος ἐθεώρησα ἐν πίστει καὶ ἠγάπησα, παραινῶ, ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ θεοῦ σπουδάζετε πάντα πράσσειν, προκαθημένου τοῦ ἐπισκόπου εἰς τόπον θεοῦ καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων εἰς τόπον συνεδρίου τῶν ἀποστόλων, καὶ τῶν διακόνων τῶν ἐμοὶ γλυκυτάτων πεπιστευμένων διακονίαν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς πρὸ αἰώνων παρὰ πατρὶ ἦν καὶ ἐν τέλει ἐφάνη. 2. πάντες οὖν ὁμοήθείαν θεοῦ λαβόντες ἐντρέπεσθε ἀλληλους καὶ μηδεὶς κατὰ σάρκα βλεπέτω τὸν πλησίον, ἀλλ’ ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ ἀλληλους διὰ παντὸς ἀγαπᾶτε. μηδὲν ἔστω ἐν ὑμῖν, ὃ δυνήσεται ὑμᾶς μερίσαι ἀλλ’ ἑνώθητε τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ τοῖς προκαθημένοις εἰς τύπον καὶ διδαχὴν ἀφθαρσίας.

Chapter 7. Do nothing without the bishop and presbyters

As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him, neither by Himself nor by the apostles, so neither do anything without the bishop and presbyters. Nor try to justify anything to yourselves in private; but when you gather together into the same place, let there be one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope, in love and in joy undefiled. There is one Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is more excellent. Therefore, run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father, and has returned to the One.

1. Ὥσπερ οὖν ὁ κύριος ἄνευ τοῦ πατρὸς οὐδὲν ἐποίησεν, ἡνωμένος ὤν, οὔτε δι’ ἑαυτοῦ οὔτε διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων· οὕτως μηδὲ ὑμεῖς ἄνευ τοῦ ἐπισπόπου καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων μηδὲν πράσσετε· μηδὲ πειράσητε εὔλογόν τι φαίνεσθαι ἰδίᾳ ὑμῖν, νοῦς, μία ἐλπὶς ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ἐν τῇ χαρᾷ τῇ ἀμώμῳ, ὅ ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, οὗ ἄμεινον οὐδέν ἐστιν. 2. πάντες ὡς εἰς ἕνα ναὸν συντρέχετε θεοῦ, ὡς ἐπὶ ἓν θυσιαστήριον, ἐπὶ ἕνα Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν ἀφ’ ἑνὸς πατρὸς προελθόντα καὶ εἰς ἕνα ὄντα καὶ χωρησαντα.

Chapter 8. Caution against false doctrines

Do not be deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace. For the most divine prophets lived according to Christ Jesus. On this account also they were persecuted, being inspired by His grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is only one God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, who did not proceed forth from silence, and who in all things pleased the One who sent Him.

1. Μὴ πλανᾶσθε ταῖς ἑτεροδοξίαις μηδὲ μυθεύμασιν τοῖς παλαιοῖς ἀνωφελέσιν οὖσιν. εἰ γὰρ μέχρι νῦν κατὰ Ἰουδαϊσμὸν ζῶμεν, ὁμολογοῦμεν χάριν μὴ εἰληφέναι. 2. οἱ γὰρ θειότατοι προφῆται κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἔζησαν. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἐδιώχθησαν, ἐνπνεόμενοι ὑπὸ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὸ πληροφρηθῆναι τοὺς ἀπειθοῦντας, ὅτι εἶς τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν αὐτοῦ λόγος ἀπὸ σιγῆς προελθών, ὃς κατὰ πάντα εὐηρέστησεν τῷ πέμψαντι αὐτόν.

Chapter 9. Let us live with Christ

If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the *Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death — a death which some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master — how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? And therefore, He whom they rightly waited for, having come, raised them from the dead. (Mat. 27:52) 17

1. Εἰ οὖν οἱ ἐν παλαιοῖς πράγμασιν ἀναστρα. φέντες εἰς καινότητα ἐλπίδος ἦλθον, μηκέτι σαββατίζοντες, ἀλλὰ κατὰ κυριακὴν ζῶντες, ἐν ᾗ καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν ἀνέτειλεν δι’ αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ, ὅν τινες ἀρνοῦνται, δι’ οὗ μυστηρίου ἐλάβομεν τὸ πιστεύειν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ὑπομένομεν, ἵνα εὑρεθῶμεν μαθηταὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ μόνου διδασκάλου ἡμῶν· 2. πῶς ἡμεῖς δυναησόμεθα δῆσαι χωρὶς αὐτοῦ, οὗ καὶ οἱ προφῆται μαθηταὶ ὄντες τῷ πνεύματι ὡς διδάσκαλον αὐτὸν προσεδόκων; καὶ διὰ τοῦτο, ὃν δικαίως ἀνέμενον, παρὼν ἤγειρεν αὐτοὺς ἐκ νεκρῶν.

Chapter 10. Beware of Judaizing

Therefore, let us not be unmindful of His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For whoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be salted in Him, lest anyone among you should be corrupted, since by your scent you shall be proved. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believes might be gathered together to God.

1. Μὴ οὖν ἀναισθητῶμεν τῆς ψρηστότητος αὐτοῦ. ἐὰν γὰρ ἡμᾶς μιμήσηται καθὰ πράσσομεν, οὐκέτι ἐσμέν. διὰ τοῦτο, μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ γενόμενοι, μάθωμεν κατὰ Χριστιανισμὸν ζῆν. ὃς γὰρ ἄλλῳ ὀνόματι καλεῖται πλέον τούτου, οὐκ ἔστιν τοῦ θεοῦ. 2. ὑπέρθεσθε οὖν τὴν κακὴν ζύμην, τὴν παλαιωθεῖσαν καὶ ἐνοξίσασαν, καὶ Χριστός. ἁλίσθητε ἐν αὐτῷ, ἵνα μὴ διαφθαρῇ τις ἐν ὑμῖν, ἐπεὶ ἀπὸ τῆς τῆς ὀσμῆς ἐλεγχθήσεσθε. 3. ἄτοπόν ἐστιν, Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν λαλεῖν καὶ ἰουδαΐζειν. ὁ γὰρ χριστιανισμὸς οὐκ εἰς Χριστιανισμόν, ᾧ πᾶσα γλῶσσα πιστεύσασα εἰς θεὸν συνήχθη.

Chapter 11. I write these things to warn you

These things I address to you, my beloved, not that I know any of you to be in such a state; but, as less than any of you, I desire to guard you beforehand, that you fall not upon the hooks of vain doctrine, but that you may have full assurance in regard to the birth, and passion, and resurrection which took place in the time of the government of Pontius Pilate, being truly and certainly accomplished by Jesus Christ, who is our hope, from which may none of you ever be turned away.

1. Ταῦτα δέ, ἀγαπητοί μου, οὐκ ἐπεὶ ἔγνων τινὰς ἐξ ὑμῶν οὕτως ἔχοντας, ἀλλ’ ὡς μικρότερος ὑμῶν ἄγκιστρα τῆς κενοδοξίας, ἀλλὰ πεπληροφορῆσθαι ἐν τῇ γεννήσει καὶ τῷ πάθει καὶ τῇ ἀναστάσει τῇ γενομένῃ ἐν καιρῷ τῆς ἡγεμονίας Ποντίου Πιλάτου· πραχθέντα ἀληθῶς καὶ βεβαίως ὑπὸ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τῆς ἐλπίδος ἡμῶν, ἧς ἐκτραπῆναι μηδενὶ ὑμῶν γένοιτο.

Chapter 12. You are superior to me

May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I am worthy! For though I am in chains, I am not worthy to be compared to any of you that are at liberty. I know that you are not prideful, for you have Jesus Christ within you. And even more when I commend you, I know that you cherish modesty of spirit; as it is written, "the righteous man is his own accuser. (Pro. 18:17 LXX)" 18

1. Ὀναίμην ὑμῶν κατὰ πάντα, ἐάνπερ ἄξιος ὧ. εἰ γὰρ καὶ δέδεμαι, πρὸς ἕνα τῶν λελυμένων ὑμῶν οὐκ εἰμί. οἶδα ὅτι οὐ φυσιοῦσθε· Ἰησοῦν γὰρ Χριστὸν ἔχετε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· καὶ μᾶλλον, ὅταν ἐπαινῶ ὑμᾶς, οἶδα, ὅτι ἐντρέπεσθε, ὡς γέγραπται, ὅτι ὁ δίκαιος ἑαυτοῦ κατήγορος.

Chapter 13. Be established in faith and unity

Strive, therefore, to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the apostles, so that in all things, whatsoever you do, you may prosper both in the flesh and spirit; in faith and love; in the Son, and in the Father, and in the Spirit; in the beginning and in the end; with your most admirable bishop, and the well-woven spiritual crown of your presbytery, and the deacons who live according to God. Be subject to the bishop, and to one another, as Jesus Christ was to the Father according to the flesh, and the apostles to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit; that so there may be a union both fleshly and spiritual.

1. Σπουδάζετε οὖν βεβαιωθῆναι ἐν τοῖς δόγμασιν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων, ἵνα πάντα, ὅσα ποιεῖτε, καευοδωθητε σαρκὶ καὶ πενεύματι, ἐν ἀρψῇ καὶ ἐν τέλει, μετὰ τοῦ ἀξιοπρεπεστάτου ἐπισκόπου ὑμῶν καὶ ἀξιοπλόκου πνευματικοῦ στεφάνου τοῦ πρεσβυτερίου ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν κατὰ θεὸν διακόνων. 2. ὑποτάγητε τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ ἀλλήλοις, ὡς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς τῷ πατρὶ καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι τῷ Χριστῷ καὶ τῷ πατρὶ ἵνα ἕνωσις ᾖ σαρκική τε καὶ πνευματική.

Chapter 14. Your prayers requested

Knowing as I do that you are full of God, I have but briefly encouraged you. Be mindful of me in your prayers, that I may become one with God; and of the Church which is in Syria, where I am not worthy to be called a member: for I stand in need of your united prayer in God, and your love, that the Church which is in Syria may be deemed worthy of being refreshed by your Church.

1. Ἐιδώς, ὅτι θεοῦ γέμετε, συντόμως παρεκεπλευσα ὑμᾶς. μνημονεύετέ μου ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς ὑμῶν, ἵνα θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω, καὶ τῆς ἐν Συρίᾳ ἐκκλησίας, ὅθεν οὐκ ἄξιός εἰμι καλεῖσθαι· ἐπιδέομαι γὰρ τῆς ἡνωμένης ὑμῶν ἐν θεῷ προσευχῆς καὶ ἀγάπης, εἰς τὸ ἀξιωθῆναι τὴν ἐν Συρίᾳ ἐκκλησίαν διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ὑμῶν δροσισθῆναι.

Chapter 15. Salutations

The Ephesians from Smyrna (where I also write to you), who are here for the glory of God, as you also are, who have in all things refreshed me, greet you, along with Polycarp, the bishop of the Smyrnaeans. The rest of the Churches, in honor of Jesus Christ, also greet you. Farewell in the harmony of God, you who have obtained the inseparable Spirit, who is Jesus Christ.

1. Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς Ἐφέσιοι ἀπὸ Σμύρνης, ὅθεν και γράφω ὑμῖν, παρόντες εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ, ὥσπερ καὶ ὑμεῖσ οἳ κατὰ π́πάντα με ἀνέπαυσαν ἅμα Πολυκάρπῳ, ἐπισκόπῳ Σμυρναίων. καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ δὲ ἐκκλησίαι ἐν τιμῇ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀσπάσονται ὑμᾶς. ἔρρωσθε ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ θεοῦ, κεκτημένοι ἀδιάκριτον πνεῦμα, ὅς ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus (God-bearer), to the holy Church which is at Tralles, in Asia, beloved of God, the Father of Jesus Christ, elect, and worthy of God, possessing peace through the flesh, spirit, and passion of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, through our rising again to Him, which also I greet in its fullness, and in the apostolic character, and I wish it abundant greetings.

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, ἠγαπημένῃ θεῷ, πατρι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐκκλησίᾳ ἁγίᾳ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Τράλλεσιν τῆς Ἀσίας, ἐκλεκτῇ καὶ ἀξιοθέῳ, εἰρηνευούσῃ ἐν σαρκὶ καὶ πνεύματι τῷ πάθει Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τῆς ἐλπίδος ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ εἰς αὐτὸν ἀναστάσει· ἣν καὶ ἀσπάζομαι ἐν τῷ πληρώματι ἐν ἀποστολικῷ χαρακτῆρι καὶ εὔχομαι πλεῖστα χαίρειν.

Chapter 1. Acknowledgment of their excellence

I know that you possess a blameless and unwavering mind in patience, and that not only in present practice, but according to inherent nature, as Polybius your bishop has shown me, who has come to Smyrna by the will of God and Jesus Christ, and so sympathized in the joy which I, who am bound in Christ Jesus, possess, that I beheld your whole multitude in him. Having therefore received through him the testimony of your good-will, according to God, I gloried to find you, as I knew you were, the imitators of God.

1. Ἄμωμον διάνοιαν καὶ αδιάκριτον ἐν ὑπομονῇ ἔγνων ὑμᾶς ἔχοντας, οὐ κατὰ χρῆσιν ἀλλὰ κατὰ φύσιν, καθὼς ἐδήλωσέν μοι Πολύβιος, ὁ ἐπίσκοπος ὑμῶν, ὃς παρεγένετο θελήματι θεοῦ καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν Σμύρνῃ καὶ οὕτως μοι συνεχάρη δεδεμένῳ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ὥστε με τὸ πᾶν πλῆθος ὑμῶν ἐν αὐτῷ θεωρεῖσθαι. 2. ἀποδεξάμενος οὖν τὴν κατὰ θεὸν εὔνοιαν δι’ αὐτοῦ εδόξασα, εὑρῶν ὑμᾶς, ὡς ἔγνων, μιμητὰς ὄντας θεοῦ.

Chapter 2. Be subject to the bishop, etc.

For, since you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order, by believing in His death, you may escape from death. It is therefore necessary that, as you indeed do, so without the bishop you should do nothing, but should also be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostles of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall at last be found. It is fitting also that the deacons, as being the ministers of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not ministers of food and drink, but servants of the Church of God. They are bound, therefore, to avoid all grounds of accusation against them, as they would against fire.

1. Ὅταν γὰρ τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ ὑοτάσσησθε ὡς Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, φαίνεσθέ μοι οὐ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ζῶντες, ἀλλὰ κατὰ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς ἀποθανόντα, ἵνα πιστεύσαντες εἰς τὸν θάνατον αὐτοῦ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν ἐκφύγητε. 2. ἀναγκαῖον οὖν ἐστίν, ὥσπερ ποιεῖτε, ἄνευ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου μηδὲν πράσσειν ὑμᾶς, ἀλλ’ ὑποτάσσεσθαι καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ ὡς τοῖς ἀποστόλοις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ 3. δεῖ δὲ καὶ τοὺς διακόνους ὄντας μυστηρίων Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον πᾶσιν ἀρέσκειν. οὐ γὰρ βρωμάτων καὶ ποτῶν εἰσιν διάκονοι, ἀλλ’ ἐκκλησίας θεοῦ ὑπηρέται· δέον οὖν αὐτοὺς φυλάσσεσθαι τὰ ἐγκλήματα ὡς πῦρ.

Chapter 3. Honor the deacons, etc.

Likewise, let everyone revere the deacons as Jesus Christ, and the bishop as a model of the Father and the presbyters as the council of God, and as a bond of the apostles. Apart from these, there is no Church. Concerning all this, I am persuaded that you are of the same opinion. For I have received the example of your love, and still have it with me, in your bishop, whose very appearance is highly instructive, and his meekness a power; whom I imagine even the godless must revere. Because I love you, I am sparing you, though I could write more vigorously on this point. I did not think it right that I, a condemned man, should command you as if I were an apostle.

1. Ὁμοίως πάντες ἐντρεπέσθωσαν τοὺς διακόνους ὡς Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, ὡς καὶ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ὄντα τύπον τοῦ πατρός, τοὺς δὲ πρεσβυτέρους ὡς συνέδριον θεοῦ καὶ ὡς σύνδεσμον ἀποστόλων. χωρὶς τούτων ἐκκλησία οὐ καλεῖται. 2. περὶ ὧν πέπεισμαι ὑμᾶς οὕτως ἔχειν. τὸ γὰρ ἐξεμπλάριον τῆς ἀγάπης ὑμῶν ἔλαβον καὶ ἔχω μεθ’ ἑαυτοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ ὑμῶν, οὗ αὐτὸ τὸ κατάστημα μεγάλη μαθητεία, ἡ δὲ πραότης αὐτοῦ δύναμις· ὃν λογίζομαι καὶ τοὺς ἀθέους ἐντρέπεσθαι. 3. ἀγαπῶν ὑμᾶς φείδομαι, συντονώτερον δυνάμενος γράφειν ὑπὲρ τούτου. οὐκ εἰς τοῦτο ᾠήθην, ἵνα ὢν κατάκριτος ὡς ἀπόστολος ὑμῖν διατάσσωμαι.

Chapter 4. I have need of humility

I have great knowledge in God, but I restrain myself, lest I should perish through boasting. For now, I must be more fearful; and not give heed to those that puff me up with pride. For those that speak to me, scourge me. For I do indeed desire to suffer, but I do not know if I am worthy to do so. For this zeal is not shown to many; it wages war against me all the more. I therefore have need of meekness, by which the prince of this world is brought to nothing.

1. Πολλὰ φρονῶ ἐν θεῷ, ἀλλ’ ἐμαυτὸν μετρῶ, ἵνα μὴ ἐν καυχήσει απόλωμαι. νῦν γὰρ με δεῖ πλέον φοβεῖσθαι καὶ μὴ προσέχειν τοῖς φυσιοῦσίν με. οἱ γὰρ λέγοντές μοι μαστιγοῦσίν με. 2. ἀγαπῶ μὲν γὰρ τὸ παθεῖν, ἀλλ’ οὐκ οἶδα, εἰ ἄξιός εἰμι. τὸ γὰρ ζῆλος πολλοῖς μὲν οὐ φαίνεται, ἐμὲ δὲ πλέον πολεμεῖ. χρῄζω οὖν πραότητος, ἐν ᾗ καταλύεται ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου.

Chapter 5. I will not teach you profound doctrines

Am I not able to write to you of heavenly things? But I fear to do so, lest I should harm you who are but infants in Christ. Pardon me in this respect, lest as not being able to receive such doctrines, you should be strangled by them. Not that I, because I am in chains for Christ, am already able to understand heavenly things, and the places of the angels, and their gatherings under their respective princes, things visible and invisible. Nevertheless, I am still but a learner in other respects; for we lack many things, so that we come not short of God.

1. Μὴ οὐ δύναμαι ὑμῖν τὰ ἐπουράνια γράψαι; ἀλλὰ φοβοῦμαι, μὴ νηπίοις οὖσιν ὑμῖν βλάβην παραθῶ· καὶ συγγνωμονεῖτέ μοι, μήποτε οὐ ἐγώ, οὐ καθότι δέδεμαι καὶ δύναμαι νοῖν τὰ ἐπουράνια καὶ τὰς τοποθεσίας τὰς ἀγγελικὰς καὶ τὰς συστάσεις τὰς ἀρχοντικάς, ὁρατά τε καὶ ἀόρατα, παρὰ τοῦτο ἤδη καὶ μαθητής εἰμι. πολλὰ γὰρ ἡμῖν λείπει, ἵνα θεοῦ μὴ λειπώμεθα.

Chapter 6. Abstain from the poison of heretics

I, therefore, yet not I, but the love of Jesus Christ, urge you that you use Christian nourishment only, and abstain from herbage of a different kind; I mean heresy. For those that are given to this mix up Jesus Christ with their own poison, like those who administer a deadly drug in sweet wine, which he who is ignorant takes greedily, and so, with a fatal pleasure, meets his own death.

1. Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, οὐκ ἐγώ, ἀλλ’ ἡ ἀγάπη Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· μόνῃ τῇ χριστιανῇ τροφῇ χρῆσθε, ἀλλοτρίας δὲ βοτάνης ἀπέχεσθε, ἥτις ἐστὶν αἵρεσις· 2. οἳ ἑαυτοῖς παρεμπλέκουσιν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν καταξιοπιστευόμενοι, ὥσπερ θανάσιμον φάρμακον διδόντες μετὰ οἰνομέλιτος, ὅπερ ὁ ἀγνοῶν ἡδέως λαμβάνει ἐν ἡδονῇ κακῇ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν.

Chapter 7. The same continued

Be on your guard, therefore, against such people. And this will be the case with you if you are not prideful, and continue in intimate union with Jesus Christ our God, and the bishop, and the enactments of the apostles. He that is within the altar is pure, but he that is without is not pure; that is, he who does anything apart from the bishop, and presbytery, and deacons, such a man is not pure in his conscience.

1. Φυλάττεσθε οὖν τοὺς τοιούτους. τοῦτο δὲ ἔσται ὑμῖν φυσιουμένοις καὶ οὖσιν ἀχωρίστοις θεοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καί τοῦ ἐπισκόπου καὶ τῶν διαταγμάτων τῶν ἀποστόλων. 2. ὁ ἐντὸς θυσιαστηρίου ὢν καθαρός ἐστιν· τοῦτ’ ἔστιν, ὁ χωρὶς ἐπισκόπου καὶ πρεσβυτερίου καὶ διακόνων πράσσων τι, οὗτος καθαρός ἐστιν τῇ συνειδήσει.

Chapter 8. Be on your guard against the snares of the devil

Not that I know there is anything of this kind among you; but I am forewarning you, my beloved, because I foresee the snares of the devil. Therefore, clothe yourselves with meekness, be renewed in faith, that is the flesh of the Lord, and in love, that is the blood of Jesus Christ. Let not one of you hold any grudge against his neighbor. *Give no occasion to the pagans, lest by means of a few foolish men the whole multitude in God be blasphemed. For, "Woe to him by whose vanity my name is blasphemed among any." 19

1. Οὐκ ἐπεὶ ἔγνων τοιοῦτόν τι ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλὰ προφυλάσσω ὑμᾶς ὄντας μου α0γαπητούς, προορῶν τὰς ἐνέδρας τοῦ διαβόλου, ὑμεῖς οὖ τὴν πραϋπάθειαν ἀναλαβόντες ἀνακτήσασθε ἑαυτοὺς ἐν πίστει ὅ ἐστιν σὰρξ τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ὅ ἐστιν αἷμα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 2. μηδεὶς ὑμῶν κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐχέτω. μὴ ἀφορμὰς δίδοτε τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ἵνα μὴ δι’ ὀλίγους ἄφρονας τὸ ἐν θεῷ πλῆθος βλασφημῆται. Οὐαὶ γάρ, δι’ οὗ ἐπὶ ματαιότητι τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπί τινων βλασφημεῖται.

Chapter 9. Reference to the history of Christ

Stop your ears, therefore, when anyone speaks to you at variance with Jesus Christ, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly born and ate and drank. He was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate; He was truly crucified, and *truly died, in the sight of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. He was also truly raised from the dead, His Father quickening Him, even as after the same manner His Father will raise us up who believe in Him by Christ Jesus, apart from whom we do not possess the true life.

1. Κωφώθητε οὖν, ὅταν ὑμῖν χωρὶς Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ λαλῇ τις, τοῦ ἐκ γένους Δαυείδ, τοῦ ἐκ Μαρίας, ὃς ἀληθῶς ἐγεννήθη, ἔφαγέν τε καὶ ἔπιεν, ἀληθῶς ἐδιώχθη ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, ἀληθῶς ἐσταυρώθη καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ ὑποχθονίων. 2. ὃς καὶ ἀληθῶς ἠγέρθη ἀπό νεκρῶν, ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, κατὰ τὸ ὁμοίωμα ὃς καὶ ἡμᾶς τοὺς πιστεύοντας αὐτῷ οὕτως ἐγερεῖ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, οὗ χωρὶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ζῆν οὐκ ἔχομεν.

Chapter 10. The reality of Christ's passion

But if, as some that are without God, that is, the unbelieving, say, that He only seemed to suffer (they themselves only seeming to exist), then why am I in chains? Why do I long to be exposed to the wild beasts? Do I therefore die in vain? Am I not then guilty of falsehood against the cross of the Lord?

1. Εἰ δέ, ὥσπερ τινὲς ἄθεοι ὄντες, τουτέστιν ἄπιστοί, λέγουσιν, τὸ δοκεῖν πεπονθέναι αὐτόν, αὐτοὶ ὅντες τὸ δοκεῖν, ἐγὼ τί δέδεμαι, τί δὲ καὶ εὔχομαι θηριομαχῆσαι; δωρεὰν οὖν ἀποθνήσκω. ἄρα οὖν καταψεύδομαι τοῦ κυρίου.

Chapter 11. Avoid the deadly errors of the Docetae

Flee, therefore, those evil offshoots of Satan, which produce death-bearing fruit, from which if anyone tastes, he instantly dies. For these men are not the planting of the Father. For if they were, they would appear as branches of the cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible. By it He calls you through His passion, as being His members. The head, therefore, cannot be born by itself, without its members; God, who is the Savior Himself, having promised their union.

1. Φεύγετε οὖν τὰς κακὰς παραφυάδας τὰς γεννώσας καρπὸν θανατηφόρον, οὗ ἐὰν γεύσηταί φυτεία πατρός. 2. εἰ γὰρ ἦσαν, ἐφαίνοντο ἂν κλάδοι τοῦ σταυροῦ, καὶ ἦν ἂν ὁ καρπὸς αὐτῶν ἄφθαρτος· δι’ οὗ ἐν τῷ πάθει αὐτοῦ προσκαεῖται ὑμᾶς ὄντας μέλη αὐτοῦ. οὐ δύναται οὖν κεφαλὴ χωρὶς γεννηθῆναι ἄνευ μελῶν, τοῦ θεοῦ ἕνωσιν ἐπαγγελλομένου, ὅ ἐστιν αὐτός.

Chapter 12. Continue in unity and love

I greet you from Smyrna, together with the Churches of God which are with me, who have refreshed me in all things, both in the flesh and in the spirit. My chains, which I carry about with me for the sake of Jesus Christ (praying that I may become one with God), ask you. Continue in harmony among yourselves, and in prayer with one another; for it becomes every one of you, and especially the presbyters, to refresh the bishop, to the honor of the Father, of Jesus Christ, and of the apostles. I urge you in love to hear me, that I may not, by having written, be a testimony against you. And pray for me; I have need of your love, along with the mercy of God, that I may be worthy of the *lot for which I am destined, and that I may not be found rejected.

1. Ἀσπάζομαι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ Σμύρνης ἅμα ταῖς συμπαρούσαις μοι ἐκκλυσίαις τοῦ θεοῦ, οἳ κατὰ πάντα με ἀνέπαυσαν σαρκί τε καὶ πνεύματι. 2. παρακαλεῖ ὑμᾶς τὰ δεσμά μου, ἃ ἕνεκεν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ περιφέρω, αἰτούμενος θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν· διαμένετε ἐν τῇ ὁμονοίᾳ ὑμῶν καὶ τῇ μετ’ ἀλλήλων προσευχῇ. πρέπει γὰρ ὑμῖν τοῖς καθ’ ἕνα, ἔξαιρέτως καὶ τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις, ἀναψύχειν τὸν ἐπισκοπον εἰς τιμὴν πατρός, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων. 3. εὔχομαι ὑμᾶς ἐν ὑμῖν γράψας. καὶ περὶ ἐμοῦ δὲ προσεύχεσθε, τῆς ἀφ’ τὸ καταξιωθῆναί με τοῦ κλήρου, οὗ περίκειμαι ἐπιτυχεῖν, ἵνα μὴ ἀδόκιμος εὑρεθῶ.

Chapter 13. Conclusion

The love of the Smyrnaeans and Ephesians greets you. Remember in your prayers the Church, which is in Syria, from which also I am not worthy to be called, being the least of them. Farewell in Jesus Christ, may you continue being subject to the bishop, as to the command of God, and likewise with the presbytery. And, every man, love one another with an undivided heart. Let my spirit be sanctified by yours, not only now, but also when I shall become one with God. For I am still exposed to danger. But the Father is faithful in Jesus Christ to fulfill both mine and your petitions: in whom may you be found blameless.

1. Ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς ἡ ἀγάπη Σμυρναίων καὶ Ἐφεσίων. μνημονεύετε ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς ὑμῶν τῆς ἐν Συρίᾳ ἐκκλησίας, ὅθεν καὶ οὐκ ἄξιός εἰμι λέγεσθαι, ὢν ἔσχατος ἐκείνων. 2. ἔρρωσθε ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, ὑποτασσόμενοι τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ ὡς τῇ ἐντολῇ, ὁμοιως καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ. καὶ οἱ κατ’ ἄνδρα ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶτε ἐν ἀμερίστῳ καρδίᾳ. 3. ἁγνίζεται ὑμῶν τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα οὐ μόνον νῦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅταν θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω. ἔτι γὰρ ὑπὸ κίνδυνόν εἰμι· ἀλλὰ πιστὸς ὁ πατὴρ ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ πληρῶσαί μου τὴν αἴτησιν καὶ ὑμῶν, ἐν ᾧ εὑρεθείητε ἄμωμοι.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus (God-bearer), to the Church which has obtained mercy, through the majesty of the Most High Father, and Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son; the Church which is beloved and enlightened by the will of Him that wills all things which are according to the love of Jesus Christ our God, which also presides in the place of the region of the Romans, worthy of God, worthy of honor, worthy of success, worthy of praise, worthy of obtaining her every desire, worthy of being deemed holy, and which presides over love, is named from Christ, and from the Father, which I also greet in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father: to those who are united, both according to the flesh and spirit, to every one of His commandments; who are filled inseparably with the grace of God, and are purified from every stain, I wish abundant greetings in Jesus Christ our God, undefiledly.

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, τῇ ἠλεημένῃ ἐν μεγαλειότητι πατρὸς ὑψίστου καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ μόνου υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἠγαπημένῃ καὶ πεφωτισμένῃ ἐν θελήματι τοῦ θελήσαντος τὰ πάντα, ἃ ἔστιν, κατὰ ἀγάπην Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ἥτις καὶ προκάθηται ἐν τόπῳ χωρίου ῾Ρωμαίων, ἀξιόθεος, ἀξιεπίτευκτος, ἀξίαγνος καὶ προκαθημένη τῆς ἀγάπης, χριστώνυμος, πατρώνυμος, ἣν καὶ ἀσπάζομαι ἐν ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ πατρός· κατὰ σάρκα καὶ πνεῦμα ἡνωμένοις πάσῃ ἐντολῇ αὐτοῦ, πεπληρωμένοις χάριτος θεοῦ ἀδιακρίτως καὶ ἀποδιϋλισμένοις ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀλλοτρίου χρώματος πλεῖστα ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, τῷ θεῷ ἡμῶν, ἀμώμως χαίρειν.

Chapter 1. As a prisoner, I hope to see you

Through prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, and have even been granted more than I requested; for I hope as a prisoner in Christ Jesus to greet you, if it is indeed the will of God that I am deemed worthy to reach the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to my lot without hindrance to the end. For I am afraid of your love, lest it should do me harm. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to become one with God, if you spare me.

1. Ἐπεὶ εὐξάμενος θεῷ ἐπέτυχον ἰδεῖν ὑμῶν τὰ ἀξιόθεα πρόσωπα, ὡς καὶ πλέον ᾐτούμην λαβεῖν· δεδεμένος γὰρ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐλπίζω ὑμᾶς ἀσπάσμένος ἐάνπερ θέλημα ᾖ τοῦ ἀξιωθῆναί με εἰς τέλος εἶναι. 2. ἡ μὲν γὰρ ἀρχὴ εὐοικονόμητός ἐστιν, ἐάνπερ χάριτος ἐπιτὑχω εἰς τὸ τὸν κλῆρόν μου ἀνεμποδίστως ἀπολαβεῖν. φοβοῦμαι γὰρ τὴν ὑμῶν ἀγάπην, μὴ αὐτή με ἀδικήσῃ. ὑμῖν γὰρ εὐχερές ἐστιν, ὃ θέλετε, ποιῆσαι· ἐμοὶ δὲ δύσκολόν ἐστιν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν, ἐάνπερ ὑμεῖς μὴ φείσησθέ μου.

Chapter 2. Do not save me from martyrdom

For it is not my desire to act towards you as a man-pleaser, but as a God-pleaser, just as you please Him. For neither shall I ever have such another opportunity of becoming one with Him; nor will you, if you shall now be silent, ever be entitled to the honor of a better work. For if you are silent about me, I shall become God's; but if you desire my flesh, I shall again have to run my race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favor upon me than to be poured out as a libation to God, while the altar is still prepared; that, becoming a choir in love, you may sing praises to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for from the east to the west. It is good to set [like the sun] from the world to God, that I may rise again to Him.

1. Οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀνθρωπαρεσκῆσαι, ἀλλὰ θεῷ ἀρέσαι, ὥσπερ καὶ ἀρέκετε. οὔτε γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε ἕξω καιρὸν τοιοῦτον θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν, οὔτε ὑμεῖς, ἐὰν σιωπήσητε, κρείττονι ἔργῳ ἔχετε ἐπιγραφῆναι. ἐὰν γὰρ σιωπήσητε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, ἐγὼ λόγος θεοῦ· ἐὰν δὲ ἐρασθῆτε τῆς σαρκός μου, πάλιν ἔσομαι φωνή. 2. πλέον μοι μὴ παράσψησθε τοῦ σπονδισθῆναι θεῷ, ὡς ἔτι θυσιαστήριον ἕτοιμόν ἐστιν, ἵνα ἐν ἀγάπῃ χορὸς γενόμενοι ᾄσητε τῷ πατρὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ὅτι τὸν ἐπίσκοπον Συρίας ὁ θεὸς κατηξίωσεν εὑρεθῆναι εἰς δύσιν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῆς μεταπεμψάμενος. καλὸν τὸ δῦναι ἀπὸ κόσμου πρὸς θεόν, ἵνα εἰς αὐτὸν ἀνατείλω.

Chapter 3. Pray rather that I may obtain martyrdom

You have never envied anyone; you have taught others. And I desire that those things may be confirmed by your conduct, which in your instructions you enjoin on others. Only request on my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but truly will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian but be found to be one. For if I am truly found a Christian, I may also be called one, and then be deemed faithful, when I shall no longer be visible to the world. Nothing visible is *good. For the things which are seen are temporal. 20 For our God, Jesus Christ, now that He is with the Father, is all the more revealed in His glory. Christianity is not a thing of *persuasion only, but of majesty, when it is hated by the world.

1. Οὐδέποτε ἐβασκάνατε οὐδενί, ἄλλους ἐδιδάξατε. ἐγὼ δὲ θέλω, ἵνα κἀκεῖνα βέβαια ᾖ ἃ μαθητεύοντες ἐντέλλεσθε. 2. μόνον μοι δύναμιν αἰτεῖσθε ἔσωθέν τε καὶ ἐσωθέν τε καὶ ἔξωθεν, ἵνα μὴ μόνον λέγω ἀλλὰ καὶ θέλω, ἵνα μὴ μόνον λέγωμαι Χριστιανὸς ἀλλὰ καὶ εὑρεθῶ. ἐὰν γὰρ εὑρεθῶ, καὶ λέγεσθαι δύναμαι, καὶ τότε πιστὸς εἶναι, ὅταν κόσμῳ μὴ φαίνωμαι. 3. οὐδὲν φαινόμενον καλόν· ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν πατρὶ ὢν μᾶλλον φαίνεται. οὐ περσμονῆς τὸ ἔργον, ἀλλὰ μεγέθους ἐστὶν ὁ Χριστιανισμός, ὅταν μισῆται ὑπὸ κόσμου.

Chapter 4. Allow me to fall a prey to the wild beasts

I write to the Churches, and command them all, that I shall willingly die for God, unless you hinder me. I beg of you not to show an unseasonable good-will towards me. Allow me to become food for the wild beasts, through which it is possible to become one with God. I am the wheat of God and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body; so that when I have fallen asleep, I may be no trouble to anyone. Then shall I truly be a disciple of Christ, when the world shall not even see my body. Pray to Christ for me, that through these means I may be found a sacrifice to God. I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments to you. They were apostles; I am but a condemned man: they were free, while I am, even until now, a servant. But when I suffer, I shall be the freed-man of Jesus Christ and shall rise again emancipated in Him. And now, being a prisoner, I learn not to desire anything worldly or vain.

1. Ἐγὼ γράφω πάσαις ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις, καὶ ἐντέλλομαι πᾶσιν, ὅτι ἐγὼ ἑκὼν ὑπὲρ θεοῦ ἀποθνήσκω, ἐάνπερ ὑμεῖς μὴ κωλύσητε. παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς, μὴ εὐνοια ἄκαιρος γένησθέ μοι. ἄφετέ με θηρίων εἶναι βοράν, δι’ ὧν ἔνεστιν θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν. σῖτός εἰμι θεοῦ καὶ δι’ ὀδόντων θηρίων ἀλήθομαι, ἵνα καθαρὸς ἄρτος εὑρεθῶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ. 2. μᾶλλον κολκεύσαε τὰ θηρία, ἵνα μοι τάφος γένωνται καὶ μηδεν καταλίπωσι τῶν τοῦ σώματός μου, ἵνα μὴ κοιμηθεὶς βαρὺς τινι γένωμαι. τότε ἔσομαι μαθητὴς ἀληθῶς Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅτε οὐδὲ τὸ σῶμα μου ὁ κόσμος ὄψεται. λιτανεύσατε τὸν Χριστὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, ἵνα διὰ τῶν ὀργάνων τούτων θυσία εὑρεθῶ. 3. οὐχ ὡς Πέτρος καὶ Παῦλος διατάσσομαι ὑμῖν. ἐκεῖνοι ἀπόστολοι, ἐγὼ κατάκριτος· ἐκεῖνοι ἐλεύθεροι, ἐγώ δέ μέχρι νῦν δοῦλος. ἀλλ’ ἐὰν πάθω, ἀπελεύθερος γενἡσομαι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἀναστήσομαι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐλεύθερος. νῦν μανθάνω δεδεμένος μηδὲν ἐπιθυμεῖν.

Chapter 5. I desire to die

From Syria to Rome, I fight with beasts, both by land and sea, both by day and by night, being bound to ten leopards — I mean — a band of soldiers, who show themselves all the worse, who by their mistreatments of me, make me more of a disciple of Christ; yet am I not therefore justified. May I have joy in the wild beasts that are prepared for me; and I pray they may be eager to rush upon me, which also I will entice to speedily devour me, and not deal with me as with some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they are unwilling to attack me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me: I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or invisible, envy me that I may become one with Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let the tearings, the breakings, and the dislocations of bones; let the cutting off of limbs; the crushing of my whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me become one with Jesus Christ!

1. Ἀπὸ Συρίας μέχρι ῾Ρώμης θηριομαχῶ, διὰ γῆς καὶ θαλάσσης, νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας, δεδεμένος δέκα λεοπάρδοις, ὅ ἐστιν στρατιωτικὸν τάγμα· οἳ ἀδικήμασιν αὐτῶν μᾶλλον μαθητεύομαι, ἀλλ’ οὐ παρὰ τοῦτο δεδικαίωμαι. 2. ὀναίμην τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐμοὶ ἡτοιμασμένων καὶ εὔχομαι σύτομά μοι εὑρέθῆναι· ἃ καὶ κολακεύσω, συντόμως με καταφαγεῖν, οὐχ ὥσπερ τινῶν δειλαινόμενα οὐχ ἥψαντο. κἂν αὐτὰ δὲ ἄκοντα μη θελήσῃ, ἐγὼ προσβιάσομαι. 3. συγγνώμην μοι ἔχετε· τἱ μοι συμφέρει, ἐγὼ γινώσκω, νῦν ἄρχομαι μαθητὴς εἶναι, μηθέν με ζηλώσαι τῶν ὁρατῶν, ἵνα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐπιτύχω. πῦρ καὶ σταυρὸς θηρίων τε συστάσεις, ἀνατομαί, διαιρέσεις, σκρπισμοὶ ὀστέων, συγκοπὴ μελῶν, ἀλεσμοὶ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος, κακαὶ κολάσεις τοῦ διαβόλου ἐπ’ ἐμὲ ἐρχέσθωσαν, μόνον ἵνα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐπιτύχω.

Chapter 6. By death I shall attain true life

*The ends of the world, and all the kingdoms of this age shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die on behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. Him I seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose again for our sake. But the pangs of childbirth are upon me. Pardon me, brethren: do not hinder me from living, do not wish to keep me in a state of death. Do not give a man over to the world, if he desires to belong to God, nor deceive me with material things. Allow me to obtain pure light: when I have gone there, I shall indeed be human. Permit me to be an imitator of the passion of my God. If anyone has Him within, let him consider what I desire, and let him sympathize with me, as knowing what constrains me.

1. Οὐδέν μοι ὠφελήσει τὰ πέρατα τοῦ κόσμου οὐδὲ αἱ βασιλεῖαι τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου. καλόν μοι ἀποθανεῖν εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, ἢ βασιλεύειν τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς. ἐκεῖνον ζητῶ, τὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἀποθανόντα· ἐκεῖνον θέλω, τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς ἀναστάντα. ὁ δὲ τοκετός μοι ἐπίκειται. 2. σύγγνωτέ μοι, αδελφοί· μὴ ἐμποδίσηέ μοι ζῆσαι, μὴ θελήσητέ με ἀποθανεῖν· τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ θέλοντα εἶναι κόσμῳ μὴ χαρίσησθε, μηδὲ ὕλῃ ἐξαπατήσητε· ἄφετέ με καθαρὸν φῶς λαβεῖν· ἐκεῖ παραγενόμενος ἄνθρωπος ἔσομαι. 3. ἐπιτρέψατέ μοι μιμητὴν εἶναι του πάθους τοῦ θεοῦ μου. εἴ τις αὐτὸν ἐν ἑαυτῷ ἔχει, νοησάτω ὃ θέλω, καὶ συμπαθείτω μοι εἰδὼς τὰ συνέχοντά με.

Chapter 7. Reason of desiring to die

The prince of this world desires to carry me away and corrupt my purpose towards God. Let none of you, therefore, who are in Rome help him; rather be on my side, that is, on the side of God. Do not speak of Jesus Christ and yet set your desires on the world. Let not envy find a dwelling-place among you. Nor, if I should be present and urge you otherwise, be persuaded by me; be persuaded instead by what I write to you. For though I am alive while I write to you, yet I am eager to die. My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me desiring to be fed; but there is within me a water that lives and speaks, saying to me inwardly, "Come to the Father." I have no pleasure in corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of David; and I desire the drink of God, namely His blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life.

1. Ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου διαρπάσαι με βούλεται καὶ τὴν εἰς θεόν μου γνώμην διαφθεῖραι. μηδεὶς οὖν τῶν παρόντων ὑμῶν βοηθείτω αὐτῷ· μᾶλλον ἐμοῦ γίνεσθε, τουτέστιν τοῦ θεοῦ. μὴ λαλεῖτε Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, κόσμον δὲ ἐπιθυμεῖτε. 2. βασκανία ἐν ὑμῖν μὴ κατοικείτω. μηδ’ ἂν ἐγὼ παρὼν παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς, πεισθητέ μοι· τούτοις δὲ μᾶλλον πείσθητε, οἷς γράφω ὑμῖν. ζῶν γὰρ ἐσταύρωται, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἐμοὶ πῦρ φιλούλον· Δεῦρο πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. 3. οὐχ ἥδομαι τροφῇ θέλω, ὅ ἐστιν σὰρξ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυείδ, καὶ πόμα θέλω τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ, ὅ ἐστιν ἀγάπη ἄφθαρτος.

Chapter 8. Be favorable to me

I no longer wish to live after the manner of men, and my desire shall be fulfilled if you consent. Be willing then, that you also may have your desires fulfilled. I urge you in this brief letter; believe me. Jesus Christ will reveal these things to you, so that you shall know that I speak truth. He is the mouth altogether free from falsehood, by which the Father has truly spoken. Pray for me, that I may obtain the object of my desire. I have not written to you according to the flesh, but according to the will of God. If I shall suffer, you have wished well to me; but if I am rejected, you have hated me.

1. Οὐκέτι θέλω κατὰ ἀνθρώπους ζῆν. τοῦτο δέ ἔσται, ἐὰν ὑμεῖς θελήσητε. θελήσαε, ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς θεληθῆτε. 2. δι’ ὀλίγων γραμμάτων αἰτοῦμαι ὑμᾶς· πιστεύσατέ μοι. Ἰησοῦς δὲ Χριστὸς ὑμῖν ταῦτα φανερώσει, ὅτι ἀληθῶς λέγων· τὸ ἀψευδὲσ στόμα, ἐν ᾧ ὁ πατὴρ ἐλάλησεν ἀληθῶς. 3. αἰτήσασθε περί ἐμοῦ, ἵνα ἐπιτύχω. οὐ κατὰ σάρκα ὑμῖν ἔγραψα, ἀλλὰ κατὰ γνωμην θεοῦ. ἐὰν πάθω, ἠθελήσατε· ἐὰν ἀποδοκιμασθῶ, ἐμισήσατε.

Chapter 9. Pray for the church in Syria

Remember in your prayers the Church in Syria, which now has God for its shepherd in my place. Jesus Christ alone will oversee it, and your love. But as for me, I am ashamed before them; for I am not worthy, I am the very last of them and a miscarriage; (1 Cor. 15:8-9) 21 I have obtained mercy to be somebody, if I shall be one with God. My spirit greets you, and the love of the Churches that have received me in the name of Jesus Christ, and not as a mere passer-by. For even those Churches that did not lie on my route according to the flesh, have gone ahead of me, city by city.

1. Μνημονεύετε ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν τῆς ἐν Συρίᾳ ἐκκλησίας, ἥτις ἀντὶ ἐμοῦ ποιμένι τῷ θεῷ χρῆται. μόνος αὐτὴν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐπισκοπήσει καὶ ἡ ὑμῶν ἀγάπη. 2. ἐγὼ δὲ αἰσχύνομαι ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ ἔκτρωμα· ἀλλ’ ἠλέημαί τις εἶναι, ἐὰν θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω. 3. ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν τῶν δεξαμένων με εἰς ὄνομα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, οὐχ ὡς παροδεύοντα. καὶ γὰρ αἱ μὴ προσήκουσαί μοι τῇ ὁδῷ τῇ κατὰ σάρκα, κατὰ πόλιν με προῆγον.

Chapter 10. Conclusion

Now I write these things to you from Smyrna by the Ephesians, who are deservedly most blessed. There is also with me, along with many others, Crocus, one dearly beloved by me. As to those who have gone before me from Syria to Rome for the glory of God, I believe that you are acquainted with them; to whom, then, make known that I am at hand. For they are all worthy, both of God and of you; and it is becoming that you should refresh them in all things. I have written these things to you, on the day before the ninth of the Kalends of September (that is, on the twenty-third day of August). Farewell to the end, in the patience of Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Γράφω δὲ ὑμῖν ταῦτα ἀπὸ Σμύρνης δι’ Ἐφεσίων τῶν ἀξιομακαρίστων. ἔστιν δὲ καὶ ἅμα ἐμοὶ σὺν πολλοῖς καὶ Κρόκος, τὸ ποθητόν μοι ὄνομα. 2. περὶ τῶν προελθόντων με ἀπὸ Συρίας εἰς ῾Ρώμην εἰς δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ πιστεύω ὑμᾶς ἐπεγνωκέναι, οἷς καὶ δηλώσατε ἐγγύς με ὄντα. πάντες γάρ εἰσιν ἄξιοι τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν· οὓς πρέπον ὑμῖν ταῦτα τῇ πρὸ ἐννέα καλανδῶν Σεπτεμβρίων. ἔρρωσθε εἰς τέλος ἐν ὑπομονῇ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus (God-bearer), to the Church of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia, in Asia: to her which has obtained mercy, and is established in the harmony of God, and rejoices unwaveringly in the passion of our Lord, and is fully assured in every mercy through His resurrection. I greet her in the blood of Jesus Christ, who is our eternal and enduring joy — especially if men are in unity with the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons, who have been appointed according to the mind of Jesus Christ, whom He has established in security, after His own will, and by His Holy Spirit.

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, ἐκκλησίᾳ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Φιλαδελφίᾳ τῆς Ἀσίας, ἠλεημένῃ καὶ ἡδρασμένῃ ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ θεοῦ καὶ ἀγαλλιωμένῃ ἐν τῷ πάθει τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν ἀδιακρίτως καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ πεπληροφορημένῃ ἐν παντὶ ελέει, ἣν ἀσπάζομαι ἐν αἵματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἥτις ἐστὶν χαρὰ αἰώνιος καὶ παράμονος, μάλιστα ἐὰν ἐν ἑνὶ ὦσιν σὺν τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ τοῖς σὺν αὐτῳ πρεσβυτέροις καὶ διακόνοις ἀποδεδειγμένοις ἐν γνώμῃ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, οὓς κατὰ τὸ ἴδιον θέλημα ἐστήριξεν ἐν βεβαιωσύνῃ τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ πνεύματι.

Chapter 1. Praise of the bishop

I know that this bishop obtained the ministry which serves the common good, not himself, neither by men, (Gal. 1:1) 22 nor through vainglory, but by the love of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ; at whose meekness I am struck with admiration, and who even by his silence is able to accomplish more than those who vainly talk. For he is in harmony with the commandments of God, even as the harp is with its strings. Therefore, my soul declares his mind towards God a blessed one, knowing it to be virtuous and perfect, and that his stability as well as freedom from all anger is after the example of the infinite meekness of the living God.

1. Ὃν ἐπίσκοπον ἔγνων οὐκ ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ οὐδὲ δι’ ἀνθρώπων κεκτῆσθαι τὴν διακονίαν τὴν εἰς τὸ κοινὸν ἀνήδουσαν οὐδὲ κατὰ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἀγαπῃ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· οὗ καταπέπληγμαι τὴν ἐπιείκειαν, ὃς σιγῶν πλείονα δύαται τῶν μάταια λαλούντων. 2. συνευρυθμισται γὰρ ταῖς ἐντολας ὡς χορδαῖς κιθάρα. διὸ μακαρίζει μου ἡ ψυχὴ τὴν εἰς θεὸν αὐτοῦ γνώμην, ε0πιγνοὺς ἐνάρετον καὶ τέλειον οὖσαν, τὸ ἀκίνητον αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ ἀόργητον αὐτου ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιεικείᾳ θεοῦ ζῶντος.

Chapter 2. Maintain union with the bishop

Therefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked doctrines; where the shepherd is, there follow like sheep. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of trust, who by means of an evil pleasure, carry captive those that are seeking after God; but in your unity they shall find no place. (2 Tim 3:6) 23

1. Τέκνα οὖν φωτὸς ἀληθείας, φεύγετε τὸν μερισμὸν καὶ τὰς κακοδιδασκαλίας· ὅπου δὲ ὁ ποιμὴν ἐστιν, ἐκεῖ ὡς πρόβατα ἀκολουθεῖτε. 2. πολλοὶ γὰρ λύκοι ἀξιόπιστοι ἡδονῇ κακῇ αἰχμαλωτίζουσιν τοὺς θεοδρόμους· ἀλλ’ ἐν τῇ ἑνότητι ὑμῶν οὐχ ἕξουσιν τόπον.

Chapter 3. Avoid schismatics

Abstain from those evil plants which Jesus Christ does not tend, because they are not the planting of the Father. Not that I have found any division among you, but a careful filtering. For all who belong to God and to Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And those who repent and return to the unity of the Church will likewise belong to God, so that they may live according to Jesus Christ. Do not be deceived, my brethren. If any man follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If anyone walks according to a strange opinion, he does not align himself with the passion of Christ.

1. Ἀπέχεσθε τῶν κακῶν βοτανῶν, ἅτινας οὐ γεωργεῖ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, διὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι αὐτοὺς φυτείαν πατρός· οὐχ ὅτι παρ’ ὑμῖν μερισμὸν εὗρον, ἀλλ’ ἀποδιυλισμόν. 2. ὅσοι γὰρ θεοῦ εἰσιν καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, οὗτοι μετὰ τοῦ ἐπισκὀπου εἰσίν. καὶ ὅσοι ἂν μεταμοήσαντες ἔλθωσιν ἐπὶ τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς ἐκκλησίας, καὶ οὗτοι θεοῦ ἔσονται, ἵνα ὦσιν κατὰ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ζῶντες. 3. μὴ πλανᾶσθε, ἀδελφοί μου· εἴ τις σχίζοντι ἀκολουθεῖ, βασιλείαν θεοῦ οὐ κληρονομεῖ· εἴ τις ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ γνώμῃ περιπατεῖ, οὗτος τῷ πάθει οὐ συγκατατίθεται.

Chapter 4. Have but one Eucharist, etc.

Be diligent, then, to use one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup for the unity of His blood, one altar, as there is one bishop along with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: that so, whatever you do, you may do it according to the will of God.

Σπουδάσατε οὖν μιᾷ εὐχαριστίᾳ χρῆσθαι· μία γὰρ σὰρξ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰηςοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἓν ποτήριον εἰς ἕωσιν τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ, ἓν θυσιαστήριον, ὡς εἷς ἐπίσκοπος ἅμα τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ καὶ διακόνοις τοῖς συνδούλοις μου· ἵνα, ὁ ἐὰν πράσσητε, κατὰ θεὸν πράσσητε.

Chapter 5. Pray for me

My brethren, I am poured out in loving you; and rejoicing exceedingly over you, I seek to secure your safety. Yet it is not I, but Jesus Christ, for whose sake being bound I fear the more, since I am not yet complete. But your prayer to God shall make me complete, that I may obtain that portion which through mercy has been given to me, having taken refuge in the Gospel as in the flesh of Jesus, and to the apostles as in the presbytery of the Church. And let us also love the prophets, because they too have proclaimed the Gospel, and placed their hope in Him, and waited for Him; in whom also believing, they were saved, through the union of Jesus Christ, being saints, worthy of love and admiration, having had witness borne to them by Jesus Christ, and being numbered with us in the Gospel of the common hope.

1. Ἀδελφοί μου, λίαν ἐκκέχυμαι ἀγαπῶν ὑμᾶς καὶ ὑπεραγαλλόμενος ἀσφαλίζομαι ὑμᾶς· οὐκ ἐγὼ δέ, ἀλλ’ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ἐν ᾧ δεδεμένος φοβοῦμαι μᾶλλον, ὡς ἔτι ὢν ἀναπάρτιστος· ἀλλ’ ἡ προσευχὴ ὑμῶν εἰς θεόν με ἀπαρτίσει, ἵνα ἐν ᾧ κλήρῳ ἠλεήθην ἐπιτύχω, προσφυγὼν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ ὡς σαρκὶ Ἰησοῦ, καὶ τοῖς ἀποστόλοις ὡς πρεσβυτερίῳ ἐκκλησίας. 2. καὶ τοὺς προφήτας δὲ ἀγαπῶμεν, διὰ τὸ καὶ αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον κατηγγελκέναι καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἐλπίζειν καὶ αὐτὸν ἀναμένειν, ἐν ᾧ καὶ πιστεύσαντες ἐσώθησαν, ἐν ἑνότητι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὄντες, ἀξιαγάπητοι καὶ ἀξιοθαύμαστοι ἅγιοι, ὑπὸ Ἰησοῦ Χριστο͂ μεμαρτυρημένοι καὶ συνηριθμημένοι ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τῆς κοινῆς ἐλπίδος.

Chapter 6. Do not accept Judaism

But if anyone preaches the Jewish law to you, do not listen to them. For it is better to listen to Christian doctrine from a man who has been circumcised, than to Judaism from one uncircumcised. But if either does not preach Jesus Christ, they are in my judgment as tombstones and sepulchers of the dead, on which are written only the names of men. Flee therefore from the evil arts and snares of the prince of this world, lest, being conquered by his deceit, you grow weak in your love. But be all joined together with an undivided heart. I thank my God that I have a good conscience concerning you, and that no one can boast, either privately or publicly, that I burdened anyone in much or in little. And I pray for all to whom I have spoken, that they may not receive this as a testimony against them.

1. Ἐὰν δέ τις ἰουδαϊσμὸν ἑρμηνεύῃ ὑμῖν, μὴ ἀκούετε αὐτοῦ. ἄμεινον γάρ ἐστιν παρὰ ἀδρὸς περιτομὴν ἔχοντος χριστιανισμὸν ἀκούειν, ἢ παρὰ ἀκροβύστου ἰουδαϊσμόν. ἐὰν δὲ ἀμφότεροι περὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μὴ λαλῶσιν, οὗτοι ἐμοὶ στῆλαι εἰσιν καὶ τάφοι νεκρῶν, ἐφ’ οἷς γέγραπται μόνον ὀνόματα ἀνθρώπων. 2. φεύγετε οὖν τὰς κακοτεχνίας καὶ ἐνέδρας τοῦ ἄρχοντος τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, μήποτε θλιβέντες τῇ γνώμῃ αὐτοῦ ἐξασθενήσετε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ· ἀλλὰ πάντες ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ γίνεσθε ἐν ἀμερίστῳ καρδίᾳ. 3. εὐχαριστῶ δὲ τῷ θεῷ μου, ὅτι εὐσυνείδητός εἰμι ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ οὐκ ἔχει τις καυχήσασθαι οὔτε λάθρα οὔτε φανερῶς, ὅτι ἐβάρησά τινα ἐν μικρῷ ἢ ἐν μεγάλῳ. καὶ πᾶσι δέ, ἐν οἷς ἐλάλησα, εὔχομαι, ἵνα μὴ εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτὸ κτήσωνται.

Chapter 7. I have exhorted you to unity

For though some would have deceived me according to the flesh, yet the Spirit, as being from God, is not deceived. For it knows both where it comes and where it goes, (Joh. 3:8) 24 and exposes the secrets of the heart. For, when I was among you, I cried out, I spoke with a loud voice: "Pay attention to the bishop, to the presbytery, and deacons." Now, some suspected me that I said these things knowing beforehand the division caused by some among you. But He is my witness, for whose sake I am in chains, that I learned nothing from any man. But the Spirit proclaimed these words: "Do nothing without the bishop; keep your bodies as the temples of God; love unity; avoid divisions; be the followers of Jesus Christ, just as He is of His Father."

1. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ κατὰ σάρκα μέ τινες ἠθέλησαν πλανῆσαι, ἀλλὰ τὸ πνεῦμα οὐ πλανᾶται ἀπὸ θεοῦ ὄν. οἶδεν γάρ, πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὐπάγει, καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ ἐλέγχει. ἐκραύγασα μεταξὺ ὤν, ἐλάλουν μεγάλῃ φωνῇ, θεοῦ φωνῇ· Τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ προσέχετε καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ καὶ διανόνοις. 2. οἱ δὲ ὑποπτεύσαντές με ὡς πρειδότα τὸν μερισμόν τινων λέγειν ταῦτα· μάρτυς δέ μοι, ἐν ᾧ δέδεμαι, ὅτι ἀπὸ σαρκὸς ἀνθρωπίνης οὐκ ἔγνων. τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ἐκήρυσσεν λέγον τάδε· Χωρις τοῦ ἐπισκόπου μηδὲν ποιεῖτε, τὴν σάρκα ὑμῶν ὡς ναὸν θεοῦ τηρεῖτε, τὴν ἕνωσιν ἀγαπᾶτε, τοὺς μερισμοὺς φεύγετε, μιμηταὶ γίνεσθε Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ.

Chapter 8. The same continued

I therefore did my part, as a man devoted to unity. For where there is division and wrath, God does not dwell. To all of them that repent, the Lord grants forgiveness, if they turn in repentance to the unity of God, and to communion with the bishop. I trust in the grace of Jesus Christ, who shall free you from every bond. And I urge you to do nothing out of selfish ambition, but according to the doctrine of Christ. I heard some saying, "If I do not find it in the archives, I will not believe the Gospel." And when I said to them, "It is written," they answered me, "That remains to be proven." But for me, the archives are Jesus Christ. The incorruptible archives are His cross, death, resurrection, and the faith that comes through Him — in these I desire, through your prayers, to be justified.

1. Ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν τὸ ἴδιον ἐποίουν ὡς ἄνθρωπος εἰς ἕνωσιν κατηρτισμένος. οὗ δὲ μερισμός ἐστιν και ὀργῄ, θεὸς οὐ καοικεῖ. πᾶσιν οὖν μετανοοῦσιν ἀφίει ὁ κύριος, ἐὰν μετανοήσωσιν εἰς ἑνότητα θεοῦ καὶ συνέδριον τοῦ ἐπισκόπου. πιστεύω τῇ χάριτι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς λύσει ἀφ’ ὑμῶν πάντα δεσμόν. 2. παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς μηδὲν κατ’ ἐριθείαν πράσσειν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ χριστομαθίαν. ἐπεὶ ἤκουσά τινων λεγόντων, ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ ἐν τοῖς ἀρχείοις εὕρω ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ οὐ πιστεύω· καὶ λέγοντός μου αὐτοῖς ὅτι γέγραπται, ἀπεκρίθησάν μοι ὅτι πρόκειται. ἐμοὶ δὲ ἀρχεῖά ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, τὰ ἄθικτα ἀρχεῖα ὁ σταυρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ θάνατος καὶ ἡ ἀνάστασις αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ πίστις ἡ δι’ αὐτοῦ, ἐν οἷς θέλω ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν δικαιωθῆναι.

Chapter 9. The Old Testament is good: the New Testament is better

The priests are good, but the High Priest is greater; to whom the holy of holies has been committed, and who alone has been trusted with the secrets of God. He is the door of the Father, through whom enter Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the prophets, and the apostles, and the Church. All these things are for the unity of God. Yet the Gospel possesses something transcendent: the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, His passion and resurrection. For the beloved prophets announced Him, but the Gospel is the completion of incorruptibility. All these things are good, if you believe with love.

1. Καλοὶ καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς, κρεῖσσον δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς ὁ πεπιστευμένος τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων, ὃς μόνος πεπίστευται τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ θεοῦ· αὐτὸς ὢν θύρα τοῦ πατρός, δι’ ἧς εἰσέρχονται Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακὼβ καὶ οἱ προφῆται καὶ ἀπόστολοι καὶ ἡ ἐκκλησία. ´πάντα ταῦτα εἰς ἑνότητα θεοῦ. 2. ἐξαίρετον δέ τι ἔχει τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ σωτῆρος, κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τὸ πάθος αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν ἀνάσασιν. οἱ γὰρ ἀγαπητοὶ προφῆται κατήγγειλαν εἰς αὐτόν· τὸ δὲ εὐαγγέλιον ἀπάρτισμά ἐστιν ἀφθαρσίας. ´π́πάντα ὁνοῦ καλά ἐστιν, ἐὰν ἐν ἀγάπῃ πιστεύητε.

Chapter 10. Congratulate the Antiochians on the close of the persecution

Since, according to your prayers, and the compassion which you feel in Christ Jesus, it is reported to me that the Church in Antioch of Syria is at peace, it is fitting for you, as a Church of God, to appoint a deacon to go there as God's ambassador, so that he may rejoice along with them when they are gathered together, and glorify the Name. Blessed is he in Jesus Christ, who shall be deemed worthy of such a ministry; and you too shall be glorified. And if you are willing, it is not beyond your power to do this, for the name of God; as also the nearest Churches have sent, in some cases bishops, and in other cases presbyters and deacons.

1. Ἐπειδὴ κατὰ τὴν προσευχὴν ὑμῶν καὶ κατὰ τὰ σπλάγνα, ἃ ἔχετε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ἀπηγγέλη μοι εἰρηνεύειν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τῆς Συρίας, πρέπον ἐστὶν ὑμῖν ὡς ἐκκλησίᾳ θεοῦ, χειροτονῆσαι διάκονον εἰς τὸ πρεσβεῦσαι ἐκεῖ θεοῦ πρεσβείαν, εἰς τὸ συγχαρῆναι αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ γενομένοις καὶ δοξάσαι τὸ ὄνομα. 2. μακάριος ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, ὃς καταξιωθήσεται τῆς τοιαύτης διακονίας, καὶ ὑμεῖς δοξασθήσεσθε. θέλουσιν δὲ ὑμῖν οὐκ ἔστιν ἀδύνατον ὑπὲρ ὀνόματος θεοῦ, ὡς καὶ αἱ ἔγγιστα ἐκκλησίαι ἔπεμψαν ἐπισκόπους, αἱ δὲ πρεσβυτέρους καὶ διακόνους.

Chapter 11. Thanks, and salutations

Now, concerning Philo the deacon, of Cilicia, a man of reputation, who still ministers to me in the word of God, along with Rheus Agathopus, a chosen man who has followed me from Syria, having renounced his life — these bear witness to you; and I myself give thanks to God for you, that you have received them, as the Lord received you. But may those that dishonored them be forgiven through the grace of Jesus Christ! The love of the brethren at Troas greets you; where also I write to you through Burrhus, who was sent along with me by the Ephesians and Smyrnaeans, as a mark of honor. May the Lord Jesus Christ honor them, in whom they hope, in flesh, soul, spirit, faith, love, and concord! (1 Thess 5:23) Farewell in Christ Jesus, our common hope.

1. Περὶ δὲ Φίλωνος τοῦ διακόνου ἀπο Κιλικίας, ἀνδρὸς μεμαρτυρημένου, ὃς καὶ νῦν ἐν λόγῳ θεοῦ ὑπηρετεῖ μοι ἅμα ῾Ρέῳ Ἀγθόποδι, ἀνδρὶ ἐκλεκτῷ, ὃς ἀπὸ Συρίας μοι ἀκολουθεῖ ἀποταξάμενος τῷ βίῳ, οἳ καὶ μαρτυροῦσιν ὑμῖν, κἀγὼ τῷ θεῷ εὐχαριστῶ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ὅτι ἐδέξασθε αὐτούς, ὡς καὶ ὑμᾶς ὁ κύριος· οἱ δὲ ἀτιμάσαντες αὐτοὺς λυτρωθείησαν ἐν τῇ χάριτι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 2. ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς ἡ ἀγάπη τῶν ἀδελφῶν τῶν ἐν Τρωάδι· ὅθεν καὶ γράφω ὑμῖν διὰ Βούρρου πεμφθέντός ἅμα ἐμοὶ ἀπὸ Ἐφεσίων καὶ Σμυρναίων εἰς λόγον τιμῆς. τιμήσει αὐτοὺς ὁ κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, εἰς ὃν ἐλπίζουσιν σαρκί, ψυχῇ, πνεύματι, πίσει, ἀγάπῃ, ὁμονοία. ἔρρωσθε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, τῇ κοινῇ ἐλπίδι ἡμῶν.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus (God-bearer), to the Church of God the Father and of the beloved Jesus Christ, which has through mercy obtained every kind of gift, which is filled with faith and love, and is lacking in no gift, most worthy of God, and adorned with holiness: the Church in Smyrna, in Asia, abundant greetings, through the immaculate Spirit and the word of God.

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, ἐκκλησίᾳ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ ἠγαπημένου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἠλεημένῃ ἐν παντὶ χαρίσματι, πεπληρωμένῃ ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ, ἀνυστερήτῳ οὔσῃ παντὸς χαρίσματος, θεοπρεπεστάτῃ καὶ ἁγιοφόρῳ, τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Σμύρνῃ τῆς Ἀσίας, ἐν ἀμώμῳ πνεύματι καὶ λόγῳ θεοῦ πλεῖστα χαίρειν.

Chapter 1. Thanks to God for your faith

I glorify Jesus Christ, our God, who has given you such wisdom. For I have observed that you are established in an immovable faith, as if you were nailed to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ both in the flesh and spirit, and are grounded in love through the blood of Christ, being fully persuaded concerning our Lord, that He was truly of the seed of David according to the flesh, (Rom. 1:3) 26 and the Son of God according to the will and power of God; that He was truly born of a virgin, baptized by John so that all righteousness might be fulfilled by Him; (Mat. 3:15) 27 and was truly nailed for us in the flesh under Pontius Pilate and Herod the tetrarch. From this fruit we come — from His most blessed passion. He lifted up a standard for all ages through His resurrection, to all His holy and faithful, whether among Jews or Gentiles, in the one body of His Church. (Isa. 5:25, 49:22) 28

1. Δοξάζω Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν θεὸν τὸν οὕτως ὑμᾶς σοφίσαντα· ἐνόησα γὰρ ὑμᾶς κατηρτισμένους ἐν ἀκινήτῳ πίστει, ὥσπερ καθηλωμένους ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ σαρκί τε καὶ πνεύματι καὶ ἡδρασμένους ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἐν τῷ αἵματι Χριστοῦ, πεπληροφορημένους εἰς τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν, ἀληθῶς ὄντα ἐκ γένους Δαυεὶδ κατὰ σάρκα, υἱὸν θεοῦ κατὰ θέλημα καὶ δύναμιν θεοῦ, γεγεννημένον ἀληθῶς ἐκ παρθένου, βεβαπτισμένον ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου, ἵνα πληρωθῇ πᾶσα δικαιοσύνη ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ· 2. ἀληθῶς ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου καὶ Ἡρώδου τετράρχου καθηλωμένον ὑπέρ ἡμῶν ἐν σαρκί, ἀφ’ οὗ καρποῦ ἡμεῖς ἀπό τοῦ θεομακαρίστου αὐτοῦ πάθους, ἵνα ἄρῃ σύσσημον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας διὰ τῆς ἀναστάσεως εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους καὶ πιστοὺς αὐτοῦ, εἴτε ἐν Ἰουδαίοις εἴτε ἐν ἔθνεσιν, ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι τῆς ἐκκλησίας αὐτοῦ.

Chapter 2. Christ's true passion

Now, He suffered all these things for our sakes, that we might be saved. And He truly suffered, as He truly raised up Himself — not as certain unbelievers claim, that He only appeared to suffer, as they themselves are nothing but a facade. And as they think, so it will happen to them: they shall be disembodied, mere demonic spirits.

1. Ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα ἔπαθεν δι’ ἡμᾶς, ἵνα σωθῶμεν· καὶ ἀληθῶς ἔπαθεν, ὡς καὶ ἀληθῶς ἀνέστησεν ἑαυτόν, οὐχ ὥσπερ ἄπιστοί τινες λέγουσιν, τὸ δοκεῖν αὐτὸν πεπονθέναι, αὐτοὶ τὸ δοκεῖν ὄντες· καὶ καθὼς φρονοῦσιν, καὶ συμβήσεται αὐτοῖς, οὖσιν ἀσωμάτοις καὶ δαιμονικοῖς.

Chapter 3. Christ was possessed of a body after His resurrection

For I know that after His resurrection He was still in the flesh, and I believe that He is so now. When, for instance, He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, *"Take hold, touch Me, and see that I am not an incorporeal demon." And immediately they touched Him, and believed, having been united with His flesh and spirit. For this reason, they despised death and were found its conquerors. And after his resurrection He ate and drank with them as being of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father.

1. Ἐγὼ γὰρ καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν ἐν σαρκὶ αὐτὸν οἶδα καὶ πιστεύω ὄντα. 2. καὶ ὅτε πρὸς τοὺς περὶ Πέτρον ἦλθεν, ἔφη αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε, ψηλαφήσατέ με καὶ ἴδετε, ὅτι οὐκ εἰμὶ δαιμόνιον ἀσώματον. καὶ εὐθὺς αὐτοῦ ἥψαντο καὶ ἐπίστευσαν, καρθέντες τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ πνεύματι. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ θανάτου κατεφρόνησαν, ηὑρέθησαν δὲ ὑπὲρ θάνατον. 3. μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἀνάσασιν συνέφαγεν αὐτοῖς καὶ συνέπιεν ὡς σαρκικός, καίπερ πνευματικῶς ἡνωμένος τῷ πατρί.

Chapter 4. Beware of these heretics

I give you these instructions, beloved, knowing that you also hold the same conviction. But I warn you beforehand against the beasts in human form — whom you must not only not welcome, but, if it is possible, not even meet with. Only pray for them, perhaps they might repent, though it is difficult. Yet Jesus Christ, who is our true life, has the power of this. But if these things were done by our Lord only in appearance, then am I also only chained in appearance. And why have I also surrendered myself to death, to fire, to the sword, to the wild beasts? He who is near to the sword, is near to God; he that is among the wild beasts is with God; only let it be in the name of Jesus Christ! I endure all things that I may suffer with Him, He, the perfect man strengthens me.

1. Ταῦτα δὲ παραινῶ ὑμῖν, ἀγαπητοί, εἰδὼς ὅτι καὶ ὑμεῖς οὕτως ἔχετε. προφυλάσσω δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἀνθρωπομόρφων, οὓς οὐ μόνον δεῖ ὑμᾶς μὴ παραδέχεσθαι, ἀλλ’ εἰ δυνατὸν μηδὲ συναντᾶν, μόνον δὲ προεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, ἐὰν πως μεταμοήσωσιν, ὅπερ δύσκολον, τούτου δὲ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, τὸ ἀληθινὸν ἡμῶν ζῆν. 2. εἰ γὰρ τὸ δοκεῖν ταῦτα ἐπράχθη ὑπὸ του κυρίου ἡμῶν, κἀγὼ τὸ δοκεῖν δέδεμαι. τί δὲ καὶ ἑαυτὸν ἔκδοτον δέδωκα τῷ θανάτῳ, πρὸς πῦρ, πρὸς μάχαιραν, πρὸς θηρία; ἀλλ’ ἐγγυς μαχαίρας ἐγγὺς θεοῦ· μόνον ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς τὸ συμπαθεῖν αὐτῷ πάντα ὑπομένω, αὐτοῦ με ἐνδυναμοῦντος τοῦ τελείου ἀνθρώπου.

Chapter 5. Their dangerous errors

Some ignorantly deny Him — or rather have been denied by Him — being the champions of death rather than of the truth. These people have not been persuaded by the prophets, nor the law of Moses, nor the Gospel even to this day, nor the sufferings we have individually endured. For they think also the same thing about us. For what does it profit me if someone praises me, yet blasphemes my Lord, not confessing that He truly bore flesh? But he who does not acknowledge this, has in fact completely denied Him, being the bearer of a corpse. I have not thought it good to write the names of such people, since they are unbelievers, until they repent and turn to Christ's passion, which is our resurrection.

1. Ὅν τινες ἀγνοοῦντες ἀρνοῦνται, μᾶλλον δὲ ἠρνήθησαν ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ, ὄντες συνήγοροι του θανάτου μᾶλλον ἢ τῆς ἀληθείας· οὒς οὐκ ἔπεισαν αἱ προφητεῖαι οὐδὲ ὁ νόμος Μωύσεως, ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ μέχρι νῦν τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, οὐδὲ τὰ ἡμέτερα τῶν κατ’ ἄνδρα παθήματα. 2. καὶ γὰρ περὶ ἡμῶν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονοῦσιν. τί γάρ με ὠφελεῖ τις, εἰ ἐμὲ ἐπαινεῖ, τὸν δὲ κύριόν μου βλασφημεῖ, μὴ ὁμολογῶν αὐτὸν σαρκοφόρον; ὁ δὲ τοῦτο λέγων τελείως αὐτὸν ἀπήρνηται, ὢν νεκροφόρος. 3. τὰ δὲ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν, ὄντα ἄπιστα, οὐκ ἔδοξέν μοι ἐγγράψαι. οὗ μετανοήσωσιν εἰς τὸ πάθος, ὅ ἐστιν ἡμῶν ἀνάστασις.

Chapter 6. Unbelievers in the blood of Christ shall be condemned

Let no man be deceived: the things in heaven, the glory of the angels, and the rulers visible and invisible — if they do not believe in the blood of Christ, they face judgment. Let no one be filled with pride. But observe those who teach otherwise concerning the grace of Jesus Christ that has come to us: how opposed they are to the purpose of God. They have no concern for love, for the widow, for the orphan, for the oppressed, for the prisoner or the free, for the hungry or the thirsty.

1. Μηδεὶς πλανάσθω· καὶ τὰ ἐπουράνια καὶ ἡ δόξα τῶν ἀγγέλων καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες ὁρατοί τε καὶ ἀόρατοι, ἐὰν μὴ πιστεύσωσιν εἰς τὸ αἷμα Χριστοῦ, μηδένα φυσιούτω· καταμάθετε δὲ τοὺς ἑτεροδοξοῦντας εἰς τὴν χάριν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τὴν εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐλθοῦσαν, πῶς ἐναντίοι εἰσὶν τῇ γνώμῃ τοῦ θεοῦ. περὶ ἀγάπης οὐ μέλει αὐτοῖς, οὐ περὶ χήρας, οὐ περὶ ὀρφανοῦ, οὐ περὶ θλιβομένου, οὐ περὶ δεδεμένου ἢ λελυμένου, οὐ περὶ πεινῶντος ἢ διψῶντος.

Chapter 7. Let us keep away from such heretics

They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ — which suffered for our sins — and which the Father in His goodness raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, die in the midst of their disputes. But it would be better for them to treat it with respect, that they also might rise again. It is fitting therefore, that you should keep away from such people, and not to speak of them either in private or in public, but pay attention to the prophets, and above all to the Gospel, in which the passion of Christ has been revealed to us, and the resurrection has been fully accomplished. Flee from divisions as the beginning of evils.

1. Εὐχαριστίας καὶ προσευχῆς ἀπέχονται, διὰ τὸ μὴ ὁμολογεῖν τὴν εὐχαριστίαν σάρκα εἶναι τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν παθοῦσαν, ἣν τῇ χρηστότητι ὁ θεοῦ συζητοῦντες ἀποθνήσουσιν· συνέφερεν δὲ αὐτοῖς ἀγαπᾶν, ἵνα καὶ ἀναστῶσιν. 2. πρέπον ἐστὶν ἀπέχθαι τῶν τοιούτων καὶ μήτε κατ’ ἰδίαν περὶ αὐτῶν λαλεῖν μήτε κοινῇ, προσέχειν δὲ τοῖς προφήταις, ἐξαιρέτως δὲ τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ, ἐν ᾧ τὸ πάθος ἡμῖν δεδήλωται καὶ ἡ ἀνάστασις τετελείωται. τοὺς δὲ μερισμοὺς φεύγετε ὡς ἀρχὴν κακῶν.

Chapter 8. Let nothing be done without the bishop

All of you, follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and respect the deacons as the commandment of God. Let no man do anything pertaining to the Church without the bishop. Let that Eucharist be considered *valid which is under the bishop or under one to whom he entrusts it. Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people also be; just as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to hold the love-feast; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God, so that everything that you do may be secure and valid.

1. Πάντες τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ ἀκολουθεῖτε, ὡς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς τῷ πατρί, καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερἰῳ ὡς τοῖς ἀποστόλοις. τοὺς δὲ διακόνους ἐντρέπεσθε ὡς θεοῦ ἐντολήν. μηδεὶς χωρὶς τοῦ ἐπισκόπου τι πρασσέτω τῶν ἀνηκόντων εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. ἐκείνη βεβαία εὐχαριστία ἡγείσθω, ἡ ὑπὸ ἐπίσοπον οὖσα ἢ ᾧ ἂν αὐτὸς ἐπιτρέψῃ. 2. ὅπου ἂν φανῇ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ἐκεῖ τὸ πλῆθος ἤτω, ὥσπερ ὅπου ἂν ῇ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ἐκεῖ ἡ καθολικὴ ἐκκλησία. οὐκ ἐξόν ἐστιν χωρὶς τοῦ ἐπισκόπου οὔτε βαπτίζειν οὔτε ἀγάπην ποιεῖν· ἀλλ’ ὃ ἂν ἐκεῖνος δοκιμάσῃ, τοῦτο καὶ τῷ θεῷ εὐάρεστον, ἵνα ἀσφαλὲς ᾖ καὶ βέβαιον πᾶν ὃ πράσσετε.

Chapter 9. Honor the bishop

It is reasonable, then, that we should return to our senses and, while we still have opportunity, exercise repentance towards God. It is good to acknowledge both God and the bishop. He who honors the bishop has been honored by God; he who does anything secretly behind the bishop's back serves the devil. Let all things, then, flourish for you through grace, for you are worthy. You have refreshed me in all things, and Jesus Christ shall refresh you. You have loved me when absent as well as when present. May God reward you, for whose sake you endure all things — and you shall become one with Him.

1. Εὐλογόν ἐστιν λοιπὸν ἀνανῆψαι ἡμᾶς, ὡς ἔτι καιρὸν ἔχομεν εἰς θεὸν μεταμοεῖν. καλῶς ἔχει, θεὸν καὶ ἐπίσκοπον εἰδέναι. ὁ τιμῶν ἐπίσκοπον ὑπὸ θεοῦ τετίμηται· ὁ λάθρα ἐπισκόποου τι πράσσων τῷ διαβόλῳ λατρεύει. 2. πάντα οὖν ὑμῖν ἐν χάριτι περισσευέτω· ἄξιοι γάρ ἐστε. κατὰ πάντα με ἀνεπαύσατε, καὶ ὑμᾶς Ἰησοῦς Χριστός. ἀπόντα με καὶ πάροντα ἠγαπήσατε. ἀμοιβὴ ὑμῖν ὁ θεός, δι’ ὃν πάντα ὑπομένοντες αὐτοῦ τεύξεσθε.

Chapter 10. Acknowledgment of their kindness

You have done well in receiving Philo and Rheus Agathopus as servants of Christ our God; who have followed me for the sake of God and who give thanks to the Lord on your behalf, because you have in every way refreshed them. Nothing of this shall be lost to you. My spirit is a ransom for you, along with my chains, which you did not despise or feel ashamed of. Nor shall our perfect hope, Jesus Christ, be ashamed of you.

1. Φίλωνα καὶ ῾Ρέον Ἀγαθόπουν, οἳ ἐπηκολούθησάν μοι εἰς λόγον θεοῦ, καλῶς ἐποιήσαε ὑποδεξάμενοι ὡς διακόνους θεοῦ· οἳ καὶ εὐχαριστοῦσιν τῷ κυρίῳ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ὅτι αὐτοὺς ἀνεπαύσατε κατὰ πάντα τρόπον. οὐδὲν ὑμῖν οὐ μὴ ἀπολεῖται. 2. ἀντίψυχον ὑμῶν τὸ πνεῦμά μου καὶ τὰ δεσμά μου, ἃ οὐχ ὑπερηφανήσατε οὐδὲ ἐπῃσσύνθητε. οὐδὲ ὑμᾶς ἐαισχυνθήσεται ἡ τελεία ἐλπίς, Ἰησοῦς Χριστός.

Chapter 11. Request to them to send a messenger to Antioch

Your prayer has reached the Church at Antioch in Syria. Coming from that place bound with chains, most befitting to God, I greet all — though I am not worthy to be from there, since I am the very least of them. Nevertheless, according to the will of God I have been thought worthy — not from consciousness, but by the grace of God — which I pray may be perfectly given to me, that through your prayers I may become one with God. In order, then, that your work may be complete both on earth and in heaven, it is fitting that, for the honor of God, your Church should appoint an ambassador of God to go to Syria and rejoice with them that they are now at peace, have recovered their greatness, and have had their own body restored to them. It seems then to me a thing worthy of God that you should send someone with an epistle, so that he may join in glorifying the calm that, according to the will of God, they have obtained, and through your prayers, they have now reached the harbor. Being perfect, think perfect things. For to those willing to do well, God is also ready to supply.

1. Ἡ προσευχὴ ὑμῶν ἀπῆλθεν ἐπι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τῆς Συρίας, ὅθεν δεδεμένος θεοπρεπεστάτοις δεσμοῖς πάντας ἀσπάζομαι, οὐκ ὢν ἄξιος ἐκεῖθεν εἶναι, ἔσχατος αὐτῶν ὢν· κατὰ θέλημα δὲ κατηξιώθην, οὐκ ἐκ συνειδότος ἀλλ’ ἐκ χάριτος θεοῦ· ἣν εὔχομαι τελείαν μοι δοθῃναι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ πορσευχῇ ὑμῶν θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω. 2. ἵνα οὖν ὑμῶν τέλειον γένηται τὸ ἔργον καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς καὶ ἐν οὐρανῷ, πρέπει εἰς τιμὴν θεοῦ χειροτονῆσαι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ὑμῶν θεοπρεσβεύτην, εἰς τὸ γενόμενον ἐν Συρίᾳ συγχαρῆναι αὐτοῖς, ὅτι εἰρηνεύουσιν καὶ ἀπέλαβον τὸ ἴδιον μέγεθος καὶ ἀπεκατεστάθη αὐτοῖς τὸ ἴδιον σωματεῖον. 3. ἐφάνη μοι οὖν θεοῦ ἄξιον πρᾶγμα, πέμψαι τινὰ τῶν ὑμετέρων μετ’ ἐπειστολῆς, ἵνα συνδοξάσῃ τὴν κατὰ θεὸν αὐτοῖς γενομένην εὐδίαν, καὶ ὅτι λιμένος ἤδη ἐτύγχανον τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν. τέλειοι ὄντες τέλεια καὶ φρονεῖτε. θέλουσιν γὰρ ὑμῖν εὖ πράσσειν θεὸς ἕτοιμος εἰς τὸ παρέχειν.

Chapter 12. Salutations

The love of the brethren at Troas greets you; from where I am also writing to you through Burrhus, whom you sent with me, together with the Ephesians, your brethren, and who has in all things refreshed me. And I wish that all may imitate him, as being an example of a minister of God. Grace will reward him in all things. I greet your most worthy bishop, and your godly presbytery, and your deacons, my fellow-servants, and all of you individually, as well as together, in the name of Jesus Christ, and in His flesh and blood, in His passion and resurrection, both fleshly and spiritual, in union with God and of you. Grace, mercy, peace, and patience, be with you for evermore!

1. Ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς ἡ ἀγάπη τῶν ἀδελφῶν τῶν ἐν Τρωάδι ὅθεν καὶ γράφω ὑμῖν διὰ Βούρρου, ὃν ἀπεστείλατε μετ’ ἐμοῦ ἅμα Ἐφεσίοις, τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὑμῶν, ὃς κατὰ πάντα με ἀνέπαυσεν. καὶ ὄφελον πάντες αὐτὸν ἐμιμοῦντο, ὄντα ἐξεμπλάριον θεοῦ διακονίας. ἀμείψεται αὐτὸν ἡ χάρις κατὰ πάντα. 2. ἀσπάζομαι τὸν ἀξιόθεον ἐπίσκοπον καὶ θεοπρεπὲς πρεσβυτέριον καὶ τοὺς συνδούλους μου διακόνους καὶ τοὺς κατ’ ἄνδρα καὶ κοινῇ πάντας ἐν ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ αἵματι, πάθει τε καὶ ἀναστάσει σαρκικῇ τε καὶ πνευματικῇ, ἐν ἑνότητι θεοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν. χάρις ὑμῖν, ἔλεος, ἐρήνη, ὑπομοὴ διὰ παντός.

Chapter 13. Conclusion

I greet the families of my brethren, with their wives and children, and the virgins who are called widows. Be strong, I pray, in the power of the *Father. Philo, who is with me, greets you. I greet the house of Tavias and pray that it may be confirmed in faith and love, both fleshly and spiritual. I greet Alce, my well-beloved, and the incomparable Daphnus, and Eutecnus, and all by name. Farewell in the grace of God.

1. Ἀσπάζομαι τοὺς οἴκους τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ τένοις καὶ τὰς παρθένους τὰς λεγομένας χήρας. ἔρωσθέ μοι ἐν δυνάμει πατρός. ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Φίλων σὺν ἐμοὶ ὤν. 2. ἀσπάζομαι τὸν οἶκον Ταουΐας, ἣν εὔχομαι ἑδρᾶσθαι πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ σαρκικῇ τε καὶ πνευματικῇ. ἀσπάζομαι Ἄλκην, τὸ ποθητόν μοι ὄνομα, καὶ Δάφνον τὸν ἀσύγκριτον καὶ Εὔτεκνον καὶ πάντας κατ’ ὄνομα. ἔρρωσθε ἐν χάριτι θεοῦ.

The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus (God-bearer), to Polycarp, Bishop of the Church of the Smyrnaeans — or rather, to one overseen by God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: abundant greetings.

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, Πουκάρπῳ ἐπισκόπῳ ἐκκλησίας Σμυρναίων, μᾶλλον ἐπισκοπημένῳ ὑπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, πλεῖστα χαίρειν.

Chapter 1. Commendation and exhortation

I observed that your mind is grounded in God as an immovable rock, and I exceedingly glorify God because I have been deemed worthy of your blameless face — from which I may ever have joy in God! I urge you, by the grace with which you are clothed, to press forward in your race and to urge all, that they may be saved. Defend your office with all care, both in the flesh and spirit. Have concern to preserve unity — than which nothing is better. Bear with all, just as the Lord bears with you. Bear with all in love, as indeed you do. Give yourself to prayer without ceasing, and ask for more understanding than what you already have. (1 Thes. 5:17) 29 Be watchful, possessing a sleepless spirit. Speak to each person with the character of God. Bear the infirmities of all, as a perfect athlete. Where the labor is great, the gain is much.

1. Ἀποδεχόμενός σου τὴν ἐν θεῷ γνώμην ἡδρασμένην ὡς ἐπὶ πέτραν ἀκίνητον, ὑπερδοξάζω, καταξιωθεὶς τοῦ προσώπου σου τοῦ ἀμώμου, οὗ ὀναίμην ἐν θεῷ. 2. παρακαλῶ σε ἐν χάριτι ᾗ ἐνδέδυσαι, προσθεῖναι τῷ δρόμῳ σου καὶ πάντας παρακαλεῖν, ἵνα σώζωνται. ἐκίκει σου τὸν τόπον ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιμελείᾳ σαρκικῇ τε καὶ πνευματικῇ· τῆς ἑνώσεως φρόντιζε, ἧς οὐδὲν ἄμεινον. πάντας βάσταζε, ὡς καὶ σὲ ὁ κύριος· πάντων ἀνέχου ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ὥσπερ καὶ ποιεῖς. 3. προσευχαῖς σχόλαζε ἀδιαλείπτοις· αἰτοῦ σύνεσιν πλείονα ἧς ἔχεις· γρηγόρει ἀκοίμητον πνεῦμα κεκτημένος. τοῖς κατ’ ἄνδρα κατὰ ὁμοήθειαν θεοῦ λάλει· ´πάντων τὰς νόσους βάσταζε ὡς τέλειος ἀθλητής. ὅπου πλείων κόπος, πολὺ κέρδος.

Chapter 2. Exhortations

If you love good disciples, that brings you no credit; but rather, seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every wound is not healed by the same dressing; mitigate violent attacks of disease by gentle applications. Be in all things wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove. (Matt. 10:16) 30 For this purpose you are composed of both flesh and spirit, that you may win over the things that present themselves before you. And ask that the invisible things be revealed to you, so that you may lack nothing and be plentiful in every gift. The present time calls for you, as pilots wait for the winds, and a storm-tossed sailor longs for the harbor, so that you also may become one with God. Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before you is incorruptibility and eternal life, about which you also are convinced. In every way I am a ransom for you — I and my chains also, which you loved.

1. Καλοὺς μαθητὰς ἐὰν φιλῇς, χάρις σοι οὐκ ἔστιν· μᾶλλον τοὺς λοιμοτέρους ἐν πραότητι ὑπότασσε. οὐ πᾶν τραῦμα τῇ αὐτῇ ἐμπλάστρῳ θεραπεύεται. τοὺς παροξυσμοὺς ἐμβροχαῖς παῦε. 2. φρόνιμος γίνου ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐν ἅπασιν καὶ ἀκέραιος εἰς ἀεὶ ὡς ἡ περιστερά. διὰ τοῦτο σαρκικὸς εἶ καὶ πνευματικός, ἵνα τὰ φαινόμενά σου εἰς πρόσωπον κολακεύῃς· τὰ δὲ ἀόρατα αἴτει ἵνα σοι φανερωθῇ, ὅπως μηδενὸς λείπῃ καί παντὸς χαρίσματος περισσεύῃς. 3. ὁ καιρὸς ἀπαιτεῖ σε, ὡς κυβερνῆται ἀνένους καὶ ὡς χειμαζόμενος λιμένα, εἰς τὸ θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν. νῆφε, ὡς θεοῦ ἀθλητής· τὸ θέμα ἀφθαρσία καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος, περὶ ἧς καὶ σὺ πέπεισαι. κατὰ πάντα σου ἀντιψυχον ἐγὼ καὶ τὰ δεσμά μου, ἃ ἠγάπησας.

Chapter 3. Exhortations

Do not let those who seem trustworthy, but teach strange doctrines terrify you. Stand firm, as an anvil when beaten. It is the mark of a great athlete to be flayed and still conquer. Especially for the sake of God, we must endure all things, that He also may endure us. Become more zealous than what you already are. Study the times. Await the One who is beyond time, the Timeless, the invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes; the intangible, the impassible, yet who became passible for us; and who suffered in every way for our sakes.

1. Οἱ δοκοῦντες ἀξιόπιστοι εἶναι καὶ ἑτεροδιδασκαοῦντες μή σε καταπλησσέτωσαν. στῆθι ἑδραῖος ὡς ἄκμων τυπτόμενος. μεγάλου ἐστιν ἀθλητοῦ τὸ δέρεσθαι καὶ νικᾶν. μάλιστα δὲ ἕνεκεν θεοῦ πάντα ὑπομένειν ἡμᾶς δεῖ, ἵνα καὶ αὐτὸς ἡμᾶς ὑπομένῃ. 2. πλέον σπουδαῖος γίνου οὗ εἶ. τοὺς καιροὺς καταμάνθανε. τὸν ὑπὲρ καιρὸν προσδόκα, τὸν ἄχρονον, τὸν ἀόρατον, τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς ὁρατόν, τὸν ἀψηλάφητον, τὸν ἀπαθῆ, τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς παθητόν, τὸν κατὰ πάντα τρόπον δι’ ἡμᾶς ὑπομείναντα.

Chapter 4. Exhortations

Do not let the widows be neglected. Be, after the Lord, their guardian. Let nothing be done without your approval; neither do anything without the approval of God — which indeed you do not do, since you are steadfast. Let your assemblies be more frequent: seek after everyone by name. Do not treat either male or female slaves with arrogance, neither let them be filled with pride, but rather let them serve all the more for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God a better freedom. Let them not long to be set free at the common expense, lest they be found slaves to their own desires.

1. Χῆραι μὴ ἀμελείσθωσαν· μετὰ τὸν κύριον σὺ αὐτῶν φροντιστὴς ἔσο. μηδὲν ἄνευ γνώμης σου γινέσθω μηδὲ σὺ ἄνευ θεοῦ τι πρᾶσσε, ὅπερ οὐδὲ πράσσεις· 2. πυκνότερον συναγωγαὶ γινέσθωσαν· ἐξ ὀνόματος πάντας ζήτει. 3. δούλους καὶ δούλας μὴ ὑπερηφάνει· ἀλλὰ μηδὲ αὐτοὶ φυσιούσθωσαν, ἀλλ’ εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πλέον δουλευέτωσαν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἐλευθερίας ἀπό θεοῦ τύχωσιν. μὴ ἐράτωσαν ἀπὸ τοῦ κοινοῦ ἐλευθεροῦσθαι, ἵνα μὴ δοῦλοι εὑρεθῶσιν ἐπιθυμίας.

Chapter 5. The duties of husbands and wives

Flee evil arts; rather, discourse about them. Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit. Likewise, command my brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives as the Lord loves the Church. (Eph. 5:25) 31 If anyone can continue in a state of purity to honor the flesh of the Lord, let him do so without boasting. If he begins to boast, he is destroyed; and if he thinks himself greater than the bishop, he is corrupted. But it is fitting for both men and women who marry, to form their union with the approval of the bishop — that their marriage may be according to God, and not according to their own lust. Let all things be done to the honor of God. (1 Cor. 10:31) 32

1. Τὰς κακοτεχνίας φεῦγε, μᾶλλον δὲ περὶ τούτων ὁμιλίαν ποιοῦ. ταῖς ἀδελφαῖς μου προσλάλει, ἀγαπᾶν τὸν κύριον καὶ τοῖς συμβίοις ἀρκεῖσθαι σαρκὶ καὶ πνεύματι. ὁμοίως καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου παράγγελλε ἐν ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἀγαπᾶν τὰς συμβίους ὡς ὁ κύριος τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. 2. εἴ τις δύναται ἐν ἁγνείᾳ μένειν εἰς τιμὴν τῆς σαρκὸς τοῦ κυρίου, ἐν ἀκαυχησίᾳ μενέτω. ἐὰν καυχήσηται, ἀπώλετο, καὶ ἐὰν γνωσθῇ πλέον τοῦ ἐπισκόπου, ἔφθαρται. πρέπει δὲ τοῖς γαμοῦσι καὶ ταῖς γαμουμέαις μετὰ γνώμης τοῦ ἐπισκόπου τὴν ἕνωσιν ποιεῖσθαι, ἵνα ὁ γάμος ᾖ κατὰ κύριον καὶ μὴ κατ’ ἐπιθυμίαν. πάντα εἰς τιμὴν θεοῦ γινέσθω.

Chapter 6. The duties of the Christian flock

Pay attention to the bishop, that God may pay attention to you. I am a ransom for those that are submissive to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to the deacons, and may I have a share with them in God! Toil together with one another; strive together; run together; suffer together; sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, assistants, and servants of God. Please Him under whom you fight, and from whom you receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism remain as your shield; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience as a complete suit of armor. Let your works be your deposits, that you may receive a worthy receipt. Be patient, therefore, with one another, in meekness, as God is towards you. May I have joy of you forever!

1. Τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ προσέχετε, ἵνα καὶ ὁ θεὸς ὑμῖν. ἀνίψυχον ἐγὼ τῶν ὑποτασσομένων τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ, πρεσβυτέροις, διακόνοις· καὶ μετ’ αὐτῶν μοι τὸ μέρος γένοιτο σχεῖν ἐν θεῷ. συγκοπιᾶτε, ἀλλήλοις, συναθλεῖτε, συντρέχετε, συμπάσχετε, συγκοιμᾶσθε, συνεγείρεσθε ὡς θεοῦ οἰκονόμοι καὶ πάρεδροι καὶ ὑπηρέται. 2. ἀρέσκετε ᾧ στρατεύεσθε, ἀφ’ οὗ καὶ τὰ ὀψώνια κομίζεσθε· μὴ τις ὑμῶν δεσέρτωρ εὑρεθῇ. τὸ βάπτισμα ὑμῶν μενέτω ὡς ὅπλα, ἡ πίστις ὡς περικεφαλαία, ἡ ἀγάπη ὡς δόρυ, ἡ ὑπομονὴ ὡς πανοπλία. τὰ δεπόσιτα ὑμῶν τὰ ἔργα ὑμῶν, ἵνα τὰ ἄκκεπτα ὑμῶν ἄξια κομίσησθε. μακροθυμήσατε οὖν μετ’ ἀλλήλων ἐν πραότητι, ὡς ὁ θεὸς μεθ’ ὑμῶν. ὀναίμην ὑμῶν διὰ παντός.

Chapter 7. Request that Polycarp would send a messenger to Antioch

Since the Church in Antioch of Syria is at peace, as was reported to me, through your prayers, I have become more encouraged — resting without anxiety in God, if indeed by means of suffering I may become one with God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple at your resurrection. It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a most godly council and elect someone whom you dearly love and who is tireless, who may be called God's runner. Grant him this honor, that he may go into Syria, and glorify your tireless love to the praise of Christ. A Christian does not have authority over himself but is devoted to God. Now, this work is both God's and yours, when you complete it to His glory. For I trust that, through grace, you are prepared for every good work pertaining to God. Knowing, therefore, your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted you by this brief Epistle.

1. Ἐπειδὴ ἡ ἐκκλησία ἡ ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τῆς Συρίας εἰρηνεύει, ὡς ἐδηλώθη μοι, διὰ τὴν προσευχὴν ὑμῶν, κἀγὼ εὐθυμότερος ἐγενόμην ἐν ἀμεριμνίᾳ θεοῦ, ἐάνπερ διὰ τοῦ παθεῖν θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω, εἰς τὸ εὑρεθῆναί με ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει ὑμῶν μαθητήν. 2. πρέπει, Πολύκαρπε, θεομακαριστότατε, συμβούλιον, ἀγαγεῖν θεοπρεπέστατον καὶ χειροτονῆσαί τινα, ὃν ἀγαπητὸν λίαν ἔχετε καὶ ἄοκνον, ὃς δυνήσεται θεοδρόμος καλεῖσθαι· τοῦτον καταξιῶσαι, ἵνα πορευθεὶς εἰς Συρίαν δοξάσῃ ὑμῶν τὴν ἄοκνον εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ· 3. Χριστιανὸς ἑαυτοῦ ἐξουσίαν οὐκ ἔχει, ἀλλὰ θεῷ σχολάζει. τοῦτο τὸ ἔργον θεοῦ ἐστιν καὶ ὑμῶν, ὅταν αὐτὸ ἀπαρτίσητε. πιστεύω γὰρ τῇ χάριτι, ὅτι ἕτοιμοί ἐστε εἰς εὐποιΐαν θεῷ ἀνήκουσαν. εἰδὼς ὑμῶν τὸ σύντονον τῆς ἀληθείας, δι’ ὀλίγων ὑμᾶς γραμμάτων παρεκάλεσα.

Chapter 8. Let other churches also send to Antioch

Since I cannot write to all the Churches, because I must sail suddenly from Troas to Neapolis — as the will commands — you, as one possessing the purpose of God, will write to the Churches, that they also may do the same: those who can, may send letters by foot, and others transmitting letters through those people who are sent by you, that you may be glorified by an eternal work, as indeed you are worthy. I greet all by name, and particularly the wife of Epitropus, with all her house and children. I greet Attalus, my beloved. I greet him who shall be deemed worthy to go into Syria. Grace shall be with him forever, and with Polycarp who sends him. I pray for your continual well being forever in our God, Jesus Christ, by whom may you continue in the unity and under his protection. I greet Alce, my dearly beloved. Farewell in the Lord.

1. Ἐπεὶ πάσαις ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις οὐκ ἠδυνηθην γράψαι διὰ τὸ ἐξαίφνης πλεῖν με ἀπο Τρωάδος εἰς Νεάπολιν, ὡς το θέλημα προστάσσει, γράψεις ταῖς ἔμπροσθεν ἐκκλησίαις, ὡς θεοῦ γνώμην κεκτημένος, εἰς τὸ καὶ αὐτοὺς τὸ αὐτὸ ποιῆσαι, (οἱ μὲν δυνάμενοι πεχοὺς πέμψαι, οἱ δὲ ἐπιστολὰς διὰ τῶν ὑπὸ σου πεμπομένων, ἵνα δοξασθῆτε αἰωνίῳ ἔργῳ,)* ὡς ἄξιος ὤν. 2. ἀσπάζομαι πάντας ἐξ ὀνόματος καὶ τὴν τοῦ Ἐπιτρόπου σὺν ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτῆς καὶ τῶν τέκνων. ἀσπάζομαι Ἄταλον τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου. ἀσπάζομαι τὸν μέλλοντα καταξιοῦσθαι τοῦ εἰς Συρίαν πορεύεσθαι, ἔσται ἡ χάρις μετ’ αὐτοῦ διὰ παντὸς καὶ τοῦ πέμποντος αὐτον Πολυκάρπου. 3. ἐρρῶσθαι ὑμᾶς διὰ παντὸς ἐν θεῷ ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ εὔχομαι, ἐν ᾧ διαμείνητε ἐν ἑνότητι θεοῦ καὶ ἐπισκοπῇ. ἀσπάζομαι Ἄλκην, τὸ ποθητόν μοι ὄνομα. ἔρρωσθε ἐν κυρίῳ.

Appendix A

The Martyrdom of Ignatius

Chapter 1. Desire of Ignatius for martyrdom

Not long after Trajan had succeeded to the empire of the Romans, Ignatius, the disciple of John the Apostle — a man of an apostolic character in every way — governed the Church of the Antiochians with great care. He had barely weathered the former storms of the many persecutions under Domitian, and like a good pilot, by the helm of prayer and fasting, by the intensity of his teaching, and by his spiritual labor, he resisted the surge of the enemy's power, fearing only lest he should lose any of those who were faint-hearted, or the over-simple. Therefore, he rejoiced over the calm state of the Church, when the persecution decreased for a time, but was grieved within himself that he had not yet obtained a perfect love for Christ, nor reached the perfect rank of a disciple. For he considered that the confession made through martyrdom, would bring him into a more intimate relation to the Lord. Therefore, remaining a little while in the Church, and, like a divine lamp, illumining everyone's understanding by his expositions of the Scriptures, he, at last obtained the object of his desire.

Chapter 2. Ignatius is condemned by Trajan

So it happened after this that Trajan, in the ninth year of his reign, being ecstatic after the victory he had gained over the Scythians, Dacians, and many other nations, and thinking that the religious body of the Christians was the one thing still missing to bring all people under his rule — unless they submit to worship the demons along with all the nations. So, he threatened persecution and would have compelled all who were living godly lives either to sacrifice to idols or die. Then the brave soldier of Christ, Ignatius, being in fear for the Church of the Antiochians, was brought of his own free will before Trajan, who was at that time staying at Antioch while preparing to march against Armenia and the Parthians. And when he was brought before the Emperor:

Trajan said to him, "Who are you, you evil demon, who so zealously breaks our commands, and persuades others to do the same, so that they should miserably perish?"

Ignatius replied, "No one ought to call Theophorus evil; for all of the demons have departed from the servants of God. But if you call me wicked in regard to them because I am their enemy, I agree with you; since I have Christ, the heavenly king, I destroy all their schemes."

Trajan answered, "And who is Theophorus?"

Ignatius replied, "He who has Christ in his heart."

Trajan said, "Do you not think that we too have the gods in our hearts, whose assistance we employ in fighting against our enemies?"

Ignatius answered, "You are in error when you call the demons of the nations gods. For there is only one God, who made heaven, earth, and the sea, and all that are in them; and one Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son, whose *friendship I long to obtain."

Trajan said, "Do you mean Him who was crucified under Pontius Pilate?"

Ignatius replied, "I mean Him who nailed sin and its author to the cross, and who has condemned all the deceit and malice of the demons underfoot by those who carry Him in their heart."

Trajan said, "Do you then carry the Crucified One within you?"

Ignatius replied, "Truly so; for it is written, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them.'" 33

Then Trajan pronounced sentence as follows: "We command that Ignatius, who affirms that he carries about within him the Crucified One, shall be bound by soldiers, and carried to the great city of Rome, to be made food for the wild beasts, for the gratification of the people." When the holy martyr heard this sentence, he cried out with joy, "I thank you, Master and Lord, that You have honored me by perfecting my love towards You, and have bound me with iron chains, like Your Apostle Paul." Having spoken this, he then, with delight, clasped the chains about him; after he had first prayed for the Church, and commended it with tears to the Lord, he was hurried away by the savage cruelty of the soldiers, like a choice ram, the leader of a goodly flock, to be carried to Rome as food to the bloodthirsty beasts.

Chapter 3. Ignatius sails to Smyrna

So, with great eagerness and joy, in longing desire for the Lord's passion, he went down from Antioch to Seleucia, from there he set sail. And after a rough voyage he landed at the city of Smyrna, where he disembarked with great joy, and hastened to see the holy Polycarp, his fellow-disciple, and bishop of Smyrna. For they had both, in old times, been disciples of St. John the Apostle. Being welcomed by him, and having shared with him some spiritual gifts, and glorying in his chains, he begged of him to help him in his purpose. He asked this first of the whole Church — for the cities and Churches of Asia had welcomed the saint through their bishops, presbyters, and deacons, all flocking to meet him, if by any means they might receive from him some spiritual gift — but above all, he begged the holy Polycarp, that, by means of the wild beasts, by soon departing from this world, he might appear in the presence of Christ.

Chapter 4. Ignatius writes to the churches

And these things he so spoke and so testified, carrying his love for Christ to such a pitch that he seemed ready to storm heaven by his good confession, and by the fervor of those who joined him in prayers over his combat. At the same time, he repaid those Churches who came to meet him through their rulers, sending letters of thanksgiving to them, which shed upon them the dew of spiritual grace, along with prayer and exhortation. So, when he saw all that were so kindly affectionate towards him and fearing that the love of the brotherhood should uproot his zeal towards the Lord, when a fair door of martyrdom was opened to him, he wrote to the Church of the Romans the Epistle which is here added.

Chapter 5. Ignatius is brought to Rome

Having therefore, by means of this Epistle, settled as he wished, those of the brethren in Rome who were unwilling for his martyrdom; and setting sail from Smyrna (for Christophorus [the Christ-Bearer] was hurried on by the soldiers to be on time for the sports in the great city of Rome, so that given to the wild beasts in the sight of the Roman people, he might by such combat obtain the crown of righteousness). From there he landed at Troas. Departing from there he landed in Neapolis, passing through Philippi he journeyed by land through Macedonia, and on to that part of Epirus which is near Epidamnus. There on the coast he took a ship from one of the seaports and he sailed over the Adriatic Sea, then entering the Tyrrhenian, he passed by the various islands and cities, until, when Puteoli came in sight, the saint was eager there to disembark, having a desire to tread in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. (Acts 28:13-14) 34 But a violent wind rose and did not allow him to do so, the ship being driven rapidly forwards; and, simply expressing his delight over the love of the brethren in that place, he sailed by. With favorable winds, we were carried forward against our will in one day and a night, mourning over the approaching separation from this righteous man. But to him this happened just as he wished, since he was eager to leave this world as soon as possible, that he might join the Lord whom he loved. Landing at the Roman harbor, and the unholy sports being just about to close, the soldiers began to be annoyed at our slowness, but the bishop rejoicingly yielded to their urgency.

Chapter 6. Ignatius is devoured by the beasts at Rome

So we set out at the break of day therefore from the place which is called Portus; and (the fame of all relating to the holy martyr being already spread abroad) we met the brethren, filled of fear and joy; with joy because they were thought worthy to meet with Theophorus, with fear because so good a man was being led to his death. Some of them, in their fervent zeal, declared that they would prevent the people, from seeking the death of this righteous man, but he charged them to be silent. He being immediately aware of this through the Spirit, and having greeted them all, and begged of them to show a true affection towards him, and having dwelt at greater length than in his Epistle and having persuaded them not to envy him hastening to the Lord. Then, with all the brethren kneeling beside him, he made supplication to the Son of God on behalf of the Churches — that a stop might be put to the persecution, and that mutual love might continue among the brethren — and was led promptly into the amphitheater. Then, in obedience to the command of Caesar, he was immediately thrown in, just as the sports were just about to close, he was thrown by these godless men to the wild beasts, close beside the temple, that so by them the desire of the holy martyr, Ignatius, should be fulfilled, according to that which is written, "The desire of the righteous is acceptable. (Pro. 10:24 LXX)" 35 He had already expressed in his letter the desire that his own end might be so, that he might not be burdensome to any of the brethren by the gathering of his relics. For only the harder portions of his holy remains were left, which were carried back to Antioch and wrapped in linen, and laid in a sarcophagus — a priceless treasure left to the holy Church by the divine grace which dwelt within the martyr.

Chapter 7. Ignatius appears in a vision after his death

Now these things took place on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of January, (that is, on the twentieth of December), Sura and Senecio being then the consuls of the Romans for the second time. Having with tears been eye-witnesses of these things and having spent the whole night in tears within the house, and again and again having begged the Lord, with bended knees and much prayer, to strengthen the faith of us weak men after what had happened. When we had fallen into a brief slumber, some of us saw the blessed Ignatius suddenly standing by us and embracing us, while others saw him praying over us; others still saw him dropping with sweat, as if he had just come from his great struggle, and stood by the Lord with much boldness and inexpressible glory. When, therefore, we had with great joy witnessed these things, and had compared our several visions together, we sang praise to God, the giver of all good things, and expressed our sense of the blessedness of the holy martyr; and now we have made known to you both the day and the time when these things happened, so that, gathering ourselves together according to the season of his martyrdom, we may hold communion with the champion athlete and noble martyr of Christ, who trampled the devil underfoot, and finished the race which, out of love to Christ, he had desired, in Christ Jesus our Lord; by whom, and with whom be glory and power to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, for evermore! Amen.

— ☦︎ —

Appendix B

The Spurious Epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch

Reminder of the editor's note in the preface: these epistles are not genuine works of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Epistle to the Tarsians

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church which is at Tarsus, saved in Christ, worthy of praise, worthy of remembrance, and worthy of love: Mercy and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, be ever multiplied.

Chapter 1. His own sufferings: exhortation to steadfastness

From Syria even to Rome I fight with beasts: not that I am devoured by brute beasts, for these, as you know, by the will of God, spared Daniel, but by beasts in the shape of men, in whom the merciless wild beast himself lies hid, and pricks and wounds me day by day. But none of these hardships move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, in such a way as to love it better than the Lord. Therefore I am prepared for encountering fire, wild beasts, the sword, or the cross, so that only I may see Christ my Savior and God, who died for me. I therefore, the prisoner of Christ, who am driven along by land and sea, urge you: stand fast in the faith, and be steadfast, for the just shall live by faith; be unwavering, for the Lord causes those to dwell in a house who are of one and the same character.

Chapter 2. Cautions against false doctrine

I have learned that certain of the ministers of Satan have wished to disturb you, some of them asserting that Jesus was born only in appearance, was crucified in appearance, and died in appearance; others that He is not the Son of the Creator, and others that He is Himself God over all. Others, again, hold that He is a mere man, and others that this flesh is not to rise again, so that our proper course is to live and partake of a life of pleasure, for that this is the chief good to beings who are in a little while to perish. A swarm of such evils has burst in upon us. But you have not given place by subjection to them, no, not for one hour. For you are the fellow-citizens as well as the disciples of Paul, who fully preached the Gospel from Jerusalem, and round about to Illyricum, and bore about the marks of Christ in his flesh.

Chapter 3. The true doctrine respecting Christ

Mindful of him, by all means know that Jesus the Lord was truly born of Mary, being made of a woman; and was as truly crucified. For, says he, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus. And He really suffered, and died, and rose again. For says Paul, If Christ should become passible, and should be the first to rise again from the dead. And again, In that He died, He died to sin once: but in that He lives, He lives to God. Otherwise, what advantage would there be in becoming subject to chains, if Christ has not died? What advantage in patience? What advantage in enduring stripes? And why such facts as the following: Peter was crucified; Paul and James were slain with the sword; John was banished to Patmos; Stephen was stoned to death by the Jews who killed the Lord? But, in truth, none of these sufferings were in vain; for the Lord was really crucified by the ungodly.

Chapter 4. Continuation

And know, moreover, that He who was born of a woman was the Son of God, and He that was crucified was the first-born of every creature, and God the Word, who also created all things. For says the apostle, There is one God, the Father, of whom are all things; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things. And again, For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus; and, By Him were all things created that are in heaven, and on earth, visible and invisible; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

Chapter 5. Refutation of the previously mentioned errors

And that He Himself is not God over all, and the Father, but His Son, He shows when He says, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God. And again, When all things shall be subdued to Him, then shall He also Himself be subject to Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. Therefore it is one Person who put all things under, and who is all in all, and another Person to whom they were subdued, who also Himself, along with all other things, becomes subject to the former.

Chapter 6. Continuation

Nor is He a mere man, by whom and in whom all things were made; for all things were made by Him. When He made the heaven, I was present with Him; and I was there with Him, forming the world along with Him, and He rejoiced in me daily. And how could a mere man be addressed in such words as these: Sit at My right hand? And how, again, could such a one declare: Before Abraham was, I am? And, Glorify Me with Your glory which I had before the world was? What man could ever say, I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me? And of what man could it be said, He was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world: He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came to His own, and His own received Him not? How could such a one be a mere man, receiving the beginning of His existence from Mary, and not rather God the Word, and the only-begotten Son? For in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And in another place, The Lord created Me, the beginning of His ways, for His works. Before the world did He found Me, and before all the hills did He beget Me.

Chapter 7. Continuation

And that our bodies are to rise again, He shows when He says, Truly I say to you, that the hour comes, in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. And says the apostle, "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." And that we must live soberly and righteously, he shows when he says again, "Be not deceived: neither adulterers, nor effeminate people, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor fornicators, nor revilers, nor drunkards, nor thieves, can inherit the kingdom of God." And again, If the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; our preaching therefore is vain, and your faith is also vain: you are yet in your sins. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. If the dead rise not, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. But if such be our condition and feelings, wherein shall we differ from asses and dogs, who have no care about the future, but think only of eating, and of indulging such appetites as follow after eating? For they are unacquainted with any intelligence moving within them.

Chapter 8. Exhortations to holiness and good order

May I have joy of you in the Lord! Be sober. Lay aside, every one of you, all malice and beast-like fury, evil-speaking, calumny, filthy speaking, ribaldry, whispering, arrogance, drunkenness, lust, avarice, vainglory, envy, and everything akin to these. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. You presbyters, be subject to the bishop; you deacons, to the presbyters; and you, the people, to the presbyters and the deacons. Let my soul be for theirs who preserve this good order; and may the Lord be with them continually!

Chapter 9. Exhortations to the discharge of relative duties

You husbands, love your wives; and you wives, your husbands. You children, reverence your parents. You parents, bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Honor those who continue in virginity, as the priestesses of Christ; and the widows that persevere in gravity of behavior, as the altar of God. You servants, wait upon your masters with respectful fear. You masters, issue orders to your servants with tenderness. Let no one among you be idle; for idleness is the mother of want. I do not enjoin these things as being a person of any consequence, although I am in chains for Christ; but as a brother, I put you in mind of them. The Lord be with you!

Chapter 10. Salutations

May I enjoy your prayers! Pray that I may become one with Jesus. I commend to you the church which is at Antioch. The churches of Philippi, from where also I write to you, greet you. Philo, your deacon, to whom also I give thanks as one who has zealously ministered to me in all things, greets you. Agathopus, the deacon from Syria, who follows me in Christ, greets you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I greet you all, both male and female, who are in Christ. Farewell in body, and soul, and in one Spirit; and do not forget me. The Lord be with you!

Epistle to the Philippians

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church of God which is at Philippi, which has obtained mercy in faith, and patience, and love unfeigned: Mercy and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Chapter 1. Reason for writing the epistle

Being mindful of your love and of your zeal in Christ, which you have manifested toward us, we thought it fitting to write to you, who display such a godly and spiritual love to the brothers, to put you in remembrance of your Christian course, that you all speak the same thing, being of one mind, thinking the same thing, and walking by the same rule of faith, as Paul admonished you. For if there is one God of the universe, the Father of Christ, of whom are all things; and one Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord, by whom are all things; and also one Holy Spirit, who worked in Moses, and in the prophets and apostles; and also one baptism, which is administered that we should have fellowship with the death of the Lord; and also one elect Church; there ought likewise to be but one faith in respect to Christ. For there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is through all, and in all.

Chapter 2. Unity of the three divine persons

There is then one God and Father, and not two or three; One who is; and there is no other besides Him, the only true God. For the Lord your God, says the Scripture, is one Lord. And again, Has not one God created us? Have we not all one Father? And there is also one Son, God the Word. For the only-begotten Son, says the Scripture, who is in the bosom of the Father. And again, One Lord Jesus Christ. And in another place, What is His name, or what His Son's name, that we may know? And there is also one Paraclete. For there is also, says the Scripture, one Spirit, since we have been called in one hope of our calling. And again, We have drunk of one Spirit, with what follows. And it is manifest that all these gifts possessed by believers work one and the self-same Spirit. There are not then either three Fathers, or three Sons, or three Paracletes, but one Father, and one Son, and one Paraclete. Therefore also the Lord, when He sent forth the apostles to make disciples of all nations, commanded them to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, not into one person having three names, nor into three persons who became incarnate, but into three possessed of equal honor.

Chapter 3. Christ was truly born, and died

For there is but One that became incarnate, and that neither the Father nor the Paraclete, but the Son only, who became so not in appearance or imagination, but in reality. For the Word became flesh. For Wisdom built for herself a house. And God the Word was born as man, with a body, of the Virgin, without any intercourse of man. For it is written, A virgin shall conceive in her womb, and bring forth a son. He was then truly born, truly grew up, truly ate and drank, was truly crucified, and died, and rose again. He who believes these things, as they really were, and as they really took place, is blessed. He who believes them not is no less accursed than those who crucified the Lord. For the prince of this world rejoices when anyone denies the cross, since he knows that the confession of the cross is his own destruction. For that is the trophy which has been raised up against his power, which when he sees, he shudders, and when he hears of, is afraid.

Chapter 4–12. (Continuation on the malignity of Satan and various exhortations)

And indeed, before the cross was erected, he (Satan) was eager that it should be so; and he worked for this end in the children of disobedience. He worked in Judas, in the Pharisees, in the Sadducees, in the old, in the young, and in the priests. But when it was just about to be erected, he was troubled, and infused repentance into the traitor, and pointed him to a rope to hang himself with, and taught him to die by strangulation. He terrified also the silly woman, disturbing her by dreams; and he, who had tried every means to have the cross prepared, now endeavored to put a stop to its erection; not that he was influenced by repentance on account of the greatness of his crime (for in that case he would not be utterly depraved), but because he perceived his own destruction to be at hand. For the cross of Christ was the beginning of his condemnation, the beginning of his death, the beginning of his destruction. Therefore, also, he works in some that they should deny the cross, be ashamed of the passion, call the death an appearance, mutilate and explain away the birth of the Virgin, and calumniate the human nature itself as being abominable. He fights along with the Jews to a denial of the cross, and with the Gentiles to the calumniating of Mary, who are heretical in holding that Christ possessed a mere phantasmal body.

Chapter 13. Various exhortations and directions

These things, brothers, out of the affection which I have for you, I have felt compelled to write, urging you with a view to the glory of God, not as if I were a person of any consequence, but simply as a brother. Be subject to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to the deacons. Love one another in the Lord, as being the images of God. Take heed, you husbands, that you love your wives as your own members. You wives also, love your husbands, as being one with them in virtue of your union. If anyone lives in chastity or continence, let him not be lifted up, lest he lose his reward. Do not lightly esteem the festivals. Do not despise the period of forty days, for it comprises an imitation of the conduct of the Lord. After the week of the passion, do not neglect to fast on the fourth and sixth days, distributing at the same time of your abundance to the poor. If anyone fasts on the Lord's Day or on the Sabbath, except on the paschal Sabbath only, he is a murderer of Christ.

Chapter 14. Farewells and cautions

Let your prayers be extended to the church of Antioch, from where also I as a prisoner am being led to Rome. I greet the holy bishop Polycarp; I greet the holy bishop Vitalius, and the sacred presbytery, and my fellow-servants the deacons; in whose place may my soul be found. Once more I bid farewell to the bishop, and to the presbyters in the Lord. If anyone celebrates the Passover along with the Jews, or receives the emblems of their feast, he is a partaker with those that killed the Lord and His apostles.

Chapter 15. Salutations. Conclusion

Philo and Agathopus the deacons greet you. I greet the company of virgins, and the order of widows; of whom may I have joy! I greet the people of the Lord, from the least to the greatest. I have sent you this letter through Euphanius the reader, a man honored of God, and very faithful, happening to meet with him at Rhegium, just as he was going on board ship. Remember my bonds that I may be made perfect in Christ. Farewell in the flesh, the soul, and the spirit, while you think of things perfect, and turn yourselves away from the workers of iniquity, who corrupt the word of truth, and are strengthened inwardly by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Epistle of Maria the Proselyte to Ignatius

Greeting

Maria, a proselyte of Jesus Christ, to Ignatius Theophorus, most blessed bishop of the apostolic church which is at Antioch, beloved in God the Father, and Jesus: Happiness and safety. We all beg for you joy and health in Him.

Chapter 1. Occasion of the epistle

Since Christ has, to our wonder, been made known among us to be the Son of the living God, and to have become man in these last times by means of the Virgin Mary, of the seed of David and Abraham, according to the announcements previously made regarding Him and through Him by the company of the prophets, we therefore beg and urge that, by your wisdom, Maris our friend, bishop of our native Neapolis, which is near Zarbus, and Eulogius, and Sobelus the presbyter, be sent to us, that we be not destitute of such as preside over the divine word as Moses also says, Let the Lord God look out a man who shall guide this people, and the congregation of the Lord shall not be as sheep which have no shepherd.

Chapter 2. Youth may be allied with piety and discretion

But as to those whom we have named being young men, do not, you blessed one, have any apprehension. For I would have you know that they are wise about the flesh, and are insensible to its passions, they themselves glowing with all the glory of a hoary head through their own intrinsic merits, and though but recently called as young men to the priesthood. Now, call into exercise your thoughts through the Spirit that God has given to you by Christ, and you will remember that Samuel, while yet a little child, was called a seer, and was reckoned in the company of the prophets, that he reproved the aged Eli for transgression, since he had honored his infatuated sons above God the author of all things, and had allowed them to go unpunished, when they turned the office of the priesthood into ridicule, and acted violently toward your people.

Chapters 3–5. Examples of youthful devotedness

Moreover, the wise Daniel, while he was a young man, passed judgment on certain vigorous old men, showing them that they were abandoned wretches, and not worthy to be reckoned elders, and that, though Jews by extraction, they were Canaanites in practice. And Jeremiah, when on account of his youth he declined the office of a prophet entrusted to him by God, was addressed in these words: Say not, I am a youth; for you shall go to all those to whom I send you, and you shall speak according to all that I command you; because I am with you. And the wise Solomon, when only in the twelfth year of his age, had wisdom to decide the important question concerning the children of the two women. David, too, while yet a youth is anointed by Samuel to be king. But time would fail me if I should endeavor to enumerate all those that pleased God in their youth. But I beg you not to reckon me presumptuous or ostentatious in writing as I have done. I greet your holy clergy, and your Christ-loving people. All the faithful with us greet you. Pray, blessed shepherd, that I may be in health as respects God.

Epistle to Mary at Neapolis, Near Zarbus

Greeting

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to her who has obtained mercy through the grace of the most high God the Father, and Jesus Christ the Lord, who died for us, to Mary, my daughter, most faithful, worthy of God, and bearing Christ in her heart, wishes abundance of greetings in God.

Chapter 1–5

Sight indeed is better than writing, since, being one of the company of the senses, it not only, by communicating proofs of friendship, honors him who receives them, but also, by those which it in turn receives, enriches the desire for better things. But the second harbor of refuge, as the phrase runs, is the practice of writing, which we have received, as a convenient haven, by your faith, from so great a distance, seeing that by means of a letter we have learned the excellence that is in you. For the souls of the good, O you wisest of women! resemble fountains of the purest water; for they allure by their beauty passers-by to drink of them, even though these should not be thirsty. And your intelligence invites us, as by a word of command, to participate in those divine draughts which gush forth so abundantly in your soul. But I, O blessed woman, not being now so much my own master as in the power of others, am driven along by the varying wills of many adversaries, being in one sense in exile, in another in prison, and in a third in bonds. But I pay no regard to these things. Yes, by the injuries inflicted on me through them, I acquire all the more the character of a disciple, that I may become one with Jesus Christ. I have gladly done the things that you commanded in the letter, having no doubt about those people whom you proved to be men of worth. Now it occurs to me to mention, that the report is true which I heard of you while you were at Rome with the blessed father Linus. Avoid those that deny the passion of Christ, and His birth according to the flesh: and there are many at present who suffer under this disease. Greet all that are like-minded with yourself, and who hold fast to their salvation in Christ. The presbyters and deacons, and above all the holy Hero, greet you. Cassian my host greets you, as well as my sister, his wife, and their very dear children. May the Lord sanctify you forevermore in the enjoyment both of bodily and spiritual health, and may I see you in Christ obtaining the crown!

First Epistle to St. John

Ignatius, and the brothers who are with him, to John the holy presbyter. We are deeply grieved at your delay in strengthening us by your addresses and consolations. If your absence be prolonged, it will disappoint many of us. Hasten then to come, for we believe that it is expedient. There are also many of our women here, who are desirous to see Mary the mother of Jesus, and wish day by day to run off from us to you, that they may meet with her, and touch those breasts of hers which nourished the Lord Jesus, and may inquire of her respecting some rather secret matters. But Salome also, the daughter of Anna, whom you love, who stayed with her five months at Jerusalem, and some other well-known people, relate that she is full of all graces and all virtues, after the manner of a virgin, fruitful in virtue and grace. And, as they report, she is cheerful in persecutions and afflictions, free from murmuring in the midst of penury and want, grateful to those that injure her, and rejoices when exposed to troubles: she sympathizes with the wretched and the afflicted as sharing in their afflictions, and is not slow to come to their assistance. She is indeed devoted to the humble, and she humbles herself more devotedly than the devoted, and is wonderfully magnified by all. She is the lady of our new religion and repentance, and the handmaid among the faithful of all works of piety. But do you in haste comply with this our desire; and fare well. Amen.

Second Epistle to St. John

His friend Ignatius to John the holy presbyter. If you will give me leave, I desire to go up to Jerusalem, and see the faithful saints who are there, especially Mary the mother, whom they report to be an object of admiration and of affection to all. For who would not rejoice to behold and to address her who bore the true God from her own womb, provided he is a friend of our faith and religion? And in like manner I desire to see the venerable James, who is surnamed Just, whom they relate to be very like Christ Jesus in appearance, in life, and in method of conduct, as if he were a twin-brother of the same womb. They say that, if I see him, I see also Jesus Himself, as to all the features and aspect of His body. Moreover, I desire to see the other saints, both male and female. Alas! Why do I delay? Why am I kept back? Kind teacher, bid me hasten to fulfill my wish, and fare well. Amen.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Virgin Mary

Her friend Ignatius to the Christ-bearing Mary. You ought to have comforted and consoled me who am a neophyte, and a disciple of your beloved John. For I have heard things wonderful to tell respecting your son Jesus, and I am astonished by such a report. But I desire with my whole heart to obtain information concerning the things which I have heard from you, who was always intimate and allied with Him, and who was acquainted with all His secrets. I have also written to you at another time, and have asked you concerning the same things. Fare well; and let the neophytes who are with me be comforted of you, and by you, and in you. Amen.

Reply of the Blessed Virgin to this Letter

The lowly handmaid of Christ Jesus to Ignatius, her beloved fellow disciple. The things which you have heard and learned from John concerning Jesus are true. Believe them, cling to them, and hold fast the profession of that Christianity which you have embraced, and conform your habits and life to your profession. Now I will come in company with John to visit you, and those that are with you. Stand fast in the faith, and show yourself a man; nor let the fierceness of persecution move you, but let your spirit be strong and rejoice in God your Savior. Amen.

Presented by Theologians Press.