A synopticon of Ignatius of Antioch and ps-Ignatius

St Vladimir’s Seminary Press has now published my translations of Ignatius and ps-Ignatius.

The following synopsis of Ignatius and of his fourth century imitator is intended toillustrate the nature of the pseudepigraphical alterations and expansions in Ignatius’text.

In the work of translation care was taken to be consistent in the use of vocabularyboth in Ignatius and in his imitator, and conversely to use distinct expressions andvocabulary when the two diverged, even when the meaning was the same. Thus, ingeneral, where there are slightly different expressions of the same thought in thesynopsis below this indicates that there is a similar distinction in the Greek. Tofacilitate this the two texts were translated in parallel. This parallel translation,which underlies the published work, is the basis of the synopsis presented below.

However, once the first drafts were complete, the texts were taken out of the tableand subjected to independent but parallel correction and revision. Thus thetranslations below are the not final versions which are to be found in the publishedwork, but unrevised and uncorrected drafts. Caveat lector; as drafts the translationsbelow are indications only of the content of the letters and of the extent of theirdivergence. However, by supplying the synopticon the task of anyone wishing tomake a detailed comparison of Ignatius and his imitator is made easier, in that astarting point is supplied, which may then be checked against the final versions andagainst the Greek texts.

Alistair C. StewartSt Andrews eve, 2013

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To the Trallians

Ignatius Ps-IgnatiusIgnatius, who is also God-carrier, to theholy Church which is at Tralles, in Asia,beloved of God, the Father of JesusChrist, chosen and God-worthy, broughtto peace in the flesh and spirit throughthe suffering of Jesus Christ, our hopeforresurrection into his self, which (church)also I greet in its completeness, in theapostolic manner, and wish abundanceof happiness.

Ignatius, who is also God-carrier, to theholy Church which is at Tralles, in Asia,beloved of God the Father and JesusChrist, elect and God-worthy, brought topeace in the flesh and spirit

of Jesus Christ, our hope inenduring the cross and death and inresurrection, which (church)also I greet in its completeness, in theapostolic manner, and wish abundanceof happiness.

11I came to know that you possess ablameless and unwavering mind inpatience, that is not by habit but bynature, just as Polybius your bishophas shown me, coming to Smyrna by thewill of God and Jesus Christ.

So he rejoiced with me, who ambound in Christ Jesus, so that in him Idiscerned your whole congregation. 2Igloried in receiving through him yourgodly goodwill, discovering that,as I had known, you were imitators ofGod.

11I came to know that you possess ablameless and unwavering mind inpatience that is not by habit but as apossession, just as Polybius your bishophas shown me, coming to Smyrna by thewill of God the Father and Jesus Christhis Son, with the co-operation of theSpirit. So he rejoiced with me, who ambound in Christ Jesus, so that in him Idiscerned your whole congregation. 2Igloried in receiving through him yourgodly goodwill, discovering that

you were imitators ofJesus Christ the Saviour.

21For when you are subject to the bishopas to Jesus Christ

youseem to me not to be living in a humanway but in accordance with Jesus Christwho died for us so that, believing in hisdeath, you may escape death.

2Thus it isrequired that you shouldundertake nothing apart from thebishop, as is already the case, but alsothat you be subject to thepresbytery as to the apostles of Jesus

21Be subject to the bishop as to the Lord,for he watches for your souls as one whowill give an account to God.” Thus youseem to me not to be living in a humanway but in accordance with Jesus Christwho died for us, so that believing in hisdeath we may, by baptism, havefellowship in his resurrection. 2So it isrequired, in whatever you do, toundertake nothing without thebishop, butthat you be subject also to thepresbytery, as to the apostles of Jesus

Christ our hope, in whom we will befound through living in him. 3And it isnecessary that the deacons of themysteries of Jesus Christ should bepleasing to all in every way. For they arenot deacons of food and drink, butministers of the church of God, whoshould guard themselves againstaccusations as against fire.

Christ, our hope, in whom we will befound should we live in him. 3And it isnecessary that the deacons of themysteries of Jesus Christ should bepleasing to all in every way. For they arenot deacons of food and drink, butministers of the church of God, whoshould guard themselves againstaccusations as against burning fire.

31Likewise everyone should

respect the deacons like Jesus Christ,and also thebishop, who is a representation of theFather, and the presbytersas a sanhedrin of God and company ofthe apostles. Apart fromthese nothing can be called a church.

2I am sure that you agree in this,for I have received the proof of your loveand I have it with me still in yourbishop, whose very appearance is highlyinstructive, whose meekness itself ispowerful. I reckon that even the godlessrespect him. 3Though I could write toyou more sharply on this matter I refrainout of love for you. It did not seemproper that, as a condemned man, Ishould direct you like an apostle.

31So let them remain as such. You shouldrespect them as Jesus Christ, of whoseplace they are guardians, just as thebishop is the representation of theFather of all things, and the presbytersare the sanhedrin of God and companyof the apostles of Christ. Apart fromthese there is no elect church, no holygathering, no assembly of the sanctified.2I am persuaded that you agree in this,for I have received the proof of your loveand I have it with me still in yourbishop, whose very appearance is highlyinstructive, whose meekness itself ispowerful. I reckon that even the godlessrespect him. 3I refrain from writing toyou in any more severe manner, so that Ishould not appear to anyone to be harshor importunate. Though bound for thesake of Christ, yet I am not yet worthy ofChrist. Should I be perfected thenperhaps I may become so.

41I understand much in God, but Ilimit myself so that I should not bedestroyed by boasting.

At present I have to beall the more fearful, and pay no attentionto those who would puff me up. Forthose who speak to me are scourgingme. 2For indeed I am a lover of suffering,but I do not know whether I am worthy.For envy is not obviousto many, whilst it wars against me all themore. Therefore I am in

41I do not rate myself an apostle, but Ilimit myself so that I should not bedestroyed by boasting. It is good to boastin the Lord. Even if I should be vigorousin the things of God, I would have to beall the more fearful and pay no attentionto those who would puff me up. Forthose who speak to me are scourgingme. 2For indeed I am a lover of suffering,but I do not know whether I am worthy.For the envy of the enemy is not visibleto many, but it warsagainst me. I therefore have

need of humility, by which the ruler ofthis age is undone.

need of humility, by which the ruler ofthis age, the devil, is undone.

5Am I not able to write to you aboutheavenly things? Yet I am afraid todo so lest, being infants, I should harmyou. Yet allow me this, as otherwise

you mightchoke,being unable to swallow. 2For even I,whilst in bondage and able tounderstand heavenly matters, thedisposition of the angels and thehierarchies of the rulers, visible andinvisible,

am not yet a disciple.For much is still

lacking to us,but we are not lacking in

God.

5Am I not able to write to you regardingmore mystical matters? Yet I am afraidto do so lest, being infants, I shouldharm you. Forgive me this, lest not beingable to take on their import, you mightchoke.

2For even I,whilst in bondage, and able tounderstand heavenly matters, theangelic orders and the various kinds ofarchangels and armies, the differencesbetween powers and dominions, thedistinctions between thrones andauthorities, the greatness of the aeons,the pre-eminence of the cherubim andseraphim, the heights of the Spirit andthe Kingdom of the Lord, and above allthe incomparability of Almighty God,knowing all of this, I am not yetperfected thoroughly, nor am I a disciplesuch as Paul or Peter. For much is stilllacking to me, many things are yetwanting to me, but I am not lacking inGod.

61I therefore, yet not I, but the love ofJesus Christ, entreat you only to useChristian nourishment, to abstain from aforeign plant, that is heresy.

2Forsuch people appear trustworthy throughmingling Jesus Christ with themselves,

so thatthey are like those who dispense adeadly drug mixed with honeyed wine,so that the ignorant should die, aftergladly taking it with a guilty enjoyment.

61I therefore, yet not I, but the love ofJesus Christ, entreat you “that youshould all speak the same thing andthere should be no divisions among you.Be joined together with the sameunderstanding and the same mind.” 2Forsome are vain talkers and deceivers, notChristians but Christmongers,deceitfully carrying around the name ofChrist and corrupting the word of theGospel, mixing the poison of their deceitwith their sweet talk, as thoughconfecting aconite with honeyed wine sothat whoever drinks is deceived in histaste by the pleasant sensation, andunguardedly meets death. One of theancients advises thus: “Let nobody whomingles good with evil be called good.”

For they speak of Christ, not that theymay preach Christ, but that they may doChrist down, and they propound the lawnot that they may uphold the law but sothat they can proclaim lawlessness. Forthey alienate Christ from the Father, andthe law from Christ. They deny his birthfrom a virgin, ashamed of the cross theydeny His passion and have no faith inthe resurrection. They introduce God asunknown and consider Christunbegotten; and they do not believe hisresurrection. They introduce God as anunknown being, they suppose Christ tobe unbegotten, and do not makeconfession of the existence of the Spirit.Some of them say that the Son wassimply human, that the Father and theSon and the Holy Spirit are the samebeing, and that the creation is the workof God, not through Christ but throughsome other alien power.

71Therefore be on your guard againstsuch people. This will be possible foryou if you are not puffed up and areunseparated from God, Jesus Christ,

and the bishop and the injunctions ofthe apostles. 2Whoever iswithin the sanctuary is pure. Whoever isoutside the sanctuary is not pure. That isto say, whoeverundertakes anything apart from thebishop and the presbytery and thedeacons is not pure in conscience.

71Therefore defend yourselves againstsuch people so that you do not admit atrap for your own souls, so not tobecome a “snare on a watchtower, andlike a net spread out.” For “whoeverdoes not heal himself in his own deeds isthe brother of the one who destroyshimself.”.” Thus, if you are able to putaway all conceit, arrogance, disdain andhaughtiness you will find it possible tobe unseparated from God. For “He isnear to those who fear him.” And hesays, “On whom shall I look but uponthe one who is humble and quiet andwho trembles at my words.” Reverenceyour bishop like Christ, as the blessedapostles have directed you. 2Whoever iswithin the sanctuary is pure. So thatperson is obedient to the bishop and tothe presbyters. Whoever, being outside,undertakes anything apart from thebishop and the presbyters and thedeacons has a polluted conscience and is

worse than faithless. For what is abishop but one who, beyond all other,governs with all authority and power?How is a human being to govern but bybecoming an imitator of the Christ ofGod, insofar as he is able? And what isthe presbytery but a sacred conclave, thecounsellors and assessors of the bishop?And what are the deacons but imitatorsof the angelic powers, serving with apure and blameless service? So wasStephen to the blessed James, Timothyand Linus to Paul, and Anacletus andClement to Peter. Whoever does notyield to these is altogether godless, andimpious, despising Christ and belittlinghis direction.

81I am not

aware of anything of thisnature among you, but I am protectingyou in advance, my beloved,

foreseeing the devil’s ambushes.

Therefore you should adoptgentleness, and remake yourselves infaith, which is the flesh of the Lord, andin love, which is the blood of JesusChrist.

2Let none ofyou hold anything against yourneighbour.

Do notgive any entry-point to heathens, lest thewhole congregation in Godis blasphemed through a few silly

81I am communicating these things toyou, not because I am aware that thereare any such persons among you; ratherI hope that God “who did not spare hisSon for the sake of His holy Church” willnever permit any such report to reachmy ears. But foreseeing the ambushes ofthe evil one, I am protecting you inadvance by my admonitions, as mybeloved and faithful children in Christ,providing you with the means ofprotection against the deathly disease ofthe unruly. You shun this disease by thegood-will of Christ our Lord. Therefore,taking on meekness, become imitators ofthe sufferings of Christ and of his love,with which he loved us when he gavehimself a ransom for us, that He mightcleanse us by His blood from our ancientungodliness, and bestow life upon us,just as we were about to perish throughthe evil within us. 2Therefore let none ofyou hold anything against yourneighbour. For our Lord says, “Forgive,and it shall be forgiven you.” Do notgive any entry-point to heathens, lest“by means of a few foolish people theword and the teaching be blasphemed.”

people. Forwoe

to the one through whom my name isblasphemed, on account of stupidity.

For the prophet, as though in the personof God, says: “Woeto him by whom my name isblasphemed among the gentiles.”

91Be deaf, therefore, when anyone speaksto you other than of Jesus Christ, who isof the race of David, who is from Mary,

who truly was crucified and died,

as thosein the heavens, and on the earth, andunder the earth looked on.

2He was truly raised from the dead,raised by his Father, as his Father willsimilarly raise us who believe in him, inChrist Jesus, other than whom we do nothave true life.

91Be deaf, therefore, when anyone speaksto you other than of Jesus Christ, who isof the race of David, who is from Mary,who was truly begotten of God and ofthe virgin, but not in the same way, forGod and humanity are not the same.Truly he put on a body; for “the Wordwas made flesh,” and lived upon earthwithout sin (for he says, “Which of youconvicts me of sin?”) Truly he ate anddrank. He was crucified and died underPontius Pilate, was truly, and not inappearance, crucified and died, as thosein the heavens, and on the earth, andbeneath the earth looked on. Those inheaven are those whose natures areincorporeal. Those on earth are the Jewsand Romans, and such persons as werepresent at that time when the Lord wascrucified. Those beneath the earth arethe multitude that arose together withthe Lord (for the Scripture says, “Manybodies of the saints that slept arose,” astheir graves were opened.) Alone hedescended to Hades, but he arose with amultitude, and split apart that fencewhich had existed from the beginning ofthe world, and cast down its partition-wall. 2He rose again in three days,raised by his Father, and spending fortydays with the apostles was received bythe father. And he sat down at his righthand, remaining until his enemies areplaced under his feet.” He received thesentence from Pilate on the day ofpreparation, at the third hour, as Fatherallowed. He was crucified at the sixthhour, he breathed his last at the ninth, hewas buried before the setting of the sun,he remained under the earth in the tombin which Joseph of Aramathea had laid

him on the sabbath, he arose from thedead at the dawning of the Lord’s day,in accordance with what he had said:“As Jonah was three days and threenights in the whale’s belly, so the son ofman shall also be three days and threenights in the heart of the earth.” The dayof the preparation, then, contains thepassion, the Sabbath the burial, theLord’s Day the resurrection.

10Thus if some people, atheists, that isunbelievers, say that he suffered inappearance only, it is they who are theappearance.

Whyam I bound? Why do I beg to fight thewild beasts? Am I therefore dying invain? Am I, even more, lying about theLord?

10Thus if some people, atheists, that isunbelievers, say that he became man inappearance only, that he did not trulyput on a body, that he appeared to havedied, and did not suffer in reality, whyam I bound? Why do I beg to fight thewild beasts? Am I therefore dying invain? Am I, even more, lying about theLord? Also the prophet states in vain,“They shall look on him whom theyhave pierced, and mourn overthemselves as over one beloved.” Thesepeople, therefore, are unbelievers no lessthan those who crucified him. I,however, do not place my hopes in onewho died for me in appearance, but inreality. For falsehood is totally foreign tothe truth. So Mary truly conceived abody which God inhabited. And God theWord was truly born of the Virgin,clothing himself with a body ofsufferings like ours. The one who formsall in the womb was himself truly in awomb, and made himself a body fromthe seed of the Virgin, but without anyintercourse with a man. He was carriedin the womb, even as we are, for theusual period of time; and was truly born,as we also are; and was in realitynourished with milk, and partook ofcommon food and drink, as do we. Andwhen he had lived for thirty years, hewas baptized by John, in truth and not inappearance. And when he hadproclaimed the Gospel three years, and

done signs and wonders, the judge wasjudged by the false Jews and by Pilatethe governor. He was scourged, he wasstruck on the cheek, he was spit upon, hewore a crown of thorns and a purplerobe, he was condemned. He was trulycrucified, not in appearance, not inimagination, not in deceit. He truly died,and was buried, and rose from the dead,just as he prayed somewhere, saying,“Raise me up again, O Lord, and I willrepay them.” And the Father, whoalways hears him, answered and said,“Arise, O God, and judge the earth; foryou shall receive all the nations for yourinheritance.” The Father, therefore, whoraised him up, will also raise us upthrough him, other than whom we donot have true life. For he says, “I am thelife; whoever believes in me shall live,even if he dies, and everyone who livesand believes in me shall live for ever,even if he die.” Therefore flee theseungodly heresies; for they are theinventions of the devil, that serpent whowas the author of evil who, by means ofthe woman, deceived Adam, the fatherof our race.

111Therefore flee the wicked offshoots

which producedeath-dealing fruit; anyone who tastes ofit dies instantly.

For these arenot of the Father’s planting,

2for if they

111Flee him, and his wicked offshoots,Simon his first-born son, and Menanderand Basilides and his whole babble ofwickedness, the human-worshippers,whom Jeremiah the prophet callsaccursed. Also flee the impureNicolatians, falsely so-called, who arelovers of pleasure, and slanderers. Alsoflee the children of the evil one,Theodotus and Cleobulus, who producedeath-dealing fruit; anyone who tastes ofit dies instantly, not just a temporarydeath but one which is eternal. These arenot of the Father’s planting but are anaccursed brood. The Lord says, “Letevery plant which my heavenly Fatherhas not planted be extirpated”. 2If they

were they would appear asstems of the cross and their fruit wouldbe imperishable.

Through it, in his passion, he invites youto be parts of his body, as a head cannotbe born without body-parts, as Godpromises unity, which he is.

were stems of the Father, they would nothave been “enemies of the cross ofChrist” but of those who “killed theLord of glory.” Denying the cross andbeing ashamed of the passion, they arecovering up the transgression of theJews, those who fight against God, thosewho murdered the Lord, for it too slightto term them murderers of the prophets.But Christ invites you to incorruption,through his passion and his resurrection,as you are parts of his body.

121I greet you from Smyrna, along with thechurches of God which are present withme, who in all manner of wayshave refreshed me, both in body and inspirit. 2My chains, which I wear onaccount of Jesus Christ, are exhortingyou, as I ask that I may attain to God.Remain in your concord and in prayerwith one another. For it is properthat every one of you, and especially thepresbyters, should refresh the bishop forthe honour of the Father of Jesus Christand the apostles. 3I pray that you hearme in love, and that my writing shouldnot stand as a witness against you. Andpray for me, in need of your lovethrough the mercy of God, that I befound worthy of the lot which is to fall tome, lest I be found undeserving.

121I greet you from Smyrna, along with thechurches of God which are present withme, whose leaders in all manner of wayshave refreshed me, both in body and inspirit. 2My chains, which I wear onaccount of Jesus Christ, are exhortingyou, as I ask that I may attain to God.Remain in your concord with oneanother and in prayer. For it is properthat every one of you, and especially thepresbyters, should refresh the bishop forthe honour of the Father and Jesus Christand the apostles. 3I pray that you hearme in love, and that my writing shouldnot stand as a witness against you. Andpray for me, in need of your lovethrough the mercy of God, that I befound worthy of the lot which is to fall tome, lest I be found undeserving.

131The love of the Smyrnæans andEphesians salutes you. Remember inyour prayers the church in Syria, afterwhom I am not worthy to be called,being the least of them.2Farewell in Jesus Christ,remaining subject to the bishop as to thecommandment, also likewise to thepresbytery. And every one of you, loveone another with an undivided heart.3My spirit is consecrated for you, notonly now, but also when I attain to God.

131The love of the Smyrnæans andEphesians salutes you. Rememberyour church in Syria, afterwhom I am not worthy to be called,being the least of those who are there.2Farewell in the Lord Jesus Christ,remaining subject to the bishop, alsolikewise to the presbyters and to thedeacons. And every one of you, loveone another with an undivided heart.3My spirit is consecrated for you, notonly now, but also when I attain to God.

For I am still in danger. But the Father isfaithful in Jesus Christ, fulfilling both myrequest and yours, that you may befound blameless in him.

For I am still in danger. But the Father isfaithful in Jesus Christ, fulfilling both myrequest and yours, that you may befound blameless in him. May I delight inyou in the Lord.

To the Magnesians

Ignatius of Antioch Ps-IgnatiusIgnatius, who is also god-carrier, to theone blessed in the grace of God theFather, in Christ Jesus our saviour, inwhom I greet the church which is inMagnesia, on the Meander, for which Ipray utmost rejoicing in God the Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ignatius, who is also god-carrier, to theone blessed in the grace of God theFather, in Christ Jesus our saviour, inwhom I greet the church which is inMagnesia, on the Meander, for which Ipray in God the Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ. May youenjoy utmost rejoicing in him.

11Being aware of the well-ordered natureof your godly love, rejoicingly Idetermined to address you in the faith ofJesus Christ. 2For being made worthy ofa most God-befitting name, in thechains which I carry around I sing thechurches, in which I pray that there maybe the unity of flesh and spirit from JesusChrist, our life lasting always, of faithand love, to which nothing is to yieldprecedence, above all of Jesus and theFather.

Abiding in him we may attain to God,escaping all the abuse of the ruler of thisage.

11Being aware of the well-ordered natureof your godly love, rejoicingly Idetermined to address you in the faith ofJesus Christ. 2For being thought worthyof a divine and desirable name, in thechains which I carry around, I sing thechurches, in which I pray that there maybe the unity of flesh and spirit from JesusChrist, “who is the saviour of all people,especially of those who believe; “ bywhose blood you were redeemed, bywhom you have come to know God, orrather have come to be known by him.Abiding in him you may escape all theabuse of the ruler of this age, for “he isfaithful, who will not allow you to betested more than you may bear.”

2Since, therefore, I have been deemedworthy to behold you through Damas,your God-worthy bishop, and yourworthy presbyters Bassus andApollonius, and my fellow-slave thedeacon Zotion, in whom may I delight,because he is subject to the bishop as to

the grace of God, andto the presbytery as to the law of JesusChrist.

2Since, therefore, I have been deemedworthy to behold you through Damas,your God-worthy bishop, and your God-worthy presbyters Bassus andApollonius, and my companion, thedeacon Zotion, in whom may I delight,because he is subject to the bishop and tothe presbytery by the grace of God

in the law of JesusChrist.

31It is proper that you should not exploitthe age of the bishop, but inaccordance with the power of Godyou should yield every respect to him, as

31It is proper that you should not think illof the age of the bishop, but inaccordance with the knowledge of Godyou should yield every respect to him, as

I am aware that your holy presbytershave not taken advantage of his evidentyouthful rank, but have deferred to himas understanding in God, yet not to himbut to the Father of Jesus Christ who isoverseer of all.

2 For the honour of the one whose desireis for us it is proper that we should listencarefully, entirely without hypocrisy,

since one does notdeceive the visible bishop, but gives afalse account to the one who is invisible.In such a case the account is not to begiven in a fleshly manner,

but towardsGod who sees whatever is hidden.

I am aware that the holy presbyters havenot had regard to apparentyouth butto understanding in God, since “those ofmany years are not wise, nor do old menhave knowledge of prudence, but thereis a spirit in mortals.” For at twelve yearsold Daniel was possessed of the divinespirit, and refuted the elders who weremaking accusations and lusting after thebeauty of another’s wife, wearing greyhairs in vain. And Samuel, a little lad,reproved Eli, being ninety years old, forgiving preference to his sons over God.Similarly Jeremiah heard from God, “Donot say ‘I am young.’” Solomon andJosiah also. One at twelve years of agewas king, and gave the terrifying andcomplex judgement in the case of thewomen and their children, the other,governing at eight years of age, toredown the altars and the temples, andburnt down the groves, for they werededicated to demons and not to God.And he slaughtered the false priests ascorrupters and deceivers of people, anddid not worship the godhead. Thusyouth, when devoted to God, is not to bedespised, but any corrupt mind, eventhough “aged in evil days.” The Christ-carrier Timothy was young, but listen towhat his teacher writes to him: “Nobodyshould despise your youth, but by anexample of the faithful in word and inconduct.” 2Therefore it is

proper that you shouldbe obedient to your bishop andcontradict him in nothing, for it is fearfulto contradict one such. One does notdo it to the visible, but gives afalse account to the one who is invisible,who is incapable of being deceived byanyone. Such an act is not directedtowards any human being, but towardsGod. For God says to Samuel: “Theirfalse account is not to you but to me.”

And Moses says: “The grumbling is notagainst us, but against the Lord God.”None of those who rose up against theirsuperiors remained unpunished, forDathan and Abiram spoke not againstthe law but against Moses, and were castdown into Hades alive. Korah, and thosetwo hundred and fifty who conspiredwith him against Aaron, were destroyedby fire. Absalom, being a fratricide, washung on a tree and his evil-schemingheart was pierced with darts. LikewiseAbeddadan lost his head on a similaraccount. Uzziah, when he dared tooppose the priests and the priesthood,was struck with leprosy. Saul wasdishonoured for not awaiting the highpriest Samuel. Therefore you shouldreverence your superiors.

4So it is proper not only to be calledChristians but to be such as well,

just asthere are some who call a person bishopyet do everything without him.

Such persons do not seem to me to havea good conscience as they do not holdfirm gatherings in accordance with thecommandment.

4So it is proper not only to be calledChristians but to be such as well, for oneis rendered blessed not by speaking butby being. Should any speak of a bishop,yet do everything without him, so shallhe, who is the true and first overseer,and is alone the high priest by nature,say to such as these, “Why do you callme ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I say?”Such persons do not seem to me to havea good conscience, but seem to me to bedissemblers and pretenders.

5Thus, since there is an end to things andthe two, death and life, aresimultaneously laid before us, and eachis to go to his or her own place,

2 for just as there are two

coins, one of God, one of the world, andeach of them bears its own imprint, thefaithless of this world,

5Thus, since there is an end to things, andthere is laid out life (from observance)and death (from disobedience), and eachof us is to go the place we have chosen,let us flee death and make the choice oflife. 2For I say there are two imprints tobe found among people, the one a truecoin, the other a forgery. The devoutperson is a coin imprinted by God, theungodly a coin with false value,debased, counterfeit, forged, minted not

the faithfulin love the imprint of God the Fatherthrough Jesus Christ, whose life, ifwe do not choose willingly to die fortruth in likeness of his passion, is not inus.

by God but by the devil. I do not say thatthere are two human natures but thatthere is one humanity, some of whomare of God and some of the devil. Ifsomebody is devout he is a person ofGod. If ungodly, a person of the devil,being so not out of nature but byindividual choice. The faithless have theimage of the ruler of evil, the faithfulhave the image of God the Father, whorules, and of Jesus Christ, whose life, ifwe do not choose willingly to die fortruth in likeness of his passion, is not inus.

6Therefore, since I have in faith discernedthe entire congregation, and loved it, inthe persons of whom I have alreadywritten, I urge you to be anxious to doeverything in the concord of God, as thebishop is seated first, as representingGod and the presbyters as representingthe council of the apostles and thedeacons, especially dear to me, entrustedwith the ministry of Jesus Christ, whowas with the Father before the agesand who will appear at the end.

2Adopting a manner like that of God, allof you should respect one another, andnobody should look upon a neighbour ina fleshly manner, but at all times shouldlove one another in Jesus Christ. Thereshould be nothing among you which iscapable of dividing you, but be unitedwith the bishop and with those in thefirst seats, representing the teaching ofincorruptibility.

6Therefore, since I have in faith discernedthe entire congregation, and loved it, inthe persons of whom I have alreadywritten, I urge you to be anxious to doeverything in the concord of God, as thebishop is seated first, in the place ofGod and the presbyters in the place ofthe council of the apostles and thedeacons, especially dear to me, entrustedwith the ministry of Jesus Christ, who,begotten of the Father before the ages,was the word of God, the only-begottenson, and at the consummation of theages will remain so, for Daniel theprophet says “of his Kingdom there willbe no end.” 2Therefore let us all

love one another in concord, andlet nobody look upon a neighbour ina fleshly manner but

in Christ Jesus. Thereshould be nothing among you which iscapable of dividing you, but be unitedwith the bishop, being subject to God inChrist through him.

7Therefore, just as, without regard to theFather (being united with him), the Lorddid nothing, either of himself or throughthe apostles, so you are to undertakenothing without regard to the bishop

7Therefore, just as, without regard to theFather, the Lorddoes nothing, for, he says, “I can donothing of myself”, so you,

without regard to the bishop,

and the presbyters.Do not attempt to consider a

private purpose reasonable, but for acommon purpose

there should be one prayer, onepetition, one mind, one hope in love, inblameless joy, which is Jesus Christ, towhom nothing is superior. 2As to asingle temple of Godyou should all run together, as upon onealtar, upon one Jesus Christ, who cameforth from one Father and is one withhim, to whom he returned.

neither a presbyter, nor a deacon, nor alayperson. Nor should you consideranything reasonable which is contrary tohis knowledge, for anything such is atransgression and opposed to God. Youshould all be one in prayer as you cometogether. There should be one commonpetition, one mind, one hope in love, in ablameless faith in Christ Jesus, towhom nothing is superior. 2You shouldall run together to the temple of God,

as upon onealtar, upon one Jesus Christ, the highpriest of the unbegotten God.

8Do not be deceived by strange opinions,nor by ancient legends, which areuseless.

For if, evennow, we live in accordance withJudaism,

we admit that we have notreceived grace. 2 For the most godlyprophets lived in accordance with ChristJesus. On this account they werepersecuted, being inspired by grace fullyto convict the unpersuaded that there isone God, who made himselfmanifest through Jesus Christ his son,who is his word coming forth fromsilence,

who is wellpleasing in everything to the one whosent him.

8Do not be deceived by strange opinions,nor “hold to fables and to endlessgenealogies, or Jewish delusions: “Thethings of old have passed away; look,everything is become new.” For if, evennow, we live in accordance with theJewish law and the circumcision of theflesh, we should be denying that we hadreceived grace. 2For the most godlyprophets lived in accordance with JesusChrist. On this account they werepersecuted, being inspired by grace fullyto convict the unpersuaded that there isone almighty God, who made himselfmanifest through Jesus Christ his son,who is his word, not spoken, but of hisessence. For he is not the sound of anarticulate statement, but is essencebegotten of divine activity, who is wellpleasing in everything to the one whosent him.

9Therefore, if those who conductedthemselves in accordance with theancient ways came to a newness ofhope, no longer keeping the sabbath butliving in accordance with the Lord’s day,and on which our life appeared throughhim and through his death, which somedeny. We receive our faith through this

9Therefore, if those who conductedthemselves in accordance with theancient writings came to a newness ofhope in understanding Christ, as theLord teaches, saying: “If you believedMoses you would believe in me, for he itis who wrote of me” and “Abraham,your father, exulted to see my day, and

mystery, and remain constant in it, sothat we may be found to be disciples ofJesus Christ our only teacher. 2Howcould we live without regard to him? Itis of him that the prophets weredisciples in the Spirit,expecting him as a teacher. For thisreason, when the one whom theyrighteously expected raised them fromthe dead on his appearance.

he saw it and rejoiced” since “BeforeAbraham, I am”,

2howcould we live without regard to him? Itis of him that the prophets were slaves,foreseeing him in the Spirit, andawaiting him as their teacher, andexpecting him as Lord and Savioursaying: “He himself will come and saveus.” No longer, therefore, should wekeep the sabbath in a Jewish manner andrejoice in lazy days. For “Whoever doesnot work should not eat.” For the “In thesweat of your brow shall you eat yourbread” say the oracles. Each of youshould keep the sabbath in a spiritualway, rejoicing in mediation on the laws,not in bodily relaxation, wondering atthe workmanship of God, not in eatingfood a day old, and lukewarm drinks,and walking for a prescribed distance,and rejoicing in dancing and in senselessapplause. And after keeping the sabbathevery friend of Christ should keep theLord’s day as a festival, the day ofresurrection, the queen, the chief of alldays, of which the prophet stated, as helooked for it, “To the end, for the eighthday”, on which our life appeared, andvictory in Christ was given over death.The “children of perdition”, who are“enemies of the cross, whose God is thebelly, whose thoughts are fixed onearth”, who are lovers of pleasure andnot lovers of God, who have theappearance of piety whilst denying itspower, deny him. They are traders inChrist, “huckstering the word” andselling Jesus, corrupters of women andcovetous of others’ goods, tornadoessucking up money. By the mercy of Godmay you be delivered from themthrough the Lord Jesus Christ.

101Therefore we should notfail to perceive his kindness. For if he

101Therefore we should not beimperceptive of his kindness. For if he

were to act in imitation of our actions,we would not still exist. For this reason,being his disciples, let us learn to live inaccordance with Christianity, forwhoever is known by a name other thanthis is not God’s.

2Therefore put aside the evil yeast,which is aged and soured, and bechanged into new yeast, which is JesusChrist. Be salted in him, so that nothingin you can get corrupted, since you willbe convicted by your smell.3 It is outlandish to speak of Jesus Christand to Judaize.

ForChristianity did not put its faith inJudaism but Judaism in Christianity, in which

every tongue whichbelieves has been gathered together intoGod.

were to act in imitation of our actions,we would not still exist. For, “if you,Lord, should mark our guilt, who wouldsurvive?” Therefore let us be worthy ofthe name which we have received, forwhoever is known by a name other thanthis, this person is not God’s. He has notreceived the prophecy which is spokenconcerning us: “He will be called by anew name, with which the Lord willname him” and will be “a holy people.”And firstly this was fulfilled in Syria, inAntioch, for “the disciples were termedChristians,” when Paul and Peter werelaying the foundations of the church.2Therefore put aside the evil yeast,which is aged and soured, and bechanged into new yeast of grace. Abidein Christ, so that no stranger mayexercise dominion over you.

3It is outlandish to speak of Jesus Christwith the tongue and mentally cleave tothe Judaism which ceased to be, forChristianity did not put its faith inJudaism but Judaism in Christianity. Forin Christianity every nation whichbelieves and every tongue whichconfesses is gathered together intoGod, and those of stony heart arechildren of Abraham, the friend of God,and in his seed are all those who havebeen blessed, “who are ordained toeternal life” in Christ.

11My beloved, these are (written) notbecause I know that any of you areacting thus, but I wish to put you onyour guard, as one who is less than you,so that you should not be hooked by thebarbs of vain doctrine but that youshould have the fullest convictionregarding the birth

11My beloved, these are (written) not asknowing that any of you areacting thus, but I wish to put you onyour guard, as one who is less than you,so that you should not be hooked by thebarbs of vain doctrine but that youshould have the fullest conviction inChrist, who, begotten of the Fatherbefore all the ages, was afterwardsbegotten more recently from Mary thevirgin regardless of any involvement

and the suffering and the resurrectionwhich occurred in the period of thegovernor Pontius Pilate. Truly andassuredly were these undertaken by ourhope, Jesus Christ,

fromwhich may none of you turn aside.

with a man, and who, living in a holymanner, and healing every disease andweakness among the people, and doingsigns and wonders for human benefit,and proclaiming the one true God, hisFather, to those who had fallen intopolytheism, and undergoing the passion,enduring the cross, when Pontius Pilatewas governor and Herod the king, at thebehest of the Christ-killing Jews, dying,and rising and ascending into theheavens to the one who sent him, takinghis seat at his right hand, and who is tocome again at the completion of the ageswith his father’s glory to judge the livingand the dead and to reward each personin accordance with his or her deeds.Whoever knows and believes in thefullest conviction is blessed, even as nowyou are God-lovers and Christ-lovers inthe fullest conviction of our hope, fromwhich may none of us turn aside.

12May I delight in you in every way,should I prove worthy. For although Iam enchained, I am nothing compared toany of you who are freed. That you arenot haughty, I know, for you have JesusChrist among you. When I praise you,moreover, I know that you feelcompunction: as it is written, “The justperson is his own accuser.”

12May I delight in you in every way,should I prove worthy. For although Iam enchained, I am nothing compared toany of you who are freed. That you arenot haughty, I know, for you have JesusChrist among you. When I praise you,moreover, I know that you feelcompunction: as it is written, “The justperson is his own accuser” and “speak ofyour own sins first, so that you may bejustified” and “When you haveperformed all that was directed of you,say ‘We are useless servants’”. Because“what is highly esteemed in humancompany is an abomination to God”, forit says “God, be merciful to me a sinner”.For this reason those who were great,Abraham and Job” styled themselves“dust and ashes” before God and Davidsays “Who am I before you, Lord, thatyou have glorified me until now” andMoses, of all people the meekest, says toGod “I am of a feeble voice and tongue-

tied.” So be humble in spirit yourselves,so that you may be exalted.” For“whoever humbles himself shall beexalted, and whoever exalts himself willbe humbled.”

13Therefore be keen to stand strong in theopinions of the Lord and the apostles, sothat you may prosper in all that youundertake, in flesh and spirit, in faithand love, in the Son and the Father andin the Spirit, in the beginning and theend, together with your most worthybishop and your presbytery, well woveninto a spiritual crown, and your godlydeacons. 2 Be subject to the bishop and toeach other, as Jesus Christwas to the Father and the apostles toChrist and to the Father, so that theremay be fleshly and spiritual unity.

13Therefore be keen to stand strong in theopinions of the Lord and the apostles, sothat all that you undertake may beprospered, in flesh and spirit, in faithand love, in the Son and the Father andin the Spirit, in the beginning and theend, together with your most worthybishop and your presbytery, well woveninto a spiritual crown, and your godlydeacons. 2 Be subject to the bishop and toeach other, as Jesus Christ, in the flesh,was to the Father and the apostles toChrist and to the Father, so that theremay be godly unityamong you.

14Knowing that you are filled with God

I have exhorted youconcisely.Remember me in your prayers so that Imay attain to God, and the church inSyria, from which I am not worthy toderive my name. For I am in need ofyour unified prayer and love in God, sothat the church in Syria may proveworthy to bebedewed through your church.

14Knowing that you are filled up with allthat is good I have exhorted youconcisely in the love of Jesus Christ.Remember me in your prayers so that Imay attain to God, and the church inSyria, of which I am not worthy tobe called bishop. For I am in need ofyour unified prayer and love in God, sothat the church in Syria may proveworthy, through your good order, to bepastured in Christ.

15The Ephesians greet you from Smyrna,from where I am writing to you. Theyare here for the glory of God, as are you.In every way they have refreshed me, ashas Polycarp, the bishop of theSmyrnaeans. The rest of the churchesalso greet you in the honour of JesusChrist. Farewell, in the concord of God,to you who have obtained an undividedspirit, who is Jesus Christ.

15The Ephesians greet you from Smyrna,from where I am writing to you. Theyare here for the glory of God, as are you.In every way they have refreshed me, ashas Polycarp.

The rest of the churchesalso greet you in the honour of JesusChrist. Farewell in concordto you who have obtained an undividedspirit in Jesus Christ through the will ofGod.

To the Philadelphians

Ignatius of Antioch Ps-IgnatiusIgnatius, who is also God-carrier, to thechurch of God the Father and the LordJesus Christ which is in Philadelphia ofAsia, which has received mercy and isestablished in the agreement of God andwhich rejoices in the passion of our Lordwithout distinction, as in hisresurrection, which is fully satisfied inall mercy, which I greet in the blood ofJesus Christ, which is an eternal andlasting joy, especially if they are at onewith the bishop and those with him, thepresbyters and deacons who areappointed in the knowledge

of Jesus Christ, who, inaccordance with his own desire, set themfirmly in place by his Holy Spirit.

Ignatius, who is also God-carrier, to thechurch of God the Father and the LordJesus Christ which is in Philadelphia ofAsia, which has received mercy and isestablished in the agreement of God andwhich rejoices in the passion of our Lordwithout distinction, as in hisresurrection, which is fully satisfied inall mercy, which I greet in the blood ofJesus Christ, which is an eternal andlasting joy, especially if they are at onewith the bishop and those with him, thepresbyters and deacons who areappointed by the will of God the Fatherthrough the Lord Jesus Christ who, inaccordance with his own will, set themin place firmly, the church upon a rock, aspiritual building not made with hands,which the swirling winds and riverswere unable to overthrow – indeed mayspiritual forces of wickedness neverprevail, rather let them be enfeebledthrough the power of Jesus Christ ourLord.

11I am aware that the bishopdid not receive

the ministry to thecommunity which is his from himself,nor through any human agency, nor onaccount of vainglory, but in the love ofGod the Father and the Lord JesusChrist. I have beenastonished by his fairness, as being silenthe can achieve more than those whospeak. 2For he is attuned to thecommandments

like a harp to its strings.

So my soul blesses hisunderstanding of God, knowing it to bevirtuous and perfect, together with hiscalm and composed nature, in all

11Looking upon your bishop I am awarethat he was not selected to haveentrusted to him the ministry to thecommunity which is his from himself,nor through any human agency, nor onaccount of vainglory, but in the love ofJesus Christ and God the Father whoraised him from the dead. I have beenastonished by his fairness, as being silenthe can achieve more than those whospeak. 2For he is attuned to thecommandments of the Lord and to hisordinances like the strings to a harp, andis no less blameless than Zachariah thepriest. So my soul blesses hisunderstanding of God, knowing it to bevirtuous and perfect, together with hiscalm and composed nature, in all

fairness, deriving from the living God. fairness, deriving from the living God.2

Therefore, children of the light oftruth, avoid divisionand evil teachings.

Where theshepherd is, there you, the sheep, shouldfollow. 2 For many apparentlytrustworthy wolvesimprison, by means of wicked pleasure,those who go the way of God, but inyour unity shall they have no place.

2Therefore, as children of the light oftruth, avoid the division of your unityand the evil teachings of the heretics,from whom “a defiling influence hasgone forth on all the earth.” Where theshepherd is, there you, the sheep, shouldfollow. 2For many

wolves, wrapped in fleeces,imprison, by means of wicked pleasure,those who go the way of God, but inyour unity shall they have no place.

3Stay away from wicked

plants, those which Jesus Christ does notcultivate, sincethey are not a planting of the Father.

Not that I havefound division among you, but purity.

2Those who are of God, andJesus Christ, are with the bishop.

Those who are repentant andwho come into the unity of the churchwill also be God’s, so that they may livein accordance with Jesus Christ.

3Do not be deceived,my brothers, anyone who follows theone who separates shall notinherit the Kingdom of God.

3Therefore stay away from the wickedplants, those which Jesus Christ does notcultivate, but the homicidal beast, sincethey are not a planting of the Father buta seed of the evil one. Not because I havefound division among you do I write,but to set you on guard in advance aschildren of God. 2Those who are of

Christ are with the bishop, butthose who incline away from him, andembrace the communion of the accursed,will be pruned away with them, for theyare not the cultivation of Christ but theseed of the enemy. May you always berescued through the prayers of theshepherd who is set at your head, who ismost faithful and most gentle. ThereforeI exhort you in the Lord to receive withall gentleness those who are repentantand who come into the unity of thechurch, that through your kindness andyour goodness they will escape thedevil’s trap, becoming worthy of JesusChrist, attaining eternal salvation in theKingdom of Christ. 3Do not be deceived,brothers. Anyone who follows the onewho separates from the truth shall notinherit the Kingdom of God. Andanyone who does not distance himselffrom the preacher of falsehood shall becondemned to Gehenna. One shouldneither distance oneself from the godly,

Anyone who acts inaccordance with an alien opinion is notconformed to thepassion.

nor should one consort with theungodly. Anyone who acts inaccordance with an alien opinion is notof Christ, and is not a participant in hispassion, but is a fox, a trampler ofChrist’s vineyard. Have no relationswith anyone such, so that you do notperish together, even if he is your father,your son, your brother or a member ofyour family. For it says: “Your eye shallnot spare him.” You should thereforehate those who hate God and wasteaway on account of his enemies. I do notmean that you should beat them orpersecute them, as do the gentiles who“know not the Lord and God”, butshould consider them your enemies andkeep away from them, whilst warningthem and exhorting them to repentance,as it is possible that they might hear, andpossible that they submit themselves.For our God is a lover of humanity, anddesires that “all people should be savedand should come to knowledge of thetruth.” So “he causes the sun to rise onthe wicked and the good, and sends rainon the just and the unjust.” Desiring thatwe should be imitators of his kindnessthe Lord says: “Be perfect, just as yourheavenly Father is perfect.”

4

Thereforebe eager

to celebrateone eucharist. For

there is one flesh of our Lord JesusChrist and one cup of unity in his blood,

one altar, just as there isone bishop together with the

presbytery and the deacons, my fellow-slaves. In this way, whatever you do,

4In the Lord I am confident in you, thatyou would think no other way.Therefore I have taken courage to writeto your god-worthy love, exhorting youto celebrate one faith and oneproclamation and one eucharist. Forthere is one flesh of the Lord Jesusand his blood which is poured out for usis one. There is one bread which isbroken for all, and one cup which isshared with the whole congregation.There is one altar for the entire church,and one bishop together with thepresbytery and the deacons, my fellow-slaves. Since, also, there is but one who

you will do in accordance with God. is unbegotten Being, one God andFather, and one only-begotten Son, God,the Word and human being, and oneParaklete, the Spirit of truth. And oneproclamation, and one faith, and onebaptism, and one church which thesainted apostles founded from one endof the earth to the other, in the blood ofChrist and through the sweat of theirown brows and their labour. And youshould therefore be a “people set apart”and “a holy nation”, in agreement indoing everything in Christ.Wives, be subject to your husbands inthe fear of God and you virgins toChrist, in incorruption, not despisingmarriage, but desiring that which isbetter, not to reject wedlock, but for thesake of meditating on the law. Children,show obedience to your parents, andlove them as fellow-workers with God inyour birth. Slaves, be subject to yourmasters in God so that you may be thefreedmen of Christ. Husbands, love yourwives, as co-slaves of God, as your ownbody, as companions in life, and yourco-workers in the procreation ofchildren. Virgins, have Christ alonebefore your eyes, and His Father in yoursouls, being enlightened by the Spirit.May I delight in your sanctity, like thatof Elijah, of Joshua son of Nave, ofMelchizedek, of Elisha, of Jeremiah, ofJohn the Baptist, of the beloved disciple,of Timothy, of Titus, of Euodius, ofClement, who each departed this life inchastity. I do not blame the other blessedones for contracting marriages, of whichI was just speaking. For I pray that,being found worthy of God, I mayfollow their footsteps into the Kingdom,following Abraham, and Isaac, andJacob, and Joseph and Isaiah and theother prophets, and Peter and Paul andthe other apostles who contractedmarriages.

They did not do so out of desire, but didso with a mind to the human race.Fathers, raise your children in disciplineand direction to the Lord, and teachthem the sacred scriptures, and alsotrades, so that they should not rejoice inidleness. For it says: “A righteous fatherraises his children well, and in anunderstanding son will his heartrejoice.” Masters, act kindly towardsyour servants, as the sainted Job taught.For there is one nature and one race ofhumanity. For ”in Christ there is neitherslave nor free.” The governors shouldshow obedience to Caesar, the soldiers totheir commanders, deacons to thepresbyters, presbyters to the highpriests. And the deacons and the rest ofthe clergy, as well as all the people, andthe soldiers and the governors andCaesar to the bishop. The bishop toChrist as is Christ to the Father. And sounity is preserved throughout. Thewidows should not wander about, norbe inquisitive, nor gadabouts, but shouldbe like the most serious Judith, or likeAnna, profoundly reverent. Not as anapostles do I lay any of this down, for“Who am I, or what is my father’shouse?” that I should suppose myself tobe equal to them in honour, but in therank of your fellow soldier do I call outto you.

51My brothers, in loving you I amoverflowing greatly, and rejoicingexceedingly I safeguard you. Rather, notI, but Jesus Christ.Although I am bound in him my fear isgreater, being still incomplete. But yourprayer to God will complete me, so that Imay attain to the lot which I havereceived in mercy, as I flee to the Gospelas to the flesh of Jesus and the apostlesas to the presbytery of the church. 2Andwe should also love the prophets, since

51My brothers, in loving you I amoverflowing greatly, and rejoicingexceedingly I safeguard you. Rather, notI, but the Lord Jesus through me.Although I am bound in him my fear isgreater, as I am still incomplete. But yourprayer to God will complete me, so that Imay attain to the lot which I havereceived in mercy, as I flee to the Gospelas to the flesh of Jesus and the apostlesas to the presbytery of the church. 2And I

also love the prophets, as those

their proclamation was of the Gospel,and hoped for it and awaited it, and bybelieving in it they were saved, as theywere in the unity of Jesus Christ,

saints deservingof love and deserving of admiration,receiving the testimony of Jesus Christ inthe gospel of the hope we hold incommon.

who proclaimed Christ, as partakers ofthe same Spirit as the apostles. For as thefalse prophets and the false apostleshauled one and the same wicked andbeguiling and deceptive spirit, theprophets and the apostles received fromGod, through Jesus Christ, one and thesame Spirit, good and sovereign, trueand instructive, a straightforward spirit.For there is one God of the old and thenew testament. There is “one mediatorof God and humanity”, one creation ofintelligent and sentient beings, abeneficent and suitable providence. Andthere is one Paraklete, which operated inMoses and the prophets and theapostles.Therefore all the saints are saved inChrist, hoping in him and awaiting him.And through him they attained tosalvation, as they were saints deservingof love and deserving of admiration,receiving the testimony of Jesus Christ inthe gospel of the hope we hold incommon.

61Do not listen to anyone who shouldinterpret Judaism to you. For it is betterto hear about Christianity from acircumcised man than Judaism from oneuncircumcised.

61Anyone who should proclaim that theGod of the law and the prophets is one,whilst denying that Jesus Christ is God,is a liar, as also his father the devil. Andanyone like this, with the circumcision ofbelow, is a false Jew. If anyone confessesthat Jesus Christ is Lord, denying theGod of the law and the prophets, sayingthat the maker of heaven and earth is notthe Father of Jesus, such a person is notstanding in the truth, as also his fatherthe devil. Such a person is a disciple ofSimon the Magus, not of the Holy Spirit.If anyone speaks of one God, andconfesses Jesus Christ, considering theLord to be simply human, and not theonly-begotten God, and the word andwisdom of God, but considers him to bea soul and body, such a person is aserpent, proclaiming deceit and error for

Yet if either fails to speak of Jesus Christ,they seem to me to beheadstones and tombs for the dead, onwhich simply human names are written.2Therefore flee the evil arts and thesnares of the ruler

of this age, so thatyou are not weakened in your lovethrough the oppression of his will. Butall of you should stand in agreement andwith an undivided heart.

3I thank my God that Iam of a clear conscience in regard toyou, and that nobody has cause to boast,whether privately or publicly, that Iweighed anyone down in any matter,

human destruction. Anyone like this ispoor in understanding, as his name,Ebion, indicates. If anyone confessesthese things, yet calls lawful intercourseand the begetting of children destructionand pollution, or certain foodsabominations, such a person has theapostate dragon dwelling within. Ifanyone confesses the Father and the Sonand the Holy Spirit and praises thecreation, yet states that the embodimentand the passion are shameful, such aperson is denying the faith no less thanthe Christ-killing Jews. If anyoneconfesses these things, and also that Godthe word was dwelling in a humanbody, the word being within him like asoul within a body, because God wasindwelling, and not a human soul, yetsays that unlawful intercourse is good,and holds that the goal of happiness ispleasure, like the falsely-namedNicolaitans, such a person can be neithera lover of God nor a lover of Christ, butis a corruptor of his own flesh and thusis empty of the Holy Spirit, and astranger to Christ. All such persons areheadstones and tombs for the dead, onwhich simply human names are written.2Therefore flee the evil arts and thesnares of the spirit which is nowoperating in the sons of this age so thatyou are not weakened in your lovethrough his oppression. Butall of you should stand in agreementwith an undivided heart and a willingsoul, “being of one mind and of onejudgement,” holding always the sameopinions regarding the same matters, atease and in danger, in woes and indelights.3I thank God through Jesus Christ that Iam of a clear conscience in regard toyou, and that nobody has cause to boast,whether privately or publicly, that Iweighed anyone down in any matter,

small or great, and I pray that all withwhom I conversed, should not find it awitness against themselves.

small or great, and I pray that all withwhom I conversed, should not find it awitness against themselves.

7For even if some people desired todeceive me in the flesh, the spirit whichis of God is not deceived, for itknows whence it came and where it isgoing, and it exposes what is hidden.Amongst you I cried out, I spoke with agreat voice, the voice ofGod: “Give mind to the bishop and tothe presbytery and to the deacons.”There were some who suspected me ofhaving foreknowledge of the divisionamong you when I said this, but the onein whom I am bound bears witness tome that I knew this not from any humansource but the Spirit was proclaiming inspeaking thus. “Do nothing apart fromthe bishop, keep your flesh as a templeof God, love unity, shun divisions, beimitators of Jesus Christ, as he is of hisFather.”

7For even if some people desired todeceive me in the flesh, my spirit is notdeceived, for it comes from God, for itknows whence it came and where it isgoing, and it exposes what is hidden.Amongst you I cried out, I spoke with agreat voice, not my own voice but that ofGod: “Give mind to the bishop and tothe presbytery and to the deacons.”There were some who suspected me ofhaving learnt beforehand of the divisionamong you when I said this, but the onein whom I am bound bears witness tome that I knew this not from any humanmouth but the Spirit was proclaiming inspeaking thus. “Do nothing apart fromthe bishop, keep your flesh as a templeof God, love unity, shun divisions, beimitators of Paul and the other apostles,as they were of Christ.”

8I, therefore, was acting of my ownaccord as a person fixed on unity.For God does not dwell where there isdivision and anger.

The Lord forgives all who repentif they repent in the unity ofGod and the council of the bishop. Ihave faith in the grace of Jesus Christ,who will release you from all yourchains. I exhort you todo nothing in a discordant manner, butin accordance with the teaching ofChrist. Since I heard some saying “If I donot find it in the ancient writings, I donot believe it in the Gospel.” And when Isaid to them “It is written” they repliedto me “That is the question.” For me thearchives are Jesus Christ,

the sacred archives, his cross anddeath and his resurrection and the faith

8I, therefore, was acting of my ownaccord as a person fixed on unity. And Iadd this, God does not dwell wherethere is difference of opinion and angerand hatred. God forgives all who repentif they come together in the unity ofChrist and the council of the bishop. Ihave faith in the grace of Jesus Christ,because he will release you from all yourchains of unrighteousness. I exhort you:do nothing in a discordant manner, butin accordance with the teaching ofChrist. For I heard some saying “If I donot find it in the archives, I donot believe in the Gospel.”

To such as these I say that for me thearchives are Jesus Christ, and it isevidently destruction to disobey him. Tome the sacred archive is his cross anddeath and his resurrection and the faith

which comes from him, by which Idesire, by your prayer, to be maderighteous.

which bears on these things, by which Idesire, by your prayer, to be maderighteous. Whoever disbelieves theGospel disbelieves everything alongwith it. For the archives ought not to bepreferred to the Spirit. “It is hard to kickagainst the goad”; it is hard to disbelieveChrist; it is hard to reject theproclamation of the apostles.

91The priests are indeed good,

but better is the high priest who is entrusted with theholy of holies, who alone is entrustedwith the secrets of God, who is himselfthe

door ofthe father, through which enterAbraham and Isaac and Jacob andthe prophets and the

apostles and thechurch.

All these areof the unity of God. 2Yet there is something distinct inthe Gospel, the presence of the saviour,Our Lord Jesus Christ, his passion,the resurrection. The proclamationof the beloved prophets was aimed athim, but the Gospel is the completedwork of incorruption.

All thingstogether are good, as long as you believelovingly.

91Whereas the priests are good, as well asthe ministers of the word, better is thehigh priest who is entrusted with theholy of holies, who alone is entrustedwith the secrets of God. The ministeringpowers of God are good. The Parakleteis holy, and the Word is holy, the Son ofthe Father, through whom the Fathermade all things and overlooks them all.He is the way which leads to the Father,the rock, the defensive wall, the key, theshepherd, the sacrifice, the door ofknowledge through which enterAbraham and Isaac and Jacob, Mosesand the entire company of prophets, andthe pillars of the world, the apostles, andthe bride of Christ for whom he pouredout his own blood as a wedding gift sothat he might redeem her. All these areof the unity of the one and only trueGod. 2Yet there is something distinct inthe Gospel, the presence of the saviour,Our Lord Jesus Christ, his passion andthe resurrection itself. The proclamationof the prophets, when they said:“Until he come for whom it is set aside,and he is the expectation of the gentiles”is fulfilled in the Gospel. “Go out andteach all the nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Sonand of the Holy Spirit.” All thingstogether are good, the law, the prophets,the apostles, the whole company of thosewho believed through them, only if welove one another.

101Since, in accordance with your prayersand in accordance with the compassionwhich you possess in Christ Jesus, it isreported to me that the church which isin Syrian Antioch is at peace, it would befitting for you, as the church of God, toelect a deacon to be delegated as God’sambassador there, so that you can rejoicewith those who have a common purposeand glorify the name. 2Whoeveris found worthy of such a ministry ishappy in Jesus Christ, andyou will yourselves be glorified.

For you who desire to do this, forthe name of God, this is not impossible,as the closer churches have sentbishops, and others presbyters anddeacons.

101Since, in accordance with your prayersand the compassionwhich you possess in Christ Jesus, it isreported to me that the church which isin Syrian Antioch is at peace, it would befitting for you, as the church of God, toelect a bishop to be delegated as God’sambassador there, to gatherwith them in a common purposeand glorify the name of God. 2Whoeveris found worthy of such a ministry ishappy in Jesus Christ, and being zealousyou will yourselves be glorified inChrist. For you who desire to do this, forthe name of God, this is not impossible,as the closer churches have already sentbishops, and others presbyters anddeacons.

111Now regarding Philo, the deacon fromCilicia, a man who has received a goodtestimony, who even now serves me inthe word of God, alongside RheusAgathopus, a chosen man, who followsme from Syria, bidding life farewell,who also bear witness to you, as indeed Ithank God on behalf of you, because youreceived them as the Lordreceived you. May those whodishonoured them be redeemed in thegrace of Jesus Christ.

2The love of the brothers in Troas greetsyou. I write to you from there throughBurrhus, who has been sent alongsideme from the Ephesians and theSmyrneans as a pledge of honour. TheLord Jesus Christ will honour them; theyhope in him in flesh, in soul, spirit, faith,love, concord. Farewell in Christ Jesus,who is our common hope.

111Now regarding Philo, a man fromCilicia who has received a goodtestimony, who even now serves me inthe word of God, alongside Gaius andAgathopus, a chosen man, who followsme from Syria, bidding life farewell,who also bear witness to you, as indeed Ithank God on behalf of you, because youreceived them, and the Lord will alsoreceive you. May those whodishonoured them be redeemed in thegrace of Jesus Christ, who does notdesire the death of a sinner butrepentance.2The love of the brothers in Troas greetsyou. I write to you from there throughBurrhus, who has been sent alongsideme from the Ephesians and theSmyrneans as a pledge of honour. TheLord Jesus Christ will requite them; theyhope in him in flesh, in soul, spirit, faith,love, concord. Farewell in Christ Jesus,who is our common hope, in the HolySpirit.

Smyrneans

Ignatius of Antioch Ps-IgnatiusIgnatius, who is also God-carrier, to thechurch of God the Father andthe beloved Jesus Christ, which hasreceived mercy in every good gift, whichis filled in faith and love, which issecond to none in every good gift, whichis most worthy of God and carriessanctification, which is in Smyrna ofAsia, many greetings in the spotlessSpirit and the Word of God.

Ignatius, who is also God-carrier, to thechurch of God the most high Father andhis beloved son Jesus Christ, which hasreceived mercy in every good gift, whichis filled in faith and love, which issecond to none in every good gift, whichis most worthy of God and carriessanctification, which is in Smyrna ofAsia, many greetings in the spotlessSpirit and the Word of God.

11I glorify Jesus Christ, the God who hasgiven you such wisdom. I am aware thatyou have been equipped in anunmoving faith, just as if you werenailed to the cross of the Lord JesusChrist in both flesh and spirit, settled inlove in the blood of Christ, and fullyconvinced with regard to our Lord,

that he was truly of the race ofDavid in the flesh, the son of Godaccording to the will and the power ofGod, truly begotten from the virgin,baptized by John so that allrighteousness might be fulfilled by him.

2He was truly nailed for us in the flesh,under Pontius Pilate and Herod thetetrarch, as we ourselves derive from thefruit of his divinely blessed passion,so that through the resurrection he couldlift up the standard for his holy andfaithful ones for ever, whether amongJews or among gentiles, in the singlebody of his church.

11I glorify Jesus Christ, the God who hasgiven you such wisdom. I am aware thatyou have been equipped in an unmovingfaith, just as if you were nailed to thecross of the Lord Jesus Christ in bothflesh and spirit, settled in love in theblood of Christ, and fully, and truly,convinced with regard to our Lord JesusChrist, the son of God, the firstborn of allcreation, God the word, the only-begotten son. He was of the race ofDavid in the flesh,

of Mary thevirgin, baptized by John so that allrighteousness might be fulfilled by him.2He lived in a holy and sinless manner,he was nailed for us truly in the flesh,under Pontius Pilate and Herod thetetrarch, as we ourselves derive fromhim, from his divinely blessed passion,so that through the resurrection he couldlift up the standard for his holy andfaithful ones for ever, whether amongJews or among gentiles, in the singlebody of his church.

2For he suffered all this for our sake, sothat we might be saved. And he trulysuffered, just as hetruly raised himself. He did not, as someunbelievers state,

2For he suffered all this for our sake, and

truly hesuffered, and not in appearance, as alsohe was truly raised. And not, as some ofthe unbelievers, who are ashamed of the

suffer in appearanceonly. It is they who are appearances, andjust what they think will happen tothem, as they are disembodied anddemonlike.

human creation and of the cross and ofdeath itself, state, that in appearance andnot in truth did he receive a body fromthe virgin and that he suffered inappearance. They forget the one whosaid: “The word was made flesh” and“Destroy this temple and in three days Ishall raise it” and “If I am lifted from theearth I shall draw all people to myself.”Therefore the word dwelt in fleshindeed, for “Wisdom has built a housefor herself”. The word raised up its owntemple on the third day, when it hadbeen destroyed by the Jews who werehostile to Christ. The word, when hisflesh was lifted up, after the manner ofthe bronze serpent in the wilderness,drew all people to himself for theireternal salvation.

31For indeed I know that

even after the resurrection hewas in the flesh, and I believe that it wasso. 2And when he came to these whowere with Peter he said to them: “Reachout, touch me and see that I am nobodiless demon.”

And straightaway they touched him andthey believed, as they were intermixedwith his flesh and his spirit.

It was on this account thatthey too despised death, for they foundthemselves beyond death. 3Afterthe resurrection

he atetogether with them and drank with themas a being of flesh, even though,spiritually, he was united with theFather.

31Indeed I know that not only in beingbegotten and crucified he was in a body,but that even after the resurrection hewas in the flesh, and I believe that it wasso. 2And when he came to these whowere with Peter he said to them: “Reachout, touch me and see that I am nobodiless demon. For a spirit does nothave flesh and bones, as you see that Ihave.” And he says to Thomas: “Putyour finger into the mark of the nails,and put your hand out, putting into myside.” And straightawaythey believed that he was the Christ.And so Thomas said to him: “My Lordand my God.” It was on this account thatthey too despised death, even lessindignities and floggings. 3Not only this,but after he had demonstrated to themthat he was truly raised up, and notsimply in appearance, he even atetogether with them and drank with themthroughout the entire forty days. And soit was, together with his flesh, that hewas taken up by the one who had senthim, as they looked on, and with it he

will come again with glory and power.For the oracles say: “This Jesus who wastaken up from you into the heaven willcome in the same way as you saw himgo into heaven.” If they say that he is tocome without the body at theconsummation of the age, how shall theysee him whom they had pierced, andhow mourn for themselves inrecognizing him? For bodiless beingshave neither form nor figure, nor, due tothe simplicity of their nature, do theyhave the outline of an animal which ispossessed of shape.

41I am encouraging you in these matters,beloved, whilst aware that you are inagreement. I am putting you on yourguard in advance against the wild beastsin human guise. Not only should younot receive them, but if possible havenothing to do with them; simply prayfor them, that somehow they mightrepent, which is difficult. Jesus Christhas the authority over this; he is our truelife. 2For if these things were undertakenby Our Lord in appearance only,

then I am chained up only inappearance! Why indeed have I totallygiven myself up to death, to the fire, tothe sword, to wild beasts? But theproximity of a sword is the proximity ofGod, to be amidst wild beasts is to beamidst God, as long as it is in the nameof Jesus Christ. I am bearing all this inorder to suffer with him whilehe, the perfect human being, empowersme.

41I am encouraging you in these matters,beloved, whilst aware that you are inagreement. I am putting you on yourguard in advance against the wild beastsin human guise. Not only should youturn away from them but shouldactually flee them. Simply prayfor them, that somehow they mightrepent.

2If The Lord was in the body inappearance, and was crucified inappearance, then I am chained up inappearance! Why indeed have I totallygiven myself up to death, to the fire, tothe sword, to wild beasts? But it is not inappearance but in reality that

I am bearing all this throughChrist, so that I may suffer with him,while he empowersme; I have no such strength.

51Some, denying him out of ignorance,are rather denied by him. They areadvocates of death rather than of thetruth. Neither the prophecies, nor thelaw of Moses have persuaded them,nor even now, have either the Gospel, orour own individual sufferings. 2Indeed,

51Some, denying him out of ignorance,areadvocates of falsehood rather than thetruth. Neither the prophets, nor the lawwhich is of Moses have persuaded them,nor even now, have either the Gospel, orour own individual sufferings. 2Indeed,

they think the same regarding ourselves.For what does it benefit me if somebodypraises me yet insults my Lord, notadmitting that he boreflesh? Whoever fails to say this denieshim completely as one who bears acorpse. 3There seems no reason tocatalogue their names, which arefaithless, indeed I would rather not bearthem in mind until they repentregarding the passion, which is ourresurrection.

they think the same regarding ourselves.For what does it benefit me if anyonepraises me yet insults my Lord, notadmitting that he was God bearingflesh? Whoever fails to say this denieshim completely as one who bears acorpse. 3There seems no reason tocatalogue their names, which arefaithless, indeed I would rather not bearthem in mind until they repent.

61Let nobody be deceived. For theheavenly powers and the glory of theangels, and the visible, as well as theinvisible rulers, are all under judgement,if they do not believe in the blood ofChrist.

Let the one who can receivethis receive it.

Let position puff up nobody, for

faith

and loveare everything, to which

nothing is to be preferred.

2 Take note of those whoseopinions regarding the good gift of JesusChrist which has come to us are false,how opposed they are to the mind ofGod.

Love is of nointerest to them,

61Let nobody be deceived. Anyone whodoes not believe that Christ lived in theflesh, and confesses his cross and hispassion and his blood which is pouredout for the salvation of the world, shallnot attain to everlasting life, whether aking or a priest, or a ruler, or a privatecitizen, or a master, or a slave, or a manor a woman. Let the one who can receivethis, receive it. Let the one who can hearthis, hear it. Let position, and honourand wealth puff up nobody, let nobodybe ashamed of shame or poverty; faith inGod and hope in Christ, the enjoymentof the good things to which we lookforward and love towards God and ourneighbour are everything for “You shalllove the Lord your God with your wholeheart, and your neighbour as yourself.”The Lord also said: “This is eternal life:to know the only true God, and JesusChrist whom he sent.” And, “I give youa new commandment, that you love oneanother.” “The law and the prophetsdepend on these two commandments.”2Therefore take note of those whoseopinions

are false,how they hold that the father of Christ isunknowable, how they are faithless andhostile towards each other. Love is of nointerest to them, they pay no regard towhat has been promised, they consider

nor the widow, nor the orphan,nor the suffering,nor anyone who is in chains or who hasbeen released, nor anyone who ishungry or thirsty.

the present reality to be permanent, theyoverlook the commandments, theydisregard the widow and the orphan,they despise those who suffer, theyridicule those who are in chains.

71They abstain from the eucharist andprayer, since they do not confess that theeucharist is the flesh of our saviour JesusChrist who suffered on account of oursins, and whom the Father raised in hisgoodness. Those who deny the gifts ofGod thus die whilst disputing! It wouldbe better for them to engage in acts oflove, so that they may also rise up.

2It is right,therefore, to keep away from suchpeople, and not to speak of them eitheron one’s own or in company, but to giveheed to the prophets andespecially

to the Gospel, in which the passion isshown to us and the resurrectionbrought to completion. Flee divisions

as the origin ofevils.

71They are ashamed of the cross, theyscoff at the passion, they treat theresurrection as a joke. They are theoffspring of the spirit which is the sourceof evil, who led Adam away from thecommandment, by means of his wife,who slew Abel, by means of Cain, whotook up arms against Job, who accusedJoshua the son of Josedek, who sought tosift the faith of the apostles, who stirredup the Jewish mob against the Lord, whoeven now “works among the children ofdisobedience”, from whom the LordJesus Christ will rescue us. He prayedthat the faith of the apostles should notfail not because he was unable himself tokeep it safe, but because he rejoiced inthe Father’s pre-eminence. 2It is right,therefore, to keep away from suchpeople, and not to speak of them eitheron one’s own or in company, but to giveheed to the law and the prophets and tothose who have given us the word ofsalvation in the Gospel.

Flee the offensive heresies, andthose who cause schisms, as the origin ofevils.

81Follow the bishop, all of you, as JesusChrist the father, and the presbytery asthe apostles. Respect the deacons as

the commandmentof God. Nobody should do anythingrelating to the church without thebishop. That eucharist which is underthe bishop, or the one to whom he hasentrusted it, should be considered

81Follow the bishop, all of you, as JesusChrist the father, and the presbytery asthe apostles. Respect the deacons asthose who administer the commandmentof God. Nobody should do anythingrelating to the church without thebishop. That eucharist which is underthe bishop, or the one to whom he hasentrusted it, should be considered

sound. 2The congregation should bewherever the bishop is, just as thecatholic church is wherever Christ Jesus

may be.Apart from

the bishop it is not permissible tobaptize or to hold a love-feast,

but whatever he approves ispleasing to God, so

that everything you do is secure andsound.

sound. 2The congregation should bewherever the bishop is, just aswherever Christ, the commandinggeneral of the Lord’s power, and theagent of every intelligent nature, may be,the heavenly host stands by. Apart fromthe bishop it is not permissible tobaptize, or to offer, or to presentsacrifice, or to provide an entertainment,but whatever you do, do whateverseems to him to be pleasing to God, sothat everything is secure andsound.

91Moreover, it is sensible that we shouldrecover our sobriety whilst we still havetime to turn again to God. It is good toacknowledge God and the bishop,

Whoever honours the bishop ishonoured by God.

Whoever undertakes anything behind

91Moreover, it is sensible that we shouldrecover our sobriety whilst we still havetime to turn again to God. For “There isnobody who can make a confession inHades.” For “Look, there is the man, andhis work is before his face. And “My son,God and the king.” For myself I say,honour God indeed, as the origin of allthings and the Lord, the bishop as thehigh-priest, as one who bears the imageof God. Of God, in terms of governance,and, in terms of priesthood, of Christ. Itis after this that we should honour theEmperor. For there is nobody superior toGod, or who even approaches him,among all the beings that exist. Nor isthere anyone in the Church greater thanthe bishop, who ministers as a priest toGod for the salvation of the wholeworld. Nor, again, is there anyoneamong rulers who approaches theemperor, who secures peace and goodorder to those over whom he rules.Whoever honours the bishop will behonoured by God, just as anyone whodisrespects him will be punished byGod. For if anyone who rises up againstemperors is justly held worthy ofpunishment, as one who dissolves publicorder, of how much worse punishment,do you think, should anyone whopresumes to do anything without the

the bishop’s back is worshipping thedevil.

2May all kinds of good gifts abound foryou, for you are worthy,

you refreshed me in every way andJesus Christ has refreshed you. In myabsence and in my presence have youloved me. Your reward is God, to whomyou will attain if, for his sake, youendure everything.

bishop be held to deserve, destroyingconcord and confusing good order? Forthe priesthood is the very highest pointof all that is good in the human realm;anyone who is crazy enough to oppose itis not disrespecting a person but God,and Christ Jesus, the First-born, and thesole High Priest, by nature, of the Father.2Therefore let everything undertaken byyou be performed with good order inChrist. Let the laity be subject to thedeacons, the deacons to the presbyters,the presbyters to the bishop, the bishopto Christ, even as He is to the Father. Asyou, brothers, have refreshed me, so willJesus Christ do to you. In myabsence and in my presence have youloved me. God will reward you, forwhose sake you have shown suchkindness towards His prisoner. For evenif I am not worthy of it, yet your zeal is agreat thing. For “whoever honours aprophet in the name of a prophet, shallreceive a prophet’s reward.” It ismanifest also, that whoever honours aprisoner of Jesus Christ shall receive thereward of the martyrs.

101You did well to receive Philo and RheusAgathopous, who have followed me inthe word of God, as deacons ofChrist, who is God. They also givethanks to the Lord for youbecause, in every manner, you refreshedthem.

2My spirit is yourransom, as are my chains, of which youshowed neither haughtiness nor shame.The perfect hope, Jesus Christ, willnot be ashamed of you.

101You did well to receive Philo and Rheusand Agathopous, who have followed mein the word of God, being deacons ofChrist. They also givethanks greatly to the Lord for youbecause, in every manner, you refreshedthem. Nothing of what you have donefor them will fail to be accounted. “Maythe Lord grant that you find mercy fromthe Lord on that day.” 2My spirit is yourransom, as are my chains, of which youshowed neither haughtiness nor shame.So the perfect hope, Jesus the Christ, willnot be ashamed of you.

111Your intercession has reached thechurch of Antioch in Syria, from which Icame bound in chains, much approved

111Your intercessions have come close tothe church of the Antiochenes, and it isat peace. From there I came bound,

by God, where I greet everyone, notbeing worthy to be one of them, beingthe least of them. In accordance with thewill of God, not in my own consciencebut out of the good gift of God, I praythat I may receive the perfect gift, that Iattain to God by your intercession. 2It isfitting for the honour of God that yourchurch appoint an ambassador for God,to go to Syria and rejoice with them, sothat your task will therefore be perfectedboth on earth and in heaven. Becausethey are at peace and have taken backtheir proper magnitude, and theirproper constitution has been restored tothem. 3Thus it seems to me to be a matterworthy of God that you send one of yourown with a letter, so that he may rejoicewith them in the tranquillity which istheirs in God, and that they have alreadyattained a harbour throughyour intercession. Being perfect, youshould also give consideration to what isperfect. God is prepared to supply youwho wish to do good.

where I greet everyone, notbeing worthy to be one of them, beingthe least of them. In accordance with thewill of God, not in my own consciencebut out of the good gift of God, I praythat I may receive the perfect gift, that Iattain to God by your intercession. 2It isfitting for the honour of God that yourchurch appoint an ambassador for God,to go to Syria and rejoice with them, soshall your task therefore be perfectedboth on earth and in heaven. Becausethey are at peace and have taken backtheir proper magnitude, and their properconstitution has been restored to them.3What seems to meworthy is this: that you send one of yourown with a letter, so that he may rejoicewith them in the tranquillity which istheirs in God, and that I haveattained a safe harbour, Christ, throughyour intercession. Being perfect, youshould also give consideration to what isperfect. God is prepared to supply youwho wish to do good.

121The love of the brothers who are inTroas greets you. I am writing to youfrom there through Burrhus, whom you,together with your brothers, theEphesians, sent alongside me. He hasrefreshed me in every way. Indeed,would that everyone imitated him asexemplary in the ministry of God. Thegrace of God will reward him ineverything. 2I greet the God-worthybishop, the presbytery whichGod approves, and thedeacons, my fellow-slaves, and everyoneboth individually and collectively inJesus Christ, both in his flesh and in hisblood, in his passion and resurrectionboth fleshly and spiritual, in the unitywhich is God’s and yours. Grace to you,mercy, peace, endurance, at all times.

121The love of the brothers who are inTroas greets you. I am writing to youfrom there through Burgus, whom you,together with your co-brothers, theEphesians, sent alongside me. He hasrefreshed me in every way. Indeed,would that everyone imitated him asexemplary in the ministry of God. Thegrace of God will reward him ineverything. 2I greet your God-worthybishop Polycarp, the presbytery whichGod approves, and the Christ-carryingdeacons, my fellow slaves, and everyoneboth individually and collectively inJesus Christ, both in his flesh and in hisblood, in his passion and resurrectionboth fleshly and spiritual, in the unitywhich is God’s and yours. Grace to you,mercy, peace, endurance, at all times inChrist.

131I greet the households of my brotherstogether with their wives and childrenand the virgins who arecalled widows. Farewell in the power ofthe Father. Philo, whois with me, greets you. 2I greet thehousehold of Gavia, which I pray shallremain steadfast in faith and love, bothfleshly and spiritual. I greet Alce, a namedear to me, and the incomparableDaphnus, and Eutecnus, and all byname. Farewell in the grace of God.

131I greet the households of my brotherstogether with their wives and childrenand the perpetual virgins and the

widows. Farewell in the power ofthe Father. Philo, the fellow-deacon, whois with me, greets you. 2I greet thehousehold of Gavia, which I pray shallremain steadfast in faith and love, bothfleshly and spiritual. I greet Alce, a namedear to me, and the incomparableDaphnus, and Eutecnus, and all byname. Farewell in the grace of God andour Lord Jesus Christ, being filled by theHoly Spirit and divine and sacredwisdom.

To PolycarpIgnatius of Antioch Ps-Ignatius

Ignatius, who is alsogod-carrier, to Polycarp,bishop of the church of the Smyrnaeans,or rather to him who has God the Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ as bishop,abundance of happiness.

Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, who is alsowitness to Jesus Christ, to Polycarp,bishop of the church of the Smyrneans,or rather to him who has God the Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ as bishop,abundance of happiness.

11Welcoming your outlook in God, fixedas upon an immovable rock, I rejoice allthe more as I was found worthy to lookupon your blameless character, in which,in God, I would delight. 2I exhort you inthe grace with which you are clothed, toprogress in your course and to exhorteveryone, so that they may be saved.Claim your proper place with everyeffort, both fleshly and spiritual. Giveconsideration to unity, for there isnothing better. Bear with all people, justas does the Lord with you. Tolerateeverybody in love, as indeed you doalready. 3Be assiduous with constantintercession, asking for anunderstanding greater than you have. Bealert, in possession of an unsleepingspirit. Address everyone in conformitywith the manner of God. Bear thediseases of all as a perfect athlete.

Where there is more labour,there is great gain.

11Welcoming your outlook in God, fixedas upon an immovable rock, I rejoice allthe more as I was found worthy to lookupon your blameless character, in which,in God, I would delight. 2I exhort you inthe grace with which you are clothed, toprogress in your course and to exhorteveryone, so that they may be saved.Claim your proper place with everyeffort, both fleshly and spiritual. Giveconsideration to unity, for there isnothing better. Bear with all people, justas does the Lord with you. Tolerateeverybody in love, as indeed you doalready. 3Be assiduous with constantintercession, asking for anunderstanding greater than you have. Bealert, in possession of an unsleepingspirit. Address everyone in conformitywith the manner of God. Bear thediseases of all as a perfect athlete, likethe Lord of all. For it says: “He himselftook our weaknesses and he bore ourdiseases.” Where there is more labour,there is great gain.

21If you love the good disciples no meritis yours. Rather bring the moretroublesome to order in compliance. Notevery wound is healed by the sameplaster; treat irritations with lotions. 2Inevery matter be as wise as a serpent, andat all times as pure as a dove. You are

fleshly, as well asspiritual, on this account, namely so thatyou can be gentle with what is apparentto you; yet pray that what is invisible

21If you love the good disciples no meritis yours. Rather bring the moretroublesome to order in compliance. Notevery wound is healed by the sameplaster; treat irritations with lotions. 2Inevery matter be as wise as a serpent, andat all times as pure as a dove. You are ofsoul and body, fleshly as well asspiritual, on this account, namely so thatyou can correct what is apparentto you; yet pray that what is invisible

may also be apparent to you, so that youlack nothing and overflow in every goodgift. 3The occasion is calling on you, as

helmsmen seek the winds and the storm-tossed the harbour, so that you mayattain to God. As God’sathlete, be wary. The prize isincorruption and eternal life, of whichyou are already convinced. In everythingI am your ransom, as are my chains,which you have loved.

may also be apparent to you, so that youlack nothing and overflow in every goodgift. 3The occasion is calling on you topray, for just as the wind aids thehelmsmen and as harbours grant safetyto a storm-tossed vessel, so is theattainment of God to you. As God’sathlete, be wary. Your desire isincorruption and eternal life, of whichyou are already convinced. In everythingI am your ransom, as are my chains,which you have loved.

31Do not let those who appeartrustworthy and who teach strangedoctrines browbeat you. Stand firm as ananvil when it is struck. It is a greatathlete who is victorious whilst injured.We should endure everythingparticularly on behalf of God, so that hetoo may endure us.

2Be more eager than you are.

Observe the occasions, look out for theone who is beyond the moment, who istimeless,

who isinvisible,

who is visible for us, who is intangible,who is impassible,

suffering for us, whoendured in every manner on ouraccount.

31Do not let those who appeartrustworthy and who teach strangedoctrines browbeat you. Stand firm as ananvil when it is struck. It is a greatathlete who is victorious whilst injured.We should endure everythingparticularly on behalf of God, so that hemay be patient with us for the Kingdom.2Add further to the eagerness which isalready yours. Run with greater energy.Observe the occasions. Be victoriouswhilst you are here, for here is thecourse and there are the crowns. Lookout for Christ, the Son of God, who,whilst timeless, is in time. Invisible bynature he is visible in flesh. Intangibleand impalpable, like one who is bodiless,for our sake could be handled, and wastangible in a body. Impassible as God hesuffered for us as a human being. Heendured in every manner on ouraccount

41Do not let the widows be neglected.You are to be their carer, after God. Letnothing be done without your consent,and do nothing yourself without regardto the mind of God, as indeed you donot. Be steadfast. 2Let gatherings becloser, seek out everyone by name. 3Donot look down on male or female slaves,but do not let them become puffed up,but serve all the better for the glory of

41Do not let the widows be neglected.You are to be their carer, after God. Letnothing be done without your consent,and do nothing yourself without regardto the mind of God, as indeed you donot. Be steadfast. 2Let gatherings becloser, seek out everyone by name. 3Donot look down on male or female slaves,but do not let them become puffed up,but serve all the better for the glory of

God, so that they may obtain a better freedom from God. And theyshould have no desire to be set free outof common funds, so that they may notbe slaves of passion.

God, so that, from God, they may obtaina better freedom. And theyshould have no desire to be set free outof common funds, so that they may notbe slaves of passion.

51Flee the evil arts, rather discuss them.Instruct my sisters to love the Lord andto be satisfied with their spouses in fleshand spirit. Similarly charge my brothersin the name of Jesus Christ to love theirspouses as the Lord the church. 2Anyonewho is able to remain in purity for thehonour of the flesh of the Lord shoulddo so without boasting. Whoever boastsis destroyed. And if anyone apart fromthe bishop becomes aware of it, this iscorrupted. It is proper for those men andwomen who are marrying to form theirunion with the consent of the bishop, sothat their marriage may be in accordancewith the Lord and not out of desire. Leteverything be done for the honour ofGod.

51Flee the evil arts, rather discuss them.Instruct my sisters to love the Lord andto be satisfied with their spouses in fleshand spirit. Similarly charge my brothersin the name of Jesus Christ to love theirspouses as the Lord the church. 2Anyonewho is able to remain in purity for thehonour of the flesh of the Lord shoulddo so without boasting. Whoever boastsis destroyed. And if anyone apart fromthe bishop becomes aware of it, this iscorrupted. It is proper for those men andwomen who are marrying to form theirunion with the consent of the bishop, sothat their marriage may be in accordancewith the Lord and not out of desire. Leteverything be done for the honour ofGod.

61You all should give heed to the bishop,so that God may do so to you. I am aransom for those who are subject to thebishop, the presbyters, deacons. May mylot be with them in God. Labour togetherwith each other, struggle together, runtogether, suffer together, lie downtogether, be raised together as God’sstewards, attendants and servants. 2Bepleasing to the one in whose army youserve, from whom you also receive yourwages. None of you should be founddeserting, let your baptism remain asweaponry, faith as a helmet, love as aspear, endurance as armour, your worksas a downpayment on your wages, sothat you may receive the just back-pay.

Therefore be patientwith one another in gentleness, so thatGod may be with you. May I delight inyou at all times.

61You all should give heed to the bishop,so that God may do so to you. I am aransom for those who are subject to thebishop, the presbyters, deacons. May mylot be with them in God. Labour togetherwith each other, struggle together, runtogether, suffer together, lie downtogether, be raised together as God’sstewards, attendants and servants. 2Bepleasing to the one in whose army youserve, from whom you also receive yourwages. None of you should be founddeserting, let your baptism remain asweaponry, faith as a helmet, love as aspear, endurance as armour, your worksas a downpayment on your wages, sothat you may receive the back-payworthy of God. Therefore be patientwith one another in gentleness, so thatGod may be with you. May I delight inyou at all times.

71Since the church which is in Antioch inSyria is at peace, as has been made clearto me, through your intercession, I havebecome more content in a freedom fromcare which is of God, even should Iattain to God through suffering, so that Imay be found to be your disciple in theresurrection. 2Polycarp, most blessed ofGod, it is fitting to convene a most God-befitting council and to elect somebody,whom you consider most beloved andresolute, who could be called God’srunner. He should be held worthy ofgoing to Syria,

to glorify your resolute lovein the glory of God. 3A Christian doesnot have his own authority, but isdevoted to God. This deed is God’s andyours, when you accomplish it, for Itrust in grace that you are ready for thegood deeds which please God. Aware ofyour zeal for the truth I exhort you in afew lines.

71Since the church which is in Antioch inSyria is at peace, as has been made clearto me, through your intercession, I havebecome more content in a freedom fromcare which is of God, even should Iattain to God through suffering, so that Imay be found to be a disciple in yourrequest. 2Polycarp, most blessed ofGod, it is fitting to convene a most God-befitting council and to elect somebody,whom you consider most beloved andresolute, who could be called God’srunner. He should be held worthy ofgoing to Syria, so that, when he goes toSyria, he may glorify your resolute lovein the glory of God. 3A Christian doesnot have his own authority, but isdevoted to God. This deed is God’s andyours, when you accomplish it, for Itrust in grace that you are ready for thegood deeds which please God. Aware ofyour zeal for the truth I exhort you in afew lines.

81Since I have been unable to write to allthe churches due my sudden sailingfrom Troas to Neapolis, as the willdirects, you are to write to the churcheswhich lie on this side as one inpossession of God’s purpose, and sothey may do the same. Some will be ableto send foot-messengers, others lettersthrough those sent by you, so that youmay be glorified by an eternal work, asare worthy. 2I greet all by name, and thewife of Epitropus, together with herwhole household and children. I greatmy beloved Attalus. I greet the one whois to be found worthy of going to Syria.Grace will be with him at all times, aswith Polycarp who sends him. 3I wishyou to fare well at all times in our GodJesus Christ, in whom may you remainin the unity of God and in his oversight.I greet Alce, a name dear to me.

81Since I have been unable to write to allthe churches due my sudden sailingfrom Troas to Neapolis, as the willdirects, you are to write to the churcheswhich lie on this side as one inpossession of God’s purpose, and sothey may do the same. Some will be ableto send foot-messengers, others lettersthrough those sent by you, so that youmay be glorified by an eternal work, asare worthy. 2I greet all by name, and thewife of Epitropus, together with herwhole household and children. I greatmy beloved Attalus. I greet the one whois to be found worthy of going to Syria.Grace will be with him at all times, aswith Polycarp who sends him. 3I wishyou to fare well at all times in our GodJesus Christ, in whom may you remainin the unity of God and in his oversight.I greet Alce, a name dear to me. Amen.

Farewell in the Lord. Grace. Farewell in the Lord.

Ephesians

Ignatius of Antioch Ps-IgnatiusIgnatius, who is also god-carrier, to thechurch blessed in greatness by thefullness of God the Father, which wasforeordained before the ages to possessat all times a glory which is enduringand unchanging, which is united andelected in true suffering, by the will ofthe Father and of Jesus Christ, our God,

the church which is worthyof good fortune, which is in Ephesus ofAsia, warmest greetings in a blamelessjoy.

Ignatius, who is also god-carrier, to thechurch blessed in greatness by thefullness of God the Father, which wasforeordained before the ages to possessat all times a glory which is enduringand unchanging, which is united andelected in true suffering, by the will ofthe Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ,our Saviour, the church which is worthyof good fortune, which is in Ephesus ofAsia, warmest greetings in a blamelessjoy.

11I have received your much-loved namein God, which you have obtainedthrough your just nature, in accordancewith the faith and love in Christ Jesus,our Saviour. You are imitators of

God; rekindling inthe blood of God the task we share,you have brought it to perfection. 2Forwhen you heard that I was coming, inchains, from Syria on account ofour common name and that I hoped,through your intercession, to have thechance to fight wild beasts in Rome, sothat I might be ablethereby to be a disciple,

you werekeen to see me. 3Since, therefore, I have,in Onesimus, who is in a love beyondtelling, your bishop in the flesh, receivedyour fullness in the name of God. I pray,in Jesus Christ, that you love him andthat you should all be of his likeness, forblessed is the one who has granted you,as worthy to obtain such a bishop.

11I have received your much-desiredname in God which you have obtainedthrough your just nature, in accordancewith the faith and love in Christ Jesus,our Saviour You are imitators of the loveof God towards humanity; rekindling inthe blood of Christ the task we share,you have brought it to perfection. 2Forwhen you heard that I was coming, inchains, from Syria on account of Christ,our common hope, and that I trusted,through your intercession, to have thechance to fight wild beasts in Rome, sothat through martyrdom I might be ableto become a disciple, of the one whooffered himself on our account, as anoffering and sacrifice to God, you werekeen to see me. 3Since, therefore, I have,in Onesimus, who is in a love beyondtelling, your bishop, receivedyour fullness in the name of God. I pray,in Jesus Christ, that you love him andthat you should all be of his likeness, forblessed is God who has granted you,being as you are, to obtain such a bishop.

21Now concerning my fellow-slaveBurrhus, your deacon in God, blessed ineverything. I pray that he should remain

for your honour and

21Now concerning my fellow-slaveBurrhus, your deacon in God, blessed ineverything. I pray that he should remainspotless for the honour of the church and

that of the bishop. AndCrocus also, who is worthy of God andof you, whom I received as anembodiment of your love. He hasrevived me in every way, and so maythe Father of Jesus Christ refresh him, aswell as Onesimus and Burrhus andEuplus and Fronto, through whom I sawall of you, in accordance with love. 2MayI delight in you at all times, should I beworthy. Thus it is proper for you to giveglory to Jesus Christ in every way, as heglorified you, so that you may becomplete in a single subjection,

beingsubject to the bishop and to thepresbytery, so being hallowed in everyway.

that of your most blessed bishop. AndCrocus also, who is worthy of God andof you, whom I received as anembodiment of your love. He hasrevived me in every way, and so maythe Father of Jesus Christ refresh him, aswell as Onesimus and Burrhus andEuplus and Fronto, through whom I sawall of you, in accordance with love. 2MayI delight in you at all times, should I beworthy. Thus it is proper for you to giveglory to Jesus Christ in every way, as heglorified you, so that you may be

in a single subjection, “madecomplete in the same mind and the sameopinion, and that you may all speak thesame thing concerning him”, be beingsubject to the bishop and to thepresbytery, so being hallowed in everyway.

31I do not direct you as though I were asomebody. For even though I am inchains on behalf of the name, I havenot yet been perfected in Jesus Christ.Only now am I at the beginning of myinstruction, and I address you as myfellow-pupils. I am in need of youranointing me with faith, withinstruction, with patience, withlongsuffering. 2But since love does notpermit me to be silent concerning you, Ihave determined to exhort you, that youshould run together in union with themind of God. For Jesus Christ, ourinseparable life, is themind of the Father, as are the bishopswho are established to the ends of theearth, are in the mind of Christ.

31I do not direct you as though I were asomebody. For even though I am inchains on account of the name, I havenot yet been perfected in Jesus Christ.Only now am I at the beginning of myinstruction, and I address you as myfellow-slaves. I am in need of youradmonition with faith, withinstruction, with patience, withlongsuffering. 2But since love does notpermit me to be silent concerning you, Ihave determined to exhort you, that youshould run together in union with themind of God. For Jesus Christ doeseverything in accordance with theFather’s mind, as he himself sayssomewhere: “I always do what ispleasing to him.” Therefore we shouldalways live in accordance with the mindof God in Jesus Christ, and emulate him,as did Paul. For he says: “Be myimitators, as I am of Christ.”

41It is thus fitting that you should runtogether in accordance with the mind of

41It is thus fitting that you should runtogether in accordance with the mind of

your bishop,as indeed you do.

For your justly renownedpresbytery, worthy of God, is soattuned to the bishop as the strings areto the harp. Therefore Jesus Christ issung in your concord and harmoniouslove.

2And each of you should becomea chorus, so that in a harmoniousconcord, and taking up God’snote in unity, you may sing to the Fatherwith a single voice through Jesus Christ,so that he may both hear you, andacknowledge you, through what you dowell, as limbs of his own son.

It is profitable, therefore, that youshould enjoy blameless unity, so thatyou may participate in God always.

your bishop, who is your shepherd inaccordance with God, as indeed you doof yourselves, being given wisdom bythe Spirit. For your justly renownedpresbytery, being worthy of God, is soattuned to the bishop as the strings areto the harp, being bound together in

concord and harmoniouslove, whose leader and guardian is JesusChrist. 2And each of you should be asingle chorus, so that in a harmoniousconcord, and taking up God’sconjunction in unity, you become one inharmony with God the Father and hisbeloved son Jesus Christ our Lord. Forhe says, “Grant, holy Father, that theyshould be one in us, as I and you areone.” It is profitable, therefore, that youshould enjoy blameless unity, joinedtogether with God as imitators of Christ,whose members you are.

51For since, in such a short space of time, Iobtained such an intimate acquaintancewith your bishop, which was not humanbut spiritual, how much more do Ireckon you fortunate, to be enmeshedwith him, as the church is withJesus Christ and as Jesus Christ is withthe Father, so that everything may beharmonious in unity. 2Let nobody bedeceived. Anyone who is not within thesanctuary lacks the bread of God. For ifthe intercession of one or two has suchpower,

how much more is that of thebishop and the entire church.

3Therefore anyone who does not join thecongregation is already supercilious andhas passed judgement upon himself. Forit is written: “God opposes thesupercilious.”

Therefore we should be anxious not to

51For since, in such a short space of time, Iobtained such an intimate acquaintancewith your bishop, which was not humanbut spiritual, how much more do Ireckon you fortunate, to be enmeshedwith him, as the church is with the LordJesus and as is the Lord andhis Father, so that everything may beharmonious in unity. 2Let nobody bedeceived. Anyone who is not within thesanctuary lacks the bread of God. For ifthe intercession of one or two has suchpower, that Christ is standing amongthem, how much more is the intercessionof the bishop and the entire church,ascending in harmony to God, supplyingall their requests made in Christ.3Therefore anyone who separateshimself from such as these and does notjoin the company of sacrifices, and thechurch of the firstborn whose names arewritten in heaven is a wolf in sheep’sclothing, presenting a civilizedappearance. Beloved, be anxious to be

oppose the bishop, so that we may besubject to God.

subject to the bishop and to thepresbyters and to the deacons; whoeveris subject to them is obedient to Christwho has appointed them. Whoeverrefuses compliance to them is refusingcompliance to Christ Jesus. “Whoeverrefuses compliance to the Son shall notsee life, but the wrath of God shallremain on him.” Whoever does not yieldto his superiors is self-willed,quarrelsome and supercilious. For itsays: “God opposes the supercilious, andgives grace to the humble” and “thesupercilious have transgressed greatly.”And the Lord says to the priests:“Anyone who listens to you listens tome, and whoever listens to me listens tothe Father who sent me. Whoeverdespises you despises me, and whoeverdespises me despises the one who sentme.”

61And insofar as anyone sees that thebishop is silent, they should hold him inawe all the more.

That we should look uponthe bishop as the Lord himself is thusclear.

2Onesimus himself highlypraises your good order in God, becauseyou all live in accordance with the truthand because there is no heresy dwellingamong you. Rather you will not evenlisten to anyone apart from somebodywho speaks in truth of Jesus Christ.

61Thus insofar as you see thebishop being silent you should fear him

all the more. For we should receiveanyone whom the master sends to lookafter his household as though he werethe sender. That we should look uponthe bishop as the Lord himself is thusclear, as he stands before the Lord. For“a man who is watchful and sharp in hisaffairs should stand before kings, andnot to stand before slothful people.”2However, Onesimus himself highlypraises your good order in God, becauseyou all live in accordance with the truthand because there is no heresy dwellingamong you. Rather you will not evenlisten to anyone apart from

Jesus Christ alone,our true shepherd and teacher. Indeed,as Paul wrote to you, you are “one bodyand one spirit, so that you are “in onehope of your calling” in faith. Indeedthere is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,one God and father of all who is above

all and through all and in all.” Thus youare like them, having been trained bysuch instructors, Paul the Christ-carrierand Timothy the most faithful.

71For some are accustomedto bearing the name in wicked deceit,whilst acting in a manner unworthy ofGod.

Them you should shunlike wild animals,

forthey are raving dogs who bite in secret.You should be on your guard againstthem as they are hard to tame.

2There is onephysician, fleshly and spiritual, begottenand unbegotten, God in the flesh, truelife in death,

both from Mary and from God, firstlysuffering and then impassible, JesusChrist, our Lord.

71Some disgusting people are accustomedto bearing the name in wicked deceit.Whilst acting in a manner unworthy ofGod, and holding opinions contrary tothe teaching of Christ, to the destructionof themselves and of those who put theirtrust in them. Them you should shunlike wild animals. For “the righteousperson who shuns them is saved forever; but the destruction of the ungodlyis sudden, and a cause of rejoicing.” For“they are dumb dogs, that cannot bark,”raving, who bite in secret, against whomyou should be on your guard, since theylabour under an incurable disease. 2Ourphysician is the one true God, who isunbegotten and unapproachable, theLord of all, the Father and begetter of theonly-begotten one. We also have as aphysician the Lord our God, Jesus theChrist, before the ages the only-begottenSon and Word, who afterwards becamealso man, of Mary the virgin. For “theWord was made flesh,” the disembodiedwas in a body, the impassible was inbody capable of suffering, the immortalone was in a mortal body, life was indecay, that he might free us from deathand decay and heal our souls, and mightheal those who were diseased withungodliness and wicked lusts.

81Let nobody fool you, as indeed you arenot fooled, as you all God’s, for when notroubling strife is established among youthen indeed

you are living inaccordance with God. I am your

expiation, and am beingconsecrated as such on your behalf,Ephesians, church celebrated into

81Let nobody fool you, as indeed you arenot fooled, as you are entirely God’s. Forwhen there is no desire in you whichmight defile you or lead you intotrouble, then indeed you are living inaccordance with God, and belong toChrist, your expiation, and that of themost consecrated church of theEphesians, which is celebrated and

eternity. 2The fleshlycannot perform anything spiritual, norcan spiritual people perform anythingfleshly, just as neither can faith doanything faithless, nor faithlessness doanything faithful. Whateveryou do that is in accordance with theflesh is entirely spiritual for you doeverything in Jesus Christ.

much-lauded into eternity. 2The fleshlycannot perform anything spiritual, norcan spiritual people perform anythingfleshly, as neither can faith doanything faithless, nor faithlessness doanything faithful. You, who are filledwith the Holy Spirit, do nothing fleshlybut perform everything which isspiritual. You are being perfected inJesus Christ who is the “Saviour of allpeople, and especially of the faithful.”

91I know that some have passed in by youfrom there who hold a wicked teaching.

You did not allowthem to sow among you, butstopped your ears, so that you wouldnot receive anything owed by them,

as you arestones for the temple, prepared in

91I know that some have passed in by youwho hold the wicked teaching of aforeign and evil spirit. You did not allowthem an entry to sow their tares, butstopped your ears so that you wouldnot receive the deceit which was beingproclaimed by them as you believed thatthe spirit which deceives the people doesnot speak what is of Christ, but what isof itself, for it speaks falsely. But theHoly Spirit does not speak what is ofhimself, but of Christ, and not fromhimself, but from the Lord, just as theLord announced to us what he had ofthe Father. For he says “the word whichyou hear is not mine, but that of theFather who sent me.” And of the HolySpirit he says, “He shall not speak ofhimself, but whatever he will hear fromme.” And to the Father he says ofhimself: “I have glorified you on theearth. I have finished the work whichyou gave me, I have made your namemanifest to people.” And of the HolySpirit, “He shall glorify me, for hereceives what is mine.” But the deceitfulspirit proclaims itself, and speaks whatis its own, for it is self-pleasing andglorifies itself, for it is full of arrogance.It is a speaker of falsehood, deceitful,fawning, flattering, hollow, absurd,babbling, dissonant, verbose, timorous.Jesus Christ, who has founded you, aschosen stones, fitting

advance for the building of God theFather,

carried up to theheights through the crane of JesusChrist, which is his cross, using the HolySpirit as a rope. Your faith is your hoist,your love the way which carries you upto God.

2For you are all travelling companions,god-carriers and temple-carriers, Christ-carriers, carriers of holythings, entirely decorated with thecommandments of Jesus Christ.

I exult because I havebeen found worthy of conversing withyou through what I write,

and I rejoice with you because youlove nothing in human life except Godalone.

for the building of God theFather, upon the rock, will rescue youfrom its power. You are lifted to theheights by Christ, who was crucified foryou, employing the HolySpirit as a rope. You are borne up byfaith, and exalted from earth to heavenby love, even as you journey togetherblamelessly. For it says “Blessed are theywho are blameless in the way, those whoproceed in the law of the Lord.” Nowthe way is without error, namely JesusChrist, for he says “I am the way and thelife.” And this way leads towards theFather for, he says, “nobody comestowards the Father unless through me.”2Therefore you are blessed, who aregod-carriers, spirit-carriers, temple-carriers, carriers of holiness,

decorated entirely with thecommandments of Jesus Christ, a royalpriesthood, a holy race, a people setapart,” through whom I exult, havingbeen found worthy of conversing, in thisletter, with the saints who are inEphesus, who are faithful in ChristJesus.” Thus I rejoice in you, because youhave not given in to vanity, nor do youlove in accordance with the flesh but inaccordance with God.

101And intercede for others withoutceasing, for there is hope for theirrepentance, that they may attain to God.

Therefore permit them to beinstructed, by your deeds at least.

2You are tobe meek in response to their anger,humble in response to their pride,interceding in response to theirblasphemies, firm in the faith inresponse to their error, gentle in

101And intercede for others withoutceasing, for there is hope for theirrepentance, that they may attain to God.For “can not the one who falls ariseagain, and the one who goes astrayreturn?” Therefore permit them to beinstructed by you, be agents of God anda mouth of Christ. For the Lord says, “Ifyou remove the valuable from what isunworthy you shall be as my mouth.”2Be humble in response to their anger,set your earnest prayers against theirblasphemies. While they are goingastray, stand firm in the faith. Conquertheir wild manners in gentleness, their

response to their wildness, with nodesire to follow their example.

3May they come to be ourbrothers through our

reasonableness.

Let us be anxious to be imitators of theLord. Who was wronged more than he,who was more defrauded, who wasmore despised?

Thus shall no plant of the devil befound in you, but you may abide in JesusChrist in all holiness and self-control,both fleshly and spiritually.

wrath in meekness. For “blessed are themeek,” and “Moses was meek above allpeople” and David was very meek. SoPaul encourages us: “The servant of theLord should not be belligerent, butshould be tender to all, apt to teach,patient, training those who opposethemselves in meekness.” Do not beanxious to revenge yourselves on thosewho do you injustice for it says: “If Ihave returned evil to those who returnedevil to me.” 3In our reasonableness let usmake brothers of them. To those whohate you say: “You are our brothers” sothat the name of the Lord may beglorified. And let us imitate theLord who, “when he was reviled did notrevile in return.” When he was crucified,he did not answer, “when he suffered hedid not make threats” but interceded forhis enemies, “Father, forgive them; theydo not know what they are doing.”Anyone who receives a greater injustice,displaying the more patience, is blessed.Anyone who is defrauded, anyone whois despised through the name of theLord, is truly Christ’s.Be careful lest any plant of the devil befound in you. For it is bitter, and salty.“Be vigilant, be sober” in Christ Jesus.

111These are the last times. For the rest, letus be shameful, and fearful of God’slong-suffering, lest it become ajudgement made against us. For weshould either be fearful of the wrath thatis to come or else love the gracious giftwhich is now present to us. One of thetwo, as long as we obtain true life inJesus Christ. 2Apart from him there isnothing of value for you.

In him I amcarrying around these chains,

spiritual pearls, in which it may

111The last times are come upon us. Letus be shameful, let us fear God’slong-suffering, lest we despise the richesof His goodness and forbearance. For weshould either be fearful of the wrath thatis to come or else love the gracious giftwhich is now present to us, in livingnow. As long as we obtain true living inJesus Christ. 2Apart from him youshould never desire even to breathe. Forhe is my hope, he is my boast, he is mynever-failing wealth. In him I amcarrying around chains from Syria toRome, spiritual pearls, in which it may

be granted that I should rise again,through your intercession.

May I always have a share in it, sothat I may be found sharing the lot of theEphesian Christians, who have alwaysbeen in agreement with the apostles inthe power of Jesus Christ.

be granted that I should be perfected,through your intercession, and become asharer of the sufferings of Christ, and aparticipant in his death, as of hisresurrection from the dead and hisnever-failing life. May I attain to this, sothat I may be found among the lot of theEphesian Christians, who have alwaysbeen in agreement with the apostles inthe power of Jesus Christ, with Paul,John, and the most faithful Timothy.

121I know who I am, and those to whom Iwrite. I am

under judgement; you are thosewho have received mercy. I am indanger, you and are safe. 2You are apassageway for those being carriedaway on Christ’s account.

You are fellow-initiates with Paul, whowas sanctified, martyred, he was mostworthily blessed. May I be found inhis footsteps, as of those of the rest of thesaints, when I attain to God. He,in every letter, makes mention of you inChrist Jesus.

121I know who I am, and those to whom Iwrite. I am the very insignificantIgnatius, and I am like those in dangerand under judgement; you are thosewho have received mercy

and are safe in Christ. 2You are apassageway for those being carriedaway on Christ’s account, “from theblood of Abel, the righteous” up to theblood of Ignatius, the least significant.You are fellow-initiates with Paul, whowas sanctified, martyred, because hewas a “chosen vessel” May I be found inhis footsteps, as of those of the rest of thesaints, when I attain to Jesus Christ. Healways makes mention of you inhis petitions.

131Seek, therefore, to come together moreclosely to give thanks to God and toglorify him. For when you are eachtogether closely the powers of Satan arecast down and his destructive power isbrought low by your agreement in thefaith.

2There is nothing better than peace inwhich every war,

heavenly and earthly, is undone.

131Seek, therefore, to come together moreclosely to give thanks to God and toglorify him. For when you are eachtogether tightly the powers of Satan arecast down, and his “flaming arrows”,which goad to sin, turn away,ineffective. For your concord and yourharmonious faith are his destruction,and the torment of his attendants.2Nothing is better than the peace ofChrist, in which every war, of the spiritsof the air and of the earth, is undone.“For our struggle is not with blood andflesh, but with the powers and theauthorities and the rulers of the darknessof this world, against spiritual beings of

wickedness in the heavenly places.”14

1Nothing of thiswill be overlooked by you if you haveperfect faith in Jesus Christ and love, asthese are the cause and conclusion oflife.

When the two arebrought together, that is God,

and everything elsewhich is noble and good follows on.2Nobody who professes faith sins,nor does anyone who has obtained lovehate.

Thetree is recognized by its fruit, so thosewho profess Christ areapparent through what they do. The taskis not the present profession, but is thatof being found at the conclusion in thepower of faith.

141Therefore none of the devil’s devicesshall evade you if, like Paul, you haveperfect faith in Jesus Christ, and love, asthese are the cause and conclusion oflife. The cause of life is faith, and theconclusion is love. When the two arebrought together the man of God ismade complete and everything elsewhich is noble and good follows on.2Nobody who professes faith should sin,nor does anyone who has obtained lovehate a brother. For the one who said“you shall love the Lord your God” said“and your neighbour as yourself.” Thosewho profess themselves as Christ’s areknown not only from what they say, butfrom what they do, “for it is by the fruitthat the tree is known.”

151To be silent and to be authentic is betterthan speaking whilst being inauthentic.

Teaching is good if the onewho teaches is acting. Thus there is oneteacher who spoke and so it happened.And what he did, even in silence, isworthy of the Father.2Whoever truly possesses the word ofJesus can also hear his quietness, so thathe may be perfect, so that he may actthrough what he says and haveknowledge through his silence.3Nothing is hidden from the Lord, buteven what we have hidden is close tohim. Therefore everything we do shouldbe done as though he were dwelling inus, so that we may be his temples and hemay be our God in us. This is indeed so,and will be apparent to us by the lovewhich we justly bear towards him.

151To be silent and to be authentic is betterthan to speak whilst being inauthentic.“The Kingdom of God is not in word,but in power.” Belief is in the heart,confession is with the mouth, with onefor righteousness, with the other forsalvation. Teaching is good if the onewho teaches is acting. For whoever actsand also teaches is great in theKingdom.” 2Our Lord and God, JesusChrist, the Son of the living God, firstacted, and then taught, as Luke “whosepraise is in the Gospel through all theChurches” bears witness.

3Nothing is hidden from the Lord, buteven what we have hidden is close tohim. Therefore everything we do shouldbe done as though he were dwelling inus, so that we may be his temples and hemay be God in us. Let Christ speak in us,as he did in Paul. Let the Holy Spiritteach us to speak of Christ in

companionship with him.16

1Do not be deceived, my brothers. Thosewho corrupt their households shall notinherit the Kingdom of God. 2 Ifthose who do this in accordance with theflesh should suffer death,how much more so, if somebody shouldcorrupt the faith of God, for which

Jesus Christwas crucified, with evil teaching.

Anyone such, vile as heis,

shall go to the unquenchable fire,as shall anyone who listens to him.

161Do not be deceived, my brothers. Thosewho corrupt their households shall notinherit the Kingdom of God. 2And ifthose who corrupt simply humanhouseholds are condemned to death,how much more so they who attempt tospoil the church of Christ for which theLord Jesus, the only-begotten son ofGod, endured the cross and death, suffereternal punishment. Anyone who setshis teaching at nought, having grown fatand gross, shall go to Gehenna. In thesame way, everyone who has receivedfrom God the ability to makediscernment, who follows an unskilledshepherd, and accepts as truth a falseopinion, shall be punished. “What haslight in common with darkness, orChrist with Beliar? Or what share doesfaith have with infidelity, or the templeof God with idols?” And I also say, whathas truth in common with falsehood, orrighteousness with unrighteousness, ortrue teaching with falsehood?

171The Lord received ointment on his headfor this reason, that he should breatheincorruption upon the church.

Do not beanointed with the foul smell of theteaching of the ruler of this age, lest helead you away as a prisoner from the lifeset before you.

2Why indeed are all not sensible,as we receive understanding of God,who is Jesus Christ?Why do we perish in folly,

in ignorance of the graciousgift which the Lord has truly sent.

171The Lord received ointment on his headfor this reason, that the church he shouldbreathe incorruption. For it says: “Yourname is ointment poured out. Thereforethe maidens have loved you, they havedrawn you. We shall run onward to theodour of your ointments. Do not beanointed with the foul smell of theteaching of this age. Do not let the holychurch of God be taken prisoner by hiswiles like the first woman. 2Beingrational, why are we not sensible? Sincewe have planted in us, by Christ, theability to make judgement regardingGod, why do we carelessly fall intoignorance? In ignorance of the graciousgift which we have received we perish instupidity.

181My spirit is an expiation on the cross,which is an offence to those whodo not believe, but to us

is salvation and eternal life.Where is the wise? Where is the debater?Where is the boasting of those who aretermed understanding? 2For our God,Jesus the Christ,

was conceived by Mary,in accordance with God’s plan, of theseed of David and the Holy Spirit.

He was bornand was baptized, so that hemight purify the water through hissubmission.

181The cross

of Christ is an offence tothe unbelieving, but to those who arebelieving it is salvation and eternal life.Where is the wise? Where is the debater?Where is the boasting of those who aretermed powerful? 2For the Son of God,begotten before the ages, charged witheverything according to the will of theFather, was himself conceived by Mary,in accordance with the plan, of theseed of David and the Holy Spirit. For itsays, “Look, the virgin has conceived inthe womb and will bear a son, and hewill be called ‘Immanuel’.” He was bornand was baptized by John, so that hemight affirm the arrangementcommitted to the prophet.

191The virginity of Mary and her givingbirth, and likewise the death of the Lord,elude the ruler of this world. Threemysteries of crying out were performedin the quietness of God. 2How, then, didhe appear to the ages? A star shone inheaven brighter than all the stars,

and its light was indescribableand its newness brought amazement.

All the other stars,with the sun and the moon, formed achorus to the star, whose light surpassedall other. There was agitationregarding its origin, as it was new, andunlike any other.3So was all sorcery undone, and

every bond of evilbrought to nothing.Ignorance was destroyed and the ancientrealm brought down as God appeared ina human manner for the renewal ofeternal life.

191The virginity of Mary and her givingbirth, and likewise the death of the Lord,elude the ruler of this world. Threemysteries of crying out were performedin the quietness of God, which have beenrevealed to us. 2A star shone inheaven brighter than all that werebefore, and its light was indescribable,and its newness brought amazement tothose who saw it. All the other stars,with the sun and the moon, formed achorus to the star. It was surpassingthem in brightness. There was agitationregarding its origin, as it was newlyappeared.3Hence worldly wisdom was turned intofoolishness, wizardry was nonsense andsorcery laughable. Every law of evil wasbrought to nothing, the darkness ofignorance was dispelled, and tyrannicalauthority destroyed, as God appeared asa man and as a man operated as God.Yet the first was not simply imaginary,nor the second unimportance. But onewas absolute truth, the second the plan.

What had been prepared by Godreceived its beginning, as from then oneverything was in turmoil as thedestruction of death came about.

What had been prepared by Godreceived its beginning, as from then oneverything was in turmoil as thedestruction of death came about.

201If Jesus Christ finds me worthy throughyour intercession, and should he so will,I shall clarify for you, in the secondbooklet which I would like to write toyou, what I have already begun,regarding the divine plan proposed onthe basis of the new man Jesus Christ, onhis fidelity and his love, on his passionand resurrection. 2Especially shall I do soif the Lord reveals to me that each andall of you are gathering in a commongrace, one by one, in a single faith

and in Jesus Christ.

He is of the race of David in theflesh, he is son of man and son of God,so that you may obey the bishop and thepresbytery in an undisturbed conscience,breaking a single bread, which is themedicine of immortality, an antidotewhich prevents death, yet enables us tolive at all times in Jesus Christ.

201Stand fast, brothers, firm in the faith ofJesus Christ,

and in his love, in his passionand resurrection.

2Come together, by grace, in common,one by one, in the single faith of God theFather and of Jesus Christ, his onlybegotten Son and “first-born of allcreation,” of the race of David in theflesh, being guided by the paraklete. Youare to be obedient to the bishop and thepresbytery in an undisturbed conscience,breaking a single bread, which is themedicine of immortality, an antidotewhich prevents death, yet enables us tolive in God through Jesus Christ, aremedy which drives away evil.

211I am a ransom for you, and for thosewhom you sent to Smyrna for thehonour of God. I am writing to you fromthere, giving thanks to the Lord andloving Polycarp as I love you. Rememberme, as Jesus Christremembers you.2Intercede for the church which is in

Syria, from whence I amtaken to Rome in chains, though I am theleast of those who are believers there, asI have been found worthy of honouringGod. Farewell inGod the Father and in JesusChrist, our common hope.

211May I be your ransom, and for thosewhom you sent to Smyrna for thehonour of God. I am writing to you fromthere, giving thanks to the Lord andloving Polycarp as I love you. Rememberme, as Jesus Christ, blessed for ever,remembers you.2Intercede for the church which is inAntioch in Syria, from whence I amtaken to Rome in chains, though I am theleast of those who are believers there, asI have been found worthy of honouringGod by wearing these fetters. Farewell inGod the Father and the Lord JesusChrist, our common hope, in the HolySpirit. Farewell. Amen. Grace.

Romans

Ignatius of Antioch Ps-IgnatiusIgnatius, who is also God-carrier, to thechurch which has obtained mercy,through the majesty of the most highGod the Father, and of Jesus Christ, hisonly Son, a church hallowedand beloved by the will of God, whowilled all that is, in accordance with thefaith and love of Jesus Christ, our God,

which presides in the placeof the region of the Romans, and whichis worthy of God, worthy of honour,worthy of blessedness, worthy of praise,worthy of success, worthy ofsanctification, presiding out of love,keeping the law of Christ, named afterthe Father, whom I alsogreet in the name of

Jesus Christ the Son of the Father;to those who are united both in flesh andspirit to every one of hiscommandments, who are filledunwaveringly with every grace of God,and are purified from every strangetaint: many greetings, blamelessly, inGod the Father and our Lord JesusChrist.

Ignatius, who is also God-carrier, to thechurch which has obtained mercy,through the majesty of the most highGod the Father, and of Jesus Christ, hisonly-begotten Son, a church hallowedand enlightened by the will of God, whomade all that is, in accordance with thefaith and love of Jesus Christ, our Godand Saviour, which presides in the placeof the region of the Romans, and whichis worthy of God, worthy of honour,worthy of blessedness, worthy of praise,worthy of success, worthy ofsanctification, presiding out of love,named after Christ, named afterthe Father, spirit-carrier, whom I alsogreet in the name of God the Almighty,and of Jesus Christ his Son;to those who are united both in flesh andspirit to every one of hiscommandments, who are filledunwaveringly with every grace of God,and are purified from every strangetaint: many greetings, blamelessly, inGod the Father and our Lord JesusChrist.

11Since I have been able to perceive yourGod-worthy faces through prayer toGod, I have asked to receive more yet.For chained in Christ Jesus I hope togreet you, should this be the will of theone who has made me worthy tocontinue to the end. 2For the beginning iswell-arranged, yet to attain grace I haveto obtain my lot unhindered.For I fear your love, lest it do me harm.For it is easy for you to do what youwish but it is hard for me to attain toGod, if you spare me not.

11Since I have been able to perceive yourGod-worthy faces through prayer toGod, I have asked to receive more yet.For chained in Christ Jesus I hope togreet you, should this be the will of theone who has made me worthy tocontinue to the end. 2For the beginning iswell-arranged, yet to attain grace I haveto obtain my lot unhindered to the last.For I fear your love, lest it do me harm.For it is easy for you to do what youwish but it is hard for me to attain toGod, if you spare me not by showingfleshly affection.

21For I do not wish that you should be

21For I do not wish that you should be

people-pleasers but that you please God,as you already do. For I shall have nofurther opportunity such as this to attainto God, nor shall you, if you keep silent,be enrolled in a better task. For if youkeep silent about me, I shall be a word ofGod, but if you are deeply concernedabout my flesh I shall once again simplybe a voice.2Do not allow me anything other thanbeing poured out for God, whilst there isan altar still prepared, so that forming achorus in love you may sing out to theFather in Jesus Christ, because God hasmade the bishop from Syria worthy ofbeing found at the setting of the sun,after being sent from where it rises.

It is goodfor me to sink to God from the world,

so that I may rise up to him.

people-pleasers but that you please God,as you already do. For I shall have nofurther opportunity such as this to attainto God, nor shall you, if you keep silent,be enrolled in a better task. For if youkeep silent about me, I shall becomeGod’s, but if you are deeply concernedabout my flesh I shall still be running.

2Do not allow me anything other thanbeing poured out for God, whilst there isan altar still prepared, so that forming achorus in love you may sing out to theFather in Jesus Christ, because God hasmade the bishop from Syria worthy ofbeing found at the setting of the sun,after being sent from where it rises tobear witness to his sufferings. It is goodto be released from the world, towardsGod, so that I may rise up to him.

31You have never envied anyone; youhave taught others. I now wish that whatyou have enjoined should be secure, asyou teach them.2For myself, ask simply that I shouldhave the power both inwardly andoutwardly, that I do not simply say sobut that I actually desire not only to becalled a Christian but to be found to beone. For if I be found to be so, I shall beable both to speak and then to befaithful, when I am no longer apparentto the world.3Nothing visible is eternal; for our GodJesus Christ, is all the more apparent,since he is in the Father. The matter isnot a work of persuasion, butChristianity is majesty when it is hatedby the world.

31You have never envied anyone; youhave taught others. I now wish that whatyou have enjoined should be secure, asyou teach them.2For myself, ask simply that I shouldhave the power both inwardly andoutwardly, that I do not simply say sobut that I actually desire not only to becalled a Christian but to be found to beone. For if I be found to be so, I shall beable both to speak and then to befaithful, when I am no longer apparentto the world.3Nothing visible is eternal; “Forwhatever is seen is temporary, whateveris not seen is eternal.” The matter isnot a work of persuasion, butChristianity is majesty. When it is hatedby the world it is beloved of God. For hesays: “If you were of this world, theworld would love its own. Now you arenot of this world, but I have chosen you.Remain with me.”

41I am writing to all the churches and I

41I am writing to all the churches and I

am instructing everyone that I amwillingly dying for God, unless youprevent me. I beseech you, do notbecome an unseasonable kindness forme. Leave me to be bread for the beasts,through which I may be able to attain toGod. I am God’s wheat and through thebeasts’ teeth I shall be found to be purebread for Christ.2Rather encourage the beasts, so thatthey may be my tomb and nothing beleft over of my body, so that I become

no burden to anyone when I amdead. Then I shall truly be a disciple ofJesus Christ, when the world does notsee even my body. Beseech the Lordon my behalf, so that I may be found asacrifice for God through theseinstruments.3I am not directing you like Peter andPaul. They were apostles,I am a condemned criminal. They werefree, I am still a slave.But if I should suffer I shall become afreedman of Jesus Christ, and I shall riseup free in him. And now I am learning,whilst chained, to be desirous ofnothing.

am instructing everyone that I amwillingly dying for God, unless youprevent me. I beseech you, do notbecome an unseasonable kindness forme. Leave me to be food for the beasts,through which I may attain toGod. I am God’s wheat and through thebeasts’ teeth I shall be found to be purebread for God.2Rather encourage the beasts, so thatthey may be my tomb and nothing beleft over of my body, so that I be foundto be no burden to anyone when I amdead. Then shall I be a true disciple ofJesus Christ, when the world does notsee even my body. Beseech Jesus Christon my behalf, so that I may be found asacrifice for God through theseinstruments.3I am not directing you like Peter andPaul. They were apostles of Jesus Christ,I am the least. They werefree, as slaves of God, I am still a slave.But if I should suffer I shall become afreedman of Jesus Christ, and I shall riseup free in him. And now I am learning,whilst chained, to be desirous ofnothing worldly or vain.

51I am fighting wild beasts from Syria toRome, through earth and sea, day andnight. I am guarded by ten leopards,which is a military unit, who becomeworse by being well-treated. In theirinjustices I am becoming more of adisciple, “but I am not made just on thisaccount.” 2May I delight in the beastsprepared for me, and I pray they may befound ready for me. I shall encouragethem to devour me speedily, unlikethose of whom they take fright and willnot touch. So even if they do not wish todo so, I shall force them.3Grant me this: I know what is right forme. Now I am beginning to be a disciple.May nothing, visible or invisible, show

51I am fighting wild beasts from Syria toRome, through earth and sea, day andnight. I am guarded by ten leopards,which is a military unit, who becomeworse by being well-treated. In theirinjustices I am becoming more of adisciple, “but I am not made just on thisaccount.” 2May I delight in the beastsprepared for me, and I pray they may befound ready for me. I shall encouragethem to devour me speedily, unlikethose of whom they take fright and willnot touch. So even if they do not wish todo so, I shall force them.3Grant me this: I know what is right forme. Now I am beginning to be a disciple.May nothing, visible or invisible, show

jealousy towards me, only let me attainto Jesus Christ. Fire and cross, packs ofwild beasts, cuttings, rendings, thescattering of bones, the chopping up oflimbs, the grinding of the whole body,the evil torments of the devil can comeupon me, only let me attain to JesusChrist.

jealousy towards me, only let me attainto Jesus Christ. Fire and cross, packs ofwild beasts, cuttings, rendings, thescattering of bones, the chopping up oflimbs, the grinding of the whole body,the evil torments of the devil can comeupon me, only let me attain to JesusChrist.

61Neither the ends of the world nor thekingdoms of this age profit me anything.It is better for me to die in Jesus Christthan to reign over the ends of the earth.

Him I seek, the one who died on ourbehalf. Him I desire, he who rose up forus. The birth-pangs are laid upon me.2Grant me this, brothers: do not hinderme from living,

do not wish that Ishould die.

Do not give the world the onewho wishes to be God’s, nor charm himwith the material. Allow me to receivethe pure light. When I shall have arrivedthere I will truly be human.3Allow me to be an imitator of thepassion of my God. Anyone who hasunderstanding within would know whatI desire and would sympathize with me,knowing what restrains me.

61Neither the ends of the world nor thekingdoms of this age profit me anything.It is better for me to die in Jesus Christthan to reign over the ends of the earth.For what does it profit anyone whoobtains the whole world, only to lose hisown life?” I long for the Lord, the son ofthe true God and Father, Jesus Christ.Him I seek, the one who died and roseup for us.

2Grant me this, brothers. Do not hinderme in obtaining life, for Jesus is the lifeof all who believe. Do not wish that Ishould die, for life without Christ isdeath. Do not give the world the onewho wishes to be God’s.

Allow me to receive thepure light. When I shall have arrivedthere I will truly be a man of God.3Allow me to be an imitator of thepassion of my God. Anyone who hasunderstanding within would know whatI desire and would sympathize with me,knowing what restrains me.

71The ruler of this age wishes to snatchme and desires to corrupt myunderstanding of God. Let none of thosewith you help him! Rather be on myside, that is to say, on God’s. Do notspeak of Jesus Christ whilst longing forthe world.2Envy should find no place among you.Even if, when I arrive, I beseech youotherwise, be persuaded by me, ratherbe persuaded by this which I am writing

71The ruler of this age wishes to snatchme and desires to corrupt myunderstanding of God. Let none of thosewith you help him! Rather be on myside, that is to say, on God’s. Do notspeak of Jesus Christ whilst givingpreference to the world.2Envy should find no place among you.Even if, when I arrive, I beseech youotherwise, be persuaded by me, ratherbe persuaded by this which I am writing

to you. For while I live I am writing toyou, anxious to die. My desire iscrucified, and there is no love of thematerial burning in me. Rather there isliving water speaking in me, saying tome, within, “Come to the Father.”3I have no pleasure in corruptible foodnor in the pleasures of this life; I desirethe bread of God

which is the flesh of Jesus Christ,

of the seed of Davidand I desire his blood for my

drink, which is incorruptible love.

to you. For while I live I am writing toyou, anxious to die. My desire iscrucified, and there is no burning lovefor anything in me. There isliving water welling up in me, saying tome, within, “Come to the Father.”3I have no pleasure in corruptible foodnor in the pleasures of this life; I desirethe bread of God, heavenly bread, breadof life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christthe Son of God, who subsequentlybecame of the seed of David andAbraham, and I desire his blood for mydrink, which is incorruptible love andendless life.

81No longer do I wish to live in a humanmanner. This will come about if youwish it. So wish it, so that you may alsobe wanted.

2I ask you in a few letters:believe me!

Jesus Christ shallmake plain to you that I speak the truth.He is the mouth incapable of falsehood,in whom the Father truly spoke.3Pray for me, thatI may attain.I do not write to you in the flesh,but in accordance with God’s mind.If I suffer, you have wished it so. If I amrejected, you have despised me.

81No longer do I wish to live in a humanmanner. This will come about if youwish it. “I am crucified with Christ, I liveno longer.” Nevertheless “Christ lives inme.” 2I ask you in a few letters: do notrefuse me. Believe me, that I love Jesuswho was betrayed for me. “What returnshall I make to the Lord on account of allhe has bestowed on me?” God the Fatherhimself and the Lord Jesus Christ shallmake plain to you that I speak the truth.

3And you should pray alongside me thatI may attain the mark in the Holy Spirit.I am not writing to you in with the flesh,but in accordance with the mind of God.If I suffer, you have loved me. If I amrejected, you have despised me.

91In your intercession remember thechurch in Syria, which employs Godas its shepherd, instead of me.

Jesus Christ alone will watch overit, as well as your love.2I am ashamed to be called one of them,for I am not worthy, being the leastof them and untimely born. But throughmercy I gain authenticity, should I attainto God.

91In your prayer remember thechurch in Syria, which employs the Lordas its shepherd, who says “I am the goodshepherd”. And he alone will watch overit, as well as your love for him.2And I am ashamed to be called one ofthem, for I am unworthy, being the leastof them and untimely born. But throughmercy I gain authenticity, should I attainto God.

3My spirit greets you, as does the love ofthe churches which have received in thename of Jesus Christ, and not as awayfarer. For those who did not lie onmy route in the flesh preceded me cityby city.

3My spirit greets you, as does the love ofthe churches which have received in thename of Jesus Christ, and not as awayfarer. For those who did not lie onmy route preceded me cityby city.

101I am writing this to you from Smyrna,through the Ephesians who are worthilyblessed. Along with many others, Crocusis with me, whose name is longed for. 2Itrust that you are aware of those whohave gone ahead of me from Syria toRome for the glory of God. Inform that Iam nearby, for they are all worthy ofGod, as of yourselves. It is right that youshould refresh them in every way. 3I amwriting this to you on the ninth beforethe kalends of September. Fare well tothe last in the endurance of Jesus Christ.

101I am writing this to you from Smyrna,through the Ephesians who are worthilyblessed. Along with many others, Crocusis with me, whose name is longed for. 2Itrust that you are aware of those whohave gone ahead of me from Syria toRome for the glory of God. Inform that Iam nearby, for they are all worthy ofGod, as of yourselves. It is right that youshould refresh them in every way. 3I amwriting this to you on the ninth beforethe kalends of September. Fare well tothe last in the endurance of Jesus Christ.