The
Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp Shorter and Longer Versions
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to
Polycarp, Bishop of the Church of the Smyrnæans, or rather, who has, as his
own bishop, God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ:[wishes] abundance of
happiness. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, and a witness for Jesus Christ, to
Polycarp, Bishop of the Church of the Smyrnæans, or rather, who has, as his
own bishop, God the Father, and Jesus Christ:[wishes] abundance of
happiness.
CHAP. I.-- COMMENDATION AND EXHORTATION.
HAVING obtained good proof that thy mind is fixed in God as upon an
immoveable rock, I loudly glorify[His name] that I have been thought
worthy[to behold] thy blameless face,(1) which may I ever enjoy in God! I
entreat thee, by the grace with which thou art clothed, to press forward in
thy course, and to exhort all that they may be saved. Maintain thy position
with all care, both in the flesh and spirit. Have a regard to preserve
unity, than which nothing is better. Bear with all, even as the Lord does
with thee. Support(2) all in love, as also thou doest. Give thyself to
prayer without ceasing.(3) Implore additional understanding to what thou
already hast. Be watchful, possessing a sleepless spirit. Speak to every man
separately, as God enables thee.(4) Bear the infirmities of all, as being a
perfect athlete[in the Christian life]: where the labour is great, the gain
is all the more. HAVING obtained good proof that thy mind is fixed in God as
upon an immoveable rock, I loudly glorify[His name] that I have been thought
worthy to behold thy blameless face,(1) which may I ever enjoy in God! I
entreat thee, by the grace with which thou art clothed, to press forward in
thy course, and to exhort all that they may be saved. Maintain thy position
with all care, both in the flesh and spirit. Have a regard to preserve
unity, than which nothing is better. Bear with all even as the Lord does
with thee. Support(2) all in love, as also thou doest. Give thyself to
prayer Without ceasing.(3) Implore additional understanding to what thou
already hast. Be watchful, possessing a sleepless spirit. Speak to every man
separately, as God enables thee.(4) Bear the infirmities of all, as being a
perfect athlete[in the Christian life], even as does the Lord of all. For
says[the Scripture], "He Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses."(5) Where the labour is great, the gain is all the more.
CHAP.II.--EXHORTATIONS.
If thou lovest the good disciples, no thanks are due to thee on that
account; but rather seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every
kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Mitigate violent
attacks[of disease] by gentle applications.(6) Be in all things "wise as a
serpent, and harmless always as a dove.” For this
purpose thou art composed of both flesh and spirit, that thou mayest deal
tenderly[3]
with those [evils] that present themselves visibly before thee. And as
respects those that are not seen,[4]
pray that [God] would reveal them unto thee, in order that thou mayest be
wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times call for
thee, as pilots do for the winds, and as one tossed with tempest seeks for
the haven, so that both thou [and those under thy care] may attain to God.
Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before thee is immortality and
eternal life, of which thou art also persuaded. In all things may my soul be
for thine,[5]
and my bonds also, which thou hast loved.
If thou lovest the good disciples, no thanks are due to thee on that
account; but rather seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every
kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Mitigate violent
attacks[of disease] by gentle applications.(1) Be in all things "wise as a
serpent, and harmless as a dove."(2) For this purpose thou art composed of
both flesh and spirit, that thou mayest deal tenderly(3) with those[evils]
that present themselves visibly before thee. And as respects those that are
not seen,(4) pray that[God] would reveal them unto thee, in order that thou
mayest be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times
call for thee, as pilots do for the winds, and as on tossed with tempest
seeks for the haven, so that both thou[and those under thy care] may attain
to God.
Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before thee is
immortality and eternal life, of which thou art also persuaded. In all
things may my soul be for thing,(5) and my bonds also, which thou hast
loved. dove."(2) For this purpose thou art composed of both soul and body,
art both fleshly and spiritual, that thou mayest correct those[evils] that
present themselves visibly before thee; and as respects those that are not
seen, mayest pray that these should be revealed to thee, so that thou mayest
be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times call upon
thee to pray. For as the wind aids the pilot of a ship, and as havens are
advantageous for safety to a tempest-tossed vessel, so is also prayer to
thee, in order that thou mayest attain to God. Be sober as an athlete of
God, whose will is immortality and eternal life; of which thou art also
persuaded. In all things may my soul be for thine,(5) and my bonds also,
which thou hast loved.
CHAP. III.--EXHORTATIONS.
Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines,(6)
fill thee with apprehension. Stand firm, as does an anvil which is beaten.
It is the part of a noble(7) athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer. And
especially, we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also
may bear with us. Be ever becoming more zealous than what thou art. Weigh
carefully the times. Look for Him who is above all time, eternal and
invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes; impalpable and impassible,
yet who became passible on our account; and who in every kind of way
suffered for our sakes.
Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines,(6)
fill thee with apprehension. Stand firm, as does an anvil which is beaten.
It is the part of a noble(7) athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer. And
especially we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also may
bear with us, and bring us into His kingdom. Add more and more to thy
diligence; run thy race with increasing energy; weigh carefully the times.
Whilst thou art here, be a conqueror; for here is the course, and there are
the crowns, Look for Christ, the Son of God; who was before time, yet
appeared in time; who was invisible by nature, yet visible in the flesh; who
was impalpable, and could not be touched, as being without a body, but for
our sakes became such, might be touched and handled in the body; who was
impassible as God, but became passible for our sakes as man; and who in
every kind of way suffered for our sakes.
CHAP. IV.--EXHORTATIONS.
Let not widows be neglected. Be thou, after the Lord, their protector s and
friend. Let nothing be done without thy consent; neither do thou anything
without the approval of God, which indeed thou dost not, inasmuch as thou
art stedfast. Let your assembling together be of of frequent(9) occurrence:
seek after all by name.(10) Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet
neither let them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them
submit themselves[4]
the more, for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God a better
liberty. Let them not long to be set free [from slavery] at the public
expense, that they be not found slaves to their own desires.
Let not the widows be neglected. Be thou, after the Lord, their protector
and friend. Let nothing be done without thy consent; neither do thou
anything without the approval of God, which indeed thou doest not. Be thou
stedfast. Let your assembling together be of frequent(9) occurrence: seek
after all by name.(10) Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet
neither let them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them submit
themselves(11) the more, for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God
a better liberty. Let them not wish to be set free[from slavery] at the
public expense, that they be not found slaves to their own desires.
submit themselves(1) the more, for the glory of God, that they my obtain
from God a better liberty. Let them not long to be set free[from slavery] at
the public expense, that they be not found slaves to their own desires.
CHAP. V.--THE DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
Flee evil arts; but all the more discourse in public regarding them.(2)
Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied with their
husbands both in the flesh and spirit. In like manner also, exhort my
brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as
the Lord the Church.(3) If any one can continue in a state of purity,(4) to
the honour of Him who is Lord of the flesh,(5) let him so remain without
boasting. If he begins to boast, he is undone; and if he reckon himself
greater than the bishop, he is ruined. But it becomes both men and women who
marry, to form their union with the approval of the bishop, that their
marriage may be according to God, and not after their own lust. Let all
things be done to the honour of God.(7)
Flee evil arts; but all the more discourse in public regarding them. Speak
to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied with their husbands
both in the flesh and spirit. In like manner also, exhort my brethren, in
the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as the Lord the
Church. If any one can continue in a state of purity,(4) to the honour of
the flesh of the Lord, let him so remain without boasting. If he shall
boast, he is undone; and if he seeks to be more prominent(6) than the
bishop, he is ruined. But it becomes both men and women who marry, to form
their union with the approval of the bishop, that their marriage may be
according to the Lord, and not after their own lust. Let all things be done
to the honour of God.(7)
CHAP. VI.--THE DUTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN FLOCK.
Give ye heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you. My soul be
for theirs(9) that are submissive to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to
the deacons, and may my portion be along with them in God! Labour together
with one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer together;
sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates,(10) and
servants of God. Please ye Him under whom ye fight, and from whom ye receive
your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism endure as
your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience
as a complete panoply. Let your works be the charge(12) assigned to you,
that ye may receive a worthy recompense. Be long-suffering, therefore, with
one another, in meekness, as God is towards you. May I have joy of you for
ever!(13)
Give ye heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you. My soul be
for theirs(9) that are submissive to the bishop, to the presbytery, and to
the deacons: may I have my portion with them from God! Labour together with
one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer together;
sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates,(10) and
servants of God. Please ye Him under whom ye fight, and from whom ye shall
receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism
endure as your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear;
your patience as a complete panoply. Let your works be the charge assigned
to you, that you may obtain for them a most worthy(11) recompense. Be
long-suffering, therefore, with one another, in meekness, and God shall be
so with you. May I have joy of you for ever!(13)
CHAP. VII.--REQUEST THAT POLYCARP WOULD SEND A MESSENGER TO ANTIOCH.
Seeing that the Church which is at Antioch in Syria is, as report has
informed me, at peace, through your prayers, I also am the more encouraged,
resting without anxiety in God,(1) if indeed by means of suffering I may
attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple[of
Christ].(2) It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a
very solemn(3) council, and to elect one whom you greatly love, and know to
be a man of activity, who may be designated the messenger of God;(4) and to
bestow on him this honour that he may go into Syria, and glorify your ever
active love to the praise of Christ. A Christian has not power over himself,
but must always be ready for s the service of God. Now, this work is both
God's and yours, when ye shall have completed it to His glory.(6) For I
trust that, through grace, ye are prepared for every good work pertaining to
God. Knowing, therefore, your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted
you by this brief Epistle.
Seeing that the Church which is at Antioch in Syria is, as report has
informed me, at peace, through your prayers, I also am the more encouraged,
resting without anxiety in God,(1) if indeed by means of suffering I may
attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple[of
Christ]. It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a very
solemn(3) council, and to elect one whom you greatly love, and know to be a
man of activity, who may be designated the messenger of God;(4) and to
bestow on him the honour of going into Syria, so that, going into Syria, he
may glorify your ever active love to the praise of God. A Christian has not
power over himself, but must always be ready for(5) the service of God. Now,
this work is both God's and yours, when ye shall have completed it. For I
trust that, through grace, ye are prepared for every good work pertaining to
God. Knowing your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted you by this
brief Epistle.
CHAP. VIII.--LET OTHER CHURCHES ALSO SEND TO ANTIOCH.
Inasmuch as I have not been able to write to all the Churches, because I
must suddenly sail from Troas to Neapolis, as the will(7)[of the emperor]
enjoins,[I beg that] thou, as being acquainted with the purpose(8) of God,
wilt write to the adjacent Churches, that they also may act in like manner,
such as are able to do so sending messengers,(9) and the others transmitting
letters through those persons who are sent by thee, that thou(10) mayest be
glorified by a work(11) which shall be remembered for ever, as indeed thou
art worthy to be. I salute all by name, and in particutar the wife of
Epitropus, with all her house and children. I salute Attalus, my beloved. I
salute him who shall be deemed worthy to go[from you] into Syria. Grace
shall be with him for ever, and with Polycarp that sends him. I pray for
your happiness for ever in our God, Jesus Christ, by whom continue ye in the
unity and under the protection of God,(12) I salute Alce, my dearly
beloved.(13) Fare ye well in the Lord.
Inasmuch, therefore, as I have not been able to write to all Churches,
because I must suddenly sail from Troas to Neapolis, as the will(7)[of the
emperor] enjoins,[I beg that] thou, as being acquainted with the purpose s
of God, wilt write to the adjacent Churches, that they also may act in like
manner, such as are able to do so sending messenger, and the others
transmitting letters through those persons who are sent by thee, that thou
mayest be glorified by a work(11) which shall be remembered for ever, as
indeed thou art worthy to be. I salute all by name, and in particular the
wife of Epitropus, with all her house and children. I salute Attalus, my
beloved. I salute him who shall be deemed worthy to go[from you] into Syria.
Grace shall be with him for ever, and with Polycarp that sends him. I pray
for your happiness for ever in our God, Jesus Christ, by whom continue ye in
the unity and under the protection of God. I salute Alce, my dearly betoved.(13)
Amen. Grace[be with you]. Fare ye well in the Lord.
