Ignatius, who is also called
Theophorus, to the Church which has obtained mercy, through the majesty of
the Mast High Father, and Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son; the Church
which is beloved and enlightened by the will of Him that willeth all things
which are according to the love of Jesus Christ our God, which also presides
in the place of the report of the Romans, worthy of God, worthy of honour,
worthy of the highest happiness, worthy of praise, worthy of obtaining her
every desire, worthy of being deemed holy,(2) and which presides over love,
is named from Christ, and from the Father, which I also salute in the name
of Jesus Christ, the San of the Father: to those who are united, both
according ta the flesh and spirit, to every one of His commandments; who are
filled inseparably with the grace of God, and are purified from every
strange taint, [I wish] abundance of happiness unblameably, in Jesus Christ
our God.
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which has
obtained mercy, through the majesty of the Mast High God the Father, and of
Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son; the Church which is sanctified and
enlightened by the will of God, who farmed all things that are according to
the faith and love of Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour; the Church which
presides in the place of the region of the Romans, and which is worthy of
God, worthy of honour, worthy of the highest happiness, worthy of praise,
worthy of credit,(1) worthy of being deemed holy,(2) and which presides over
love, is named from Christ, and from the Father, and is possessed of the
Spirit, which I also salute in the name of Almighty God, and of Jesus Christ
His Son: to those who are united, both according to the flesh and spirit, to
every one of His commandments, who are filled inseparably with all the grace
of God, and are purified from every strange taint, [I wish] abundance of
happiness unblameably, in God, even the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
CHAP. I.--AS A PRISONER, I HOPE TO SEE YOU.
THROUGH prayer(3) to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most
worthy faces,(4) and have even(5) been granted more than I requested; for I
hope as a prisoner in Christ Jesus to salute you, if indeed it be the will
of God that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning
has been well or-
THROUGH prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most
worthy faces,(4) even as I earnestly begged might be granted me; for as a
prisoner in Christ Jesus I hope to salute you, if indeed it be the will [of
God] that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning
has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to(6) my lot without
hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love,(7) lest it should do
me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please;
--dered, if I may obtain grace to cling to(1) my lot without hindrance unto
the end. For I am afraid of your love,(3) lest it should do me an injury.
For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult
for me to attain to God, if ye spare me. But it is difficult for me to
attain to God, if ye do not spare me,(2) under the pretence of carnal
affection.
CHAP. II.--DO NOT SAVE ME FROM MARTYRDOM.
For it is not my desire to act towards you as a man-pleaser,(4) but as
pleasing God, even as also ye please Him. For neither shall I ever have such
[another] opportunity of attaining to God; nor will ye, if ye shall now be
silent, ever be entitled to(5) the honour of a better work. For if ye are
silent concerning me, I shall become God's; but if you show your love to my
flesh, I shall again have to run my race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer
any greater favour upon me than that I be sacrificed to God while the altar
is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, ye may sing praise
to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of
Syria, worthy to be sent for(6) from the east unto the west. It is good to
set from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him. For it is not my
desire that ye should please men, Out God, even as also ye do please Him.
For neither shall I ever hereafter have such an opportunity of attaining to
God; nor will ye, if ye shall now be silent, ever be entitled to s the
honour of a better work. For if ye are silent concerning me, I shall become
God's; but if ye show your love to my flesh, I shall again have to run my
race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favour upon me than that
I be sacrificed to God, while the altar is still prepared; that, being
gathered together in love, ye may sing praise to the Father, through Christ
Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for(6)
from the east unto the west, and to become a martyr(7) in behalf of His own
precious (8) sufferings, so as to pass from the world to God, that I may
rise again unto Him.
CHAP. III.--PRAY RATHER THAT I MAY ATTAIN' TO MARTYRDOM.
Ye have never envied any one; ye have taught others. Now I desire that those
things may be confirmed [by your conduct], which in your instructions ye
enjoin [on others]. Only request in my behalf both inward and outward
strength, that I may not only speak, but [truly] will; and that I may not
merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one. For if I be
truly found [a Christian], I may also be called one, and be then deemed
faithful, when I shall no longer appear to the world. Nothing visible is
eternal.(9) "For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things
which are not seen are eternal."(10) For our God, Jesus Christ, Bow that He
is with(11) the Father, is all the more revealed [in His glory].
Christianity is not a thing(1) of silence only, but also of [manifest]
greatness.
Ye have never envied any one; ye have taught others. Now I desire that those
things may be confirmed [by your conduct], which in your instructions ye
enjoin [on others]. Only request in my behalf both inward and outward
strength, that I may not only speak, but [truly] will, so that I may not
merely be called a Christian, but really found to be one. For if I be truly
found [a Christian], I may also be called one, and be then deemed faithful,
when I shall no longer appear to the world. Nothing visible is eternal. "For
the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen
are eternal.(10) The Christian is not the result (12) of persuasion, but of
power.(13) When he is hated by the world, he is beloved of God. For says
[the Scripture], "If ye were of this world, the world would love its own;
but now ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it: continue
in fellowship with me."(14)
CHAP. IV.--ALLOW ME TO FALL A PREY TO THE WILD BEASTS.
I write to the Churches, and impress on them all, that I shall willingly die
for God, unless ye hinder me. I beseech of you not to show an unseasonable
good-will towards me. Suffer me to become food for the wild beasts, through
whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God. I am the wheat
of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be
found the pure bread of Christ. Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may
become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body; so that when I have fallen
asleep [in death], I may be no trouble to any one. Then shall I truly be a
disciple of Christ, when the world shall not see so much as my body. Entreat
Christ for me, that by these instruments(2) I may be found a sacrifice [to
God]. I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were
apostles; I am but a condemned man: they were free,(3) while I am, even
until now, a servant. But when I suffer, I shall be the freedman of Jesus,
and shall rise again emancipated in Him. And now, being a prisoner, I learn
not to desire anything worldly or vain.
I write to all the Churches, and impress on them all, that I shall willingly
die for God, unless ye hinder me. I beseech of you not to show an
unseasonable goodwill towards me. Suffer me to become food for the wild
beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to
God. I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts,
that I may be found the pure bread of God. Rather entice the wild beasts,
that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body; so that when
I have fallen asleep [in death], I may not be found troublesome to any one.
Then shall I be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world shall not
see so much as my body. Entreat the Lord for me, that by these
instruments(2) I may be found a sacrifice to God. I do not, as Peter and
Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles of Jesus Christ, but I
am the very least [of believers]: they were free,(3) as the servants of God;
while I am, even until now, a servant. But when I suffer, I shall be the
freedman of Jesus Christ, and shall rise again emancipated in Him. And now,
being in bonds for Him, I learn not to desire anything worldly or vain.
CHAP. V.--I DESIRE TO DIE.
From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts,(4) both by land and sea, both
by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, I mean a band of soldiers,
who, even when they receive benefits,(5) show themselves all the worse. But
I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ];
"yet am I not thereby justified."(6) May I enjoy the wild beasts that are
prepared for me; and I pray they may be found eager to rush upon me, which
also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with some,
whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to assail
me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me [in this]: I know what is for my
benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or
invisible, envy me that I should attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the
cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and
dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the
whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me:
only let me attain to Jesus Christ.
From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts,(4) both by land and sea, both
by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, I mean a band of soldiers,
who, even when they receive benefits,(5) show themselves all the worse. But
I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ];
"yet am I not thereby justified."(6) May I enjoy the wild beasts that are
prepared for me; and I pray that they may be found eager to rush upon me,
which also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with
some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to
assail me, I will compel them to do so.
Pardon me [in this] I know what is
for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple, and have(7) no desire after
anything visible or invisible, that I may attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire
and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let breakings, tearings, and
separations of bones; let cutting off of members; let bruising to pieces of
the whole body; and let [in this]: I know what is for my benefit. Now I
begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or invisible,
envy(2) me that I should attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let
the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings,(2) breakings, and dislocations of
bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and
let all the dreadful(3) torments of the devil come upon me: only let me
attain to Jesus Christ. The very torment of the devil come upon me: only let
me attain to Jesus Christ.
CHAP. VI.--BY DEATH I SHALL ATTAIN TRUE LIFE.
All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, (4)
shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die in behalf of(5) Jesus
Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. "For what shall a man
be profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?''(6) Him I
seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose again for our sake. This is
the gain which is laid up for me. Pardon me, brethren: do not hinder me from
living, do not wish to keep me in a state of death; (7) and while I desire
to belong to God, do not ye give me over to the world. Suffer me to obtain
pure light: when I have gone thither, I shall indeed be a man of God. Permit
me to be an imitator of the passion of my God. If any one has Him within
himself, let him consider what I desire, and let him have sympathy with me,
as knowing how I am straitened.
All the ends of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth,(4) shall
profit me nothing. It is better for me to die for the sake of Jesus Christ,
than to reign over all the ends of the earth. "For what is a man profited,
if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?" I long after the Lord,
the Son of the true God and Father, even Jesus Christ. Him I seek, who died
for us and rose again. Pardon me, brethren: do not hinder me in attaining to
life; for Jesus is the life of believers. Do not wish to keep me in a state
of death,(7) for life without Christ is death. While I desire to belong to
God, do not ye give me over to the world. Suffer me to obtain pure light:
when I have gone thither, I shall indeed be a man of God. Permit me to be an
imitator of the passion of Christ, my God. If any one has Him within
himself, let him consider what I desire, and let him have sympathy with me,
as knowing how I am straitened.
CHAP. VII.--REASON OF DESIRING TO DIE.
The prince of this world would fain carry me away, and corrupt my
disposition towards God. Let none of you, therefore, who are [in Rome] help
him; rather be ye on my side, that is, on the side of God. Do not speak of
Jesus Christ, and yet set your desires on the world. Let not envy find a
dwelling-place among you; nor even should I, when present with you, exhort
you to it, be ye persuaded to listen to me, but rather give credit to those
things which I now write to you. For though I am alive while I write to you,
yet I am eager to die. My love(8) has been crucified, and there is no fire
in me desiring to be fed; but there is within me a water that liveth and
speaketh,saying to me inwardly, Come to the Father. I have no delight in
corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of
God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of David and
Abraham; and I desire the drink of God, namely His blood, which is
incorruptible love and eternal life.
The prince of this world would fain carry me away, and corrupt my
disposition towards God. Let none of you, therefore, who are [in Rome] help
him; rather be ye on my side, that is, on the side of God. Do not speak of
Jesus Christ, and yet prefer this world to Him. Let not envy find a
dwelling-place among you; nor even should I, when present with you, exhort
you to it, be ye persuaded, but rather give credit to those things which I
now write to you. For though I am alive while I write to you, yet I am eager
to die for the sake of Christ. My love s has been crucified, and there is no
fire in me that loves anything; but there is living water springing up in
me,(9) and which says to me inwardly, Come to the Father. I have no delight
in corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread
of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus
Christ, fire in me desiring to be fed;(1) but there is within me a water
that liveth and speaketh,(2) saying to me inwardly, Come to the Father. I
have no delight in corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I
desire the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the
flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of
David and Abraham; and I desire the drink of God, namely His blood, which is
incorruptible love and eternal life. The Son of God, who became afterwards
of the seed of David and Abraham; and I desire the drink, namely His blood,
which is incorruptible love and eternal life.
CHAP. VIII.--BE YE FAVOURABLE TO ME.
I no longer wish to live after the manner of men, and my desire shall be
fulfilled if ye consent. Be ye willing, then, that ye also may have your
desires fulfilled. I entreat you in this brief letter; do ye give credit to
me. Jesus Christ will reveal these things to you, [so that ye shall know]
that I speak truly. He(5) is the mouth altogether free from falsehood, by
which the Father has truly spoken. Pray ye for me, that I may attain [the
object of my desire]. I have not written to you according to the flesh, but
according to the will of God. If I shall suffer, ye have wished [well] to
me; but if I am rejected, ye have hated me.
I no longer wish to live after the manner of men, and my desire shall be
fulfilled if ye consent. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet no longer I, since Christ liveth in me."(3) I entreat you in this brief
letter: do not refuse me; believe me that I love Jesus, who was delivered
[to death] for my sake. "What shall I render to the Lord for all His
benefits towards me ?"(4) Now God, even the Father, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, shall reveal these things to you, [so that ye shall know] that I
speak truly. And do ye pray along with me, that I may attain my aim in the
Holy Spirit. I have not written to you according to the flesh, but according
to the will of God. If I shall suffer, ye have loved me; but if I am
rejected, ye have hated me.
CHAP. IX.--PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN SYRIA.
Remember in your prayers the Church in Syria, which now has God for its
shepherd, instead of me. Jesus Christ alone will oversee it, and your love
[will also regard it]. But as for me, I am ashamed to be counted one of
them; for indeed I am not worthy, as being the very last of them, and one
born out of due time.(6) But I have obtained mercy to be somebody, if I
shall attain to God. My spirit salutes you, and the love of the Churches
that have received me in the name of Jesus Christ, and not as a mere
passer-by. For even those Churches which were not(7) near to me in the way,
I mean according to the flesh,(8) have gone before me,(9) city by city, [to
meet me.]
Remember in your prayers the Church which is in Syria, which, instead of me,
has now for its shepherd the Lord, who says, "I am the good Shepherd." And
He alone will oversee it, as well as your love towards Him. But as for me, I
am ashamed to be counted one of them; for I am not worthy, as being the very
last of them, and one born out of due time. But I have obtained mercy to be
somebody, if I shall attain to God. My spirit salutes you, and the love of
the Churches which have received me in the name of Jesus Christ, and not as
a mere passerby. For even those Churches which were not near to me in the
way, have brought me forward, city by city.
CHAP. X.--CONCLUSION.
Now I write these things to you from Smyrna by the Ephesians, who are
deservedly most happy. There is also with me, along with many others,
Crocus, one dearly beloved by me.(1) As to those who have gone before me
from Syria to Rome for the glory of God, I believe that you are acquainted
with them; to whom, [then,] do ye make known that I am at hand. For they are
all worthy, both of God and of you; and it is becoming that you should
refresh them in all things. I have written these things unto you, on the day
before the ninth of the Kalends of September (that(2) is, on the
twenty-third day of August). Fare ye well to the end, in the patience of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Now I write these things to you from Smyrna by the Ephesians, who are
deservedly most happy. There is also with me, along with many others,
Crocus, one dearly beloved by me.(1) As to those who have gone before me
from Syria to Rome for the glory of God, I believe that you are acquainted
with them; to whom, [then,] do ye make known that I am at hand. For they are
all worthy, both of God and of you; and it is becoming that you should
refresh them in all things. I have written these things unto you on the day
before the ninth of the Kalends of September. Fare ye well to the end, in
the patience of Jesus Christ.
