The
Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians Shorter and Longer
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Ignatius, who is also
called Theophorus, to the [Church] blessed in the grace of God the Father,
in Jesus Christ our Saviour, in whom I salute the Church which is at
Magnesia, near the Moeander, and wish it abundance of happiness in God the
father, and in Jesus Christ. Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the
[Church] blessed in the grace of God the Father, in Jesus Christ our
Saviour, in whom I salute the Church which is at Magnesia, near the Moeander,
and wish it abundance of happiness in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ,
our Lord, in whom may you have abundance of happiness.
CHAP. I.--REASON OF WRITING THE EPISTLE.
HAVING been informed of your godly(1) love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced
greatly, and determined to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ.
For as one who has been thought worthy of the most honourable of all
names,(2) in those bonds which I bear about, I commend the Churches, in
which I pray for a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, the
constant source of our life, and of faith and love, to which nothing is to
be preferred, but especially of Jesus and the Father, in whom, if we endure
all the assaults of the prince of this world, and escape them, we shall
enjoy God.
HAVING been informed of your godly(1) love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced
greatly, and determined to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ.
For as one who has been thought worthy of a divine and desirable name, in
those bonds which I bear about, I commend the Churches, in which I pray for
a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, "who is the Saviour of
all men, but specially of them that believe;"(3) by whose blood ye were
redeemed; by whom ye have known God, or rather have been known by Him;(4) in
whom enduring, ye shall escape all the assaults of this world: for "He is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which ye are
able."(5)
CHAP. II.--I REJOICE IN YOUR MESSENGERS.
Since, then, I have had the privilege of seeing you, through Damas your most
worthy bishop, and through your worthy presbyters Bassus and Apollonius, and
through my fellow-servant the deacon Sotio, whose friendship may I ever
enjoy, inasmuch as he is subject to the bishop as to the grace of God, and
to the presbytery as to the law of Jesus Christ, [I now write(8) to you].
Since, then, I have had the privilege of seeing you, through Damas your most
worthy(6) bishop, and through your worthy(6) presbyters Bassus and
Apollonius, and through my fellow-servant the deacon Sotio, whose friendship
may I ever enjoy,(7) inasmuch as he, by the grace of God, is subject to the
bishop and presbytery, in the law of Jesus Christ, [I now write s to you].
CHAP. III.--HONOUR YOUR YOUTHFUL BISHOP.
Now it becomes you also not to treat your bishop too familiarly on account
of his youth,(1) but to yield him all reverence, having respect to(2) the
power of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not
judging rashly, from the manifest youthful appearance(3) [of their bishop],
but as being themselves prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to
him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. It is
therefore fitting that you should, after no hypocritical fashion, obey [your
bishop], in honour of Him who has wired us [so to do], since he that does
not so deceives not [by such conduct] the bishop that is visible, but seeks
to mock Him that is invisible. And all such conduct has reference not to
man,(10) but to God, who knows all secrets.
Now it becomes you also not to despise the age of your bishop, but to yield
him all reverence, according to the will of God the Father, as I have known
even holy presbyters do, not having regard to the manifest youth [of their
bishop], but to his knowledge in God; inasmuch as "not the ancient are
[necessarily] wise, nor do the aged understand prudence; but there is a
spirit in men."(4) For Daniel the wise, at twelve years of age, became
possessed of the divine Spirit, and convicted the elders, who in vain
carried their grey hairs, of being false accusers, and of lusting after the
beauty of another man's wife.(5) Samuel also, when he was but a little
child, reproved Eli, who was ninety years old, for giving honour to his sons
rather than to God.(6) In like manner, Jeremiah also received this message
from God, "Say not, I am a child."(7) Solomon too, and Josiah, [exemplified
the same thing.] The former, being made king at twelve years of age, gave
that terrible and difficult judgment in the case of the two women concerning
their children.(8) The latter, coming to the throne when eight years old(9)
cast down the altars and temples [of the idols], and burned down the groves,
for they were dedicated to demons, and not to God. And he slew the false
priests, as the corrupters and deceivers of men, and not the worshippers of
the Deity. Wherefore youth is not to be despised when it is devoted to God.
But he is to be despised who is of a wicked mind, although he be old, and
full of wicked days.(11) Timothy the Christ-bearer was young, but hear what
his teacher writes to him: "Let no man despise try youth, but be thou an
example of the believers in word and in conduct."(12) It is becoming,
therefore, that ye also should be obedient to your bishop, and contradict
him in nothing; for it is a fearful thing to contradict any such person. For
no one does [by such conduct] deceive him that is visible, but does [in
reality] seek to mock Him that is invisible, who, however, cannot be mocked
by any one. And every such act has respect not to man, but to God. For God
says to Samuel, "They have not mocked thee, but Me."(13) And Moses declares,
"For their murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord God."(14) No
one of those has, [in fact,] remained unpunished, who rose up against their
superiors. For Dathan and Abiram did not speak against the law, but against
Moses,(15) and were cast down alive into Hades. Korah also,(16) and the two
hundred and fifty who conspired with him against Aaron, were destroyed by
fire. Absalom, again,(17) who had slain his brother, became suspended on a
tree, and had his evil-designing heart thrust through with darts. In like
manner was Abeddadan(18) beheaded for the same reason. Uzziah,(19) when he
presumed to oppose the priests and the priesthood, was smitten with leprosy.
Saul also was dishonoured,(20) because he did not wait for Samuel the high
priest. It behoves you, therefore, also to reverence your superiors.
CHAP, IV.--SOME WICKEDLY ACT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE BISHOP.
It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so in
reality: as some indeed give one the title of bishop, but do all things
without him. Now such persons seem to me to be not possessed of a good
conscience, seeing they are not stedfastly gathered together according to
the commandment.
It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so in
reality. For it is not the being called so, but the being really so, that
renders a man blessed. To those who indeed talk of the bishop, but do all
things without him, will He who is the true and first Bishop, and the only
High Priest by nature, declare, "Why call ye Me Lord, and do not the things
which I say ?"[1] For such persons seem to me not possessed of a good
conscience, but to be simply dissemblers and hypocrites.
CHAP. V.--DEATH IS THE FATE OF ALL SUCH.
Seeing, then, all things have an end, these two things are simultaneously
set before us--death and life; and every one shall go unto his own place.
For as there are two kinds of coins, the one of God, the other of the world,
and each of these has its special character stamped upon it,[so is it also
here.][2] The unbelieving are of this world; but the believing have, in
love, the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are
not in readiness to die into His passion,[3] His life is not in us.
Seeing, then, all things have an end, and there is set before us life upon
our observance[of God's precepts], but death as the result of disobedience,
and every one, according to the choice he makes, shall go to his own place,
let us flee from death, and make choice of life. For I remark, that two
different characters are found among men--the one true coin, the other
spurious. The truly devout man is the right kind of coin, stamped by God
Himself. The ungodly man, again, is false coin, unlawful, spurious,
counterfeit, wrought not by God, but by the devil. I do not mean to say that
there are two different human natures, but that there is one humanity,
sometimes belonging to God, and sometimes to the devil. If any one is truly
religious, he is a man of God; but if he is irreligious, he is a man of the
devil, made such, not by nature, but by his own choice. The unbelieving bear
the image of the prince of wickedness. The believing possess the image of
their Prince, God the Father, and Jesus Christ, through whom, if we are not
in readiness to die for the truth into His passion,[3] His life is not in
us.
CHAP. VI.--PRESERVE HARMONY.
Since therefore I have, in the persons before mentioned, beheld the whole
multitude of you in faith and love, I exhort you to study to do all things
with a divine harmony,[4] while your bishop presides in the place of God,
and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with
your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry
of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before the beginning of time,[5]
and in the end was revealed. Do ye all then, imitating the same divine
conduct,[7] pay respect to one another, and let no one look upon his
neighbour after the flesh, but do ye continually love each other in Jesus
Christ. Let nothing exist among you that may divide you ; but be ye united
with your bishop, and those that preside over you, as a type and evidence of
your immortality.[8]
Since therefore I have, in the persons before mentioned, beheld the whole
multitude of you in faith and love, I exhort you to study to do all things
with a divine harmony,[4] while your bishop presides in the place of God,
and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with
your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry
of Jesus Christ. He, being begotten by the Father before the beginning of
time,[5] was God the Word, the only-begotten Son, and remains the same for
ever; for "of His kingdom there shall be no end,"[6] says Daniel the
prophet. Let us all therefore love one another in harmony, and let no one
look upon his neighbour according to the flesh, but in Christ Jesus. Let
nothing exist among you which may divide you; but be ye united with your
bishop, being through him subject to God in Christ.
CHAP. VII.--DO NOTHING WITHOUT THE BISHOP AND PRESBYTERS.
As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him,
neither by Himself nor by the apostles, so neither do ye anything without
the bishop and presbyters. Neither endeavour that anything appear reasonable
and proper to yourselves apart; but being come together into the same place,
let there be one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope, in love and
in joy undefiled. There is one Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is more
excellent. Do ye therefore all run together as into one temple of God, as to
one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father, and is
with and has gone to one.
As therefore the Lord does nothing without the Father, for says He, "I can
of mine own self do nothing,"[1] so do ye, neither presbyter, nor deacon,
nor layman, do anything without the bishop. Nor let anything appear
commendable to you which is destitute of his approval.[2] For every such
thing is sinful, and opposed[to the will of] God. Do ye all come together
into the same place for prayer. Let there be one common supplication, one
mind, one hope, with faith unblameable in Christ Jesus, than which nothing
is more excellent. Do ye all, as one man, run together into the temple of
God, as unto one altar, to one Jesus Christ, the High Priest of the
unbegotten God.
CHAP, VIII.--CAUTION AGAINST FALSE DOCTRINES.
Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are
unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we
acknowledge that we have not received grace. For the divinest prophets lived
according to Christ Jesus. On this account also they were persecuted, being
inspired by His grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one
God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal
Word, not proceeding forth from silence,[5] and who in all things pleased
Him that sent Him.
Be not deceived with strange doctrines, "nor give heed to fables and endless
genealogies,"[3] and things in which the Jews make their boast. "Old things
are passed away: behold, all things have become new."[4] For if we still
live according to the Jewish law, and the circumcision of the flesh, we deny
that we have received grace. For the divinest prophets lived according to
Jesus Christ. On this account also they were persecuted, being inspired by
grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one God, the Almighty,
who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His Word, not
spoken, but essential. For He is not the voice of an articulate utterance,
but a substance begotten by divine power, who has in all things pleased Him
that sent Him.[6]
CHAP. IX.--LET US LIVE WITH CHRIST.
If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things[7]
have come to the possession of a new[8] hope, no longer observing the
Sabbath, but living in the observance[10] of the Lord's Day, on which also
our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death--whom some deny, by
which mystery we have obtained faith,[12] and therefore endure, that we may
be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master--how shall we be
able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the
Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? And therefore He whom they rightly
waited for, being come, raised them from the dead.[16]
If, then, those who were conversant with the ancient Scriptures came to
newness of hope, expecting the coming of Christ, as the Lord teaches us when
He says, "If ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed Me, for he wrote
of Me;"[9] and again, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he
saw it, and was glad; for before Abraham was, I am; "[11] how shall we be
able to live without Him? The prophets were His servants, and foresaw Him by
the Spirit, and waited for Him as their Teacher, and expected Him as their
Lord and Saviour, saying, "He will come and save us."[13] Let us therefore
no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner, and rejoice in days of
idleness; for "he that does not work, let him not eat."[14] For say the[holy]
oracles, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread."[15] But let
every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner, rejoicing in
meditation on the law, not in relaxation of the body, admiring the
workmanship of God, and not eating things prepared the day before, nor using
lukewarm drinks, and walking within a prescribed space, nor finding delight
in dancing and plaudits which have no sense in them.[1] And after the
observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord's Day as
a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days[of the
week]. Looking forward to this, the prophet declared, "To the end, for the
eighth day,"[2] on which our life both sprang up again, and the victory over
death was obtained in Christ, whom the children of perdition, the enemies of
the Saviour, deny, "whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things,"[3]
who are "lovers of pleasure, and not lovers of God, having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof."[4] These make merchandise of
Christ, corrupting His word, and giving up Jesus to sale: they are
corrupters of women, and covetous of other men's possessions, swallowing up
wealth[5] insatiably; from whom may ye be delivered by the mercy of God
through our Lord Jesus Christ!
CHAP. X.--BEWARE OF JUDAIZING.
Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward
us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become
His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of
Christianity.[7] For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is
not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be
ye changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in Him,
lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour ye shall be
convicted. It is absurd to profess[12] Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For
Christianity did not embrace[13] Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so
every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.
Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward
us according to our works, we should cease to be. For "if Thou, Lord, shalt
mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?"[6] Let us therefore prove
ourselves worthy of that name which we have received. For whosoever is
called by any other name besides this, he is not of God; for he has not
received the prophecy which speaks thus concerning us: "The people shall be
called by a new name, which the Lord shall name them, and shall be a holy
people."[8] This was first fulfilled in Syria; for "the disciples were
called Christians at Antioch,"[9] when Paul and Peter were laying the
foundations of the Church. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the
corrupt leaven,[10] and be ye changed into the new leaven of grace. Abide in
Christ, that the stranger[11] may not have dominion over you. It is absurd
to speak of Jesus Christ with the tongue, and to cherish in the mind a
Judaism which has now come to an end. For where there is Christianity there
cannot be Judaism. For Christ is one, in whom every nation that believes,
and every tongue that confesses, is gathered unto God. And those that were
of a stony heart have become the children of Abraham, the friend of God;[14]
and in his seed all those have been blessed[15] who were ordained to eternal
life[16] in Christ.
CHAP. XI.--I WRITE THESE THINGS TO WARN YOU.
These things[I address to you], my beloved, not that I know any of you to be
in such a state;[17] but, as less than any of you, I desire to guard you
beforehand, that ye fall not upon the hooks of vain doctrine, but that
These things[I address to you], my beloved, not that I know any of you to be
in such a state;[17] but, as less than any of you, I desire to guard you
beforehand, that ye fall not upon the hooks of vain doctrine, but that you
may rather attain to a full assurance in Christ, who was begotten by the
Father before all ages, but was afterwards ye attain to full assurance in
regard to the birth, and passion, and resurrection which took place in the
time of the government of Pontius Pilate, being truly and certainly
accomplished by Jesus Christ, who is our hope,[1] from which may no one of
you ever be turned aside. Born of the Virgin Mary without any intercourse
with man. He also lived a holy life, and healed every kind of sickness and
disease among the people, and wrought signs and wonders for the benefit of
men; and to those who had fallen into the error of polytheism He made known
the one and only true God, His Father, and underwent the passion, and
endured the cross at the hands of the Christ-killing Jews, under Pontius
Pilate the governor and Herod the king. He also died, and rose again, and
ascended into the heavens to Him that sent Him, and is sat down at His right
hand, and shall come at the end of the world, with His Father's glory, to
judge the living and the dead, and to render to every one according to his
works.[2] He who knows these things with a full assurance, and believes
them, is happy; even as ye are now the lovers of God and of Christ, in the
full assurance of our hope, from which may no one of us[3] ever be turned
aside!
CHAP. XII.--YE ARE SUPERIOR TO ME.
May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am
bound, I am not worthy to be compared to any of you that are at liberty. I
know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have Jesus Christ in yourselves. And
all the more when I commend you, I know that ye cherish modesty[4] of
spirit; as it is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser."[5]
May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am
bound, I am not worthy to be compared to one of you that are at liberty. I
know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have Jesus in yourselves. And all the
more when I commend you, I know that ye cherish modesty[4] of spirit; as it
is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser;"[5] and again, "Declare
thou first thine iniquities, that thou mayest be justified;"[6] and again,
"When ye shall have done all things that are commanded you, say, We are
unprofitable servants;"[7] "for that which is highly esteemed among men is
abomination in the sight of God."[8] For says[the Scripture], "God be
merciful to me a sinner."[9] Therefore those great ones, Abraham and
Job,[10] styled themselves "dust and ashes[11] before God. And David says,
"Who am I before Thee, 0 Lord, that Thou hast glorified me hitherto?"[12]
And Moses, who was "the meekest of all men,"[13] saith to God, "I am of a
feeble voice, and of a slow tongue."[14] Be ye therefore also of a humble
spirit, that ye may be exalted; for "he that abaseth himself shall be
exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased."[15]]
CHAP. XIII.--BE ESTABLISHED IN FAITH AND UNITY.
Study, therefore, to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the
apostles, that so all things, whatsoever ye do, may prosper both in the
flesh and spirit; in faith and love; in the Son, and in the Father, and in
the Spirit; in the beginning and in the end; with your most admirable
bishop, and the well-compacted spiritual crown of your presbytery, and the
deacons who are according to God. Be ye subject to the bishop, and to one
another, as Jesus Christ to the Father,
Study, therefore, to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the
apostles, that so all things, whatsoever ye do, may prosper, both in the
flesh and spirit, in faith and love, with your most admirable bishop, and
the well-compacted[16] spiritual crown of your presbytery, and the deacons
who are according to God. Be ye subject to the bishop, and to one another,
as Christ to the Father. that there may be a unity according to God among
you.
according to the flesh, and the apostles to Christ, and to the Father, and
to the Spirit; that so there may be a union beth fleshly and spiritual.
CHAP. XIV.--YOUR PRAYERS REQUESTED.
Knowing as I do that ye are full of God, I have but briefly exhorted you. Be
mindful of me in your prayers, that I may attain to God; and of the Church
which is in Syria, whence I am not worthy to derive my name: for I stand in
need of your united prayer in God, and your love, that the Church which is
in Syria may be "deemed worthy of being refreshed[2] by your Church.
Knowing as I do that ye are full of all good, I have but briefly exhorted
you in the love of Jesus Christ. Be mindful of me in your prayers, that I
may attain to God; and of the Church which is in Syria, of whom I am not
worthy to be called bishop. For I stand in need of your united prayer in
God, and of your love, that the Church which is in Syria may be deemed
worthy, by your good order, of being edified[1] in Christ.
CHAP. XV.--SALUTATIONS.
The Ephesians from Smyrna(whence I also write to you), who are here for the
glory of God, as ye also are, who have in all things refreshed me, salute
you, along with Polycarp, the bishop of the Smyrnaeans. The rest of the
Churches, in honour of Jesus Christ, also salute you. Fare ye well in the
harmony of God, ye who have obtained the inseparable Spirit, who is Jesus
Christ.
The Ephesians from Smyrna(whence I also write to you), who are here for the
glory of God, as ye also are, who have in all things refreshed me, salute
you, as does also Polycarp. The rest of the Churches, in honour of Jesus
Christ, also salute you. Fare ye well in harmony, ye who have obtained the
inseparable Spirit, in Christ Jesus, by the will of God.
