The Second Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 1: Syriac
Version
The Second Epistle of Ignatius to the
Ephesians1 Ignatius, who is [also called] Theophorus, to the Church which is
blessed in the greatness of God the Father, and perfected; to her who was
selected(2) from eternity, that she might be at all times for glory, which
abideth, and is unchangeable, and is perfected and chosen in the purpose of
truth by the will of the Father of Jesus Christ our God; to her who is
worthy of happiness; to her who is at Ephesus, in Jesus Christ, in joy which
is unblameable: [wishes] abundance of happiness.
CHAP. I.
INASMUCH as your name. which is greatly beloved, is acceptable to me in God,
[your name] which ye have acquired by nature, through a right and just will,
and also by the faith and love of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and ye are
imitators of God, and are fervent in the blood of God, and have speedily
completed a work congenial to you · [for] when ye heard that I was bound,(3)
so as to be able to do nothing for the sake of the common name and hope (and
I hope, through your prayers, that I may be devoured by beasts at Rome, so
that by means of this of which I have been accounted worthy, I may be
endowed with strength to be a disciple of God), ye were diligent to come and
see me. Seeing, then, that we have become acquainted with your multitude(4)
in the name of God, by Onesimus, who is your bishop, in love which is
unutterable, whom I pray that ye love in Jesus Christ our Lord, and that all
of you imitate his example,(5) for blessed is He who has given you such a
bishop, even as ye deserve [to have].(6)
CHAP. III.(7)
But inasmuch as love does not permit me to be silent in regard to you, on
this account I have been forward to entreat of you that ye would be diligent
in the will of God.
CHAP. VIII.(8)
For, so long as there is not implanted in you any one lust which is able to
torment you, behold, ye live in God. I rejoice in you, and offer
supplication(9) on account of you, Ephesians, a Church which is renowned in
all ages. For those who are carnal are not able to do spiritual things, nor
those that are spiritual carnal things; in like manner as neither can faith
[do] those things which are foreign to faith, nor want of faith [do] what
belongs to faith. For those things which ye have done in the flesh, even
these are spiritual, because ye have done everything in Jesus Christ.
CHAP. IX.
And ye are prepared for the building of God the Father, and ye are raised up
on high by the instrument of Jesus Christ, which is the cross; and ye are
drawn by the rope, which is the Holy Spirit; and your pulley is your faith,
and your love is the way which leadeth up on high to God.
CHAP. X.
Pray for all men; for there is hope of repentance for them, that they may be
counted worthy of God. By your works especially let them be instructed.
Against their harsh words be ye conciliatory, by meekness of mind and
gentleness. Against their blasphemies do ye give yourselves to prayer; and
against their error be ye armed with faith. Against their fierceness be ye
peaceful and quiet, and be ye not astounded by them. Let us, then, be
imitators of our Lord in meekness, and strive who shall more especially be
injured, and oppressed, and defrauded.
CHAP. XIV.(1)
The work is not of promise,(2) unless a man be found in the power of faith,
even to the end.
CHAP. XV.
It is better that a man should be silent while he is something, than that he
should be talking when he is not; that by those things which be speaks he
should act, and by those things of which he is silent he should be known.
CHAP. XVIII.(3)
My spirit bows in adoration to the cross, which is a stumbling-block to
those who do not believe, but is to you for salvation and eternal life.
CHAP. XIX.
There was concealed from the ruler of this world the virginity of Mary and
the birth of our Lord, and the three renowned mysteries(4) which were done
in the tranquillity of God from the star. And here, at the manifestation of
the Son, magic began to be destroyed, and all bonds were loosed; and the
ancient kingdom and the error of evil was destroyed. Henceforward all things
were moved together, and the destruction of death was devised, and there was
the commencement of that which was perfected in God.(5
