Ignatius, who is [also called] Theophorus,
to the Church which has received grace through the greatness of the Father
Most High; to her who presideth in the place of the region of the Romans,
who is worthy of God, and worthy of life, and happiness, and praise, and
remembrance, and is worthy of prosperity, and presideth in love, and is
perfected in the law of Christ unblameable: [wishes] abundance of peace.
CHAP. I.
FROM of old have I prayed to God, that I might be counted worthy to behold
your faces which are worthy of God: now, therefore, being bound in Jesus
Christ, I hope to meet you and salute you, if it be the will [of God] that I
should be accounted worthy to the end. For the beginning is well arranged,
if I be counted worthy to attain to the end, that I may receive my portion,
without hindrance, through suffering. For I am in fear of your love, lest it
should injure me. As to you, indeed, it is easy for you to do whatsoever ye
wish; but as to me, it is difficult for me to be accounted worthy of God, if
indeed ye spare me not.
CHAP. II.
For there is no other time such as this, that I should be accounted worthy
of God; neither will ye, if ye be silent, [ever] be found in a better work
than this. If ye let me alone, I shall be the word of God; but if ye love my
flesh, again am I [only] to myself a voice. Ye cannot give me anything more
precious than this, that I should be sacrificed to God, while the altar is
ready; that ye may be in one concord in love, and may praise God the Father
through Jesus Christ our Lord, because He has deemed a bishop worthy to be
God's, having called him from the east to the west. It is good that I should
set from the world in God, that I may rise in Him to life.(2)
CHAP. III.
Ye have never envied any man. Ye have taught others. Only pray ye for
strength to be given to me from within and from without, that I may not only
speak, but also may be willing, and that I may not merely be called a
Christian, but also may be found to be [one]; for if I am found to be [so],
I may then also be called [so]. Then [indeed] shall I be faithful, when I am
no longer seen in the world. For there is nothing visible that is good. The
work is not [a matter(3)] of persuasion; but Christianity is great when the
world hateth it.
CHAP. IV.
I write to all the Churches, and declare to all men, that I willingly die
for the sake of God, if so be that ye hinder me not. I entreat of you not to
be [affected] towards me with a love which is unseasonable. Leave me to
become [the prey of] the beasts, that by their means I may be accounted
worthy of God. I am the wheat of God, and by the teeth of the beasts I shall
be ground,(4) that I may be found the pure bread of God. Provoke ye
greatly(5) the wild beasts, that they may be for me a grave, and may leave
nothing of my body, in order that, when I have fallen asleep, I may not be a
burden upon any one. Then shall I be in truth a disciple of Jesus Christ,
when the world seeth not even my body. Entreat of our Lord in my behalf,
that through these instruments I may be found a sacrifice to God. I do not,
like Peter and Paul, issue orders unto you. They are(6) apostles, but I am
one condemned; they indeed are free, but I am a slave, even until now. But
if I suffer, I shall be the freed-man of Jesus Christ, and I shall rise in
Him from the dead, free. And now being in bonds, I learn to desire nothing.
CHAP. V.
From Syria, and even unto Rome, I am cast among wild beasts, by sea and by
land, by night and by day, being bound between ten leopards, which are the
band of soldiers, who, even when I do good to them, all the more do evil
unto me. I, however, am the rather instructed by their injurious
treatment;(1) but not on this account am I justified to myself. I rejoice in
the beasts which are prepared for me, and I pray that they may in haste be
found for me; and I will provoke them speedily to devour me, and not be as
those which are afraid of some other men,(2) and will not approach them:
even should they not be willing to approach me, I will go with violence
against them. Know me from myself what is expedient for me.(3) Let no one(4)
envy me of those things which are seen and which are not seen, that I should
be accounted worthy of Jesus Christ. Fire, and the cross, and the beasts
that are prepared, cutting off of the limbs, and scattering of the hones,
and crushing of the whole body, harsh torments of the devil--let these come
upon me, but(5) only let me be accounted worthy of Jesus Christ.
CHAP. VI.
The pains of the birth stand over against me.(6)
CHAP. VII.
And my love is crucified, and there is no fire in me for another love. I do
not desire the food of corruption, neither the lusts of this world. I seek
the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ; and I seek His blood,
a drink which is love incorruptible.
CHAP. IX.(7)
My spirit saluteth you, and the love of the Churches which received me as
the name of Jesus Christ; for those also who were near to [my] way in the
flesh, preceded me in every city.
(8)[Now therefore, being about to arrive shortly in Rome, I know many things
in God; but I keep myself within measure, that I may not perish through
boasting: for now it is needful for me to fear the more, and not pay regard
to those who puff me up. For they who say such things to me scourge me; for
I desire to suffer, but I do not know if I am worthy. For zeal is not
visible to many, but with me it has war. I have need, therefore, of
meekness, by which the prince of this world is destroyed. I am able to write
to you of heavenly things, but I fear lest I should do you an injury. Know
me from myself. For I am cautious lest ye should not be able to receive
[such knowledge], and should be perplexed. For even I, not because I am in
bonds, and am able to know heavenly things, and the places of angels, and
the stations of the powers that are seen and that are not seen, am on this
account a disciple; for I am far short of the perfection which is worthy of
God.] Be ye perfectly strong(9) in the patience of Jesus Christ our God.
Here end the three Epistles of Ignatius, bishop and martyr.
