Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp & others · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Ignatius, known also as Theophorus, sends greetings to the assembly belonging to God the Father and to the Lord Jesus Christ, gathered in Philadelphia of Asia. Mercy has been shown to it, and it stands firm in the harmony that comes from God, rejoicing without any hesitation in the suffering of our Lord and made fully confident, through his resurrection, in every act of mercy. I greet this assembly in the blood of Jesus Christ, a joy that never ends and never fails, most of all whenever its people are gathered as one alongside the bishop, and alongside the elders and deacons standing with him — men set in their places in keeping with the purpose of Jesus Christ, whom he, by his own will and through his Holy Spirit, made steadfast and secure.
As for this bishop, I have learned that his charge over the community's common service was granted him neither by his own doing nor through any human channel, nor out of vain ambition, but by the love borne toward him from the Father and from Christ Jesus as Lord. I stand amazed at how gentle he is; his very silence carries more weight than the words of men who chatter without purpose. Like a harp fitted to its strings, so is he fitted to the commandments. Hence my soul calls blessed his devotion toward God, now that I recognize it as both upright and whole, his calm and even temper shining out amid every mark of gentleness that the living God bestows.
Children of the light of truth, then, flee division and false teachings. Where the shepherd is, there follow as sheep. For many wolves who seem trustworthy try, by wicked pleasure, to take captive those who run in God's race; but if you remain in unity they will find no place among you.
Keep away from the evil weeds, which Jesus Christ does not cultivate, because they are not a planting of the Father. Not that I found division among you — rather, a filtering out. For all who belong to God and to Jesus Christ stand with the bishop; and all who, having repented, come back into the unity of the church — they too will belong to God, so that they may be living according to Jesus Christ. Do not be deceived, my brothers. Whoever follows one who causes a schism will not inherit the kingdom of God. Whoever walks in a mind foreign to the truth does not agree with the Passion.
Make it your aim, then, to celebrate a single Eucharist. Our Lord Jesus Christ has only a single body, and his blood provides only a single cup that draws us into unity; there is likewise only a single altar, just as there is a single bishop, together with the presbytery and the deacons who serve alongside me — so that whatever you do, you do it in accordance with God.
My brothers, I am poured out in love for you, and in my overflowing joy I watch over your safety — not I myself, but Jesus Christ; bound as I am in him, I feel my fear all the more, since I am still incomplete. Yet your prayer to God will bring me to completion, so that I may obtain the share of mercy allotted to me, having taken refuge in the gospel as one takes refuge in Jesus' own body, and in the apostles as in a council of elders belonging to the church. And we love the prophets as well, since they too proclaimed beforehand what belongs to the gospel, set their hope on him, and waited for him; believing in him, they were saved, found within the unity of Jesus Christ — holy men deserving both love and wonder, to whom Jesus Christ himself bore witness, and who are reckoned along with us in the good news of the hope we share.
But if anyone should interpret Judaism to you, do not listen to him. A circumcised man preaching Christianity is far more worth hearing than an uncircumcised one preaching Judaism. And if neither of them speaks of Jesus Christ, then to me such men are nothing but gravestones and tombs of the dead, on which nothing is inscribed but human names, and nothing more. Flee, therefore, from the wicked schemes and traps set by the ruler of this present age, so that his design does not wear you down and leave you weakened in love. Rather, gather together, all of you, as one, with an undivided heart. My God is the one I thank for keeping my conscience clear among you, so that no one can claim, whether in secret or openly, that I burdened anyone at all, whether in something small or something great. And for everyone to whom I have spoken, I pray that my words never turn into evidence brought against them.
For even supposing some wanted to lead me astray in a fleshly way, my spirit refuses to be led astray, since it belongs to God; it knows its origin and its destination, and it brings hidden things to light. While standing among you, I cried aloud in a great voice — God's own voice: Pay attention to the bishop, and to the council of elders, and to the deacons. Some suspected that I spoke this way because I already knew in advance about a coming split among some of you. Yet my witness is the one in whom I am bound: I had no knowledge of this through any merely human source; rather, it was the Spirit itself proclaiming, and what it proclaimed was this: Act on nothing apart from the bishop; guard your body as though it were God's own sanctuary; cherish unity; run from every split; model yourselves on Jesus Christ, just as he modeled himself on his Father.
For my own part, then, I acted as a man made ready for unity acts. Yet wherever division and anger reign, God has no home. Now the Lord grants forgiveness to everyone who repents, provided they turn back, in genuine repentance, toward God's unity and the bishop's council. I place my trust in the grace of Jesus Christ, who will strike every chain from you. And I beg you to act out of nothing selfish, but rather in keeping with what Christ teaches. For I overheard certain people say, 'Unless I find it set down in the old archives, I refuse to believe it stands in the gospel.' When I told them that it is indeed written, they replied that this was precisely the point at issue. But for me, Jesus Christ himself is the archive — the untouchable record is his cross, his death, his rising, and the faith that comes by way of him; through these, and through your prayer, I hope to be found righteous.
Priests, too, are admirable, yet more admirable still is the high priest entrusted with the holy of holies, the one alone entrusted with what is hidden in God. He is the doorway belonging to the Father, and it is by this doorway that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob make their entrance, along with the prophets, the apostles, and the church itself. Every one of these belongs to God's unity. Yet the gospel holds something distinct beyond them all — the arrival of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, his Passion, and his rising. For it was this that the beloved prophets announced in advance, whereas the gospel is the fulfillment, the very achievement of imperishability. Taken all together, these things are good, provided you hold them in belief through love.
Since, as your prayer and the deep affection you carry in Christ Jesus have led me to learn, peace has now come to the church in Antioch of Syria, it would be fitting for you, being a congregation devoted to God, to select a deacon to travel there as an envoy on God's behalf, to share in their joy now that they have been gathered together as one, and to give glory to the Name. Whoever proves worthy of such a service will be blessed in Jesus Christ, and you yourselves will share in that glory. Nothing prevents you, should you be willing, from doing this for the sake of God's Name, just as the congregations nearest you have already sent bishops, while others have sent elders and deacons.
Now, as to Philo, the deacon who comes from Cilicia — a man well attested — he continues even now to assist me in the ministry of God's word, together with Rheus Agathopous, a man of choice character who gave up ordinary life to travel with me from Syria. Both of them can speak to your credit too, and for my part I give God thanks on your account, because you received them as the Lord himself received you. As for whoever treated them with dishonor, may that person find release through the grace of Christ Jesus. Greetings reach you from the loving brothers who are in Troas, whence I write this to you by the hand of Burrhus, sent along with me by the churches of Ephesus and Smyrna as a mark of honor. May the Lord Jesus Christ himself repay these men, on whom their hope rests in body, in soul, in spirit, in faith, in love, and in one accord. Farewell in Christ Jesus, the hope we hold in common.
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