Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to the church of God the Father and of the beloved Jesus Christ, which has obtained mercy in every gift, filled with faith and love, lacking in no gift, most worthy of God and bearing holiness, which is at Smyrna in Asia: in a blameless spirit and in the word of God, abundant greetings.
I glorify Jesus Christ, the God who made you so wise; for I have perceived that you are perfected in unwavering faith, as though nailed to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ in flesh and in spirit, and firmly grounded in love in the blood of Christ, fully assured concerning our Lord, that he is truly of the race of David according to the flesh, the Son of God by the will and power of God, truly born of a virgin, baptized by John, that all righteousness might be fulfilled by him;
truly nailed for us in the flesh under Pontius Pilate and Herod the tetrarch— of which fruit are we, of his divinely-blessed passion— that he might set up a sign for the ages through the resurrection unto his saints and faithful ones, whether among Jews or among Gentiles, in one body of his church.
For he suffered all these things for our sake, that we might be saved; and he truly suffered, just as he also truly raised himself— not as certain unbelievers say, that he only seemed to suffer, they themselves being only in appearance. And as they think, so it will happen to them, since they are bodiless and demonic.
And when he came to those around Peter, he said to them: 'Take, handle me and see, that I am not a bodiless demon.' And immediately they touched him and believed, being joined to his flesh and to the spirit. For this reason also they despised death, and were found to be above death.
These things I exhort you, beloved, knowing that you too are so minded. But I forewarn you against the beasts in human form, whom you must not only not receive, but, if possible, not even meet; only pray for them, if perhaps they may repent, which is difficult— but Jesus Christ, our true life, has power over this. For if these things were done by our Lord only in appearance, then I too am bound only in appearance. And why have I given myself over to death, to fire, to sword, to wild beasts? But near the sword is near to God; among the wild beasts is among God— only in the name of Jesus Christ. To suffer together with him I endure all things, he who is the perfect man empowering me.
Some, in ignorance, deny him— rather, were denied by him— being advocates of death rather than of the truth; whom neither the prophecies nor the law of Moses persuaded, nor even until now the gospel, nor the individual sufferings of each of us.
For they think the same concerning us. What does it profit me if someone praises me but blasphemes my Lord, not confessing him to be a bearer of flesh? He who says this has utterly denied him, being a corpse-bearer.
Their names, being those of unbelievers, I did not think fit to write down. Indeed, may it never be granted me to remember them, until they repent unto the passion, which is our resurrection.
Let no one be deceived: even the heavenly beings and the glory of the angels and the rulers, visible and invisible— if they do not believe in the blood of Christ, judgment awaits them too. Let him who can receive it, receive it. Let no position puff up anyone; for the whole matter is faith and love, to which nothing is preferred.
But mark those who hold strange opinions concerning the grace of Jesus Christ that has come to us, how contrary they are to the mind of God. About love they have no care, none about the widow, none about the orphan, none about the afflicted, none about the bound or the freed, none about the hungry or the thirsty.
They abstain from the eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess the eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, which the Father in his kindness raised up. Those, then, who contradict the gift of God die while disputing; but it were better for them to love, that they too might rise.
It is fitting to abstain from such men and not to speak of them either privately or in common, but to give heed to the prophets, and especially to the gospel, in which the passion has been made plain to us and the resurrection has been perfected. But flee divisions as the beginning of evils.
All of you follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ follows the Father, and the presbytery as the apostles; and reverence the deacons as the commandment of God. Let no one do anything pertaining to the church apart from the bishop. Let that be regarded as a valid eucharist which is under the bishop or one to whom he entrusts it.
Wherever the bishop appears, there let the multitude be; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic church. It is not permitted apart from the bishop either to baptize or to hold a love-feast; but whatever he approves, this is also pleasing to God, that everything you do may be secure and valid.
It is reasonable, then, for us to come to our senses, while we still have time to repent toward God. It is good to know God and the bishop. He who honours the bishop is honoured by God; he who does anything secretly apart from the bishop serves the devil.
Let all things, then, abound to you in grace, for you are worthy. You have refreshed me in every way, and may Jesus Christ refresh you. Whether absent or present, you loved me. May God be your recompense, for whose sake, enduring all things, you will attain to him.
Philo and Rheus Agathopus, who followed me in the service of God's word, you did well to receive as deacons of God; who also give thanks to the Lord for you, because you refreshed them in every way. Nothing of this will be lost to you.
My spirit is a ransom for you, and my bonds, which you did not despise nor were ashamed of. Nor will the perfect hope, Jesus Christ, be ashamed of you.
Your prayer went out to the church in Antioch of Syria, from where, bound with most God-befitting bonds, I greet all, being not worthy to be from there, being the least of them; yet by the will of God I was counted worthy— not from my own conscience, but from the grace of God— which I pray may be given me in perfection, that through your prayer I may attain to God.
So that your work may be perfect both on earth and in heaven, it is fitting, to the honour of God, that your church ordain a God-ambassador, to rejoice with them in Syria when they have gathered, because they are at peace and have recovered their proper greatness and their own corporate body has been restored to them.
It seemed to me, then, a thing worthy of God to send one of yours with a letter, that he might join in glorifying the calm that has come to them according to God, and because by your prayer I was already reaching a harbour. Being perfect, set your minds also on perfect things. For to those who wish to do well, God is ready to provide.
The love of the brothers at Troas greets you, from where I also write to you by the hand of Burrhus, whom you sent with me together with the Ephesians, your brothers, who has refreshed me in every way. And would that all imitated him, being a model of God's ministry. May grace reward him in every way.
I greet the God-worthy bishop and the God-befitting presbytery and my fellow-servants the deacons, and all of you, individually and in common, in the name of Jesus Christ and in his flesh and blood, in his passion and resurrection, both fleshly and spiritual, in the unity of God and of you. Grace to you, mercy, peace, endurance, forever.
I greet the households of my brothers with their wives and children, and the virgins who are called widows. Farewell to me in the power of the Father. Philo, who is with me, greets you.
I greet the household of Tavia, whom I pray may be grounded in faith and love, both fleshly and spiritual. I greet Alce, the name dear to me, and Daphnus the incomparable, and Eutecnus, and all by name. Farewell in the grace of God.