Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, bishop of the church of the Smyrnaeans, or rather one who has God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for his overseer: abundant greetings.
Welcoming your godly mind, grounded as upon an immovable rock, I exceedingly glorify God, having been counted worthy of your blameless face, in which may I have joy in God.
I exhort you, in the grace with which you are clothed, to press forward in your course and to exhort all that they may be saved. Vindicate your office with all diligence, both fleshly and spiritual. Care for unity, than which nothing is better. Bear with all, as the Lord also bears with you; endure all in love, as indeed you do.
Devote yourself to unceasing prayers; ask for greater understanding than you have; be watchful, possessing a sleepless spirit. Speak to each one according to the likeness of God; bear the diseases of all as a perfect athlete. Where there is more toil, there is much gain.
If you love good disciples, there is no thanks to you; rather subdue the more troublesome in gentleness. Not every wound is healed by the same plaster. Soothe the inflammations with poultices.
Be prudent as the serpent in all things, and forever innocent as the dove. For this reason you are fleshly and spiritual, that you may handle gently the things that appear before your face; but ask that the invisible things be revealed to you, so that you may lack nothing and abound in every gift. The season demands you, as pilots demand winds and as one storm-tossed demands a harbour, that you may attain to God. Be sober, as God's athlete; the prize is incorruption and eternal life, of which you too are persuaded. In all things I am a ransom for you, and my bonds, which you loved.
Do not let those who seem trustworthy yet teach strange doctrines dismay you. Stand firm as an anvil that is struck. It belongs to a great athlete to be flayed and yet to conquer. Especially for God's sake we must endure all things, that he too may endure us.
Become more diligent than you are. Discern the seasons. Await him who is above season, the timeless, the invisible, who for our sake became visible; the intangible, the impassible, who for our sake became passible, who in every way endured for our sake.
Let not the widows be neglected; after the Lord, be you their guardian. Let nothing be done apart from your judgment, and do nothing apart from God— as indeed you do not. Stand firm.
Do not despise slaves, male or female; yet neither let them be puffed up, but let them serve the more, to the glory of God, that they may obtain a better freedom from God. Let them not desire to be set free at the common expense, lest they be found slaves of desire.
Flee evil arts; rather make these the subject of your preaching. Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord and be content with their spouses in flesh and spirit. Likewise charge my brothers in the name of Jesus Christ to love their spouses as the Lord loves the church.
If anyone is able to remain in purity to the honour of the Lord's flesh, let him remain so without boasting. If he boasts, he is lost; and if he is esteemed more than the bishop, he is corrupted. But it is fitting for men and women who marry to make their union with the bishop's consent, that the marriage may be according to the Lord and not according to lust. Let all things be done to the honour of God.
Give heed to the bishop, that God may also give heed to you. I am a ransom for those who are subject to the bishop, the presbyters, the deacons; and with them may I have my portion in God. Toil together with one another, struggle together, run together, suffer together, rest together, rise together, as God's stewards and assessors and servants.
Please him in whose army you serve, from whom you also receive your wages; let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism remain as your arms, faith as a helmet, love as a spear, endurance as full armour. Let your deeds be your deposits, that you may receive the savings due to you. Be patient, then, with one another in gentleness, as God is with you. May I have joy of you always.
Since the church in Antioch of Syria is at peace, as has been reported to me, through your prayer, I too have become more cheerful in the freedom from care that God gives, if only through suffering I attain to God, that I may be found a disciple in your resurrection.
It is fitting, most God-blessed Polycarp, to convene a most God-befitting council and to ordain someone whom you hold most dear and zealous, who can be called God's courier; count him worthy, that going into Syria he may glorify your zealous love to the glory of God.
A Christian has no authority over himself, but devotes himself to God. This is the work of God and of you, when you complete it. For I trust in the grace, that you are ready for the good work that pertains to God. Knowing your intense devotion to the truth, I have exhorted you with few words.
Since I have not been able to write to all the churches, because I am suddenly sailing from Troas to Neapolis, as the will commands, you will write to the churches ahead, as one possessing the mind of God, that they too may do the same— those who are able sending men on foot, and the others letters by those sent by you— that you may be glorified by an eternal work, as you are worthy.
I greet all by name, and the wife of Epitropus with her whole household and her children. I greet Attalus, my beloved. I greet the one who is to be counted worthy to go into Syria. Grace will be with him always, and with Polycarp who sends him.
I pray that you may always be well in our God Jesus Christ, in whom may you remain in the unity of God and in his oversight. I greet Alce, the name dear to me. Farewell in the Lord.