Introductory Notes on the Epistles of Ignatius
Ignatius c30-107 AD
The legend which represents Ignatius as the little child whom the Lord
placed in the midst of his apostles (Matt. 18:2) indicates at least the period
when he may be supposed to have been born. That he and Polycarp were fellow-disciples of
the apostle John, is a tradition by no means inconsistent with anything in the epistles
of either. His subsequent history is
sufficiently indicated in his epistles.
His wisdom has stirred the soul of many, as showed by the following:
1. Find time to pray without ceasing.
2. Every wound is not healed with the same remedy.
3. The times demand thee, as pilots the haven.
4. Stand like a beaten anvil.
5. It is the part of a good athlete to be bruised and to prevail.
6. Consider the times: look for Him who is above time.
7. Slight not your menservants and handmaids.
8. Let your stewardship define your work.
9. A Christian is not his own master, but waits upon God.
Ignatius so delighted in his name Theophorus, that it is worth noting
how deeply the early Christians felt and believed in the indwelling Spirit (2
Cor. 6:16).
His epistle to the Romans is inconsistent with any conception on his
part, that Rome was the see and residence of a bishop holding any other than
fraternal relations with himself. Think what use would have been made of it,
had the words which he addresses to the Smyrnaeans (chapter 8) to strengthen
their fidelity to Polycarp, been found in this letter to the Romans, especially
as in this letter we first find the use of the phrase ‘catholic Church’ in
patristic writings. He defines it as to
be found ‘where Jesus Christ is,’ words which certainly do not limit it to
communion with a professed successor of the apostle Peter.
Controversy over these epistles
The epistles ascribed to Ignatius have given rise to more controversy
than any other documents connected with the primitive Church. As is evident to
every reader on the very first glance at these writings, they contain numerous
statements which bear on points of ecclesiastical order that have long divided
the Christian world; and a strong temptation has thus been felt to allow some
amount of prepossession to enter into the discussion of their authenticity or
spuriousness.
There are, in all, fifteen epistles which bear the name of Ignatius. These are the following: one to the Virgin
Mary, two to the apostle John, one to Mary of Cassobelae, one to the Tarsians,
one to the Antiochians, one to Hero (a deacon of Antioch), one to the
Philippians; one to the Ephesians, one to the Magnesians, one to the Trallians,
one to the Romans, one to the Philadelphians, one to the Smyrnaeans, and one to
Polycarp. The first three exist only in
Latin: all the rest are extant also in Greek.
It is now the universal opinion of critics, that the first eight of
these professedly Ignatian letters are spurious. They bear in themselves proofs of being the
production of a later age than that in which Ignatius lived. Neither Eusebius nor Jerome makes the least
reference to them; and they are now by common consent set aside as forgeries,
written at various dates and made to serve special purposes, and put forth
under the name of the bishop of Antioch.
But after the question has been thus simplified, it still remains
sufficiently complex. Of the seven epistles
which are acknowledged by Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., iii. 36), we
possess two Greek recensions, a shorter and a longer. It is plain that one or other of these
exhibits a corrupt text, and scholars have for the most part agreed to accept
the shorter form as representing the genuine letters of Ignatius. This was the opinion generally acquiesced in,
from the time when critical editions of these epistles began to be issued, down
to our own day. The seven Greek epistles,
of which a translation is here given, came to be generally accepted in their shorter
form as the genuine writings of Ignatius.
The larger are an interpolation of the smaller. However, although the shorter form of the
Ignatian letters had been generally accepted in preference to the longer, there
was still a prevalent opinion among scholars, that even it could not be
regarded as absolutely free from interpolations, or as of undoubted
authenticity. Later, upon discovery of
Syriac versions, Cureton was of the opinion that the discovery of ancient
Syriac versions in the nineteenth century showed that those considered genuine
were just that.
As to the personal history of Ignatius, almost nothing is known. The principal source of information regarding
him is found in the account of his martyrdom, to which the reader is referred.
Polycarp alludes to him in his Epistle to the Philippians (chap. ix.), and also
to his letters (chap. xiii.). Irenaeus quotes a passage from his Epistle to the
Romans (Adv. Haer., v. 28; Epist. ad Rom., chap.
iv.), without, however, naming him. Origen twice refers to him, first in the
preface to his commentary on the Song of Solomon, where he quotes a passage
from the epistle of Ignatius to the Romans, and again in his sixth homily on
Luke, where he quotes from the epistle to the Ephesians, both times naming the
author. It is unnecessary to give later
references.
Supposing the letters of Ignatius and the account of his martyrdom to
be authentic, we learn from them that he voluntarily presented himself before
Trajan at Antioch, the seat of his bishopric, when that prince was on his first
expedition against the Parthians and Armenians (107 AD); and on professing
himself a Christian, was condemned to the wild beasts. After a long and dangerous voyage he came to
Smyrna, of which Polycarp was bishop, and thence wrote his four epistles to the
Ephesians, the Magnesians, the Trallians, and the Romans. From Smyrna he came to Troas, and tarrying
there a few days, he wrote to the Philadelphians, the Smyrnaeans, and Polycarp.
He then came on to Neapolis, and passed
through the whole of Macedonia. Finding
a ship at Dyrrachium in Epirus about to sail into Italy, he embarked, and
crossing the Adriatic, was brought to Rome, where he perished on the 20th of
December 107 AD, or, as some think, who deny a twofold expedition of Trajan
against the Parthians, on the same day of the year 116 AD.
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church which is at
Ephesus, in Asia, deservedly most happy, being blessed in the greatness and
fulness of God the Father, and predestined before the ages, that it should be
always for an enduring and unchangeable glory, being united and elected through
the true passion by the will of God the Father, and of our Lord Jesus Christ
our Saviour: abundant happiness through Jesus Christ, and His undefiled grace.
Chapter I: Praise of the Ephesians
I have become acquainted with your name (i.e. reputation), much beloved
in God, which you have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to
faith and love in Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Being imitators of God, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of
Christ, you have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to
you. For, on hearing that I came bound
from Syria for the sake of Christ, our common hope, trusting through your
prayers to be permitted to fight with beasts at Rome, that so by martyrdom I
may indeed become the disciple of Him ‘who gave Himself for us, an offering
and a sacrifice to God,’ (Eph. 5:2) you hastened to see me. I therefore received your whole multitude in
the name of God, through Onesimus, a man unspeakably beloved, and who is your
bishop, whom I pray you by Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to
be like him. Blessed be God, who has
granted unto you, being worthy, to obtain such an excellent bishop.
Chapter 2: Congratulations and Entreaties
As to my fellow-servant Burrhus, your deacon in regard to God and
blessed in all things, I pray that he may continue longer, both for your honour
and that of your bishop. Crocus also,
worthy of both God and you, whom we have received as the manifestation of your
love to us, has in all things refreshed me, as the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ will also refresh him; together with Onesimus, and Burrhus, and Euplus,
and Fronto, by means of whom I have, as to love, beheld all of you. May I always have joy in you, if indeed I be
worthy of it. It is therefore fitting
that you should in every way glorify Jesus Christ, who has glorified you, that
by unanimous obedience ‘you may be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgment, and may all speak the same thing concerning the
same thing,’ (1 Cor. 1:10) and that, being subject to the bishop and the presbytery,
you may in all respects be sanctified.
Chapter 3: Exhortations to Unity
I do not issue orders to you, as if I were some great person. For though I am bound for His name, I am not
yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For now I
begin to be a disciple, and I speak to you as my fellow-disciples. For it was needful for me to have been
stirred up by you in faith, exhortation, patience and long-suffering. But inasmuch as love suffers me not to be
silent in regard to you, I have therefore taken upon me first to exhort you
that you would all run together in accordance with the will of God. For even Jesus Christ, our inseparable life, is
the manifested will of the Father; as also bishops, settled everywhere to the
utmost bounds (of the earth), are so by the will of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 4: The Same Continued
Wherefore it is fitting that you should run together in accordance with
the will of your bishop, which thing you indeed of yourselves do. For your justly renowned presbytery, being
worthy of God, is fitted as exactly to the bishop as strings are to a
harp. Therefore, being joined together
in concord and harmonious love, Jesus Christ is sung. And, man by man, become but one choir; so that,
being harmonious in love, and taking up the song of God in unison, you may
indeed with one voice sing to the Father through Jesus Christ, so that He may
both hear you, and perceive by your works that you are indeed members of His
Son. It is therefore profitable that you
should live in unblameable unity, that thus you may always enjoy communion with
God.
Chapter 5: The Praise of Unity
For if I, in this brief space of time, have enjoyed such fellowship
with your bishop – I mean not of a mere human, but of a spiritual nature – how
much more do I reckon you happy who are so joined to him as the Church is to
Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ is to the Father, so that all things may
agree in unity! Let no man deceive
himself: if anyone be not within the altar, he is deprived of the bread of
God. For if the prayer of one or two
possesses such power, how much more that of the bishop and of the whole church!
He, therefore, that does not assemble
with the church, has even by this manifested his pride and condemned
himself. For it is written, ’God resists
the proud.’ (Prov. 3:34, Jas. 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). Let us be careful, then not to set ourselves
in opposition to the bishop, in order that we may be subject to God.
Chapter 6: Have Respect to the Bishop as to Christ
Himself
Now the more anyone sees the bishop showing forbearance the more ought
he to revere him. For we ought to
receive everyone whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household,
as we would do Him that sent him. It is
manifest, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as we would upon
the Lord Himself. And indeed Onesimus
himself greatly commends your good order in God, that you all live according to
the truth, and that no false teaching has any dwelling-place among you. Nor, indeed, do you hearken to anyone rather
than to Jesus Christ speaking in truth.
Chapter 7: Beware of False Teachers
For some are in the
habit of carrying about the name of Jesus Christ in wicked guile, while yet
they practise things unworthy of God, whom you must flee as you would wild
beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who
bite secretly, against whom you must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men
who can scarcely be cured. There is one
Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made;
God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first
possible and then impossible, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
Chapter 8: Renewed Praise of the Ephesians
Let not then any one deceive you, as indeed you are not deceived,
inasmuch as ye are wholly devoted to God.
For since there is no strife raging among you which might distress you,
you are certainly living in accordance with God’s will. I am far inferior to you, and require to be
sanctified by your church of Ephesus, so renowned throughout the world. They that are carnal cannot do those things which
are spiritual, nor they that are spiritual the things which are carnal; even as
faith cannot do the works of unbelief, nor unbelief the works of faith. But you do nothing according to the flesh,
for you do all things in Jesus Christ.
Chapter 9: You
Have Given No Heed to False Teachers
Nevertheless, I have heard of some who have passed in among you, having
false doctrine, whom ye did not suffer to sow among you, but stopped your ears,
that you might not receive those things which were sown by them, as being
stones of the temple of the Father, prepared for the building of God the
Father, and drawn up on high by the instrument of Jesus Christ, which is the
cross, making use of the Holy Spirit as a rope, while your faith was the means
by which you ascended, and your love the way which led up to God. You, therefore, as well as all your
fellow-travellers, are God-bearers, temple-bearers, Christ-bearers, bearers of
holiness, adorned in all respects with the commandments of Jesus Christ, in
whom also I exult that I have been thought worthy, by means of this epistle, to
converse and rejoice with you, because with respect to your Christian life you
love nothing but God only.
Chapter 10: Exhortations to Prayer, Humility, etc.
And pray without
ceasing on behalf of other men. For
there is hope of repentance that they may attain to God. See, then, that they be instructed by your
works, if in no other way. Be meek in
response to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their
blasphemies return your prayers; in contrast to their error, be steadfast in
the faith; and for their cruelty, manifest your gentleness. While we take care not to imitate their
conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true kindness; and let us seek
to be followers of the Lord (who was ever more unjustly treated, more
destitute, more condemned?), so that no plant of the devil may be found among
you, but you may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ, both with
respect to the flesh and spirit.
Chapter 11: An Exhortation to Fear God, etc.
The last times are come upon us.
Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit, and fear the long-suffering of
God, that it tend not to our condemnation.
For let us either stand in awe of the wrath to come, or show regard for
the grace which is at present displayed.
Only let us be found in Christ Jesus unto the true life. Apart from Him, let nothing attract you, for
whom I bear about these bonds, these spiritual jewels, by which may I arise
through your prayers, of which I entreat I may always be a partaker, that I may
be found in the lot of the Christians of Ephesus, who have always been of the
same mind with the apostles through the power of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 12: Praise of the Ephesians
I know both who I am, and to whom I write. I am a condemned man, you have been the
objects of mercy; I am subject to danger, you are established in safety. You are the persons through whom those pass
that are cut off for the sake of God.
You are initiated into the mysteries of the gospel with Paul, the holy,
the martyred, the deservedly most happy, at whose feet may I be found, when I
shall attain to God; who in all his epistle makes mention of you in Christ
Jesus.
Chapter 13: Exhortation to Meet Together Frequently
for the Worship of God
Take heed, then, to come together often to give thanks to God, and show
forth His praise. For when you assemble
frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the
destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which
all war, both of heavenly and earthly things, is brought to an end.
Chapter 14: Exhortations to Faith and Love
None of these things is hidden from you, if you perfectly possess that
faith and love towards Christ Jesus which are the beginning and the end of
life. For the beginning is faith, and
the end is love (1 Tim. 1:5). Now these
two, being inseparably connected together, are of God, while all other things
which are requisite for a holy life follow after them. No man truly making a profession of faith
sins; nor does he that possesses love hate anyone (cf. 1 John 3:6). The tree is made manifest by its fruit, so
those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognised by their
conduct. For there is not now a demand
for mere profession, but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith
to the end.
Chapter 15: Exhortation to Confess Christ by Silence
as Well as Speech
It is better for a man to be silent and be a Christian, than to talk
and not to be one. It is good to teach,
if he who speaks also acts. There is
then one Teacher, who spoke and it was done; while even those things which He
did in silence are worthy of the Father.
He who possesses the word of Jesus, is truly able to hear even His very
silence, that he may be perfect, and may both act as he speaks, and be
recognised by his silence. There is
nothing which is hidden from God, but our very secrets are near to Him. Let us therefore do all things as those who
have Him dwelling in us, that we may be His temples, and He may be in us as our
God, which indeed He is, and will manifest Himself before our faces. Wherefore we justly love Him.
Chapter 16: The Fate of False Teachers
Do not err, my brethren. Those
that corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God (cf. 1 Cor.
6:9-10). If, then, those who do this as
respects the flesh have suffered death, how much more shall this be the case
with anyone who corrupts by wicked doctrine the faith of God, for which Jesus
Christ was crucified! Such a one
becoming defiled in this way, shall go away into everlasting fire, and so shall
every one that hearkens unto him.
Chapter 17: Beware of False Doctrines
For this end did the Lord suffer the ointment to be poured upon His
head, that He might breathe immortality into His Church. Do not be anointed with the bad odour of the
doctrine of the prince of this world; let him not lead you away captive from
the life which is set before you. And
why are we not all prudent, since we have received the knowledge of God, which
is Jesus Christ? Why do we perish
foolishly, not recognising the gift which the Lord has of a truth sent to us?
Chapter 18: The Glory of the Cross
Let my spirit be counted as offscouring for the sake of the cross,
which is a stumbling-block to those that do not believe, but to us salvation
and life eternal. ‘Where is the wise
man? Where the disputer?’ (1 Cor. 1:20).
Where is the boasting of those who are styled prudent? For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to
the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David,
but by the Holy Spirit. He was born and
baptized, that by His passion He might purify the water.
Chapter 19: Three Celebrated Mysteries
Now the virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as
was also her offspring, and the death of the Lord; three mysteries of renown,
which were wrought in silence by God.
How, then, was He manifested to the world? A star shone forth in heaven above all the
other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men
with astonishment. And all the rest of
the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light
was exceedingly great above them all.
And there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so
unlike to everything else in the heavens.
Hence every kind of magic was destroyed, and every bond of wickedness
disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the old kingdom abolished, God Himself
being manifested in human form for the renewal of eternal life. And now that took a beginning which had been
prepared by God. Henceforth all things
were in a state of tumult, because He meditated the abolition of death.
Chapter 20: Promise of Another Letter
If Jesus Christ shall graciously permit me through your prayers, and if
it be His will, I shall, in a second little work which I will write to you,
make further manifest to you the nature of the dispensation of which I have
begun to treat, with respect to the new man, Jesus Christ, in His faith and in
His love, in His suffering and in His resurrection. Especially will I do this if the Lord makes
known to me that you come together man by man in common through grace,
individually, in one faith, and in Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David
according to the flesh, being both the Son of Man and the Son of God, so that
you obey the bishop and the presbytery with an undivided mind, breaking one and
the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote to
prevent us from dying, but which causes that we should live forever in Jesus
Christ.
Chapter 21: Conclusion
May I, in my turn, be the means of refreshing you and those whom, for
the honour of God, you have sent to Smyrna; whence also I write to you, giving
thanks unto the Lord, and loving Polycarp even as I do you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ also remembered
you. Pray for the Church which is in
Syria, whence I am led bound to Rome, being the least of the faithful who are
there, even as I have been thought worthy to be chosen to show forth the honour
of God. Farewell in God the Father, and
in Jesus Christ, our common hope! Grace
be with you!
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