04b the Epistle to the Magnesians

 

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the blessed in the grace of God the Father, in Jesus Christ our Saviour, in whom I salute the church which is at Magnesia, near the Maeander, and wish it abundance of happiness in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Chapter 1: Reason for Writing the Epistle

Having been informed of your godly love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced greatly, and determined to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ.  For as one who has been thought worthy of the most God-becoming name, in those bonds which I bear about, I commend the churches, in which I pray for a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, the constant source of our life, and of faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred, but especially of Jesus and the Father, in whom, if we endure all the assaults of the prince of this world, and escape them, we shall enjoy God.

Chapter 2: I Rejoice in Your Messengers

Since, then, I have had the privilege of seeing you, through Damas your most worthy bishop, and through your worthy presbyters Bassus and Apollonius, and through my fellow-servant the deacon Sotio, whose friendship may I ever enjoy, inasmuch as he is subject to the bishop as to the grace of God, and to the presbytery as to the law of Jesus Christ, I now write to you.

Chapter 3: Honour Your Youthful Bishop

Now it becomes you also not to treat your bishop too familiarly on account of his youth, but to yield him all reverence, having respect according to the power of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not judging rashly, from the manifest youthful appearance of their bishop, but as being themselves prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all.  It is therefore fitting that you should, after no hypocritical fashion, obey your bishop, in honour of Him who has (called) us to do so, since he that does not so deceives not the bishop that is visible, but seeks to mock Him that is invisible.  And all such conduct has reference not to man, but to God, who knows all secrets.

Chapter 4: Some Wickedly Act Independently of the Bishop

It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so in reality: as some indeed give one the title of bishop, but do all things without him.  Now such persons seem to me to be not possessed of a good conscience, seeing they are not steadfastly gathered together according to the commandment.

Chapter 5: Death Is the Fate of All Such

Seeing, then, all things have an end, these two things are simultaneously set before us – death and life; and everyone shall go unto his own place.  For as there are two kinds of coins, the one of God, the other of the world, and each of these has its special character stamped upon it, so is it also here.  [For I remark, that two different characters are found among men – the one true coin, the other spurious.  The truly devout man is the right kind of coin, stamped by God Himself. The ungodly man, again, is false coin, unlawful, spurious, counterfeit, wrought not by God, but by the devil.]  The unbelieving are of this world; but the believing have, in love, the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not in readiness to die after the likeness of His passion, His life is not in us.

Chapter 6: Preserve Harmony

Since therefore I have, in the persons before mentioned, beheld the whole multitude of you in faith and love, I exhort you to study to do all things with a divine harmony, while your bishop presides in the place of God, and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before the ages and in the end was revealed.  Do all then, imitating the same divine conduct, pay respect to one another, and let no one look upon his neighbour after the flesh, but continually love each other in Jesus Christ.  Let nothing exist among you that may divide you; but be united with your bishop, and those that preside over you, being subject to God in Christ.

Chapter 7: Do Nothing Without the Bishop and Presbytery

As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him, neither by Himself nor by the apostles, so neither you (should) do anything without the bishop and presbyters.  Neither endeavour that anything appear reasonable and proper to yourselves apart; but being come together into the same place, let there be one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope, in love and in joy undefiled.  There is one Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is more excellent.  Therefore all (of you) run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father, and is with and has gone to (him).

Chapter 8: Caution Against False Doctrines

Do not be deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable.  For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace.  For the divinest prophets lived according to Christ Jesus.  On this account also they were persecuted, being inspired by His grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, not spoken but who was given substance, and who in all things pleased Him that sent Him.

Chapter 9: Let Us Live with Christ

If, therefore, those who were brought up in old things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living according to the Lord’s Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death – whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master – how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher?  And therefore He whom they rightly waited for, being come, raised them from the dead.

Chapter 10: Beware of Judaizing

Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness.  For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be.  Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to Christianity.  For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God.  Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ.  Be salted in Him, lest anyone among you should be corrupted, since by your savour you shall be convicted.  It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize.  For Christianity did not believe into Judaism, but Judaism into Christianity, that so every tongue which believes might be gathered together to God. 

Chapter 11: I Write These Things to Warn You

These things I address to you, my beloved, not that I know any of you to be in such a state (i.e. addicted to the error of judaizing); but, as less than any of you, I desire to guard you beforehand, that you fall not upon the hooks of vain doctrine, but that you attain to full assurance in regard to the birth, passion and resurrection which took place in the time of the governance of Pontius Pilate, being truly and certainly accomplished by Jesus Christ, who is our hope, from which may none of you ever be turned aside.

Chapter 12: You Are Superior to Me

May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy!  For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to any of you that are at liberty.  I know that you are not puffed up, for you have Jesus Christ in yourselves.  And all the more when I commend you, I know that you cherish reverence of spirit; as it is written, ‘The righteous man is his own accuser.’ (Prov. 18:17 LXX).

Chapter 13: Be Established in Faith and Unity

Study, therefore, to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the apostles, so that all things, whatsoever you do, may prosper both in the flesh and spirit; in faith and love; in the Son, and in the Father, and in the Spirit; in the beginning and in the end; with your most admirable bishop, and the well-woven spiritual crown of your presbytery, and the deacons who are according to God.  Be subject to the bishop, and to one another, as Jesus Christ to the Father, according to the flesh, and the apostles to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit; that so there may be a union both fleshly and spiritual.

Chapter 14: Your Prayers Requested

Knowing as I do that you are full of God, I have but briefly exhorted you.  Be mindful of me in your prayers, that I may attain to God; and of the church which is in Syria, whence I am not worthy to derive my name: for I stand in need of your united prayer in God, and your love, that the church which is in Syria may be deemed worthy of being refreshed by your church.

Chapter 15: Salutations

The Ephesians from Smyrna (whence I also write to you), who are here for the glory of God, as you also are, who have in all things refreshed me, salute you, along with Polycarp, the bishop of the Smyrnaeans.  The rest of the churches, in honour of Jesus Christ, also salute you.  Farewell in the harmony of God, you who have obtained the inseparable Spirit, who is Jesus Christ.