Letters of Ignatius

Ignatius defends the true incarnation against the Docetists who deny it; affirms the literal flesh of Christ, His birth of the virgin, His real death, and His real resurrection; and writes of his own coming witness at Rome.

1Be ye deaf, therefore, when any man speaketh unto you apart from Jesus Christ — who was of the race of David, and was of Mary; who was truly born and ate and drank; was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate; was truly crucified and died, in the sight of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth; who moreover was truly raised from the dead — His Father having raised Him — even as in the same fashion His Father shall raise us, in Christ Jesus, that believe on Him; without whom we have not the true life.

2But if, as some say, His suffering was only a phantom, why am I a prisoner? Why also do I desire to fight with the wild beasts? Then I die for nothing. Truly, I am bearing false witness against the Lord. Flee then from these evil offshoots which beget deadly fruit, whereof if any man hath tasted he straightway dieth. For these men are not the planting of the Father.

3I do not give you orders like Peter and Paul. They were apostles; I am a convict. They were free; until now I am a slave. But if I suffer, then am I a freedman of Jesus Christ; and I shall rise free in Him. Now I am learning, in my chains, to put away all desire.

4From Syria even unto Rome I fight with wild beasts — by sea and by land, by night and by day, being bound amid ten leopards — that is, a company of soldiers. Yet by their cruelties I become more thoroughly a disciple. Howbeit I am not justified hereby. May I have joy of the beasts that have been prepared for me; and I pray that I may find them prompt; nay, I will entice them, that they may devour me promptly. If they be unwilling, I will force them. Bear with me — I know what is expedient for me.

5Now I begin to be a disciple. May nothing of things visible or invisible envy me — that I may attain unto Jesus Christ. Come fire, and cross, and grapplings with wild beasts; cuttings, and manglings, wrenching of bones, hacking of limbs, crushings of the whole body, cruel tortures of the devil — let them come upon me, only that I may attain unto Jesus Christ.

6Pardon me, brethren. Hinder me not to live; do not desire that I should die. Bestow not upon the world one that desireth to be God's; neither delude him with material things. Suffer me to receive the pure light. When I am gone thither, then shall I be a man indeed. Permit me to be an imitator of the passion of my God.

7There is in me no fire of material desire; but only water living and speaking in me — saying within me: Come unto the Father. I have no delight in the food of corruption, neither in the delights of this life. I desire the bread of God — even the flesh of Jesus Christ; and for my drink I desire His blood, which is love incorruptible.

8I write unto all the Churches; and I bid all men know that of mine own free will I die for God — unless ye should hinder me. I exhort you: be ye not an unseasonable kindness unto me. Suffer me to be eaten by the beasts; through whom I can attain unto God. I am God's wheat; and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread of Christ.

9Pray ye for me; that I may attain. I write not unto you according to the flesh; but according to the mind of God. If I shall suffer, ye loved me; if I shall be rejected, ye hated me.

10Remember in your prayers the Church which is in Syria, which hath God for its shepherd in my stead. Jesus Christ alone shall oversee it, with your love. But I am ashamed to be called one of them; for neither am I worthy, being the very last of them, and an untimely birth. Yet by His mercy I have obtained mercy.

11I salute the godly bishop, and the reverend presbytery, and my fellow-servants the deacons, and all of you severally 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 be unto you, and mercy, and peace, and patient endurance, throughout all time.

12I salute Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna — together with the presbyters, and the deacons, my fellow-servants. Polycarp, my beloved, study to keep firm in the faith. Let nothing be done without thy consent. Stand firm as the anvil that is smitten. It is the part of a great athlete to be bruised, and yet to conquer. Be more zealous than thou art. Mark the seasons. Watch ye for Him that is above season — the Timeless, the Invisible, who became visible for our sake; the Impalpable, the Impassible, who became passible for our sake; who in every kind of way endured for our sake.

13I bid all men farewell in our God Jesus Christ. Abide ye in concord with God. Possess ye an inseparable spirit, which is Jesus Christ. Fare ye well in the Lord. Glory be unto Him for ever and ever. Amen.