Classics*

Cburcb

EPISTLES

THE

OF

ANTIOCH.

OF

BISHOP

THE

BY

REV.
TUTOR

AND

US,

ATI

IGN

ST.

J. H. SRAWLEY,
THEOLOGICAL

EXAMINING

LECTURER

CHAPLAIN

IN

TO

THE

TWO

D.D.,
COLLEGE

SELWYN

AT

LICHFIELD.

OF

BISHOP

VOLUMES.
I.

VOL.

dEMJioit,

BIBL. MAT.
'

COLLEGE
PUBLISHED

SOCIETY

UNDER

THE

DIRECTION

OF

LONDON

FOR

43,

QUEEN

BRIGHTON:

TRACT

CHRISTIAN

KNOWLEDGE,

AVENUE,

CHARING

CROSS,

VICTORIA

STREET,

B.C.

129,

COMMITTEE.

PROMOTING

NORTHUMBERLAND

THE

NORTH

W.C.

STREET.

I9IO

85531

V,

There's

lack,

of

neither,

God's

saints

and

kingst

no

That

shake

the

of

ashes

the

aside
grave

From

their

Look

stedfast

calm

locks,

truths

and

against

undiscomfited

Time's

changing

mask.'

E.

B.

B.

PREFACE

THE

translation

present

intended

is

accessible

to

in

characters

tant

the

succeeding

the

on

of

Christians

and,

Christianity,

organization
presbyters
of

writer

the

Bishop

1885)

has

them,

Lightfoot's

and

which

exposition

of

that

work

his

are

the

interpretation

of

them

passages,

present

and

has
to

writer

from

critical
and

text

rarely

depart

the

Polycarp,
the

of

the

The

the
has

of

one

and

most

with

the

times.

(Ignatius

connected

of

which

controversy

of

of

bishops,

under

early Christian

guide,

in

expressed

make

for

attached

striking personality

treated

are,

truth

central

as

work

great

the

second

witness

importance

the

to

epistles.

chief

the

the

of

of

Incarnation

the

societies

combine

exhaustively

questions

of

Church

The

epistles,

the

epistles

the

of

bear

they

as

Christian

period

the

these

In

an

impor

understanding

which

the

of

in

most

of

beginning

the

other,

interesting products

most

the

right

deacons.

and

round

gathered

on

the

of

the

generation

unity

visible

the

to

Apostles.

to

the

history

the

Ignatius

St.

of

readers,

of

one

significance

the

that

of

Church

at

facts

two

hand,

one

to

Church

The

century.

of

key
the

of

character

the

age

the

have

we

writings

the

form,

English

before

set

epistles

the

of

has

the

made

ventured,
the

in

views

PREFACE

IV

in it.

expressed

the

On

however, he
epistles,

in the

has

of

Dr.

The

on

Ignatius by

articles

for

1885

of

the

and

1886,

on

while

for

writer

has

of

monograph
subscribe

to

College,

Selwyn
and

they

to

few

both

main
former.

who

Professor

period

been

has

(Texte

has

the

able

the

Untersuch-

und

always

not

found

Ignatius

of

suggestive in

is

matter,

been

able

to

Dr.

Swete, Regius

for

much

Rev.

has

read

L.

through

un

for

S.P.C.K.
for

and

work,

W.

advice

the

of

in the

the

kind

Professor

some

of

E.

Parsons,

the

translation

others.

NOTE
A

shown

have

useful

theology

the committee

; to

criticisms; to

useful

to

Cambridge,

grudginglygiven
interest

he

much

of

notes

conclusions.

the author's

Divinity at

the

Goltz

writer is indebted

The

the

der

Von

The

Empire

that

xii.),
although

Bd.

ungen,

much

found

Altchristlichen

der

the

of

in the Roman

treatingof

In

invaluable.

supplied

Expositor

writer's treatment

same

consulted.

history

external

Church

Ramsay's

been

epistleshave

the

in the

Chronologic

also

have

the

Zahn

his

the

as

the

Judaistic Christianity.

Harnack

Dr.

well

as

epistles in

Litteratur^

of

Hort

main

in the

adopted
his

in

conclusions

attacked

heresies

the

of

nature

TO

THE

slight changes

in the
features

introduction
the

SECOND
and

and

present

EDITION

additions
in

the

edition

have
notes

is

been
;

but

made
in

reprint of

its
the

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION

1.

LITERARY

THE

IGNATIAN

CONTROVERSY

UPON

EPISTLES

7
...

2.

GENUINENESS

AND

DATE

-14
.

3.

ST.

THE

IGNATIUS

THE

MARTYR

.21
.
.

4.

ST.

IGNATIUS

AS

TEACHER

-25
.

I.

THE

EPISTLE

TO

THE

EPHESIANS

40
.

II.

THE

EPISTLE

TO

THE

MAGNESIANS

S9
,

III.

THE

EPISTLE

TO

THE

TRALLIANS

I
"

ST,

IGNATIUS

INTRODUCTION.

THE

i.

CONTROVERSY

LITERARY
IGNATIAN

THE

the

AROUND

there

been

has

extended

the

century.

present

Englishmen,
letters

in

question

the
and

has

Bishop

Bishop

Ages

letters

connected

John

and

(i) Two
(ii) A
(iii) A
The

in

letter
letters

the

the

Virgin.

from
from

only

the

and

the

of

name

exist

with
Ussher
and

Europe

the

During
seventeen

Ignatius.
with

Four

St.

"

to

Virgin
in

of

include

Ignatius

the

of

century,

St.

to

of these

associated

spurious correspondence

Ignatius

interest

decision

the

century.
in

the

controversies

seventeenth

current

has

to

Archbishop

e.

nineteenth

that

learning

been
/.

Ignatius

genuineness

religious

the

They

from

St.

special

of

occasions

were

with

letters

letter

of

scholars,

the

there

is

of

century,

in

embrace
the

the

in

three

on

Lightfoot

these

subject

Pearson

Middle

of

The

English

of

names

of

seventeenth

the

of

name

revival

time

place

the

literary controversy

discussion

the

as

found

England
the

waged

from

EPISTLES.

bearing

letters

UPON

to

St.

Virgin.

the
to

John.

Ignatius.

Latin,

and

were

most

pro-

INTRODUCTION

in that

bablycomposed

language.

attempt has been

An

authorityof St. Bernard in support of

in one
their genuineness,
because
of his sermons
he says
that
Ignatius saluteth a certain Mary in several
he wrote
Christ-bearer.' But
which
to her, as
epistles,
the word
guandam,1 a certain (one)/shows that he is
than
the
the
less famous
Virgin,
speakingof some
person
reference
being, doubtless, to Mary of Cassobola, to
is addressed.
whom
of the letters of the Long Form
one
the object of the forger was
As
undoubtedly to do
honour
to the Virgin,
Lightfootis inclined to connect
of Mariolatry
which took
the letters with the outburst
place in the eleventh and followingcenturies. The
the revival
as
speedilydisposed of as soon
forgerywas
of the study of antiquity
began.
known
the Longer
The remainingthirteen epistles,
as
letters of the
Form, include a longer version of the seven
with
six
additional
i
.
letters,
collection,
e.
together
present
to
Ignatius,Ignatius to Mary of
Mary of Cassobola
to the
Cassobola, to the Tarsians,to the Philippians,
This Longer Form
is con
Antiochenes, and to Hero.
made

claim the

to

'

'

tained

in

version

which

of

additional

Greek

several

letters

the

MSS.

MSS.

are

found

also

are

and

also

in

The

numerous.

attached

to

the

Latin
six
seven

in
collection
the Greek
not
only
present
Armenian
and Coptic
MSS., but also in the Latin,Syriac,

letters of

the

translations.
and

followed

was

Greek

The

text.

letter of

Mary

Latin
in

version

by

1557

Neither

of

of Cassobola

the

printed in 1498,
publicationof the

editions

these
to

was

contained

which
Ignatius,

the

appeared,

however, in subsequenteditions.
1

The

omission

of this word

ceptionof the passage.

of the true text.

But

in

there

MSS.

some

is

no

doubt

assisted the miscon

that it forms a part

It

was

CONTROVERSY

LITERARY

THE

failto

They could not

aroused.

students

of
suspicions

long before the

not

struck

be

the

by

were

wide

Ignatiusin the current editions

of earlyChristian writers,such as
from the quotations
Eusebius (c.A.D.
(A.D.446).
310"325) and Theodoret
noticed further that Eusebius only makes mention
It was

of
of
the
text
divergence

of

and that
letters,

seven

others but these

no

are

referred

after
considerable
for
writers
Christian
period
some
to by
Internal evidence confirmed these
the time of Eusebius.

At

mistakes in the letters.

views,
Presbyterian
of
their presentation
cause
the
and

views.

On

the

JesuitPetavius,that
the

on

other

hand

those who

recognizedby
interpolate

it was

hand

the

were
epistles

many

conflicted with

order

one

favoured

be
letters,

againstthe

Church

and

prejudic

time the

same

excited

were

own

the

of
and especially
writers,

of Protestant

their

anachronisms

obvious

by pointingout
suspicions

Protestant

writers

were

included
some
genuine
they
prepared
letters of Ignatius.Vedelius, a professorat Geneva,
in
in
which he
letters
of
the
edition
an
1623,
published
the
the
from
to
genuine
spuriou
separate
attempted
letters mentioned
letters. The seven
by Eusebius were
which
and
he
the
in
one
class,
remaining
five,
placed
formed
second
into
class.
a
w
ere
as
spurious,
regarded
to

He

believe

maintained

also

that

that

the

letters contained

seven

and in proof of this

interpolations,
of extracts
had made
use
interpolator

he

showed

from the

that the

Apostolica

Constitutions.

genuineness of the Long Form

accepted by Englishwriters of eminence
The

time,

the

we

find

the

letters in

commonly

before Ussher's

that form

quoted by
question,
however,

The
Bishop Andrewes.
prominentlybrought forward by the controversies of
day. Episcopacywas being vehemently attacked by

Hooker
was

and

was

and

10

INTRODUCTION

the

Puritans.

This

attack

reached

its climax

in

the

famous

Smectymnuus controversy (so called from the

initialsof the names
of the five Presbyterian
in
divines),
which
Bishop Hall defended, and the Presbyterian
attacked the government
of the Church
by bishops. In
this controversy Ussher
his

The

pamphlet

was

induced

to

take

part.

In

Originalof Bishops and

Metropolitan
he made
of the evidence of the Ignatian epistle
use
carefullyconfining,however, his quotations to the
in which

the

version agrees with

interpolated
the genuine text.
Ussher's pamphlet was
repliedto by
the poet Milton in his treatise Of Prelatical Episcopacy
publishedin 1641. He attacks the genuineness of the
Ignatianepistlesand says, 'To what end then should
they cite him as authentic for episcopacy,when they
passages

know

cannot

what

is authentic

of him

'

But

Ussher

alreadyengaged in the task of rescuingthe genuine

from the interpolated
and
epistles
spuriousadditions of
the current
had
examined
He
the quotationsof
text.
Ignatius found in the writingsof Robert Grosseteste
Bishop of Lincoln (c.A.D. 1250),and two other English
writers,John Tyssington and William Wodeford, who
had

fourteenth

in the

wrote

the Franciscan

house

his books.

These

the

text

common

of

century and

of

Oxford, to which Grosseteste left

quotations,he found, differed from
at

and agreed with

Ignatius

in Eusebius

tions found

members

were

and

the

This

Theodoret.

quota
led him

might exist somewhere in England

of
this
the epistle
text
containing
manuscripts
purer
of the
Latin MSS.
the discovery of two
The
result was
to

conclude

that there

epistles.The
Gonville
which
Walter

and

Ussher

first of these

was

found

in the

Caius College,Cambridge.

procured

Crome, D.D.,

This

MS., of

written

by
Fellow, being completed

was
transcript,

former

of
library

in the

year

as

1441,

on

Collegein

A.D.

Montague

the

MS.

was

from

came

the

Bishop

Montacute,

or

in the

note

MS.

of Norwich.

lines

in the

or

has,
the

between

of the Gains
margin of Ussher's transcript
is now
in the libraryof Dublin
transcript

This

MS.

It

time, although we

collation of its readings contained

possess

hand

same

presented to the
St. Hugh/
libraryof Richard

however, disappeared since Ussher's

a

in Crome's

note

the feast of

'on

1444

second

The

another

that

states
fly-leaf

learn from

we

while
handwriting,

own

II

CONTROVERSY

LITERARY

THE

University.
Of

these

MSS.

two

earlier and

the

the

second

appears

In

accurate.

more

fact

that it closely
represents the version

version
him

to

Such

preservedin

of Greek

lation

to

of which

books

the
be

MS.

there

has

view.
MS.

as

were

the

been

the

the Latin

further

studyled
by

learningand

Moreover

Grossteste

in the

know

we

caused

the

that
trans

writingsof Dionysius the

b
ound
in
the
frequently
appear
up
Ignatian epistles. In recent times

made

Areopagite. These
same

and

from

interest shown

in Greek

authors.

from

himself the translator.

was

view is consistent with the

translation

it came

quotationsof Ignatiu

MSS.,

believe that Grosseteste

the

Lightfootthinks

taken

were

these two

great Bishop of Lincoln

among

that the

of Grosseteste

works

in the

found

Ussher

translator.

as

be

to

more

the

direct

confirmation

of

Ussher's

This is
in the

suppliedby a note in a fourteenth-cent

the Latin trans
at Tours, attributing
library

lation to Grosseteste.

publishedhis shorter Latin text in 1644. But

as
yet the Greek text correspondingto this shorter Latin
version had not appeared. This link was
supplied two
Amsterdam
later
the
a
t
publication
by
by Isaac
years
"Ussher

Voss

of the Greek

text

of six out

of the

seven

the
letters,

12

INTRODUCTION

being missing. This Greek text

based upon
MS. in the Medicean
was
an
eleventh-century
at Florence.
Finallythe Greek text of the missing
library
to the Romans
was
epistle
publishedby Ruinart in 1689
to
epistle

from

the Romans

MS.

of the

tenth

century,

now

in the

National

Libraryat Paris. The MS. contains the Greek Acts of the

and the epistle
is
to the Romans
martyrdom of Ignatius,
Ussher's labours
thus enabled
incorporatedin them.
of Ignatius,
students to recognizethe genuineepistles
and
these the interpolated
to separate from
as well
portions,
found in the Longer Form.
the spuriousepistles,
as
But the publication
by Voss of the Greek text of the
led to a new
seven
epistles
controversy set on foot by
the French
because
Puritans,who attacked the epistles
of the support which they lent to episcopacy.The most
formidable opponent
was
Daille,whose work appeared
in

This

1666.

letters

seven

the

and

met,

new

attack

concentrated

was

published by

as

genuinenessof

Bishop Pearson,

who

Voss.

the

his

wrote

The

the

upon

attack

was

letters vindicated

Vindidce

by
Ignatiancein

1672.

important date in the Ignatian controversy

the year 1845, when
Canon
Cureton
was
published a
Syriac version of the epistlesto St. Polycarp, the
The
three epistles
Ephesians,and the Romans.
con
The

next

in this version appear in

is found in the Greek
text and
tained

ment

the

shorter form

than

Latin

version.

frag

the

in the collection.

based

former
It

much

epistleto the Trallians is incorporatedin

of the other epistl
to the Romans, but none
epistle
of

appear
was

was

convent

two

upon
of these two

The

text

MSS.

in the

MSS.

dates

of Cureton's

edition

British Museum.
from

purchased by Archdeacon
of St. Mary Deipara in the

The

the sixth century.

Tattam

Nitrian

from

the

desert in

second

The

1839.

eighth century, and

deacon
three

CONTROVERSY

LITERARY

THE

in 1842.

Tattam

from

the

brought

from

Egypt by

maintained

Cureton

seventh

or

Arch

that these

represented the genuine Ignatius

alone
epistles

that the Vossian

dates

MS.
was

13

collection contained

form, and
interpolated

these

three in

an

remaining four letters of

collection were
the Vossian
forgeries. This rekindled
afterwards
the controversy. Dr. Christopher'Wordsworth,
version
Bishop of Lincoln, declared the newly-discovered
to be an
epitome of the genuine letters made by an
Eutychian heretic. This led Cureton to a fuller treat
discovered an
of the question. He had meanwhile
ment
of the three epistles,
additional MS.
brought,like the
of St. Mary Deipara,and
first-named,from the convent
datingfrom at least the ninth century. He now published
his great work
Corpus Ignatianum (London, 1849),
which contains a full treatment
of the whole
question
Cureton's view was
and several
supported by Bunsen
eminent

Apart

scholars.

But

that the

it has

the fact that the

from

failed to hold

its ground.

letters of the Vossian

seven

known
to Eusebins and Theodoret,
plainly
they exhibit a perfectunity of authorship and style
throughout. Cureton's theory requiresus to suppose
that the interpolator
able to reproducein his additions
was
subtle characteristics of language
to the letters the most
similar
and
A
when
occurs
difficulty
we
grammar.
examine the relation of Cureton's Syriacversion to the
letters. The
is plainl
one
Syriacversion of the seven
collection

were

derived from
the Curetonian

the

other,and it is

Syriacversion

far

is an

more

probable that

abridgedform

of the

than that the latter

letters,
Syriac version of the seven
is an
expansionof the former.
The
works
of Zahn
von
Antiochien, 1873)
(Ignatius
and of Bishop Lightfoot (Apostolic
Fathers, Part II.,

14

INTRODUCTION

Ignatiusand

demon
Polycarp, 1885) have convincingly
strated the genuinenessof the seven
letters in the form
edited by Voss,.asagainstthe claims of the Curetonian
and this conclusion
has been
letters,
generallyaccepted
by modern scholars.
in
Form
author
of the Long
The
probably wrote
Syriain the latter half of the fourth century. He has
with the compile
been identified by Harnnck
and Funk
of the ApostolicConstitutions (see Brightman, Liturgie
Arian tone suggests
JE. and
W., p. xxvii f.). His slightly
of a primitiv
that he wished
to present, in the name
of doctrine to which men
statement
father,a conciliatory
of all parties
might assent (Lightfcot).
is
due
the
version
to
Curetonian
The
probably
Syriac
careless abridgment of the letters by some
scribe,and
but
neither
nor
something
extract,
epitome
represents
J
the two.'
between
Lightfootis inclined to assignit to
*

the sixth century.

GENUINENESS

2.

AND

DATE.

in early Christian literature

epistles
existence receives such earlyand, excellent attest
whose
from the epistl
ation as does that of the Ignatianepistles
The
of Polycarp (Harnack, Chronologic,
epistl
400).
p.
few
written
some
of Polycarp to the Philippianswas
and before the news
weeks
after the letters of Ignatius,
Smyrna. It
of the martyrdom of Ignatiushad reached
contains two references to Ignatius(cc.9, 13). In the
of
The
letters
writer
the
Ignatiu
:
latter passage
says
had
which
all
the
rest
we
and
by us,
him,
sent to us by
attached
are
They
to
as
have
sent
enjoined.
we
you
you,
with
our
This
letter.'
corresponds
this
description
to
*

THERE

are

no

'

I.
Lightfoot,

p. 325.

collection.

present

Smyrna,
Four

the

to

one

others

letters
the

Church,

written from

were

the letter to the

Two

DATE

AND

GENUINENESS

addressed

were

other

which
Philadelphians,

to

Polycarp.

to

The

Smyrna.

bearer

of

written from

was

it

Thus

probably pass through Smyrna.

for copies of all the letters to be in
would be possible
of
letters,
and
the
interchange
possession,
Polycarp's
Paul's
St.
in
the
churches
in
which was
common
already
the
of
the
would
render
iv.
request
16),
day (Col.
See
natural.
and
compliance
Polycarp's
Philippians
vol. i. pp. 336, 423 f.
further,
Lightfoot,
See
Rom.
St. Irenseus (c.180 A.D.)quotes from
4.
of our
28. 4 : 'As
own
one
v.
people said,when con
of his testimony
account
demned
to the wild beasts on
GOD'S grain,and I am
I am
towards GOD,
ground by

Troas, would

"

the teeth

of

wild

beasts, that I may

be

found

pure

'

bread."

Lightfootand

Harnack

both

refer

to

passages

(c. 190
210),which they
acquaintancewith these epistles.

of Alexandria

Clement

"

in

think

pointto an
Origen,before the middle of the third century, shows
and their author.
clearlya knowledge of these epistles
he
Thus
in de Orat.
appropriatesthe language of
20,
is
visible
is
Rom.
that
:
Nothing
good." This,
3
however, may have been a proverbial expression. But
in two
passages he claims to be quoting the very words
of Ignatius
*'

"

(i)In the Prologue to the Commentary on the

Song of Songs (extantin the version of Rufinus)he
I
remember
of
the
that
:
some
one
saints,
Ignatius
says
*

by

name,

do

Rom.

said of Christ,"My

think

him

deserving of

Love

is

censure

crucified,"nor
for this.'

See

7.

(ii)In

Horn.

vi. in Lucam, he quotes

from

Eph.

19,

l6

INTRODUCTION

introducingthe quotationby
their author.

and

in

His

who

second

was

Peter, and
beasts

the letters

is it written

Well

in the

who
Rome.'

at

are

'

to

certain martyr, IgnatiusI mean,

bishop of Antioch after the blessed

of the letters of

one

words

reference

persecutionfought with

Then

follow

the

words,

wild

Hidden
'

of Mary
prince of this world was the virginity
(Eph. 19). Origen thus clearlyknew that
second
was
(i)Ignatius
bishop of Antioch.
(ii)He suffered martyrdom at Rome.
He
in
wrote
extant
some
epistleswhich were
(iii)
Origen'stime.
of Caesarea (c.310
Eusebius
325) in his Chronicle
that Ignatiuswas
second
states
bishop of Antioch, and
was
martyred in the reignof Trajan. In his Ecclesiastical
History (iii.
36) he shows an exact and detailed
22,
knowledge of Ignatius,his journey, his letters,the

from

the

"

"

churches

which

to

martyrdom

at

he

Rome.

the

ad

Stephan.i.)from

Romans

From

evidence
Version

the
of
was

century, and

He

and

to

time

wrote,

the tradition of his

also quotes from

epistl
(Qucest

the

Smyrnaeans,and elsewhere
Ephesians.

of Eusebius

the

existence

in

existence

an

and

Armenian

there

is full and

varied

of

the

letters. The

Syriac

at

the

close

fourth

of

the

Version, translated

from

the

Syriac,in the fifthcentury or rather later.

the letters bear clear evidence of the earl
Internally
written.
date at which they were
The heresies attacked show
that the author
i.
plainly
had

not

in view the great Gnostic

Marcion, Basilides,or

Valentinus.

sects

He

connected
shows

no

with

sign

attackingtheir distinctive systems, but on the contrary

in certain placeslanguage which
would
have been
uses
if used by a
unguarded and liable to be misunderstood

of

INTRODUCTION

4. The

New

relation of these
is

Testament

date.

The

in which

manner

quoted points to
written Gospels had not
are

held

by

them

later
in the

reference

no

the author

case

of the

of their

early

Gospel facts and saying

an
early period at which the
attained the unique pre-eminence
second

century.

written

Gospels,and

to
epistles

quotes from

Smyrn. 3. This
stillappealed to.
The
objectionsto

books

the

in the

on

See

indication

further

the

to
epistles

extra-canonical

an

show

would

is

There
in

one

source.

that oral tradition

was

genuinenessof these epistle

have centred mainlyround their presentation
of Church
and
their
witness to episcopacy. But the
government
here presented,while it exhibits mon
as
organization,
and regardsthe
archical episcopacyas fullyestablished,
of all ministerial authority,1
also
bishop as the source
shows indications of its earlydate.
The
1.
picturepresented of the bishop points to an
earlyperiod when the area over which he exercised his
rule was
the congregationrather than the diocese,and
when

he

was

the

the

pastor of

flock,like

the vicar

modern

town, in intimate relations with all his

Hence

too

immediate
as

find

we

and

'council

'3

that

the

regularcontact
in the work

body

of

with him

of

a
2

people.'
presbytersare in
and

assist him

of administration.

to which
Ignatiu
authority
likens the authority
of the bishop and the presbyter
also affords an
fact that
indication of earlydate.
The
he regards the bishop as the representative
of the Lord,
while the presbytersrepresent the Apostles, indicates
that he is writingat a time when
the memory
of the
2.

study of

1
2

the types of

Smyrn. 8.
Gore, Church and Ministry, p. 104.
Magn. 6, Trail. 3, Philad. 8.

GENUINENESS

earthlylife was
bishop'soffice he

Lord's
the

which

was

AND

in the world

19

in the minds

fresh
sees

DATE

of

In

men.

type of authoritylike that

Christ went

when

about

in His

ministryattended by the Apostles.

in
Had
these
the
been
half
latter
epistles
forged
3.
of the second
supposed, we should
century, as Renan
have
reflect the conception of the
to
expected them
of that
ministrywhich is prominent in Christian writings
in the writers of the latter half of the
period. Now
find the bishopscontinually
second century we
appealed
of Apostolictradition. The bishops
to as the depositaries
have received from the Apostles 'the gift of truth.'
in
This conception is found in the Clementine
writings,

Hegesippus and in
ceptionupon which
letters had

these
second
have

Irenaeus.
the

been

But

it is not

dwell.
Ignatianepistles
written in the

the

con

Yet

if

latter half of the

is
that
his
it
unlikely
century
little trace of the ideas
shown
so

language would
current

at

that

time.

objectionsurged on the ground of supposed

anachronisms, such as the word
leopard (Rom. 5) and
the phrase Catholic Church
(Smyrn.8),are dealt with
The

other

'

'

'

'

in the notes.
Each

of the letters exhibits the

and
individuality,

is connected

same

clearlymarked

by close and subtle links

with the others. The
Epistleto the Romans, however,
It is of a purelypersonal
stands apart from the others.
character and deals with his coming martyrdom. Hence
it contains no
allusion to the subjectswhich occupy
so
of attention in other
viz.
epistles,
large an amount
Church
order and
heresy. Its silence on these points
is of value in refuting
the idea that the letters are a late
forgeryhaving as their object the promotion of Episco
On
it
is
that
difficult
to see
assumption
why the
pacy.

INTRODUCTION

20

letter should
such

object.

an

mitted

have

included

been
To

escape

in

collection

having

ad
Renan
difficulty
Epistle to the Romans.

this

genuineness of the
of the same
But in its stylethe epistleshows
clear traces
authorship as the others,and it is impossible to separate
the

them.

and original
personalit
epistles
present a striking
surpassingin interest that of any other of the so-called
character
The
of such
creation
a
Apostolic Fathers.
feat quite beyond the reach
would
have
been
a
literary
of a forger in the second
or
any followingcentury.
The
only be
year of the martyrdom of Ignatius can
fixed within
rough limits. Eusebius, as we have seen,
that Ignatiuswas
states
martyred in the time of Trajan.
that he was
second
bishop of Antioch
Origen's statement
and fought with wild beasts at Rome
duringthe persecu
acquainted with the
tion,'probably shows that he was
tradition and refers to the persecutionunder Trajan,
same
the
has
shown
404),
(Chronologic,
for, as Harnack
p.
well be
second
of the
date
cannot
bishop of Antioch
later than that of the second
much
bishop of Jerusalem,
Simeon, who suffered martyrdom in the reign of Trajan
(A.D.98"117).
The

'

Harnack

finds

relations
dressed

writing to
the time

between
Hence

be

the

date

in the

Polycarp. In the epistlead

latter,Ignatius plainlyshows that he is
is a comparativelyyoung
who
At
man.
death Polycarp'sage was
eighty-six
(Mart.

the
one

of his

Polyc. 9). This

be

of

Ignatius to

of
to

indication

another

was

fortyand
the date

fixed between

in

A.D.

155-6,

fiftybetween

of the letters and

A.D.

no

"

-117.

and

A.D.

the

Polycarp would
no

"

120.

martyrdom

may

ST.

ST.

3.
OF

IGNATIUS

IGNATIUS

the author

information

THE

THE

what

21

MARTYR.

we
epistles

of these

beyond

MARTYR

little
reliable
possess

be

gathered from the

The
Italian name
epistlesthemselves.
Ignatiuscom
bined with the Greek
titleTheophorus may indicate,
as
1
Professor
he belonged to a
Ramsay
suggests, that
Syrian family,stronglyaffected by Western
civilizati
may

'

which

had
of

discarded

native names.'

It is clear from

the

his

have been
punishment that he cannot
a
in which
Roman
he would have been
citizen,
case
sent,
like St. Paul,to Rome
for trial,
and, if condemned, would
nature

have

been

beheaded.

From

the scattered hints which

give,e. g. Rom. 9, born out of due time,'and

'last (of all),'
the expression,
in Eph. 21, Trail.
found
his
conclude
that
conversion was
we
Smyrn.
u,
13,
may
late in life. From
Origen and Eusebius (see precedin
learnt that he was
second
have
we
section)
bishop of
Antioch,being preceded by Euodius, and that he suffered
martyrdom in the time of Trajan. The Acts recording
his martyrdom exist in two
and
forms, the Antiochene
Roman
Acts, but both are quite late and untrustworthy
left without any knowledge of
With their rejection
are
we
the circumstances of his trialand condemnation, and the
destitute of
oft-quoted interview with Trajan becomes
infer that
themselves
the epistles
we
authority.From
him
before
who
like
other
(Eph.
12),
Ignatius,
martyrs
to the beasts
condemned
had
been
by the provincia
in
the
Rome
suffer
to
to
arena
sent
was
being
governors,
built by the
This great amphitheatre,
of the Coliseum.
the letters

'

Flavian emperors,
1

was

the

Ch. in R.

scene

Empire,

of these

brutal sports

p. 440, note.

on

INTRODUCTION

22

scale,and it is a well-attested fact that criminals

gigantic
from the provinceswere
used
for this purpose.1 From
Polyc.Phil, i, 9 we gather that other prisonersaccom
at least during a portionof his journey.
panied Ignatius,
His escort consisted of a maniple of soldiers,
whom
on
a

account

of

their harsh

he

treatment

'ten

to

compares

leopards'(Rom. 5). His letters reveal the true martyrspirit.He declares that he is a willingvictim.2 His
death will speak more
clearlyto the world than ever his
words

have

in life.

done

'

If you

alone,'he writes to the Romans,

of
a

God, but, if you desire

mere

to the

cry.;
sword, near

in company

To

It is,'
he writes

suffer blows

to

his guards

to

and

I shall become

me

word

my

'

God.

that

leave

then shall I be again

flesh,
people of Smyrna he says, Near

to God

with

Jesus Christ,so
'

the

be silent and

we

with
in
wild beasts,
;
company
of
Only let it be in the name
may

suffer
'

togetherwith Him.'4

the part of

Polycarp,

be victorious.' 5

The

great athlete
taken

route

by

probably overland by the Syrianand

Cilician Gates to Smyrna, Troas, and Philippi,
and thence
At some
to Rome.
pointin the journeythe road branched
in two directions,
the southern
the line of
route
following
the great trade highway through Tralles,Magnesia, and
northern
Ephesus, while the more
lay through Phila
the route
followed
delphia and Sardis. The latter was
guards, and after a stay at Philadelphi
by the Roman
(Philad.i, 6, 7, 8),Ignatiusreached Smyrna, where he
received by the Church
and
its bishop,
was
hospitably
have
in
to
Polycarp. Meanwhile
messengers
appear
formed
the churches
lyingon the southern route of the
martyr'sapproaching visit to Smyrna, and accordingl
him from Ephesus,
sent
to Smyrna to meet
were
delegates
1

See

Rom.

was

Ramsay,
4.

Ch.
3

in R.

Rom.

Empire,
2.

p. 317.

Smyrn.

4.

Polyc. 3.

ST.

IGNATIUS

THE

MARTYR

23

Magnesia,and Tralles. Their arrival appears to have

and he accordingly
addressed a
greatlycheered Ignatius,
letter to each of the churches
from
which
they came,
acknowledgingtheir attentions and givingthem practica
counsel upon
the dangers to which they were
exposed.
the

At

same

The

Rome.

time

he

letter to

Christians had

Roman

certain members

from

wrote

of

the

the Church

heard

of his

Syrianchurch

preceded him (Rom. 10),and he fears that

more

influentialmembers

may

journey

who

had

of their

some

themselves

exert

at

to procure

respite. He entreats them not to hinder him from

and
attainingunto God,' and expresses in exuberant
passionatelanguagehis desire for martyrdom. The next
which
hear of him
at
is Troas, from
we
halting-place
which he wrote
the three remainingletters,
to the Philadelphians,to the Smyrnaeans, and to Polycarp. All
a
'

these letters

were

written after he had

received

the

news

that the persecution in

He
accord
Syria had ceased.
inglyasks that delegatesshould be sent to Antioch with
congratulations.From Polyc.8 we learn that he was on
the pointof sailing
to Neapolis. The
mention of
next
him is in Polycarp'sletter to the Philippians
(cc.9, 13),
in which he asks for tidings
of Ignatius,
who
had passed
through their city. Polycarp also states that he is send
ing them, at their request, a packet of the letters of

His fame as
Ignatius.This is the last we hear of him.
a
martyr spread through the East, and his letters were
translated
into Syriac,
Armenian, and Coptic. Around
his life and death there grew a wealth of legend. His
name
Theophorus gave rise to two such legends. One
of

these, not

found

before

evidentlyunderstands
1

On

the heresies

the

the end
name

attacked,see

of the ninth
to

Add.

mean

Note

century,

'the

I, vol. ii.

God-

INTRODUCTION

24

borne,'and
took

Lord

the
child
as
Ignatius
represents
in His arms
(Mark ix. 36, 37).

story,which

Another
had

and

much

is founded
circulation,

limited

more

our

Church

the Western

from

comes

whom

GodTheophorus,
upon
of Beauvais, who
It is narrated by Vincent
bearer.'
his heart was
when
cut into small pieces
tells us that
inscribed
found
of the Lord
the name
Jesus Christ was
for
read
we
as
in golden letters on
piece,
;
every single

other

the

of the

sense

'

name

'

Christ in his heart.7

said that he had

he had

with

him

traditions connect

Various

other

or

one

of

him
of
as
having
speaks
Apostles.
at the hand
received the grace of the high-priesthood
Constitutions he
of the great Peter.' In the Apostolical
is representedas
having been ordained by St. Paul.
The later and more
widely-spreadtradition represented
of St. John.
him as a disciple
of Ignatiusby the
A story is told us of the episcopate
Theodoret

the
'

historian Socrates,who

fashion of his vision

traced

orders

Eph.

4, Rom.

chorus

and

The
West

Trajan,

he

of his

story which,

contained.
1

On

The

same

these Acts of the

grasp

also

we

the
Acts

be
5, in

heavenly things
his language in
form

into

through Jesus Christ.

1

gave

his interview
as

to

Trail.

as

bids his readers

martyrdom

from
authority
apart

ent

to

Father

story of

at

this tradition may

passages

angels,and

2, where

the

to

of

singto the

Acts

narrates

Church

to the

custom

that

his power

speaks of

he
the

and

his language in such

to

which

as

Lightfootthinks

Antioch.'

He

440.

vision
of
'saw
a
angels
Ignatius
8)
and
left
in
antiphonal
hymns,
Holy Trinity

(H.
the
praising
the

A.D.

c.

how

vi.

E.

wrote

have

currency
with

seen, has

spuriousActs
in like

martyrdom,

see

in East and

the
no

independ

in which

manner

Add.

Emperor

Note

it is

perpetuated
3, vol. ii.

26

INTRODUCTION

must

be

not

allowed

character which
in maxims

lies behind

and

the

to obscure

them.

in passages

of

profoundlyspiritu
The

letters abound

beauty.
great spiritual

They present to us a man, who has a keen insightinto

the practical
of the Incarnation and the fresh
significance
value which it has given to material things. He
spiritual
of
of
the
events
can
even
simple
dailylife,Those
say
for you
thingswhich you do after the flesh are spiritual,
do
all things in Jesus Christ.'1
Though he is the
the
order
and
uncompromising champion of Church
find him saying, Let not office puff up any
we
ministry,
'

'

for faith and

man,

love

insistence upon
outward
remind us that the inner

all in all.'2

are

unity,he
of
principle

all his

Amid

does

forget to

not

union

Him

is God

again,he loves to dwell on the '.silence'of

Christ and His Cross are
God's working.4 To Ignatius,
all in all. In the Passion of Jesus Christ lies the power
which draws his heart from all earthlylongings.5 Hence
his one
aspiration,
expressedagain and again,is that I
breathes
attain
And
there
God.'
unto
throughout
yet
may
born
of humility. He is one
out of due
a deep spirit
6
7
last
time,' the
(of all).' Though at the close of a
I am
beginningto be a
long career, he writes,'Now
8
disciple.'
His teachingreflects the natural character and circum
the deep vein of mysticism
of its author.
Thus
stances
be partlydue to the
which pervades these letters may
self.3 So

'

'

'

intense

Again,the
to

fervid

and

influences of heathen

degree

some

in the

The
Christianity.
1

Eph;

Trail.

See

form

character

II.

21, Trail.

Rom.
13,

9.

writer.

the

with God, and

2

7.

of

show themselves
training
in which
he apprehended

idea of union

8.

Rom.

Eph.

Oriental

the

Smyrn. 6.
Eph. 15, 19.

Rom

Eph.

9.

3.

con-

ceptionof
of

power

redemption

allyattract

from

of
points
present
the heathen world, as

demons,

second
a

centuries,and

convert

27

TEACHER

deliverance

as

ideas of
religious
firstand

AS

IGNATIUS

ST.

with

the

it in the

know

we

would

as

heathenism.

from

the

contact

such

are

death and

natur

further,if

And

impossible
in
worthless
far as dates are concerned
itself
so
(though
should find
we
that St. John was
the teacher of Ignatius,
between
natural explanationof the close relationship
a
his thought and that of the Johanninewritings.
the theologyof Igna
As compared with later teaching,
like that of the other
tius,
ApostolicFathers, exhibits
character.
and
in some
immature
an
undeveloped
respects
the depths of
It was
to sound
only slowlythat men came
the teachingof St. Paul and St. John, and to grasp the
we

which
could trust the later tradition,

is not

'

eternal relations of the truths revealed

in time. Hence

we

Ignatiusa use of doctrinal terms, which would have

been avoided by the more
exact theologyof a later age. In
1
the passion
the phrases, the blood of God,'
stances
are
3
2
and
the
word
of my
which, as
God,'
unoriginate,'
to deny the Eternal Gen
appliedto our Lord, might seem
find in

'

'

'

eration.

There

is also

the work

of the

Son

carnation

(except,
perhaps,in Magn. 8),and

of His

agency

absence

an

such

as

we

references

any

in the world

of God

in Creation

of

before

to

the In

of the doctrine

find

in St. Paul.

Ignatiusappliesto Him the title'Logos' or 'Word,'4

5
Mind
and elsewhere speaksof Him
the
the
of
as
Father,'
6
and
the
Father
the unerring Mouth
whereby
spake ;
he asserts the Divine Sonship,and once
while, moreover,
7
the
the
uses
phrase,
Only Son/ yet he nowhere speaks
of the eternal relations of this Divine
Sonship to the
While

'

'

'

'

1
4

Eph. i.
Magn. 8.

5
7

6.

Rom.

Eph.

Rom.

3.
inscr.

Eph. 7.

Rom.

8.

28

INTRODUCTION

Fatherhood

of

God, beyond the

with
pre-existence
nature

the two

how

the Father.1

complete, whether

was

natures

united

are

with

depths

theology of

Christ had
in One

teachingupon
is found
justification

'

'

soul,

Person, these
and
the

grasp

of

are

the

epistles
present
sound

to

only in

the

of Christ.

the Death
two

passages,
in the latter of these

5 and Philad. 8, and only

with the Passion.
is it used in connection
Rom.

/. e.

human

human

Cross, or attempt

of St. Paul's

idea of

The

the

far the

How

questionswhich lie outside the scope

teachingof Ignatius. Nor again do
us

fact of the Son's

mere

The

word

'

propitiationdoes not occur, and there is only one

mention of forgivenessin connection with repentance,
in Philad. 8.
It is not maintained that Ignatiusignored
the
teaching associated with such language. His
and
Passion
the
the
Cross
references
to
imply
repeated
contribution
Christian
his
to
But
particular
contrary.
a
nd
he
in
another
and
direction,
teaching
lay
thought
the
to repeat, without developing,
content
was
accordingly
simplelanguageof his time upon the Death of Christ.
'

'

'

Such

are

some

of the

limits within

which

the teach

But
when
to
we
come
epistlesmoves.
find that they witness to a
their positivecontents, we
full and varied,
Church tradition which is singularly
and,
above
all,they present a view of the Person of Jesus

ing

of

these

Christ,which
to

be

found

is richer and

in

the

more

writingsof

complete than anythin

the

other

'

Apostolic

Fathers.'

regard to the former of these,the witness of the

of
their
tradition
the
Church
t
o
time, we may
epistles
Harnack
Dr.
of
the
(Chronologic,
language
p. xi)
quote
and St. Ignatius
of St. Clement
Speaking of the epistles
studies these letters cannot
He who diligently
he says :
With

'

Polyc. 3, Magn. 6.

fail to

what
perceive

TEACHER

AS

IGNATIUS

ST.

29

fulness of traditions,
subjectsof

already
doctrines,and forms of organization
preaching,
existed in the time of Trajan,and in individual churches
of
the
contents
had attained a secure
position.'Among

the
reference
notice
to
the
we
tradition,
may
in Magn. 13 (cf.
Threefold Name
Eph. 9, Philad. inscr.
When
to the historical facts of the Lord's earthly
come
we
this Church

a
life, find,firstof all,
we

emphaticwitness

clear and

Virgin-birth.'The

of
virginity

bearing'formed

of the

in

silence

the

aloud.'1

of

now

heretics

Docetic

child-

her

'wrought
mysteries,'
'to be
proclaime

'three

but

God,'

Against the

of

weary

two

and

Mary

to the

is

he

never

language that presents the

emphasizing,in

formulae
from
either
derived
liturgical
being
appearance
the
short creed-like statements,2the Virgin-birth,
or
Davidic
descent, the baptism by John, the crucifixion
the tetrarch,
and the
Pontius Pilate and Herod
under
resurrection. See esp. the two passages, Trail. 9, Smyrn.
of
birth
the
the
mentions
at
He
star
seen
Jesus
2.
i,
of

Christ,3 and

is the reference

too

upon

to

intercourse

the

Resurrection,with

after His

dwells

Apostles.4

the

descent

the

the

of

interest

Of

in

into Hades

Lord,

Magn.

9). He nowhere speaks of the actual

Ascension, although it is presupposed in

Philad. 5,
(cf.

fact

of

the

Magn.

7.

it did

not

facts of

But

possess

the

witness to the
references

for the purposes

to

the

same

which

immediate

the Lord's

human

Coming

of the

the Second

had

in hand,

interest

the

as

Resurrection,which

Birth, Passion, and

of
reality

he

nature.

Lord

are

The
very

in
the expression
slight. See Eph. 15, and compare
Rom.
10, 'patientabiding for Jesus Christ.' Ignatiu
speaks of the Holy Spiritin language which plainl
shows that he regardedHim
distinct from the Father
as
1

Eph.

19.

See p. 17.

Eph.

19.

Smyrn.

3.

30

INTRODUCTION

and
'

the Son.

from

Cf. Magn.
1

God/

Jesus Christ
where

he

and
as

dwells

Church.

of
Him
as
speaks
13.
regards the miraculous conceptionof
wrought through His agency.2 Else

upon

He

His work

of sanctification in the

See

Eph. 9, Philad. inscr.,

Smyrn. 13. In
Philad. 7, Ignatius claims to have
received personal
revelations from the Spirit.
In two
refers
of the
to ordinances
Ignatius
passages
Apostles. In Magn. 13 the readers are bidden to stand
fast 'in the ordinances
of the Lord
and the Apostles.
In Trail. 7 they are urged to be
inseparablefrom Jesus
Christ and
the
of the
bishop, and the ordinances
Apostles.'
'

When

we

come

to

examine

the relation of these letters

find very strong traces of

we
Scripture,
the influence of the thoughtsand ideas preservedfor us
in the books of the New
Testament, but comparativel
few traces of actual quotationfrom any of the writers of
the New
The
Testament.
cast of thought shows strong
affinitieswith the ideas of the Johanninewritings
and the
later epistles
St. Paul's Epistleto
of St. Paul, especially
the Ephesians. But it is difficultto prove
that Ignatius
is in any passage quotingfrom the Fourth Gospel. The
decisive
in
and
Philad.
not
are
Eph.
(see
17
7
passages
notes). The allusions to the actions and words of the
Lord exhibit a tradition most
closelyakin to that found
in St. Matthew's
Gospel, with which these epistle
with any
than
other
exhibit more
numerous
parallels
N. T. writing.In no passage
does he allude definitel
to written gospels,though Philad. 5 seems
to point to a
instance3
collection of apostolicwritings. In one
he
written or
apocryphal source, whether
quotes from an
traditional we cannot
tell. For the passage Eph. 19, see
to

the

Canon

Philad.

of

7.

Eph. 19.

Smyrn.

3.

ST.

St. Paul

epistlesof

the

With

notes.

parallelspointing
them, though without actual
the author directly
speaks of
parallelswith

For further

31
there

many

are

acquaintance with
quotation. In Eph. 12
his epistles
and
St. Paul

author's

the

to

TEACHER

AS

IGNATIUS

books

of the

Testament,

New

Scripturalpassages in vol. ii. We may say

in
which
to
a
in conclusion that the epistles
period
point
had
not
the New
Testament
t
hough
current,
writings,
the
of
the
oral
tradition
Church, as an
superseded
Index

see

of

and
authority
For
8

"

of

standard

his attitude towards

teaching.
the Old Testament, see

with
Philad.
notes.
8,
9,
5,
10,
Ignatius'conception of the Christian

faith is

writer.
that of any sub-apostolic
the Old
Creation
Testament
or

from

revelation

the

in

of God

Christ.

In

more

He

starts

but

from

than
striking
not

Magn.

Christ's

appear

in man,
the Eternal
Himself
ing God has revealed
in time, the Spiritualin the material.1
antithesis
The
flesh
of as recon
which is conceived
of
spiritand
ciled in Christ, runs
through the whole
theologyof
Ignatius.2 The whole
earthly life of Christ has a
place in the mystery of redemption,which has a signif
Thus
the
for the whole Creation.3
he speaks of
cance
of Mary, and
her child-bearing,
likewise also
virginity
the death of the Lord,' as
three mysteries to be pro
It is the Person and
claimed aloud.' 4
not
merely the
teachingof Christ,which is of importance. He is our
in man,' though never
God,' 'my God,' God
apparentl
called God
absolutelywithout some
definingwords.5
'

'

'

"

"

'

'

'

1
*

See esp. Eph. 7, Polyc.3.

Cf. Eph. 8, Magn. i, 13,

Trail.

Cf.

Polyc.2.

9, Smyrn. 6.
Eph. inscr.,i, 7, 18, Rom.

Eph" ^
inscr.,Smyrn.

i,

Polyc. 8.

INTRODUCTION

32

controversial purpose

The

lay specialstress

of the letters leads

Ignatiusto

the

the
o
f
human
nature
reality
upon
of Christ.
The
conceived
he is attacking,
Docetae, whom
of the existence of Christ in a purelymetaphysicalway,
ideal existence.
as
a
spiritualor
Against this view
appearing in
Ignatiussets the historical Christ,whose

human
and

form

alone

becomes

the

guarantees

medium

its truth

of
to

God's

revelation
he

Hence

man.

emphasizes the facts of His earthlylife. The Coming

of the Saviour,His Passion and His Resurrection
the
are
three pointswhich distinguish
the Gospel from all earlier
teaching.1 Through the Cross, Death, and Resurrection
he seeks to be justified.2
Especiallyprominent is the
In the inscrip
place which he assignsto the Passion.
tions to two
letters (Philad.,Trail.)he speaks of the
and
Churches
addressed, as
rejoicingin the Passion
in flesh and spirit
at peace
through the Passion of Jesus
'

'

'

Christ.'

Smyrn.
in

and

The

7 he

Eph.
of the

power

allusions,he

of Christ reveals

Blood

he

Passion.5
shows

love.4

In

sufferingfor our sins,

associates Baptism with the cleansin

speaks of Christ
18

God's

In

'

as

addition

acquaintance in

to

these

one

incidental

passage

with

representedin the Epistleto the Hebrews.

has been entrusted with
Christ is the High Priest,Who
this
the Holy of Holies,'but Ignatius
immediatelyconnects
ideas

the

'

'

of the Father,
thought with that of Christ as the Door
In Philad. 8,
find in John x. 9.
a conception which
we
and
from
delivered
he
of
bond,'
being
speaks
n,
every
these
In
Christ.
the
of
Jesus
being ransomed
by
grace
his
time.
of
the
traditional
he
echoes
language
respects
'

'

'

1
3

'

9, cf. Magn.
Cf. Eph. inscr.
Philad.

Cf. also

II.

Eph. 18, Trail.

II, Rom.

Philad.

Trail. 8, Rom.
7.
6
Philad.
6.

8.

9.

INTRODUCTION

34

communication

is

the

unity of

the

secures

the sacramental

and

the Passion

oneself off from

cut

to

the

perpetual
Life of Christ.1 To impair
of the One
Church
by false teachingand separatism
Christ,and

of

is the Body

Church

life of the Church.2

Church.

Jesus Christ is the

As

Church,

is the

so

of the local

being

'

of the

of the local

bishop the head

which
writes

on

is assured

the

Hence

bishops

is the

are

'

'

Therefore

you

'

Thus

through the Incarnation.

Polycarp

to

member

spoken of as
5
mind of Jesus Christ.'
They represent,
flesh and
spirit
that reconciliation of

in the

carry

Church.3

which

Church

of that
representation

and

universal

as

of Christ.

Body

Head

chief
the
being
representative,4

is God's

He

represent locallythe universal

churches

individual

The

of

are

Ignatiu
and

flesh

which
are
visibl
things
may
you
6
in the Ignatian
The
face.'
before
ministry
your
present
that
than
character
shows
more
developed
a
Epistles
of
St.
the
Paul,
the
of
in
Epistles
Acts
found
the
Apostles,
of
St.
the
or
Epistle
of the Twelve
the Doctrine
Apostles,
the
terms
earlier
these
In
writings
of
Rome.
Clement
and
presbyter ap
overseer
(episcopus]
bishop or
'

"

to

pear

tain,7the

the

humour

that
spirit,

'

be

or

synonymous,

word

'

'

'

possibly,as

episcopusdenotes

others

function

main

exercised

of Timothy
however,
position,
by
of
have
traces
w
e
Pastoral
the
in
Epistles,
Titus
and
of
that
than
and
distinct
higher
from,
another
office,
the presbyteror episcopus. Acting under a commission
to
received
had
appoint
authority
St. Paul
from
they
the

1
3
5
7
8

presbyter.8In

Smyrn.

Smyrn.

8, Eph.
8.

the

5, Trail.

1 1

Philad.

Eph. 6, Magn.
6

8.
6,
Smyrn.
3,
3, Trail. 2, 3.

2.
inscr.
Polyc.
Philad.
cf.
Eph. 4,
Christian
Ecchsia,
Hort,
pp. 190, 191.
e.g.
Note
2, vol. ii.
On these words see further, Add.

elders and

their office

whether

But

rule the churches

to

TEACHER

AS

IGNATIUS

ST.

in

35

Ephesus

and

Crete.1

limited to these churches,

was

or

whether, like the Apostles, they exercised a roving

to
enable
do
facts
us
say.2
not
definitely
commission,
with
authority
were
delegates
apostolic
They
apparently
and to ordain
to guard the faith,
to found and rule churches,
the
discipline

and

the

Apostles

we

clergy.3 Thus

have

within the

of three

traces

lifetime of

grades of ministry

viz.
"

like
their
Timothy
delegates,
Apostles
(i)
(or

and

Titus).
or
Episcopi.
(ii)Presbyters
Deacons.
(iii)
find
two
the
we
When
to
Epistles
we
Ignatian
pass
importantchanges.
(i)The bishopor episcopusrepresents a distinct order
He
is superiorto him.
alone
and
from
the presbyter,
can
give the requisiteauthorityfor the performance of
ministerial acts.4
office is
'the

to

The

clearlyshown
Father'

the

comparison
'Jesus Christ/ while

or

by

this

Apostles. On

represent the

character

monarchical

of

his

bishop
presbyter

of the
the

comparison

antea,

see

p. 18.

office is localized and he is perman

The bishop's
(ii)
local
the
church.
attached
to
Ignatius mentions
ently
the
bishops of the cities of Ephesus, Magnesia,
and Smyrna.
Of a diocese,in the
Tralles,Philadelphia

later
the
1
2
3
5

of

sense

the word,

there is

is not,
bishop's
authority

like that of the Apostles,of

Titus i. 5 ; i Tim. iii. 1"7,

v.
17, 22
Cf. 2 Tim. iv. 9; Tit. iii. 12.
Gore, Church and Ministry, p. 267.
In Rom.

where

he

Ignatius calls himself

refers

to

the

'

Church

distinct trace,5yet

no

of

; 2

Tim.
4

'

bishop
Syria and
'

of

ii. 2.

Smyrn.

8.

Syria,'and

its connection

else
with

INTRODUCTION

36

undefined
general,

church.
particular
in the IgnatianEpistleswe
Thus
and
deacons.
of bishops, priests,
under

for the first time

appears
since been

Epistlesof

by

name

which

it has

have

seen,

that

Pastoral

the

of the later

bishops

authorityexercised.

of the

are

the

'

resembles

bishop'soffice

The

although,as we
history,
Apostolic delegates in

St. Paul

in the nature
There

'

to

find the three orders

in

known

positionof

the

is limited

but

character,

other

few

which

facts

noticed

be

may

IgnatianEpistles.
1.
Closelyassociated with the bishops,and forming a
and
the
coronal'
about
are
him,
presbyters,
'spiritual
The
the deacons.
with them
though
bishop'sauthority,
l
autocratic/
In his
monarchical, is very far from being
2 around
council
form
administration the presbyters
a
3
writer is scarcely
him as
the stringsto a harp.' The
to the
the duty of obedience
less emphatic in asserting
the
If
the
is
he
than
bishop
to
bishop.
presbyters
the
the
the
Apos
Lord,
presbyters
represent
represents
tles.4
Ignatiusbids his readers be subject to the
the
and
of
to
the
God,'
unto
presbyter
as
bishop
grace
the

about

ministryin

the

'

'

'

'

'

"

unto

as

5
Christ.'
the law of Jesus

Similarlyhe bids his

4

together form

orders

three

without

these

there is no

Ignatius tells us
bishop's authority or
2.

himself.
there

was

in which
1
3
6

readers
a

obey

The

deacons.

authority,so that
6
name.'
the
deserving

central

church

little of
of

the

the

the
way

source

in

which

of

the
such

Probably
Eph. 21, Magn. 14, Rom.
9, Trail. 13.
in Coele- Syria at this time,
Christian centre
only one
See note Rom.
of Antioch.
2.
case
Syria is a synonym
Cf.

'

'

Lightfoot,I, p. 397Eph. 4.
Magn. 2.

See

Magn. 6, Trail.

Trail. 3.

antea, p. 18.
2, 3,

Smyrn. 8.

IGNATIUS

ST.

AS

TEACHER

37

was
delegatedto him. He speaks of the bishops
authority
as
representing the authorityof Christ, though never

succeeding

as

the

compares

the Apostles.

to

the

presbyters to

On

the other

hand,

he

Apostles, though he is

Apostles in their relation to Christ during

His ministry
and not
after the Ascension,
as
they were
became
of
when
the representatives
they themselves
thinkingof

the

Christ.1

In

the

them

be

'inseparable from

to

Trail.

passage

bishop and the ordinances

phrase probably refers,as
institution

of

it

and

7,

he

however,

Jesus Christ

urges

and

Apostles.' The
Lightfootmaintains,to
the

of

the
last
the

would
thus
episcopacy,and the words
imply that it derived its authorityfrom the Apostles.
There
the
of
Trail.
similar
allusion
in
be
a
language
may
them
a
nd
bids
he
where
especiallythe
'severally,
12,
refresh the bishop to the honour
of the Father
presbyters,
and of Jesus Christ and of the Apostles/
of
the
d
oes
The
the
not
epistles
language
support
3.
view of Ramsay and
others,that episcopacyis insisted
in these letters because Ignatiusrecognized
on
so strongly
as

see

new

established

it would

order

time,

was

seem

valuable

he desired

to

everywhere.2 From other sources, indeed,

that a representativeof the episcopal
established

not

in

which
institution,

in every

citychurch

at

this

Philippi,in writingto which

Church
Polycarp only makes mention of their presbyters
and deacons.3
But when
we
study the IgnatianEpistles
as

the

themselves, we

case

see

]. See

no

of

trace

of

an

idea that the

episcopal

Gore, Church and Ministry, pp. 303, 304.

2
Ch. in R. Emp., pp. 370 foil.
3
Polyc.,Phil. 5. This, however, does not necessarily
prove that
the presbytersand deacons
at Philippi were
under the control of no
superior order, but only that no representativeof that order was
located

in their

city.

INTRODUCTION

38
office is of

introduction.

writer

speaks of
l
With
the 'bishopsestablished in the furthest quarters.'
and deacons
out the three orders of bishops,presbyters,
2
church
the
name.'
Nor can
there is no
we
deserving
recent

The

'

draw
the

is

the absence

from

any argument

of any

bishop in the Epistleto the Romans.

of a purely personal character, and

of

who

Rome,

anxious

were

nowhere

Ignatius. He

be drawn
in

the

deacons.

Church,

Roman

Church

did not

Rome

at

with

of the Church

respitefor

procure
mention
makes

of any

city,whether

bishop,
no
fairl
argument can
of the ministry
all mention

in that

of

in

of

epistl

is written

or

Hence

the absence

from

to

salutes

of the officers of the Church

or
presbyters,

That

action of certain members

to the

reference

mention

possess

idea

of the

favour

that

the

of one
representative

bishop.
The
repeated insistence by Ignatiuson the duty of
occasioned
this threefold ministrywas
obedience
to
by
the heretical and
the danger arisingin his day from
tendencies of the Docetic
and Judaicparties
separatist

of the three

But

orders, i.e.

its roots

it has

unity which
the
principle,

in that idea of the

have

we

union

of

already
'flesh'

Church

described.

and

The

of
'spirit,'

its

and
same

outward

the Eucharist
in his language upon
'
Eucharist
the flesh
is
The
in Philad. 4, Smyrn. 6, 8.
'
'
o
f
of Christ,' the gift God,' the medicine of immortality.

and

inward, appears

The

'

'

one

Christ.

bringsus

cup
The

dangers of

into

union
time

the

with the Blood

led

Ignatiusto

'

of
an

emphaticwarning to his readers to guard the sacramental

unityof the Church, which was broken by the separatist
8
the
altar.'
Without
the
assemble
one
at
to
are
They
'

1
3

Eph. 5,

20,

Trail. 3.
Eph. 3.
Magn. 7, Trail. 7, Philad. 4 (with notes).

AS

IGNATIUS

ST.

bishop's authority they

His

love-feast.'
'

'

security

Polyc.

the

At

of

close

its

self to

man

Once

human

and

endow

alike have
and

In the

Middle

the

material

the

has

Himself

God

Him

reveal

to

giftof eternal life.

the victory that over-

'

of

the

Church

the reconciliation
and

the

tended

Ages

the

witnesses

the

antithesis.

the

promise

of

In
the

inclined

to

of her

the

truer

made

consummation

of

the

later

Smyrn.

8.

her

'

and
a

worship

mysticism
spiritand
material.
the two,

unchanging

life and
and
flesh
all

the

stated

confuse

view,

Word

'

to

spiritual. In

elements

permanent

and

in

flesh

the life and

opposition between
to
despiritualizethe

were

men

of

'

spiritual,he

the

Gnosticism

Church.

have

that

asserted

expressionin

found

materialize

to

seized

century,

the

Ignatius

emphasized

matter,

faith and

fourth

in order

secret

when

effected

Catholic

so

expressionin
perils arising from

it finds

the

with

man

of St.

Fathers.

later

by

up

the

nature,

was

that
principle

and

in

lain the

again,

of
spirit,'

of the

more,

our

Incarnation
*

amid

teaching

as

world.'

the

cometh

in the

century

Athanasius,

that faith has

In

second

the

Incarnation,

the

leading idea, that in Jesus Christ

entered

has

and

validity

Eph. 18, Smyrn. 8,

baptism, see

on

Once

St.

Arianism,
upon

6.

Irenaeus.

St.

hold

or

'

gives

alone

teaching of Ignatius upon

has its roots
and as a principle,
taken
and
St. John, and
was

Paul

baptize

to

The
fact

39

is done.1

his language

For

'

not

are

authority

whatever

to

TEACHER

worship,
reconciles
'

we

things.

see

EPISTLE

I. THE

[Ephesus
and

There

^gasan.

as

Eph.

in
a

centre

(Rev.

times

in Roman

highway leading from

probably an allusion to

is

the

East

to

the

this great trade-

naturally chosen by St. Paul

city was
Acts
See
for missionary labours.
xviii.,xix.

i). After

ii.

of

St.

first

of Revelation

in the book

death

the

is mentioned

Ephesus

of Asia

churches

seven

i. 11,

the

of

most

The

12.

Christianity spread rapidly,and

among

province of Asia,

Roman

of the great

the trade

route

the

conducted

the port which

was

EPHESIANS.

THE

capitalof

the

was

TO

Paul, Ephesus

John. There is possiblyan allusion

of both
the connection
to
Apostles with the city in c. 1 1.
had sent
Ignatius had not visited Ephesus, but the Church

became

delegates to
from
Smyrna
He

of St.

the home

reminds

him

them
for

(c. 6).

for order

false teachers

written

was

kindly interest in him.

of their glorioushistory (cc.8, 11, 12),and
their adherence
to the truth and their regard

thank

to

praisesthem

present letter

The

Smyrna.

at

At

the

had

who

for their

them

time

same

he

them

warns

against

passing through Ephesus (c.9).

been

of
in
face
of
heresy,
importance,
urges upon
of Jesus Christ,a more
faith in the historical manifestation
the

them

He

frequent

use

bishop.

From

of

corporate
the

worship,

language

of

cc.

and
7,

would
it
notes),
(see
inscription
opening

alluded

to was

Docetic.

There

are

40

no

adherence

18, 19,
seem

20,

to

the

and

the

that the

references

to

heresy

Judaism.]

THE

42

TO

EPISTLE

EPHESIANS

THE

Ephesus [in Asia],

in
heartiest
of
greeting
congratulation,
worthy
Jesus Christ and in joy that is without reproach.
loved
in God
I. I welcomed
name,1
dearly
your
2
and
is
which
nature
an
just
upright
[in
by
yours
Jove
faith
Christ
and
towards
Jesus
mind] by
the

God

; to

our

Saviour.

kindled

action

fulfilled

to

common

to

prayer

beasts

wild

be

may

anxious

to

when

visit

The

This

the

word

heard

and

God,

with
I

that

Name

was

hope

and

love

'name'

accidental

is used
due

was

was

therefore

received
of God

name

flesh your

character

trainingor

of

were

you

accorded

for the

that

me.

body4
Onesimus, whose

blood

you

bonds

all,and

God,

which

task

in the

besides, in

of

hoping by your
with
of
attain
fighting
purpose
my
at
Rome, that through my
attainin
be
enabled
a
to
were
disciple,you

us

numerous

of

the

by

Syria in

from

come

is at

imitators

For

nature.

your

Being

into

perfectly

which

Church

surpasses

bishop.
in the
to

sense

natural
The

circumstances.

in the

words,
I pray

your
person

who

that

is
you

of 'character.'

gifts rather
words

than

in brackets

by Lightfoot from the abridged Syriac

version,having probably fallen out at a time earlier than any
existingcopies of the Greek text.
3
Ignatius' guards took the
Probably at the point where
northern
route
through Philadelphia,instead of the southern
route
through Tralles,Magnesia, and Ephesus, messengers
been

have

sent

were

visit
4

to

In

whole

added

to

inform

those

Churches

of

Ignatius'approaching

Smyrna.

receivingtheir bishop Onesimus, Ignatiusreceived

Church

which

he

represented.

the

THE

EPISTLE

may

love him

with

and

that

possess
II.

in all
the

Crocus, who
received

as

relieved
Christ

is

in

him.

you,

worthy

is your

things

are,

you

Burrhus,1 who

and

here

unto

bishop.

And

of you,

the

refresh

Burrhus

whose

and

love

is blessed

and

the

may

"

manner

and

as

remain

and

of God

worthy

like

blessed

For

deacon

that he may

yourselves

in all

Onesimus

like

pattern of the love borne

me

be

43

Jesus Christ,

to

fellow-servant

my

pray

of

honour

according

unto

appointment

things,I

EPHESIANS

bishop.

Concerning

by God's

all

granted
such

THE

love

may

Who

is He
to

you

TO

by

Father

him

Euplus

"

whom

has

you,
of

Jesus
with

along

and

in

Fronto,

all.

have
I
May
presence
my
you
if I be worthy.
So then
joy of you all continually,
it is fittingin every
to
glorifyJesus Christ
way
Who
has glorified
that
in
obedience
one
you,
you
be
perfectlyjoined together,submitting your
may
selves to the bishop and
to the
presbytery, and
in
all
be
found sanctified.
things
may

III. I do
somewhat.

Name,
Christ.

For

command

For

even

I have
For

Probably
The

word

Lightfoot and

though

Zahn

here
to

as

you

though

be

bound

perfected

my

n,

of

Tim.

were

in
in

the

Jesus

which

we

i. 16.

is understood
((rvi"$i$a(rita\tTai)
'

mean

beginning of dis3
fellow-disciple

Smyrn. 12, from

Ignatius was
granted.

reminiscence
used

making

am

cf. Philad.

that the request of

see

you,

I address

Burrhus,

as

yet become

not
now

and
cipleship,
1

not

saw

school-fellows.'

The

word

by
is

For

it

the

contest

with

But
suffering.

silent

by you1 for
faith,admonition, patience,long-

for

meet

were

to

you

mind

of God.

able

Life, is

anointed

love does
I have

you,

not

suffer

therefore

For

even

Mind

be

to

me

hastened

yourselves in harmony

set

the

be

to

me

since

concerning

exhort

EPHESIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

THE

44

the

with

Jesus Christ,our
of the Father, as

to

insepar
also

the

bishops,established in the furthest quarters,2are in

of Jesus Christ.
the mind
for you
IV.
it is fitting
Hence
to set yourselves
in harmony with the mind
of the bishop,as indeed
For

do.

you

found

not

word

Latin

of
a

'

plural to denote
the

under

or

the

to

presbytery,worthy
bishop, as the strings to

in illustration a
elsewhere, but Lightfoot adduces
is
found in inscriptions,compedagogita,' which

in the

used

your

is fitted

God,

noble

The

master.

same

in the

trained

slaves

in

master

same

this

school
case

is

Christ.
1

The

anointing of

Cf. Rom.

In

3.

both

the athlete

the work

was

the

passages

idea

of the trainer.

is that

the

Church

instructed,by example and

Ephesus was, in Ignatius'
precept, the martyrs of Christ.
(c. 12). Prisoners con
phrase, 'the highway of martyrs

alluded

to

had

encouraged

and

'

demned

to

coming

from

the
the

wild

beasts

East, would

in
in

the
most

Roman
cases

amphitheatre,
sail from

the

R.
in
(Ch.
Emp., p. 318)
Ramsay
port
taken by Ignatius was
that the route
unusual.
shows
2
found
in all his
Ignatius is introducing the great theme
the importance of unity. Christ is at one
with the
epistles,
each
distant from
Father
other,are
; the bishops, however
with Jesus Christ.
In the phrase furthest quarters,'
at one
Ignatius would be contemplating regions as distant as Gaul
hand
and Mesopotamia on the other' (Lightfoot)
the one
on

of

Ephesus

to

Ostia.

'

harp.

thus

And

monious

by

all into

and

one

the

with

He

that

Father,

voice

one

your

blending in
God, you may sing
that

choir,

har

and

Form

sung.1

is

concord, taking the key-note of

in unison

accord

of your

means

45

EPHESIANS

THE

Jesus Christ

love

selves

TO

EPISTLE

THE

through Jesus

Christ

hear

recognize

may

and

you

to

well-doingthat you are members

of His Son.
Therefore
it is profitablefor you
to
live in unblameable
be also
unity, that you may
partakersof God continually.
by

of your

means

V.

if I in

For

with

intercourse

of men,

way
I

short

your

after

but

is the Church

as

the

Father,

Let

no

the

enclosure

be

man

God.3

all

deceived.

if the

For

knit

are

things

of the

altar,2he

prayer

the whole

who

the

not

i, and

the

On

word

Trail. 7, Philad.
is the

denotes

This
the

was

unity.
within

the

bread

two

hath

the

Church.

of their song.

so

of

prayer

So

of

then

he

For

the

metaphor,

2.

translated

4, with

of the

court

Temple.

Rom.

or

has

more

in

to

congregation thereby shows

Jesus Christ is the theme

cf. Philad.
2

to

much

closely

as

be not

one

one

do

more

accord

lacks

of

common

Jesus Christ

and

may

such

had

him

to

If any

how
efficacy,4
great
of
the bishop and
comes

time

bishop,not after the

the spirit,
how
much

Jesus Christ

to

that

space

who

congratulateyou,

of

notes.

'enclosure
'

The
in

congregation
separated from

of

enclosure
the

the

old

outer

the

altar,'see

of the

altar'

Tabernacle
court.

or

Here

assembly of the faithful in each individual church.

Lightfootbrackets

Cf. Matt,

the words

xviii. 18"20.

'

of God.'

it

46

EPISTLE

THE

his

pride and
heed

take

be

livingin
VI.

sends

him

then

even

midst

beyond
VII.

Jesus

For

bear

they
you

self.

must
Prov.

The

must

mad

are

be

Christ
are

the

as

household

of

ought

The

bishop
Him

Lord

praises
God, how

life in

with

truth

if he

one

speak

of

you

aught

in truth.

wont,

out

the

them

other
needs

of malicious

while

Name,

as

wild

your

guard,

they

of

God.

beasts.6

For

unworthy

deeds
avoid

cunning,

against
dogs, biting stealthily,
on

that

and

dwelling. Nay,

its

to

accord

own

manner

any

with

certain

you

for their bite

whom

is hard

iii.34.
translation

yields the
3

some

about

practise
These

his

heresy has

listen to

even
4

no

may

reverence.

of the

very

all live in accordance

you

in

more

household, we

own

of

orderly

we

let

bishop keeping

Master

Sender's

Onesimus

your

not

to

sees

all the

the
His

the

as

Now

in your
do

him

then

it

God.2

ought plainlyto regard

highly
that

man

hold

administer

we

self.

as

For

off.

So
proud'
the bishop, that

to

whom

one,

to

receive

far

so

every

resist

to

submission

silence,3let
For

not

And

himself

cuts

resisteth the

'

us

EPHESIANS

THE

straightway

written, God

is

TO

sense,

follows

reading. Lightfoot'stext
be God's by our
'we may
subjection.'
here
indirectlypleading for their bishop
demeanour
quiet and modest
might lead
Zahn's

Ignatius is
Onesimus, whose
to despise him.
Cf. c. 15,
some
Philad. i, Magn. 3.
4
Lightfoot'sreading has been
5
Cf. Smyrn. 4, Philad. 2.

and

the similar

followed.

directions in

EPISTLE

THE

There

heal.

to

is

EPHESIANS

THE

TO

47

and
flesh
of
Physician,

one

of

God
in man,
true
unoriginate,2
3 and
Son of God, first
of Mary
Lord.
Christ
our
J
esus
impassible,

and
originate
spirit,1

Life in death,

then

passibleand
VIII.

Let

you

when

which

can

godly

manner.

torment

you,

"

The

4.

of Christ.

nature

Lord

We

Ignatius
'created

than

points

ever,

'

to

'

and

word

the

is

by
using

spirit in

the Divine
'

words

c.

this balanced

For

yewriT6s and

are

to

Such

little

express

language, how

of doctrinal

and

statement,

incurringthe
have
seemed
to
deny the
charge of heresy, as it would
Divine
'The
generation of the Son.
conception of a Divine
realized by the Church
before the conception
Sonship was
Divine
of a
generation' (Swete, Apostles' Creed, p. 28).
of such language by Ignatius at a time when
the use
Hence
involves
definition of theologicalterms
there was
exact
no

could

been

epistles

9, Christ the
flesh.' The
human

Ignatius

early period

an

these

here

Clem.

uncreate.'

and

offeringfor

an

'

'flesh.'

the

for

abasement

spirit expresses
2

to

implanted in you,
after
a
living
you

'

employed

terms

ayfvvrjTos.

are

may

expressed by
antithesis,cf. Polyc. 3.
The

is

compare
first spirit,
then became

being

flesh

word

is

element

more

'

wholly given

myself to
myself as

I devote

the antithesis of

On

Introd.

then

indeed

as

you,

are

evil desire

no

sakes,4 I surrender

your

deceive

then

man

deceived, for you

For

God.

see

no

not

are

son

have

not

nothing inconsistent

proof that
finds

he denied

expression in

used

in later

with

The

which
4

Creed, and

pre-existenceof Christ.
Magn. 6 and
Polyc. 3.

affords
This
See

vol. ii pp. 90, foil.

of this passage
is aimed
at the Docetic

whole
denied

Nicene

without

the

Exctirsus*
Lightfoot's
3

the

days

the

realityof
am

latter
further

'

Literally, I

no

your

error,

the Incarnation.

offscouring.' The

same

word,

48

THE

the

EPISTLE

of you

Church

the ages.

unto

works

the

the

the

do

works

of

flesh

after the

that

the

of

works

of

But

even

are

faith

as

unbelief

unbelief,nor

things which

the

do

they that

can

flesh,even

spiritual.2For

are

is renowned

of the flesh cannot

are

neither
Spirit,1
works

faith.

EPHESIANS

THE

Ephesians, which

They

of the

spiritualdo
cannot

TO

you

do

you
all

do

the

things

Jesus Christ.

in

IX.

I
3

yonder
to

passed through
false teaching. These

seeds

sow

among

them,

since you

raised

being
Christ, which

is

used

as

to
visitations,

the

by

of condemned

sacrificed

two

ideas

stones

of

Suggested by

See

It

Introd.

"

criminals

of the lowest

'

and

Gods.
'

Jesus
the

rope

It is

word
were

other

plague

or

It thus

includes

abasement.'

Cor. ii. 14 sq.

4.

what

the soil in which

of

of

classes,who
of

times

of the

self-devotion

is uncertain

members

Father,

the

iv. 13.

Cor.

by

sown

temple,prepared

in

place

conjectures Philadelphia.
4 The
change of metaphor
Ignatius,and is followed by
and

seeds

St. Paul

ears

your

heights by the engine

the Cross, using as your

the wrath

avert
'

closed

God

of

building

expiatory offeringsin

succession

of the

suffer

did not

the

to

is used

city,bringing

you

the

from

persons

your

you

receive

not

were

for

beforehand5

for

you,

they might

that

certain

have

them

with

that

learned

have

festal

is

is

change.

is sown,

stones

procession.

Lightfoot'semendation

has

been

adopted.

Lightfoot

to.

sudden, after the

another

seed

alluded

They
of

of

manner

are

in

building,

50
with

TO

EPISTLE

THE

; where

prayers

they

THE

EPHESIANS

are

in error,

their

prove

of

imitators

greater wrong,1
at naught, that no
you.

Christ

These

let

let

either

love

the
be

only

it

the

to

wrath

to

is life indeed.

life,which

found
who
the

have

share

the

long-

of

judgment.

Christ

in

in Him

in

in

let

that

"

I may
it

may
that

let

bonds,

my

that

unto

Him,

wear

us

that

or

Jesus

from
I

let

or

either this

"

"

to

found

be

come,

nothing
you.
which
I
in
pearls,
spiritual
pray
my
of
the
help
by
again
prayer
your
mine

set

Henceforth

our

Apart

For

dazzle

Devil

awe

turn

found

be

to

ours

in

is present

which

grace

it

be

who

spirit.

stand

us

the

sobriety abide

and

times.2

last

fear

us

in

lest

suffering of God,
For

purity

the

are

feel shame,

us

all

of the

be

to

suffer

can

defrauded,

weed

in flesh and

Jesus

XL

be

can

rank

in

But

endeavour

us

not

forbearance

our

Lord, strivingwho

the

who

in

Let

Let

brethren.

Be

furybe gentle.

in the faith ; in face of their

them.
retaliate
to
upon
eager
us

steadfast

be

ever

may

rise
be
be

of those

Christians,
Ephesian
among
3
with
of
accord
one
besides,
continually
were,
the band

Apostles

Cf.

in the power

reminiscence
i

John

Or

with

In

the

of

Philip are

reading, consorted with.'

'Apostles' St. Paul and

word

also

vi. 7.

Cor.

'

Zahn's

to

Jesus Christ.

ii. 18.

included, possibly
addressed

of

the

also

Asiatic

St.

Peter, whose

Christians.

represented as having

St.
first

St. Andrew
lived in these

John are
epistle is
and

St.

regions.

THE

who

condemned

am

know

XII.

THE

TO

EPISTLE

and

am

man,

51

EPHESIANS

to

have

you

whom

obtained

write.
mercy.

subject to peril,you are established secure.

the highway of those who
You
are
are
being con
God.1 You
initiated into
ducted by death unto
are
sanctified
the mysteries along with Paul,2 who
was
is worthy of congratulation;
and well approved, who
in whose
footstepsmay I be found closelyfollow
mention
ing,when I attain unto God; who makes
3
in Christ Jesus.
letter
of you in every
I

am

diligent therefore

Be

XIII.

often

more

to

render

Ephesus was
frequentlyreserved
of

of

for the shows

amphitheatre, and
supply

thanks

highway

the

victims.

to

and

together

come

God

martyrs.'

provinces

The

to

and

Criminals

hunting scenes

were

resorted
would

Christians

give

to

be

to

were

in the
for the

treated

as

citizens.
Such
Roman
criminals,unless they were
the
bands
of prisonersfrom the East would
along
great
pass
the sea at Ephesus, and would
thence
which
reached
route
be shipped to Ostia,the port of Rome.
common

the ancient
from
mysteries and
metaphor derived
suggested by the language of St. Paul, who
constantly uses
of the Gospel, and in Phil. iv. 12, speaks of himself
the word
initiated (A.V. I am
reference is to
instructed '). The
as
St. Paul's
long stay at Ephesus and intercourse with the
Ephesian Christians. Ignatius is speaking of their intercourse
with martyrs, and so does not mention
St. John.
A

'

'

'

The

words

"

in

every
'throughouthis

letter

'

are

difficult.

and refers it to
letter,'
of
the Ephesians.
to
Possibly Ignatius knew
relations with the Ephesians from
which
sources
translates

Pearson

the

Epistle

St. Paul's
we

do

not

possess.
4

Lit.

'come

together

for

thanksgiving.'

The

word

52

THE

glory.

For

EPISTLE

when

of

which

brought

of

None

fast

hold

if you

if he

they

tree

by

who

profess

be

mere

is found

man

to

For

at

live in

he

love, does

is manifest

matter

is

end

faith, the

in
lives
faith
sin,
professes

who

possesses

of

the

and

beginning
is

in

love

and

blending in unity are God,

on
these, ending in perfect

two

man

their deeds.

by

are

notice,

your

faith

the

beginning

follows

No

goodness.
The

these

the

all else

nor

is

earthly foes

things escapes

perfectlyyour

The

life.
And

love.
and

these

Christ,for

of

by

peace,

naught.

to

XIV.

harmony

the

than

Nothing is better
of heavenly and
warfare

all

Jesus

by

faith.

your

end

are

the destruc

and

overthrown

he is planning is undone

tion which

together,

assemble
frequently

you

forces of Satan

the

EPHESIANS

THE

TO

its fruit1

like

In

be

shall
Christ's,

but
profession,

livingin the

is

manner

apparent
2

Work

the

this time

hatred.

only

seen

is

when

the

of faith unto

power

no

end.
It is better

XV.
to talk

and

speaker

not

is here
tvxapio-ria
refers

of

the

to

See

Matt.

For

'

keep

to be.3

Now

act.

to

silence

It is

good

was

One

there

probably

and
to

to

than

teach, if

Teacher,

generally, but

used

be

the

Who

indirectl

Eucharist.
xii. 33 ; cf. Luke

vi. 44.

in the

of 'the

the Work'

Rom.

sense

3, and

see
Christianity,'
3
Probably he is thinking of
bishop.

preachingand practice

cf. Acts
the

quiet

xv.

38, Phil.

demeanour

ii. 30.

of their

EPISTLE

THE

spake

it

and

He

has

done

He

who

is

silence

but

Lord,

shrines

God.

which

our

is indeed

Be

If then

by

his evil

Jesus
defiled,shall

did

death, how

to

into

will

and

be

may
in
be

us

as

made

go

such

deeds

much

more

of

after the
if

man

faith for which

a

man,

becoming
in like

him.
words
action

which

the Psalmist

in Creation.

thirtyyears'retirement
from
withdrawal
popular

the

are

public ministry,His

His
demonstrations,

kingdom

and
unquenchable fire,

of this silence

Instances
His

we

dwell

God's

appliesto Christ's work the

9) of God's
(Ps.xxxii. [xxxiii.]

before

us, that

Such

crucified.

was

He

used
2

who

he that heareth

manner

things in the

inherit the

not

teaching corrupt

Christ

shall

they

put

were

brought nigh

may

true

be

our

houses
corrupt

flesh

Himself

may

from

is hidden

all

do

Jesus

of
the
love
services
by
eyes
bounden
duty we render unto Him.
brethren.
not deceived, my
They that

before

as

He

Father.

speech, and

are

within

dwells

and

manifest

God.

his

by

therefore

us

this

For

XVI.

he

secrets

our

that He

assurance

His

that
silence,2

act

may

even

Let

Him.

unto

of

by his silence. Nothing

understood
the

so

which

deeds

worthy of the
the spoken word

His

listen to

perfect,and

be

the

53

are

of

trulymaster
to

EPHESIANS

pass.1 And

to

came

in

also

is able

THE

TO

for prayer,

retirement

and

His

silence

at his trial.
3

Cf.

Cor.

Philad.

see
4

The

iii.16, 17, vi. 19,

hearts

corrupters
and

Cor. vi.

16, Rev. xxi. 3, and

7.

Suggested by
'

bodies

the passages
quoted in the preceding note.
'
of houses
refer to those who pollutetheir

by

evil.

54

ointment

not

anointed

exclude

and

Lord

that

He

Church.

lead

Be

teaching of
captive
you

the life set before

from

you

might breathe

of the

he

world, lest

the

received

the

the foul odour

with
of this

the Prince

the

incorruptionupon

of

odour

head,

His

upon

the

cause1

this

For

XVII.

EPHESIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

THE

And

you.

prudent by receiving
?
Christ
which
is
of
the
Jesus
God,
knowledge
the
of
in
do
ignorance
we
foolishlyperish
Why
?
sent
has
Lord
the
which
truly
gift
do

why

My
Cross,3which

the
but

to

wise

man

words

The

what

to

to

is he

of

the unbelievers,
Where

disputeth?

that

so-called

the

of

boasting

refer

life eternal.

and

Where

is the

Where

offence

an

it is salvation

us

is the

is

sake

itself for the

spiritabases

XVIII.

all become

not

we

of

men

'

follows, that He might breathe,'

etc.
2

xxvi. 6 sq.,

3 sq., Matt.

to

by St. John

recorded

between

xii. 2

Bethany.

See

Zahn

and

sq.

the

upon
*
only, the house

Mark

Lightfoot

church'
was

xiv.

in the

filled with

They infer accordinglyfrom

of the ointment.'

the odour
passage
it is more

John

at

'breathe

parallelism

find the
words

anointing

refers to the

This

knowledge by Ignatiusof St. John'snarrative.

probable
Christ

and

that

the

the

relation

Church

here

conceived

is that of the Head

to

the
But
of
the

which
ointment
of
the
fragrant
partakes
Body
Body.
This
Head.'
the
interpretatio
has been
'upon
poured
which is suggestedby Von der Goltz (Texte u. Unters. xii. 3),
of the incident
the interpretation
accords
with
given by
The

Origen,
3

Lit.
c.

on
4

c.

Cels. vi. 79.

is
'my spirit

the

offscouringof

the Cross.'

See

note

8.

Suggested by

reminiscence

of the

Cor. i. 23, 24.

same

chapter.

The

followingclause

is

For

God, Jesus Christ, was

understanding?
conceived
by Mary according to
Who
He

hidden
like
1

Mary's

Or

Cf.

ing power

and

silence

His

by

Passion.

with

the Cross

Satan

own

the cleans
Sacrament.

the

in Barnabas

water

1 1.

by the mysterious
is found

Incarnation

the

in

of God

reserve

in

deceived

was

from

Similarly the

the

to

that

idea

The

derived

was

communicated

Cross

is connected

Baptism
3

the

reference

the

Hence
of

baptism,however,

of

that

set

Church

virtue of

to be

to the
water
and
appropriated
apart
of Baptism.
in the future for the Sacrament

Lord

our

of His

The

of

thought

The

of

speciallyused

Eph. i. 10.
Ignatiusappears

Three

Lord.5

of the

death

the

were

child-bearing,in

word
dispensation (oiWoAu'cw),

baptism
use

'

the Incarnation.
2

Passion

His

by

her

and
virginity

too

manner

'

the

world
this
of
prince

the

from

And
3

of
yet

water.2
purify

might
XIX.

purpose,
Holy Spirit;

Divine

that
baptized,

and

born

was

our

of David, and

the seed

of

55

EPHESIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

THE

in

Thus
centuries.
fourth
and
third,
second,
'
deceived
who
first
He
:
Cat.
of
26)
says
Nyssa (Or.
Gregory
himself
deceived
is
sensual
by
of
bait
pleasure,
man
by the

the

of

writers

of the

One

omits

mysteries
virginityof
mysteries of

ing

The

words.

But

of

absence

By

atonement

to

'the

the

words

to

see

the
run

and

the
'

what

thus dissociated from

three
'

then

Lord

our

the

three

the three

the

preced

in the quota
(Horn, in Luc. vi.)is explained

of the omitted

tion of this passage

by Origen
the
is
he
that
fact
the
quoting
by

reference

Syriac Version

dissociates

The

it is difficult

when

mean,

can

birth

the

cry.'

'

mysteries

precedes.

and

M.

death, and

of the
what

from

of the Curetonian

MSS.

two

all mention
;

form.3

of the human

the presentment

clause

passage

merely

with

Virgin-Birth.

death

brought

of

the

about

Lord'

here, Ignatius means

through

the death.

The

fact

the
was

56

EPISTLE

THE

in God's
to the

than

words

star

perplexity.

the

and
the

about

all in

brightness.

know

whence

other

stars.

itself
there

And

From

that

spellbegan
wickedness

began

known

to

; its

Satan

into

vanish

distress

was

unlike
and

to

the

every

ignorance of

the

overthrow

; the

away

band

surpassed them

all sorcery

time

to lose their power

to

stars,2with

sightso

this strange

came

other

themselves

the star

But

more

lightwas greater
strange appearing

all the

And

in Heaven

its

its

formed

moon,

star.

its

forth

shone

tell,and

can

proclamation,wrought
were
they manifested

stars,and

caused
sun

all the

brightlythan

then

How

silence.

ages

for open

these

mysteriesare

EPHESIANS

THE

TO

escaped him.
significance

Cf.

Cor. ii.

;sq.
1

later

in Matt.
a

written

expansion, doubtless,of

ii. I sq., but whether

cannot

we

source,

only other

The

tell.

oral tradition

from

derived

described

incident

the

or

passage

tradition
other
than
of
a
knowledge
Ignatius
that preserved in our
Gospels is in Smyrn. 3.
2 The
been
to have
idea appears
suggested by Joseph's
For
similar
dream.
legendary additions, see
passages
How
this
far
82.
ii.
vol.
81,
passage
pp.
quoted by Lightfoot,
is
difficult to say.
it
actual
intended
as
an
description
is
3
in
the
witchcraft
and
were
prevalent
Empire
widely
Magic
shows

where

throughout
account

in

the

of its

first four

prevalence

letter written

reference

to the

to

Cf. Acts

centuries.
at

The

Ephesus.

Servianus

cityof Alexandria

about
'

emperor

134
There

xix. 19 for

an

Hadrian,

A.D., says

with

is

of

no

ruler

who
Christian
no
no
presbyter,
Samaritan,
there,
synagogue
idea that
is not an astrologer,a soothsayer, a quack.' The
broken
the power of witchcraft was
by the coming of Christ

is commonly

found

in the Fathers,

58

XXI.

thence,

you

Polycarp
even

as

which

Church
bonds

faithful

well

'I

Lit.

here,

am

the
'

simply

illustrated

the

whence

as

the

Father

last

honour

of

in

Jesus

the

led

in
the

among

deemed

was

and

for

being

am

the
I

for

me,

Pray

am

love

Remember

you.

for

used

to,

my

you.'

Polyc.

8.

But

love

for,

another'.

word

of

in

and

another

which

companion

c.

found

is
of

word

The

10,

Smyrn.

version

'

for

sacrifice

word

by

LXX.
V.

devotion

like-minded,'

P.-B.

Syria,

according

again,

occurs

resembles

in

with

and

to

worthy
God.

Fare

Christ

our

Hope.

'

in

the

God

in

God,

writing

am

yourselves.

though

It

God.

of

that

whom

those

to

honour

remembers

destined

found

common

be

is

there

be

to

for

as

Rome,

to

the

to

Christ

Jesus

and

moreover,

well

as

you1

for

thanksgiving

with

EPHESIANS

THE

to

Smyrna

to

from

is

devoted

am

sent

you

TO

EPISTLE

THE

Ps.

').

not

iv.

2,

the

similar

6.

in

[lv.]

14

closely

It

idea

prominent
word

The

formation,

only

used

avrtyvxov,

Phil.

ii. 20,

(translated

is

may

I"r6tyvxos,
but
in

also
the

[Magnesiaby
of

south-east

the Mseander

was

about

foundation

The

Ephesus.

MAGNESIANS.

THE

TO

EPISTLE

II. THE

fifteen Roman

miles

of the Church

there

probably dates from St. Paul's residence at Ephesus (Acts

xix. 10
26). The Magnesian Christians,like the Ephesians,
visit to Smyrna, had sent delegates
on
hearing of Ignatius'
of all three orders of
to that city,
includingrepresentatives
the ministry(c.2). Ignatiuswrites to acknowledge their
he urges the import
As in other epistles,
interest in him.
to the ministry,
of unity and the duty of obedience
ance
the
them
youthpresuming
w
arning
against
especially
upon
he deals with a
10
fulness of their bishop (c.3). In cc. 8
he
which
warns
form of Judaistic
against
them, without,
error,
existence
actual
its
at Magnesia (cf.
cc.
implying
however,
allusions
incidental
Docetism
There
are
to
14).
n, 12,
(cc.9 n). See further Add. Note i, vol. ii.]
"

"

"

is also

IGNATIUS, who
has been

blessed

in Christ

Jesus our

which

Church
wish

heartiest

resolved

of God

the

grace
Saviour, in Whom

Magnesia by

the

Father

and

her that

the Father
I salute

the

the

Maeander, and
in Jesus Christ

greeting.
that your

godly love shows

a most
orderlydemeanour,1 I rejoicedand
to address
myself to you in the faith of
I learned

I. When
itself in

is in

God

it in

by

Theophorus,to

/.e. their submission

59

to

authority. REGIS

BEBL.

MAJ

60

EPISTLE

THE

TO

THE

MAGNESIANS

Jesus Christ. For having been granted a title of

bonds
which I wear
the highest reverence,1in my
I sing the praisesof the churches,2 and I pray that
of flesh and
be union
there may
in them
spirit
which
belong to Jesus Christ,our continual Life,an
union

in both

better

than

Jesus and

faith and

that

and,

"

the

and

my

whom

with

shall endure

we

this

prince of

have

nothing

all,union

shall attain

them,

is

all

world,

God.

unto

been

permitted to
of Damas, your godly bishop,
in the person
worthy presbyters,Bassus and Apollonius,
Zotion, of
fellow-servant, the deacon

you

and

of the

therefore

II. Since
see

than

In Him

attacks

and, escaping from

for there

"

more

the Father.

malicious

the

love

I have

may

the

bishop
presbytery as

the

unto

as

he

joy,because
grace

of

the law

unto

of

is

subject unto
God, and to the

Jesus Christ

4
"

that you too

it is fitting
yourselves,
should not treat lightlythe youth of your bishop,
of God
the Father,5 pay
but consideringthe power
for

III. And

Probably the
Eph. iii.i, iv. I, Philem.
2 Cf.
Eph. 4, Rom.
himself

pares

to

of the

See
4

The

ings ;
order.'
6

unity

below, 'union
'

the
"

Cf.

there, Ignatius 'com

as

below,

c.

13.

his

fetters

On

are

his

Ignatius'con

Church, see Introd. " 4. The

is Christ Himself.
Church's unity,as of its life,

ception of the
source

Here,

2.

gay
LIGHTFOOT.

"

Christ.3

I, 9.

inscr. and

Cf. Rom.

prisoner of Jesus

reveller ;

some

holiday decoration.'
3

title of

of the

with

Jesus and the Father.'

Cf. Trail,

n.

bishop is here regarded as the dispenserof bless

and guardians of
presbytersas the representatives

LIGHTFOOT.

The

sentence

i.e. the authoritybestowed

on

is unfinished.
him

by

God.

all

him

For

reverence.

6l

MAGNESIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

THE

in like

I have

manner

per

have
not
presumed
presbyters
holy
but
his
state,1
yieldplace
seemingly youthful
upon
2 in
rather
who
is
or
God,
to
to him
one
as
prudent
of Jesus Christ,even
not to him, but to the Father
Who
So then for the
is Bishop of all men.
to Him
of Him, Who
desired you, it is fittingthat
honour
it
is
For
without
should
dissembling.
obey
you
that a man
deceives this visible bishop,3but
not

ceived

that

the

rather

that

he

in such

And

do,

to

but

tries to

cheat

knows

Who

God

with

flesh

with

it is not

case

is invisible.

Who

Him

he

that

has

things that

the

in secret.

are

IV.
but

So

also to be

who

have

and

yet in

the

fittingnot

it is

then

Christians.
'

name

Even
'

bishop

everything act

only

be

to

there

as

always

called

are

some

their

on

lips

him.

apart from

Now

variouslytranslated.
and
The rendering given above
follows Pearson
Lightfoot
allusion to episcopacy as
Others, seeing in the words an
translate
not
a
recognizing the
newly-created institution,
seemingly newly-created office.' But, apart from the fact
that the language of Ignatius lends no countenance
the
to
view that he regarded episcopacy as a new
the
institution,
will not admit
words
of this rendering. Zahn
renders
the
rd^tvhave
vecorepi/cV

words

The

been

'

'

ordination
words.

The

of

young
translation

man,' but
above

outwardly appeared youthful,but

his years.
2
The reading of the Armenian
3

seer.'

reference
Cf. Rom.

to

9.

the

this puts

gives good
showed

Version

originalmeaning

strain

sense.

wisdom

has

been

of the

on

the

Damas

beyond
followed.

word,

'

over

62
such

to

seem

to

me

MAGNESIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

THE

be

not

of

men

science,seeingthat they gather

not

good con
in
together
a

accordingto command.
V. So then the things of this
and there are set together before

valid way

life have
the

us

end,

an

issues

two

shall

surelygo to
there
For
two
his own
are
as
just
coinages
place.2
each
of the world, and
of God, the other
the one
it its own
has stamped upon
of them
one
image,
the stamp of this world, and
the unbelievers
they
the Father
that in love believe,the image of God
Whom
unless
we
Christ,3
through
Jesus
through
His
die
accord
of
unto
to
our
own
are
ready
death, and

of life and

each

life is not

Passion,4 His

man

in

us

"

that
in
the
therefore
Seeing

VI.

in faith your

I beheld

mentioned

them,

I urge

already

persons
whole

number,

be

diligen
to do all things in godly concord, the bishop pre
sidingafter the pattern6 of God, and the presbyter

and

have

Cf.

Acts

welcomed

Smyrn.

the believer

Cf.

'

by

identified with

language

in His

of St. Paul

vi. 3, Gal. iii.27 ; also Rom.

6

such

The

sentence

broken

positionof
6

these

on

is an

image

is

'impress' of
stamped upon

The

Christian

becomes

Passion,and dies with Him.

baptism into Christ in Rom.

vi. 5, Gal. ii. 20.

is unfinished.

sentences

the

Polyc.

Christ.

Passion.'

His

Christ

with

5, and

c.

is Himself
Divine

This

his union

into

of Rome,

Christ

essence.'

Lit. 'die

Cf. the

Clement

i. 3, where

the Father's

8 note.

i. 25.

Phil. 9.
3
Cf. Heb.

you,

The

frequentoccurrence

indication of haste in the

of
com

letters.

Reading rfaov,which

has the support of the

Syriacand

THE

after

the

with

the

TO

EPISTLE

of

pattern

the

also

deacons

council

who

63

MAGNESIANS

THE

of the

dear

most

are

Apostles
to

me,

with a service under1

seeing they are entrusted
before the ages was
with the
Jesus Christ, Who
Father, and appeared at the end.2 Therefore seek

ing

conform

to

reverence

his

yourselves to

neighbour

love

after the

Armenian

no

ways

look

man

flesh,but

of God,3
upon

in

Jesus Christ
continually.Let there be nothing

another

one

let

another, and

one

the

Versions.

The

text, Latin

Greek

Version, and
the Longer Greek
text read rd-rov,in the place of.'
There
two
are
Ignatius likens
types of authorityto which
the authority of the bishop,both
being suggested by the
of the Lord's
earthly ministry, (i) The bishop
memory
Christ,as
represents the authority of the Father, to whom
of Man, during His earthly life yielded obedience
Son
(cf
Trail. 3, Smyrn. 8, and
bishop
present passage). (2) The
His
Apostles (cf
represents the authority of Christ over
Trail. 2). In Magn. 13 we
find both comparisons.
The
presbyters are
regularlycompared to the Apostles.
"

Cf. Trail. 2, 3 ;
The deacons

are

relation

of Man

Son

as

Trail. 3
word
The

Philad.

In

'

Or

App.

Matt.

service

a
xx.

Cf. Heb.

Cf.

to

Jesus Christ,but

Father.

See

present

in His

chapter

in the

Const,

him
ii. 28

in which
x.

Cor. xi. 23,

i. 2.

Polyc. I

suggested by primitive Church

centre, with

the

presbyters

(cf. c.
the

13). Cf. Trail. 3,

presbyters are called

Church.'

28, Mark

given,cf. 2

is

about

council of the

'the
1

8.

the

to

bishop sat

'corona'

compared

'council'

The

forming

also

(note).

and

custom.

Smyrn. 8.

note.

45.
i

Jesus Christ
Cf. Trail.

Tim.

iv. 6.

ministered.'

3.) For

the

(Cf.
rendering

64

EPISTLE

THE

you

among
be

rule

shall be

the

with

united

the

which

over

MAGNESIANS

THE

TO

able to

you

that

have

lesson

and

pattern

but

you,

them

with

bishop,and
for

divide

of

incorruption.
As

VII.

the Lord

therefore

without
nothing

did

[being united with Him2], neither of

Himself
nor
by the Apostles, so neither do you
in anything apart from
the bishop and
act
pres
byters. Neither attempt to persuade yourselves
of
do
that anything is right which
yourselves
you
Father1

the

in

But

apart.

let there

common

mind,

supplication,

one

one

that is without

joy

there is

"for

selves

together,all

God,4

as

1
3

Cf.

unto

John

The

altar, even

one

relative refers
Christ.5"

the Latin

to

the

whole

LiGHTFOOT.

cf

your

One

Smyrn.
'

clause.
In

Christ

shrine,even

one

reads, the Greek

Version

love, in

Gather

unto
2

viii. 28.

unity is Jesus
which

unto

as

prayer,

hope,
is Jesus
He.

better than

of you,

one

in

one

blame, which3

naught

be

3.

This

place of
text

Jesus

the

perfect
relative
'

has

there

is

Jesus Christ.'
4 The
rendering given follows the text of Lightfoot,and
adopts his reading "e^, for "eoG of the Greek text and Latin
shrine of
God,' instead of one
Version; one
shrine,even
this reading God
is compared to the shrine,and
With
God.'
Jesus Christ to the altar-court,
through which in the Jewish
was
Temple access
gained to the Holy Place and Holy of
one

'"

The

Holies.

the Father.
can

only

'

idea is that
The

whole

self in the Father.

Philad.

4.

the passage

See

also

cf. Heb.

is

passage

through being

come

For

is the

Christ

in

the word

Heb.

xiii.

ix. 6 sq.

an

means

of

access

appeal for unity,which

Jesus Christ,Who

altar,cf. Eph. 5,
10.

to

For

the

whole

is Him

Trail. 7,
idea

of

66

THE

might

be

in

that

Him.2

sent

attained

observances

unto

Sabbath,3
longer keeping
whereon
the
Lord's
day,4
by
Greek

The

Word,
lated

is that

lated

from

Syriac,

the

It

text.

quotation of these words

It suits the

Version, which

by

in

also

occurs

than

that the other

the fourth

Ignatius.

context

Ignatiusis

that

shows

does

existence of the Word

passage.
2 Cf.
3

Cf.

Jewish

Coloss.

ii.

of the

living in
inspires as the
Sabbath

is

the

within

come

used
to that
as

the
forth

coming

question of

6.

the pre-

the scope

of the

the

by

the

into

Sabbatical

Judaisticparty.
the

hopes

and

between
new

the

which

memories
of

commemoration

contrast

and

They

fall back

to

not

are

life,representedhere

of

mode

i. e.

There

similar

Son

in

of the text

viii. 29

John

observances
4

not

with

Marcellus

speaking of the

Incarnation, and

in the

of the Word

"

only apparent,

is

resemblance

the

the

known

Lightfootthinks

and

Gnostics

very

it agrees

alteration

an

generationof

Divine

But

to

the

Both

century.
of the

language
of

reading

due

was

trans

(c.513

and

preceding phrases,
Eph. 19).
Ignatius'language elsewhere (cf.

trans

518).
reading,pointing

other

the

the

with

contrast

from

of Antioch

Severus

Eternal

'His

earliest

the

its

had

reading
though

The

ultimately derived

is

better

context

read

no

life ruled

life too

our

silence.5

from

Armenian

of the

Greek

ancient

forth

coming

not

version both

Latin

and

text

hope,

living

but

ancient

in
of

newness

the

lived

who

those

therefore

If

IX.

His

Christ

Himself

through Jesus
silence,
is His Word,1 coming forth from
all things did the good pleasure of Him

Son, Who
Who

God

is One

there

that

convinced
fully

manifested

Who

MAGNESIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

Christ's

formal

spiritwhich

day

Resurrection.

observance

marked

the

the

of the
Christian

TO

EPISTLE

THE

THE

death

His

and

Him

6/

MAGNESIANS

which1

some
risingthrough
have
which
received
we
a
through
mystery
deny,
and therefore we
to believe,
the power
endure, that
of Jesus Christ, our
be
found
we
disciples
may

only

Teacher-r-how

from

Him

Let

X.

for
and

day,'cf. Barnabas,

Lord's

'the

rejoicing,in
having been

the

from

raised them

weekly festival

of the

of the

to

Resurrection.

keep

Jesus

ascended

manifested

His

the dead.3

insensible

15. 'We

also

which

live apart

became

also

not, therefore,be

us

observance

therefore
and

rightlywaited, came

to

spiritHis coming
they
He, for Whom

the

in

And

able

be

we

prophets

awaited

them.

teach

the

For

and
disciples,
to

shall

"

rose

the
from

His

For

eighth day
the dead,

into the Heavens.'

is
teacher'
only
perhaps best
passage
taken, with Zahn, as a parenthesis. It is a passing allusion
in point
In letters so
the Docetae.
to
closely connected
of time as the Ignatian Epistles,it is only natural that the
show
writer should
en
signs of the thoughts which were
The
danger arisingfrom
gaging his attention at the time.
Docetism
gives a certain colouringto the whole language of
he is not
where
Ignatiusupon the Passion of Christ,even
directlyassailingthe error.
1

'which

The

Cf.

The

c.

10

Philad.

and

belief

in

the

our

8, 9.
descent

of

Christ

into

Hades

and

the passage
preaching there, based probably upon
Pet. iii. 19, 20, was
and
third
i
widespread in the second
and was
(Iren.I.
accepted by the heretic Marcion
centuries,
into Hell' is not
descended
He
clause
found
27, 2). The
in any baptismal creed
before that of Aquileia, quoted by
earlier
Rufinus, circa 400 A.D., though it may go back much
(Swete, Apostle? Creed, pp. 61, 62). A similar clause is
His

'

found

in the Dated

Creed

of Sirmium

in 359

A.D.

68

EPISTLE

THE

kindness.

TO

acts,
according to our
Therefore, becoming His
live in

God.

by

stale

no

one

savour

is

Jesus

shall
of

you
be

Jesus Christ

Christianity believed
believed

tongue
XL

I write

learned

that

on

guard

your

and

in the

of the

time

Cf.

Matt.

xiii. 33, Luke

Matt.

v.

This

indicate

Cor.

confession,

by

your

Judaism.
of every

I have

evil case, but

you,
fall not

into

Cf. for the

but

God.

unto

in such

of

to

to

put

the

snares

of5

the

idea, Heb.

of
birth

to

came

Pontius

you

pass

Pilate6

"

viii. 13.

xiii. 21.

ix. 50, Luke

in
couched

xiv. 34.
an

Cf. Lev.

anti-Docetic

ii. 13.

form,

may

at
Ignatius feared the danger of Docetism
Or possiblyhe is thinking of the dangers threat
churches, and so gives an anticipatorywarning

that

ening other

Magnesians.

The

Creed,

7.

13, Mark

Magnesia.
the

v.

new

Him,4

beloved, because

government
2

in

people

I desire

than

that you

which

are

has

Judaism,

teaching,but be fullyconvinced
passion and resurrection,which

vain

to

of you

some

of

not

the

to

salted

in

gathered

were

this,my

not

is less

who

one

as

and

who

which

live in

and

not

Christianity,in

in

he

For

to

It is outrageous

proved.

For

name

learn

us

for
corrupt,

wax

the

undone.

turn

Be

acting

this,is

evil leaven

Christ.

utter

Judaism

besides,

name

bitter, and

and

among

you

indeed

are

aside,then, the

leaven,3which
that

other

any

Lay

become

we

in

us

let
disciples,
befittingChristianity.

way

is called

follow

should

if He

For

MAGNESIANS

THE

date
in

of

order

the
to

here, as

in the

historical truth

of the

Crucifixion

is inserted

emphasize

the

EPISTLE

THE

events

pass

truly and certainlywere

Hope, from
by Jesus Christ,our
of you

none

XII.

For

you

that

that when

all

am

things,if I
prisoner,I
of

one

who

you

for
up,

puffed

not

are

yourselves.1 And

within

praise you,

feel the

you

'

for it is

shame,

in

with

you

Jesus Christ

have

know

joy of you
though

comparison

I know

free.

are

in

even

brought to
which
Hope

astray.

go

I have

May

worthy.
nothing

am

ever

69

MAGNESIANS

THE

which

may

be

TO

written, The

greater
is his

righteous man

accuser!*

own

XIII.

diligenttherefore

Be

of the Lord

the decrees3

be

to

Apostles, that

the

and

in

confirmed

in

everything,which you do, you may be prospered

in flesh and
by faith and love, in the Son
spirit,
and

Father

and

in

the

coronal6

honour,

of your

selves to the
fact,and

the

Cf.

Prov.xviii.

account

beginning
bishop who is

the

deacons
Submit

Jesus

general history of the

period.

one

another,

Christians,mentions

of the

The

LXX.

17.

Hebrew

An

For

the

See

note

Pilate

gives quitea different

sense.

The

your

xiii. 5.

Cor.

who

as

to

the

the

fitly-wovenspiritua

of God.

and

it with

Tacitus, in his
(Ann. xv. 44).

the

and

mind

bishop

connect

your

presbytery,and

according to

are

with

end, along

of all

worthy

in
Spirit,5

the

in

and

for

word

allusion

to

'

decrees
Ps. i. 3.

order,cf. 2
on

c.

6.

'

occurs

in Acts

LXX.

Cor. xiii. 13.

xvi. 4.

7"D

Christ

[was
the

and

there

subject]

Apostles
be

may

that

exhorted

that

which

Church

too

the

not

worthy

need

of

love,

that

united

your

Church

the

also

whence

In

Bishop
salute

too,

fast

of

in
is

spirit, which2

Cf.

The

idea

of

c.

(note),

relative
concord

and

probably
prominent

godly

"

Introd.
refers
in

have

with
the

Poly-

churches,
is

of
a

Jesus
stead

Christ.

Jesus
see

of

you,

yourselves.

keeping

peace,

your

granted

they

as

which

honour

the

for

me,

rest

have

salute

even

The

am

supplication.

you,

refreshed

Smyrna.

you

to

glory,

have

in

may

Smyrna

from

God's

Farewell

Christ.

your

be

fervent

writing

am

they

way

every

carp,

for

hither

come

of

dew

and

God,

Syria

in

Ephesians

The

XV.

prayer

your

whereof
For

in

have

Remember

member.

I
in

God.

Syria,

in

is

God,

of
me

unto

called

be

to

refreshing

the

attain

may

full

Remember

briefly.

you

prayers,

you

that

spirit.1

and

are

flesh],

Father,

the

flesh

of

both

the

[after

and

Christ

to

Knowing

XIV.

Father

the

to

union

MAGNESIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

THE

it.

to

4.

the

whole

clause

and

the

TO

EPISTLE

THE

III.

situated

[Tralleswas

high-road

the

on

TRALLIANS

THE

which

from

passes

It
East.
the
and
Laodicea
to
Magnesia
through
Ephesus
about seventeen
or
was
eighteen miles from Magnesia, which
Like Mag
is almost
Ephesus and Tralles.
midway between
nesia, Tralles probably owed its Christianityto the preaching
their bishop
Trallians
had
sent
of St. Paul's disciples. The
thank
writes
them.
and
he
to
at
to meet
Smyrna,
Ignatius
them
against false teaching and
He takes occasion to warn
them
of
accusing
personally
however,
without,
separatism,
main
The
these errors.
n) con
part of the epistle(cc. 6
which
of
we
see
tains a strong protest against a Docetic
error,
in
in
the
attacked
the
form
heresy
strongly-developed
a more
"

Epistle

the

to

the

them

their

specialinterest

and

is

c.

urges

obedience

to

There

7.
in

condemned

error

he

security against

in this connection

Judaic

of the

best

time

same

unity

outward

officers,as

Church

tion

of

duty

the

At

Smyrnaeans.

the

upon

their
Of

error.

is

no

Epistle

men

to

the

Magnesians.]
IGNATIUS,
beloved

by God,

Church

holy
worthy

of

/. e. the

The

nian

Versions

Theophorus, to her that is

Father
of Jesus Christ, to the

the

which

is at

God, having

Roman

text

is also

who

is in

Tralles

reading

blood

'

71

elect and

spirit

Asia.

confusion,the

some

Asia,1

in flesh and

peace

province of

in

for

'

Greek

text

and

Arme

spirit.'Probably,

how-

72

passion

the

through

salute

in

Who
Christ,
Jesus

of

exhibit

that you

learned

our

which
;

God,

of

after

the

greeting.

it heartiest

bid

is

Him

unto

fulness

the
and

Apostolic manner,1
I. I have

TRALLIANS

THE

resurrection

the

hope through
Church

TO

EPISTLE

THE

mind, which

unwavering in patientendurance,
habit but naturally. For so your bishop,
from
not
will
the
of
informed
who
has
by
me,
Polybius,
at Smyrna,
and Jesus Christ has been with me
God
in
shared
in
bonds
and has so
joy
greatly
my
my

is blameless

Christ

and

Jesus,

that

beheld

I welcomed

So then

number.

him

in

your

godly kindness
glory to God,

your

through him, and gave

found you to be, as I had learned, followers

manifested
I

when

whole

of God.
whenever

II. For

Jesus Christ, you

unto

as

not

the

that

act,

indeed

as

you
be

But

'

reading, spirit.'The

passion.' This
faith in, and
1

2. e.

would

union

in the

death

recension

that

the

has

Armenian

give the

for

nothing
to

sense

with, the flesh and

Cf.

Magn. 7.

On

this

comparison see

note

on

sakes,

you

escape
should

without

the

as
presbytery,3

omits

'

the

correct

through the

being at peace through

spiritof Jesus Christ,

Apostolic epistles.

manner

our

preserved

version
'

the

might

you

in

do,

subjectalso

longer Greek

the

died

therefore

It is necessary

bishop.
ever,

His

in

bishop
be livin

to

me

after

but

Jesus Christ,2Who

believing

death.

to

appear

life of men,

ordinary
life of

of the

you

the

subject to

are

Magn.

6,

THE

74

TO

EPISTLE

THE

TRALLIANS

Council

of

Without

these

name.2

Concerning these matters

thus disposed. For
are

God

there

that

you

and

still have

the

pattern of your

the

and

with

is

God

revere.

It

love.

His

his

for

those

that

man

myself

my

more,

and

to

Father

clause

the

'

For

text

For

exhibits

Jesus Christ.'
by the Syrian
Greek

thoughts

and

In

place

version

the ideas

myself suffi

speak
variation
'as

reads
of

and

the

the

version

word

the
'

read

of the

the

puffing

act

In

as

the

first

commandment

type,'which

of
is read

recension, the

Son.'

suggested this

which

me3

longer Greek
'

not

fear
are

of text.

keep

may

needs
that

to

But

boasting

them

unto

great

Version

Latin

of this with

in God.

must

now

who

they

Latin

I thus

enjoining you, condemned

an
though I were
apostle.

give heed

not

"

without

that

not

is

power

are

spoken

bounds, that my

ruin.

demeanour

you

thought

bishop,

of

many

For

up.

as

within

prove

me

I am,

I have

IV.

task

received,

of your

who

of

love

But

this

I have

very

refrain,although I might have

cient

Apostles.
deserving of the
I am
persuaded

gentleness is

even

is for

greater urgency.

the

in the person

me,

I think

whom

of

church

no

striking lesson, and

man

band

twofold

The

word

comparison
'

council

'

is
presbyters,see Magn. 6, note.
of the churches
in early
suggested by the arrangements
band
is suggested by the earthly
times, while the word
ministry of the Lord and His Apostles.
2
On
the
Ignatian conception of the ministry and the
unity of the Church, see Introd. " 4.
3
fears
words
which
he
the
nattering
Ignatiussuppresses
*

'

THE

me.

For

whether

to

scourge
know

not

Satan

the

of

eyes

I
more].
war
[the
the
which
prince
gentleness,by
makes

me

on

the

For

worthy.

am

75
I

suffering,
yet

I welcome

visible to

is not

TRALLIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

of

envy

many,1

but

it

desire therefore
is

of this world

overthrown.

since

lest

write

to

you

being unable

to

inflict harm

bonds

in

upon

with

bear

them,

contain

heavenly

you

Indeed

babes.2

are

unto

I may

I fear lest

But

things?
you,

able

I not

Am

V.

me,

be choked.

you
and

able

to
though
3
of
the
and
understand
ordering
heavenly things
of
and
the
things
heavenly rulers,
musterings
angels
I not thereby already
visible and invisible,
yet am
that
of
suffer
lack
For
we
things,
a disciple.
many

For

we

even

not

may

come

I urge

VI.

you

from
even

may

'puffhim

may

have

Rom.
3

am

of God.

short

therefore,yet

not

abstain

food, and

Christian

love of

I, but the

only
For
which
is
they
heresy.
strange herbage,4
false
their
with
Christ,
by
Jesus
mingle poison5

Jesus Christ,

am

i.

e.

up.'

fallen
those

use

It is

possible,however,

who

were

seeking

in the

to
2

interest

some

words

out.

7.)
The

that

in

angelology

apostolicand

a respite.
procure
Cor. iii.I, 2.
a

was

characteristic

post-apostolic
ages.

From

of

(Cf.
the

them

Jews
it spread to Judaizing Christians and to Christians generally
Cf. Smyrn. 6.
Cf. Eph. i. 20, 21, Col. i. 1 6, ii. 18.
4
Cf. Eph. 10, Philad. 3.
6

The

text

is corrupt.

gests the emended

The

reading

longer Greek

which

has

been

recension
here

sug

translated.

?6

THE

TO

EPISTLE

TRALLIANS

THE

it

honesty, giving as
drug along with honied wine, and
professionsof
of

ant

he

deadly
is ignor

that

in death

fearlesslydrinks

this

were

with

fatal

pleasure.
VII.

Be

on

your

this will

And

sons.

then

guard
be, if

against such

puffed

not

are

you

per
up,

inseparablefrom [God, even] Jesus

of
the' commandments
Christ and the bishop and
the precincts of
that is within
the Apostles.1 He
if you

and

altar

the

are

altar

of the

is not

anything apart

that

such

any

That

the

is not

I write

VIII.

is without

that

pure.

from

the deacons

and

he

is pure,

and

evil has

the

acts

in

presbytery

in conscience.
I

this, because

not

precincts

who

is,he

bishop

pure

the

happened

have

among

learned

you,

but

infuses poison
metaphor is that of a physician who
his drugs, and disguisesthem
by givingto them a sweet

The
into

flavour.
1

last

These

refer

the

to

words

in this

(PhilippianS)
p.

shown

of the

institution

212

connection

almost

certainly
episcopate. Lightfoot has

sq.)that early tradition

supports

episcopacy in Asia Minor

was
largely the work of St. John. Irenaeus (iii.
3, 4) says of
appointed by apostlesas bishop of the
Polycarp that he was
in Smyrna, certainlymeaning to include
St. John
Church
in the word
apostles.'
2
See note
Eph. 5. The figure is derived from the Jewish
himself
who
off from
tabernacle
cuts
or
temple. The man

the view

that the establishment

of

'

the

congregation of the faithful and

becomes

as

Gentile

congregation is
its proper

here

officers.

and

outcast.

represented as

the

common

sacrifices

(Cf.Matt, xviii. 17.) The

gathered together under

keep guard

over

the

then
up
selves

one

Give

occasion

not

multitude
few

be

foolish

whom

'unto

your

Faith

is said

tifies itself with

said

to

be

sacrifice
which
The

results
'

words

the Eucharist
2

be

to

the

no

of

account

on

him

unto

the

through

flesh

of

'

flesh
both

is

and
here

'

blood

Christ's
of

'

doubtless

are

is

Love

death

love,and
Cf.

the

upon

(cf,Philad. 5).

in Philad.

and

rests

life of love.

it iden

Christ, because

Christ, because

them

the

truly3

was

Christ, and

manifestation

from

is of

trulypersecuted under

incarnate

of

Who

Mary,

crowning expression

the

are

of

drank, was

blood

the

Woe-

'

child

outward

facts of His

of

Who
Christ,
Jesus

from

and

ate

Let

some.'
before
idly blasphemed
then when
one
speaks
ears
any

David, the

born, and

and

is

apart

you
of

race

For

Name

Stop

Lord,

Christ.

Jesus

spoken

evil

men.

My

IX.

to

not

your

his
neighbour.
against
aught
the heathen, that the godly

have

you

among

of

blood

is the

my

Take

renew

flesh of the

is the

faith,1which

in

are

of the devil.

snares

gentlenessand

of

armour

love,which

in

the

I foresee

beloved, and

since you

beforehand,

you

77

TRALLIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

THE

the

and

life

Rom.

7.

suggested by

5.

quotation of Isaiah lii.5. The words are quoted

in the same
form in Polyc.,Phil. 10.
3
the realityof Christ's human
Docetism
denied
life and
impossibleto believe
sufferings. To these heretics it seemed
A

that
matter

free

God
as

could
was

have

involved

come

into

in the

Incarnation.

ward, earthlymanifestation

such

of Christ

close

contact

Hence

the

with
out

explained away as
an
apparition. This explains Ignatius' insistence on the
of the Lord.
realityof the birth,passion and resurrection
in this connection.
word
The
(See
'truly'is a watchword
Add. Note
I, vol. ii.)
was

78

the

eyes

the earth

those under
from
Who

like

in

believe

Christ

Jesus, apart
if it

But

be,

it

is

bonds

with
Then

who

they
Why

the

do

beasts?3

wild

Flee

therefore

these

For
if

they

Cf. Phil. ii. 10.

Cf.

Smyrn. 2, 4.

Cf.

Cor.

tree

the

of life

lingua
was

straightway

their

and

bear

Father.4
to

seen

fruit

would

is modelled

passage

on

13.

xv.

Smyrn.
metaphor,
plantedin Paradise, as
from

hymn,
to

taken

which

been

have

whole

The

attributed

to

the

the tradition that

sprang

from

i.

'

symbolism of
referringto the Cross
The

early time.'"

very

exhibits
gloriosi,'

allusion

for

I die

would

language of Rev. xxii. I, 2, would

fine

fight
naught.

I may

the
of
planting

cf.

Christ,dates
The

I in

am

words.

Cf. Matt.
For

that

taste, he

Cross,5

32.

xv.

is,

that

why

"

I pray

man
a

they

of the

St. Paul's

that

not

in semblance

evil offshoots

not

were,

branches

be

in

us

Lord.

if

are

Then

those

deadly fruit,whereof
For

have

suffered

He

moreover

against the

dies.

who

us

godless men,

semblance

are

I lie

XI.

up

up,

will raise

we

some

as

unbelievers,assert, that
"

Him

is life indeed.

life,which
X.

raise

Whom

from

truly raised

raised

Father

His

and

earth

on

was

Father

will also

even

"

also

Who

His

manner

Him

on

since

dead,

the

those

and

in heaven

of those

died, before

trulycrucified and

Pilate,was

Pontius

TRALLIANS

THE

TO

EPISTLE

THE

the

Venantius
same

the
seed

application
easy.

Fortunatus,
from

of the

which

Tree

'

Pange

contains

imagery, and
tree

of

The

LIGHTFOOT.

the

render

the

of

an

the Cross
Life.

His

by

without

union, which
I

XII.

have

with

in

me

every

way

which

for

wear

in your

that

men

in flesh

attain

may

it is meet

For

me,

both

and

concord

your

another.

one

promises

with

present

now

spirit.My bonds exhort you,

Jesus Christ's sake, asking that I
in

God

Smyrna, together with

from

of God

refreshed

Abide

should

is Himself.

union

and

God.

His

being
head

since

members,1

salute you

the Churches

that

Cross

His

Him,

unto

us

79

through

possiblethen

It is not

born

who

calls

He

Passion

members.
be

TRALLIANS

THE

incorruptible.For

been

have

TO

EPISTLE

THE

you

unto

prayer

should

the presbyters,
refresh the
and especially
severally,
of the Father
and
[to the
bishop to the honour
honour] of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. I pray
in
lest
that you
heed
to
me
love,
by
give
may
I
written
become
unto
a
testimony
having
you

against

you.

Moreover,

pray

Fraude

Quando
Morsu

facta

from

pomi

and

from

for

noxialis

corruit,

in mortem

denial of the Passion

Christ

too,

condolens,

notavit

Ipse lignum tune

Damna
ligni ut
The

me

parentis protoplast!

De

for

by

the Divine

solveret.

these

heretics

ideal of

cut

them

off

unity appointed by
of the thought and
the Epistle to the

Ignatius is full
through the Cross.
language of St. Paul, and especiallyof
23.)
Ephesians. (Cf. also John xvii. 21
2 i.
of their representatives. (Cf.
in the persons
e. present
Eph. i, Magn. 2.)
God

"

80

EPISTLE

THE

have

need

may

be

of your

deemed

press

The

XIII.

Ephesians
called

be

bishop

for

not

am

the

am

worthy

to

last

of

very

also

likewise

commandment,1

the

to

another
severallylove one
itself
devotes
heart.
My spirit

presbytery,and

the

with

as

prayers

Jesus Christ, submitting

in
the

unto

in your

Remember

since

member,

the

you.

eagerly
found reprobate.
not
Smyrnaeans and the

Syria, whereof

in

Farewell

them.

to

salutes

Church

the

of

love

lot which

of the

worthy

God, that I

of

in the mercy

love

attain,that I be

to

on

TRALLIANS

THE

TO

undivided

an

you,2not
God.

unto

is

Father

only

now

For

in

whenever

I attain

danger.3

But

Jesus Christ
In

yours.

also

still in

am

faithful

petition and

but

Him

may

the

to

fulfil my

we

be

found

blameless.

absolutelyfor
obey the bishop as they
2
Cf. Eph. 8, note.
1

Used

He

others

still fears
to

procure

God's
are

that his
his

to

own

They

commandment.

obey

rob

him

or

the
of

the

crown.

END

Richard

day

S"

OF

VOL.

to

God.

weakness,

respite,may

are

I.

Sons, Limited, London

and

Bungay.

efforts of

martyr's

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