Chapter 1
Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans
Salutation
Ignatius, also called God-bearer, to the Church of God the Father and of the beloved Jesus Christ, which has received mercy in every gift, filled with faith and love, lacking no gift, most worthy of God and bearing holiness, which is in Smyrna of Asia, in a blameless spirit and the word of God, abundant greetings.
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1 I will glorify Jesus Christ the God who has made you so wise; for I have seen that you are established in unshakeable faith, as if nailed to the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ in both flesh and spirit, and firmly grounded in love in the blood of Christ, fully convinced concerning our Lord, who is truly of the race of David according to the flesh, Son of God according to the will and power of God, truly begotten of a Virgin, baptized by John, that all righteousness might be fulfilled by him;
2 truly in the time of Pontius Pilate and Herod the tetrarch nailed for us in the flesh, from whose fruit we are—from his divinely blessed passion—that he might raise up a banner for the ages through the resurrection to his holy and faithful ones, whether among Jews or among nations, in one body of his Church.
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1 He suffered all these things for us, so that we might be saved. And he truly suffered, just as he truly raised himself—not as some unbelievers claim, that he only seemed to suffer while they themselves only seemed to exist. And as they think, so it happens to them: they are incorporeal and demonic.
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1 I know him in the flesh even after the resurrection, and I believe that he is.
2 And when he came to those around Peter, he said to them: Take hold of me, feel me and see, that I am not a demon, incorporeal. And immediately they touched him and believed, mingled with his flesh and his Spirit. For this reason they also despised death, and were found to be beyond death.[1]
3 After the resurrection he ate and drank with them as one in the flesh, though he was spiritually united to the
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1 I urge these things upon you, beloved, knowing that you too hold the same view. But I’m guarding you from those beasts in human form—not only must you not receive them, but if possible not even meet them; only pray for them, if somehow they may repent, though that is difficult. Yet Jesus Christ has authority over this, our true life.
2 For if these things were done only in appearance by our Lord, then I too am bound only in appearance. Why then have I given myself over to death, to fire, to sword, to wild beasts? But near the sword is near to God; among the beasts is among God. Only in the name of Jesus Christ, to suffer with him, I endure all things, as he strengthens me, the perfect man.
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1 Some people in their ignorance deny him—or rather, have been denied by him—being advocates of death rather than of the truth, whom the prophecies have not persuaded, nor the law of Moses, nor even to this day the gospel, nor our individual sufferings. For they think the same thing about us too. What does it profit me if someone praises me but blasphemes my Lord, not confessing him to be a bearer of flesh?
2 Whoever says this has completely denied him, being a corpse-bearer. But their names, being unbelieving, I did not think it right to write down. May it never be that I should even mention them, until they repent concerning the passion, which is our resurrection.
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1 Let no one be led astray: even the heavenly powers, the glory of the angels, and the rulers both visible and invisible—if they do not believe in the blood of Christ, judgement awaits them too. Let the one who can accept this accept it. Let position puff up no one. For the whole is faith and love, and nothing is preferred to these.
2 But observe those who hold false teaching about the grace of Jesus Christ that has come to us—how they are opposed to the mind of God. They have no concern for love, none for the widow, none for the orphan, none for the afflicted, none for the prisoner or the one set free, none for the hungry or the thirsty.
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1 They abstain from the Eucharist and prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins and which the Father raised in his kindness. So those who dispute the gift of God die in their arguing. It would be better for them to love, so that they too might rise.
2 It’s right to keep away from such people and not to speak about them either privately or publicly, but to pay attention to the prophets and especially to the gospel, in which the passion has been revealed to us and the resurrection has been accomplished. Flee divisions as the beginning of evils.
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1 All of you, follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father, and follow the presbytery as you would the apostles. Respect the deacons as the commandment of God. Let no one do anything that pertains to the Church apart from the bishop. Let that Eucharist be considered valid which is celebrated by the bishop or by one whom he authorises.
2 Wherever the bishop appears, there let the congregation be, just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic Church. It is not permitted either to baptize or to hold an agape-meal without the bishop; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God, so that everything you do may be secure and valid.
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1 It is reasonable, then, for us to come to our senses while we still have time to repent toward God. It is good to acknowledge both God and the bishop. Whoever honours the bishop is honoured by God; whoever does anything in secret apart from the bishop worships the devil.
2 So may all things abound to you in grace, for you are worthy. You have refreshed me in every way, and may Jesus Christ refresh you. You loved me both when I was absent and when I was present. God is your reward; if you endure all things for his sake, you will attain him.
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1 You did well to receive Philo and Rheus Agathopus, who followed me for the word of God, as servants of God; they also give thanks to the Lord on your behalf, because you refreshed them in every way. Nothing you have done will be lost. My spirit is a ransom for you, and so are my chains, which you did not despise or feel ashamed of. Nor will the perfect hope, Jesus Christ, be ashamed of you.
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1 Your prayer has reached the Church in Antioch of Syria, from where I greet everyone in chains most fitting for God, though I am not worthy to be from there, being the least of them; yet by God’s will I was counted worthy—not by my own conscience but by the grace of God—which I pray may be given to me in full measure, so that by your prayer I may reach God.
2 So that your work may be made perfect both on earth and in heaven, it is fitting, for the honour of God, that your Church appoint an ambassador to God, to go to Syria and rejoice with them that they are at peace, have recovered their proper stature, and their own corporate body has been restored to them.
3 It seemed to me, then, a thing worthy of God to send one of your own with a letter, so that he may glorify with them the calm that has come to them according to God’s will, and that they have already reached harbour through your prayer. Since you are perfect, think perfect thoughts as well. For when you desire to do good, God is ready to grant it.
4 The love of the brothers in Troas greets you; from there I am writing to you through Burrhus, whom you sent with me along with the Ephesians, your brothers, and who has refreshed me in every way. I wish everyone would imitate him, for he is a model of God’s ministry. Grace will reward him in all things.
5 I greet the bishop worthy of God and the presbytery befitting God, and my fellow servants the deacons, and all of you individually and together in the name of Jesus Christ and in his flesh
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1 and his blood, his passion and resurrection both fleshly and spiritual, in unity with God and with you. Grace to you, mercy, peace, endurance always.
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1 I greet the households of my brothers with their wives and children, and the virgins who are called widows. Farewell to me in the power of the Father. Philo, who is with me, greets you.
2 I greet the household of Tavia, whom I pray may be established in faith and love both fleshly and spiritual. I greet Alce, a name dear to me, and Daphnus the incomparable and Eutecnus and all by name. Farewell in the grace of God.