Table Of Content

THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO R O M A N S CHAPTER I. going unto God; nor will you, if ye Ignatius testifies his desire to see, and shall now be silent, ever be entitled his hopes of suffering for Christ 5 which to a better work. For if you, shall be he earnestly entreats them not to prevent, silent in my behalf, I shall be made 10 but to pray for him, that God would partaker of God. strengthen him to the combat. 6 But if you shall love my body, I IGNATIUS, who is also called shall have my course again to run. Theophorus, to the church which has Wherefore ye cannot do me a greater obtained mercy from the majesty of kindness, than to suffer me to be the Most High Father, and his only sacrificed unto God, now that the al- begotten Son Jesus Christ; beloved, tar is already prepared: and illuminated through the will of 7 That when ye shall be gathered to- him who willeth all things which are gether in love, ye nay give thanks to according to the love of Jesus Christ the Father through Christ Jesus, that our God; which also presides in the he has vouchsafed to bring a bishop place of the region of the Romans; of Syria unto you, being called from and which I salute in the name of Je- the east unto the west. sus Christ, as being united both in 8 For it is good for me to turn from flesh and spirit to all his commands, the world, unto God; that I may rise and filed with the grace of God; again unto him. with all joy in Jesus Christ our God. 9 Ye have never envied any one; ye 2 Forasmuch as I have at last ob- have taught others. I would therefore tained through my prayers to God, that ye should now do those things permission to see your faces, which I yourselves, which in your instruc- much desired to do; being bound in tions you have prescribed to others. Jesus Christ, I hope ere long to sa- 10 Only pray for me, that God lute you, if it shall be the will of would give me both inward and out- God to grant me to attain unto the ward strength, that I may not only end I long for. say, but will; nor be only called a 3 For the beginning is well dis- christian, but be found one. posed, if I shall but have grace, 11 For if I shall be found a christi- without hindrance, to receive what is an, I may then deservedly be called appointed for me. one; and be thought faithful, when I 4 But I fear your love, lest it do me shall no longer appear to the world. an injury; for it is easy for you to do 12 Nothing is good, that is seen. what you please; but it will be hard 13 For even our God, Jesus Christ, for me to attain unto God, if you now that he is in the Father, does so spare me. much the more appear. 5 But I would not that ye should 14 A christian is not a work of please men, but God; whom also ye opinion; but of greatness of mind, do, please. For neither shall I here- especially when he is hated by the after have such an opportunity of world. 1 ROMANS upon me. CHAPTER. II. 11 And whom for that end I will en- Expresses his great desire and determina- courage, that they may be sure to de- tion to suffer martyrdom. vour me, and not serve me as they I WRITE to the churches, and signi- have done some, whom out of fear fy to them all, that I am willing to they have not touched. But if they die for God, unless you hinder me. will not do it willingly, I will pro- 2 I beseech you that you show not voke them to it. an unseasonable good will towards 12 Pardon me in this matter; I know me. Suffer me to be food to the wild what is profitable for me, now I be- beasts, by whom I shall attain unto gin to be a disciple. Not shall any God. thing move me whether visible or in- 3 For I am the wheat of God, and I visible, that I may attain to Jesus shall be ground by the teeth of the Christ. wild-beasts, that I may be found the 13 Let fire and the cross; let the pure bread of Christ. Rather encour- companies of wild beasts; let break- age the beasts, that they may became ings of bones, and tearing of mem- my sepulchre, and may let live noth- bers; let the shattering in pieces of ing of my body; that being dead I the whole body, and all the wicked may not be troublesome to any. torments of the devil come upon 5 Then shall I be truly the disciple me; only let me enjoy Jesus Christ. of Jesus Christ, when the world shall 14 All the ends of the world, and not see so much as my body. Pray the kingdoms of it, will profit me therefore unto Christ for me, that by nothing: I would rather die for Jesus these instruments I may be made the Christ, than rule to the utmost ends sacrifice of God. of the earth. Him I seek who died 6 I do not, as Peter and Paul, com- for us; him I desire who rose again mand you. They were Apostles, I a for us. This is the gain that is laid up condemned man; they were free, but for me. I am even to this day a servant: 15 Pardon me, my brethren, ye shall 7 But if I shall suffer, I shall then not hinder me from living; nor see- become the freeman of Jesus Christ, ing I desire to go to God, may you and shall rise free. And now, being in separate me from him, for the sake bonds, I learn not to desire any of this world;—nor induce me by thing. any of the desires of it. Suffer me to 8 From Syria even unto Rome, I enter into pure light, where being fight with beasts both by sea and come, I shall be indeed the servant land; both night and day: being of God. bound to ten leopards, that is to say, 16 Permit me to imitate the passion to such a band of soldiers, who, of my God. If any one has God though treated with all manner of within himself, let him consider what kindness, are the worse for it. I desire; and let him have compas- 9 But I am the more instructed by sion on me, as knowing how I am their injuries; yet am I not therefore straightened. justified. 10 May I enjoy the wild beasts that CHAPTER III. are prepared for me; which also I Further expresses his desire to suffer. wish may exercise all their fierceness THE prince of this world would 2 ROMANS fain carry me away, and corrupt my 10 But I am even ashamed to be resolution towards my God. Let reckoned as one of them; for neither none of you therefore help him; am I worthy, being the least among rather do ye join with me, that is, them, and as one born out of due with God. season. But through mercy I have 2 Do not speak with Jesus Christ, risen to be somebody, if I shall get and yet covet the world. Let not any unto God. envy dwell with you; no, not though 11 My spirit salutes you; and the I myself, when I shall be come unto charity of the churches that have re- you, should exhort you to it, yet do ceived me in the name of Jesus not ye hearken to me; but rather be- Christ; not as a passenger, for even lieve what I now write to you. they that were not near to me in the 3 For though I am alive at the writ- way, have gone before me to the next ing of this, yet my desire is to die. city to meet me. My love is crucified; and the fire that 12 These things I write to you from is within me does not desire any wa- Smyrna, by the most worthy of the ter; but being alive and springing church of Ephesus. within me, says, Come to the Father. 13 There is now with me, together 4 I take no pleasure in the food of with many others, Crocus, most be- corruption, nor in the pleasures of loved of me. As for those which are this life. come from Syria, and are gone be- 5 I desire the bread of God which is fore me to Rome, to the glory of the flesh of Jesus Christ, of the seed God, I suppose you are not ignorant of David; and the drink that I long of them. for is his blood, which is incorrupt- 14 Ye shall therefore signify to them ible love. that I draw near, for they, are all 6 I have no desire to live any longer worthy both of God and of you: after the manner of men; neither Whom it is fit that you refresh in all shall I, if you consent. Be ye there- things. fore willing, that ye yourselves also 15 This have I written to you, the maybe pleasing to God. I exhort you day before the ninth of the, calends in a few words; I pray you believe of September. Be strong unto the me. end, in the patience of Jesus Christ. 7 Jesus Christ will shew you that I speak truly. My mouth is without de- ceit, and the Father hath truly spoken by it. Pray therefore for me, that I may accomplish what I desire. 8 I have not written to you after the flesh, but according to the will of God. If I shall suffer, ye have loved me: but if I shall be rejected, ye have hated me. 9 Remember in your prayers the church of Syria, which now enjoys God for its shepherd instead of me. Let Jesus Christ only oversee it, and your charity. 3