Early Church Documents Ignatius Philadelphians
THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE PHILADELPHIANS
Ignatius, who is also Theophorus, to the church of God the Father and
of Jesus Christ, which is in Philadelphia of Asia which hath found
mercy and is firmly established in the concord of God and rejoiceth in
the passion of our Lord and in His resurrection without wavering, being
fully assured in all mercy; which church I salute in the blood of Jesus
Christ, that is eternal and abiding joy more especially if they be at
one with the bishop and the presbyters who are with him, and with the
deacons that have been appointed according to the mind of Jesus Christ,
whom after His own will He confirmed and established by His Holy
Spirit.
This your bishop I have found to hold the ministry which pertaineth
to the common weal, not of himself or through men, nor yet for vain
glory, but in the love of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And
I am amazed at his forbearance; whose silence is more powerful than
others speech. For he is attuned in harmony with the commandments, as a
lyre with its strings. Wherefore my soul blesseth his godly mind, for I
have found that it is virtuous and perfect--even the imperturbable and
calm temper which he hath, while living in all godly forbearance.
As children therefore [of the light] of the truth, shun division and
wrong doctrines; and where the shepherd is, there follow ye as sheep.
For many specious wolves with baneful delights lead captive the runners
in God's race; but, where ye are at one, they will find no place.
Abstain from noxious herbs, which are not the husbandry of Jesus
Christ, because they are not the planting of the Father. Not that I
have found division among you, but filtering. For as many as are of God
and of Jesus Christ, they are with the bishop; and as many as shall
repent and enter into the unity of the Church, these also shall be of
God, that they may be living after Jesus Christ. Be not deceived, my
brethren. If any man followeth one that maketh a schism, he doth not
inherit the kingdom of God. If any man walketh in strange doctrine, he
hath no fellowship with the passion.
Be ye careful therefore to obscene one eucharist (for there is one
flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ and one cup unto union in His blood;
there is one altar, as there is one bishop, together with the
presbytery and the deacons my fellow-servants), that whatsoever ye do,
ye may do it after God.
My brethren, my heart overfloweth altogether in love towards you;
and rejoicing above measure I watch over your safety; yet not I, but
Jesus Christ, wearing whose bonds I am the more afraid, because I am
not yet perfected. But your prayer will make me perfect [unto God],
that I may attain unto the inheritance wherein I have found mercy,
taking refuge in the Gospel as the flesh of Jesus and in the Apostles
as the presbytery of the Church. Yea, and we love the prophets also,
because they too pointed to the Gospel in their preaching and set their
hope on Him and awaited Him; in whom also having faith they were saved
in the unity of Jesus Christ, being worthy of all love and admiration
as holy men, approved of Jesus Christ and numbered together in the
Gospel of our common hope.
But if any one propound Judaism unto you, hear him not: for it is
better to hear Christianity from a man who is circumcised than Judaism
from one uncircumcised. But if either the one or the other speak not
concerning Jesus Christ, I look on them as tombstones and graves of the
dead, whereon are inscribed only the names of men. Shun ye therefore
the wicked arts and plottings of the prince of this world, lest haply
ye be crushed by his devices, and wax weak in your love. But assemble
yourselves all together with undivided heart. And I give thanks to my
God, that I have a good conscience in my dealings with you, and no man
can boast either in secret or openly, that I was burdensome to any one
in small things or in great. Yea and for all among whom I spoke, it is
my prayer that they may not turn it into a testimony against
themselves.
For even though certain persons desired to deceive me after the
flesh, yet the spirit is not deceived, being from God; for it knoweth
whence it cometh and whence it goeth, and it searcheth out the hidden
things. I cried out, when I was among you; I spake with a loud voice,
with God's own voice, Give ye heed to the bishop and the presbytery and
deacons. Howbeit there were those who suspected me of saying this,
because I knew beforehand of the division of certain persons. But He in
whom I am bound is my witness that I learned it not from flesh of man;
it was the preaching of the Spirit who spake on this wise; Do nothing
without the bishop; keep your flesh as a temple of God; cherish union;
shun divisions; be imitators of Jesus Christ, as He Himself also was of
His Father.
I therefore did my own part, as a man composed unto union. But where
there is division and anger, there God abideth not. Now the Lord
forgiveth all men when they repent, if repenting they return to the
unity of God and to the council of the bishop. I have faith in the
grace of Jesus Christ, who shall strike off every fetter from you; and
I entreat you, Do ye nothing in a spirit of factiousness but after the
teaching of Christ. For I heard certain persons saying, If I find it
not in the charters, I believe it not in the Gospel. And when I said to
them, It is written, they answered me That is the question. But as for
me, my charter is Jesus Christ, the inviolable charter is His cross and
His death and His resurrection, and faith through Him; wherein I desire
to be justified through your prayers.
The priests likewise were good, but better is the High-priest to
whom is committed the holy of holies; for to Him alone are committed
the hidden things of God; He Himself being the door of the Father,
through which Abraham and Isaac and Jacob enter in, and the Prophets
and the Apostles and the whole Church; all these things combine in the
unity of God. But the Gospel hath a singular preeminence in the advent
of the Savior, even our Lord Jesus Christ, and His passion and
resurrection. For the beloved Prophets in their preaching pointed to
Him; but the Gospel is the completion of immortality. All things
together are good, if ye believe through love.
Seeing that in answer to your prayer and to the tender sympathy
which ye have in Christ Jesus, it hath been reported to me that the
church which is in Antioch of Syria hath peace, it is becoming for you,
as a church of God, to appoint a deacon to go thither as God's
ambassador, that he may congratulate them when they are assembled
together, and may glorify the Name. Blessed in Jesus Christ is he that
shall be counted worthy of such a ministration; and ye yourselves shall
be glorified. Now if ye desire it, it is not impossible for you to do
this for the name of God; even as the churches which are nearest have
sent bishops, and others presbyters and deacons.
But as touching Philo the deacon from Cilicia, a man of good report,
who now also ministereth to me in the word of God, together with Rhaius
Agathopus, an elect one who followeth me from Syria, having bidden
farewell to this present life; the same who also bear witness to
you--and I myself thank God on your behalf, because ye received them,
as I trust the Lord will receive you. But may those who treated them
with dishonor be redeemed through the grace of Jesus Christ. The love
of the brethren which are in Troas saluteth you; from whence also I
write to you by the hand of Burrhus, who was sent with me by the
Ephesians and Smyrnaeans as a mark of honor. The Lord shall honor them,
even Jesus Christ, on whom their hope is set in flesh and soul and
spirit, by faith, love, and by concord. Fare ye well in Christ Jesus
our common hope.
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