The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the holy Church which is at Tralles in Asia; the elect and beloved of God, the Father of Jesus Christ, having peace through flesh and spirit, through the suffering of Jesus Christ and who, through our resurrection with Him, is our hope. I send the church my greetings in all the fulness of God, in the Apostolical manner; I wish them all happiness.

I have heard of your blameless and constant character through endurance in suffering, which not only appears not to come from an outward practice but is naturally rooted and grounded in you. In like manner your elder Polybius has declared to me. He came to me to Smyrna, by the will of God and Jesus Christ, and rejoiced together with me in my bonds for Jesus Christ. In effect I experienced your whole Church through him, and having, therefore, received the testimony of your good will towards me for God’s sake, by him; I seemed to find you, as I also knew that you were, the imitators of God. For when you are subject to your elders as you are to Jesus Christ, it is plain to me that you do not live according to man, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, that believing in His death, you might escape death.

It is therefore essential that you do nothing without the consent of the church elders: also, be subject to your brothers, as to the apostles of Jesus Christ our hope; in whom, if we walk, we shall be found blameless!

The ministers in the church who administer the mysteries of Jesus Christ (the breaking of bread), must by all means have the confidence of all. For they are not merely the ministers of meat and drink, but of the Church of God. Therefore, they are under obligation to guard themselves and give no grounds for slander, in the same way as they would protect themselves from being burned in a fire.

In like manner give all due reverence to the ministers in the church as you would to Jesus Christ, the elders as fathers, the brothers as the council of God and college of the apostles. Without these there is no Church. Concerning all, I am persuaded that you are of the same opinion: for I have received, and even now have with me the pattern of your love, in your Elder. Even his attitude is of great instruction; and whose friendliness is a strength; who I am led to believe even the ungodly seem to respect. I will not write anything more serious regarding this matter, even though I very well could have; but I have not done so lest I, as a condemned prisoner, should be seen to be commanding you as an apostle.

I know many things in God, but I measure myself so that boasting will not be my downfall. For now, I ought to fear all the more and not pay any attention to those that would flatter me. For their praise is a scourge to me, for as much as I yearn for martyrdom, in truth, I am not at all sure that I am worthy of it. For my zeal is perhaps not so apparent to many, but the foe is all the more formidable. This is all the more reason I need to come into rest, through which I can disarm the ruler of this world.

But forgive me, should I not be able to write to you about heavenly things for fear of harming you of little understanding lest you choke and are not able to swallow them. And I, too, even though I am in chains, I cannot understand the celestial secrets, angelic hierarchies, and the conflicts between principalities of the air, and much else both in the seen and unseen realm, as I am still an apprentice. For there is much for us still to learn, if we are not to fall short of God.

I urge you, not by my own authority, but through the love of Jesus Christ, to seek only Christian nourishment and avoid the pastures of heresy. Heretics mix the pure doctrine of Jesus Christ with their own poisonous doctrine, much like someone who blends a deadly poison with honey mead. An unsuspecting victim blissfully consumes the treacherous drink and dies with fatal relish.

Guard yourselves carefully against such men. You will be safe enough if you do not let your pride go to your head and break away from Jesus Christ, our God, and from the elders of the church, and from the commands of the apostles. He that is within the altar is pure; he who is without is unclean. In other words, no one can have a clear conscience if they do not keep to the authority of the elders, brothers, and ministers in the church. Not that I know of anything specific of this nature among you; but I am forearming you, because you are dear to me, and I can foresee the snares of the Devil ahead. Therefore, putting on meekness, renew yourselves in faith, that is the flesh of the Lord; and in charity, that is the blood of Jesus Christ. Let no man have any grudge against his neighbour. Give no occasion to the unbelievers; lest by a few foolish men, the whole congregation of God will be spoken evil of. “For woe to him who causes my Name to be blasphemed.”

Close your ears to anyone who preaches Jesus Christ without acknowledging that He was born of Mary and was of the lineage of David. That He was truly born, ate, and drank; was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate; was truly crucified and died, with those in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth witnessing the spectacle. He was also truly raised from the dead by His Father, just as He will raise us who believe in Him, through Christ Jesus; without whom we have no true life.

But if some who are ungodly, that is to say unbelievers, claim that He only seemed to suffer—do they themselves only seem to exist?—why then am I in chains? Why would I want to fight with wild beasts? I would die in vain and would be speaking falsely against the Lord.

Flee these wicked weeds which bear deadly fruit, that with one taste bring death. For these are not the plants of the Father; if they were, they would be the branches of the cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible: by which He invites you through His suffering, to be members of Him. For the head cannot be fed without its members, God having promised that we should be one, just as He is one.

I greet you from Smyrna, together with the Churches of God that are present with me, who have refreshed me in all things, both in the flesh and in the spirit. My bonds, which I carry about with me for the sake of Christ, beseeching Him that I may attain unto God. I exhort you, that you continue in one accord among yourselves, and in prayer with one another. For it becomes every one of you, especially the ministers of the church, to refresh the elders, to the honour of the Father, of Jesus Christ, and of the apostles.

I implore you to heed me in love; that these words which I write, may not rise up as a witness against you later on. Please pray for me as well, for in God’s mercy I need your prayers, that I may be found worthy of the crown which am about to obtain, and that I will not be found unworthy and be cast out.

Those who are at Smyrna and Ephesus send you their love and greetings. Remember the Church of Syria in your prayers, from which I am not worthy to be called a member, being the least of them all. Farewell in Jesus Christ; being subject to your elders as to the command of God; and likewise, to the ministers of the church. Love one another, all of you, with an undivided heart. My spirit is offered on your behalf, not only now, but also when I stand in the presence of God. There is still danger in store for me here, but the Father is faithful in Jesus Christ, to grant my supplications and yours. May you be found blameless in Him!