The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, sends warm greetings in a spirit without blame and by the word of God, to the church of God the Father and the beloved Jesus Christ, which is in Smyrna in Asia, graced with every gift, filled with faith and love, mercifully endowed with all the gifts of grace, greatly loved by God and rich in the abundance of the saints.

I praise God, and Jesus Christ, who has given you such wisdom. For I have observed that you are settled in an immovable faith, as if you were nailed to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, both in the flesh and in the spirit; and are rooted and grounded in love through the blood of Christ; being fully persuaded of those things which relate to our Lord: who truly was of the line of David according to the flesh, but the Son of God according to the will and power of God: truly born of the Virgin, and baptized by John, that so all righteousness might be fulfilled in Him. He was also truly crucified by Pontius Pilate and Herod the Tetrarch, being nailed for us in the flesh; by the fruits of which we are, even by His most blessed suffering; that He might set up His resurrection as a standard for all the ages, to all His holy and faithful servants, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, in one body of His Church.

Now all these things He suffered for us, that we might be saved. And He truly suffered, as He also truly raised Himself up again: and not, as some unbelieving sceptics say, that it was an illusion and that He only seemed to suffer. These sceptics are an illusion without substance themselves.

The fate of these wretches will be according to their beliefs, since they are bodiless and by nature devils.

But know that even after His resurrection He was a flesh and blood reality; and believe that He is still so. And when He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, take, handle Me, and see that I am not a disembodied spirit. And straight away they touched Him and believed; being convinced both by His flesh and spirit. For this reason, they despised death and became conquerors of it. Indeed, after His resurrection He ate and drank with them, as any natural man, even though in His spirit He was one with the Father.

Now bear in mind these things, beloved, even though your conviction is as firm as my own. But also arm yourselves against certain beasts in human form; whom you must not only not entertain, but, if possible, avoid all contact with. Only pray for them, that if it be the will of God, they may repent. This will be very hard, but our Lord Jesus Christ, our true life has the power to do even this. For if our Lord only did these things in illusion, then am I also only bound by illusionary chains? Then why have I given up myself to death, to fire, to the sword, to wild beasts? But now the nearer I am to the sword, the nearer I am to God: when I am surrounded by wild beasts, I am also surrounded by the arms of God. Only in the name of Jesus Christ can I undergo all, to suffer together with Him; He who became a perfect man can strengthen me to do so.

Yet there are some, who have unwittingly denied Him or rather have been denied by Him, being the advocates of death, rather than of the truth. Whom neither the prophets, nor the law of Moses have persuaded, nor the Gospel itself even to this day, nor the sufferings each one of us has endured.

For they think also the same things of us. For what does it profit me if someone praises me and blasphemes my Lord by not confessing that He truly took upon Him flesh? Those who do not acknowledge this, do in effect deny everything else about Him, being themselves enveloped in death.

I have not, however, thought to write the names of such persons as they are unbelievers. Far be it from me to mention them, until they repent and come to that suffering which is our resurrection.

Let no one deceive themselves! Whether in Heaven or among the glorious Angels and princes, visible or invisible powers themselves, if they do not have faith in the blood of Christ, they face condemnation. “He who can accept this, let him accept it.” No one’s high status or position is a reason to be puffed up: what truly matters is faith and love, which are above all else. Consider those who have a perverted doctrine regarding the grace of Jesus Christ that has come to us; see how opposed to God’s will they are? They show no regard for charity, nor do they care for the widow, the fatherless, the oppressed, the bound or free, the hungry, or the thirsty.

They are absent from the Holy communion, and from public prayer; because they do not confess the Holy communion to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ; who suffered for our sins, and who the Father in His goodness, raised again from the dead. And for this cause contradicting the gift of God, they die in their disputes: but it would be much better for them to receive it, that they might one day be raised again through it. It is, therefore, becoming of you to keep away from such persons; and not to speak with them either in private, or in public but to heed the prophets, and especially the Gospel, in which both Christ’s sufferings are manifested to us, and His resurrection perfectly declared. But flee all divisions, as the beginning of evils!

See that you all follow your elders, as Jesus Christ, the Father, the ministers in the church and the apostles which are ordained by God. Let no man do anything in the Church apart from the elders. See that the Holy communion is well established, which is either offered by the elders, or by him who the elders have appointed. Wheresoever the elders are, let the people also be, as where Jesus Christ is there is the whole universal church. It is not lawful without the elders’ consent, to baptize, or to celebrate the love feasts, but whatsoever they approve of, that is also pleasing to God; that whatsoever is done, may be valid and sound.

For the time remaining, it is very reasonable that we should repent, whilst there is yet time to return to God. It is a good thing to have due regard both to God and to the elders: he that honours the elders, shall be honoured by God. But he that does anything behind their back, is a minister of the devil. Let all things, therefore, abound to you in grace seeing you are worthy. You have refreshed me in all things; so shall Jesus Christ refresh you. You have loved me both when I was present with you, and now being absent, you do not cease to do so. May God reward you, for whilst you suffer all things, you shall attain to him.

You have done well in that you have received Philo, and Rheus Agathopus, who followed me with the word of God as the servants of Christ our Lord. They also give thanks to the Lord for you, forasmuch as you have refreshed them in all things. Nor shall anything that you have done, be lost to you. My soul be yours, and my bonds, which you have not despised nor been ashamed of. Therefore, neither shall Jesus Christ, the perfect One, be ashamed of you.

Your prayer has reached the Church of Antioch in Syria. From there, I have been sent, bound in chains, to greet the Churches. Though I am unworthy to be called from there, being the least among them, by God’s will, I have been deemed worthy of this honour. Not because I believe I deserve it, but by God’s grace, which I hope to receive fully through your prayers, so that I may attain to God. Therefore, to fully accomplish your work both on earth and in Heaven, it would be fitting and honourable for your Church to appoint a worthy delegate to travel to Syria. This delegate can rejoice with them in their peace and restoration to their former state, having regained their proper body. I believe it would be a noble act to send someone with a letter to congratulate them on their peace in God and their safe arrival at their destination. Since you are perfect yourselves, you should think of perfect things. When you desire to do good, God is ready to enable you to do so.

The love of the brethren that are at Troas greet you, from whence I write to you by Burrhus, whom you sent with me, together with the Ephesians, your brethren, who have in all things refreshed me. I wish to God that all would imitate him as being a pattern of the ministry of God; the favour of God will surely richly reward him.

I greet your esteemed elder of the church, your venerable fellowship, my fellow servants, and all of you collectively and individually, in the name of Jesus Christ, in His flesh and blood, in His sufferings and resurrection, both in flesh and in spirit, and in the unity of God with you. May you have grace, mercy, peace, and be stalwart in all things!

I also greet the families of my brethren, along with their wives and children, and the virgins who are considered widows. Be strong in the power of the Holy Spirit. Philo, who is with me, sends his greetings. I greet the household of Tavias and pray that it may be strengthened in faith and charity, both physically and spiritually. I also greet Alce, my beloved, along with the incomparable Daphnus, Eutechnus, and all the others.

Farewell in the grace of God!