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BOOK 11 (from: _Apostolic Fathers,_ Charles H. Hoole, 1885 translation)

                            Ignatius to Polycarp

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CHAPTER 0
 0:1  |Ignatius, who is also Theophorus, to Polycarp,
the bishop of the Church of the Smyrnaeans, but who
rather hath God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
for his bishop, much joy.

CHAPTER 1
 1:1  |Knowing with approval thy mind, which is in God,
fixed as it were upon an immovable rock, I glorify God
above measure, having been deemed worthy of thy
blameless countenance, of which may I have joy in God.
 1:2  I exhort thee, by the grace with which thou hast
been endued, to apply unto thy course, and to exhort
all men that they may be saved. Vindicate thy position
with all diligence, both of flesh and spirit. Have a
care for unity, than which there is nothing better.
Support all men, even as the Lord supporteth thee. Bear
in love with all men, even as thou doest;
 1:3  give thyself unto prayer without ceasing. Ask
for more knowledge than thou hast. Watch, since thou
hast obtained a spirit that doth not slumber. Speak
unto men separately, as God helpeth thee; bear the
infirmities of all men, as a perfect athlete. Where
the toil is greater, the gain is great.

CHAPTER 2
 2:1  |If thou love the good disciples, there is no
thank for thee; rather by meekness keep in subjection
the worse. Every wound is not cured by the same salve;
allay irritation by soothing applications.
 2:2  Be wise as a serpent in all things, and harmless
as a dove. On this account art thou both fleshly and
spiritual, that thou mightest deal gently with the
things that appear before thy face. Ask that the
invisible things may be made manifest unto thee; that
thou mayest lack nothing, and mayest abound in every
gift.
 2:3  The time demandeth thee, even as the pilots
demand winds, and he who is tempest-tossed demandeth
the harbour, that thou shouldest attain unto God. Be
sober, as an athlete of God. Thy prize is immortality
and life everlasting, concerning which thou also art
persuaded. In all things my soul is for thine, and my
bonds which thou hast loved.

CHAPTER 3
 3:1  |Let not those who appear worthy of credit and
preach false doctrine, astound thee. Stand firm, as an
anvil that is smitten. It is the part of a great
athlete to be struck and yet to conquer; and
especially it becometh us to endure everything for the
sake of God, that he also may endure us.
 3:2  Be yet more zealous than thou art; consider the
times; expect him who is above time, the eternal, the
invisible, who became visible for our sakes, the
intangible, the impassive, who suffered for our sakes,
who for our sakes endured in every way.

CHAPTER 4
 4:1  |Let not the widows be neglected; be thou next
after the Lord a carer for them; let nothing be done
without thy consent, nor do thou do anything apart
from God; which neither dost thou do, being constant.
 4:2  Let your assemblings together be more frequent.
Summon all by name.
 4:3  Do not despise the male or female slaves; but
neither let them be puffed up; but let them serve the
more diligently unto the glory of God, that they may
obtain a better liberty from God. Let them not desire
to be set free at the common expense, that they may
not be found the slaves of concupiscence.

CHAPTER 5
 5:1  |Avoid evil arts, but rather make thy discourse
concerning these things. Charge my sisters, that they
love the Lord, and be content with their husbands,
both in flesh and in spirit. In like manner, exhort my
brethren in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love
their wives, even as the Lord loveth the church.
 5:2  If any one is able to remain in purity to the
honour of him who is Lord of the flesh, let him remain
so without boasting; but if he boast he is undone, and
if he become of higher estimation than the bishop, he
is corrupted. It is proper for husbands and wives to
make their union with the consent of the bishop, that
their marriage may be according to God, and not
according to lust. Let everything be done to the
honour of God.

CHAPTER 6
 6:1  |Give heed unto the bishop, that the Lord also
may give heed unto you. My life is for those who
submit to the bishop, the priests, and the deacons;
may it happen to me to have my portion with them in
God. Labour ye in union with each other; struggle
together, run together, suffer together, sleep
together, rise together, as stewards of God, as
assessors, and servants:
 6:2  please him in whose service ye are soldiers,
from whom also ye obtain your pay. Let not one of you
be found a deserter. Let your baptism be for you as
arms, your faith as a helmet, love as a spear,
patience as a panoply. Let your savings be your works,
in order that ye may receive a worthy recompense. Be
patient, therefore, with each other in meekness, even
as God is with you. May I have joy of you for ever.

CHAPTER 7
 7:1  |Since the church which is at Antioch in Syria is
at peace in answer to your prayer, even as hath been
showed unto me, I too have become more joyous in the
freedom from care, which is of God, if so be I through
suffering may attain unto God, that I may be found in
your resurrection a disciple of God.
 7:2  It becometh thee, O Polycarp, most worthy of
divine happiness, to collect a most godlike council,
and to elect some one of you whom ye hold to be much
beloved and unwearied in toil, who shall be able to be
called the messenger of God. Him ye should deem worthy
that he should go into Syria and glorify your
unwearied love, for the glory of Christ.
 7:3  A Christian hath not authority over himself, but
his time is given unto God. This is the work of God,
and your work, when ye shall have perfected it for
him. For I trust that ye are ready by grace for the
well-doing that appertaineth unto God. Knowing,
therefore, your zeal for the truth, I have exhorted
you in a short epistle.

CHAPTER 8
 8:1  |Since I have not been able to write unto all the
churches, owing to my sailing suddenly from Troas to
Neapolis, even as the will of God commandeth, thou, as
being possessed of the counsel of God, shalt write
unto the neighbouring churches, that they should do
the same things. Let those who are able send
messengers on foot, let others send epistles by the
hands of those who are sent by thee, that ye may be
glorified by an eternal work, even as thou art worthy.
 8:2  I salute all by name, and the wife of Epitropus,
with her whole house and that of her children; I
salute Attalus my beloved; I salute him who is about
to be deemed worthy to proceed unto Syria; grace shall
be with him for ever, and with Polycarp who sendeth
him.
 8:3  I pray that ye may be strong for ever in our
Lord Jesus Christ, in whom may ye remain in the unity
and supervision of God. I salute Alce, the name
desired by me. Farewell in the Lord.