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BOOK 9 (from: _Apostolic Fathers,_ Kirsopp Lake, 1912 (Loeb Classical Library))
IGNATIUS to the Philadelphians
<<ASCII file produced by Athenaeum of Christian Antiquity.>>
<<4648 East Saint Catherine Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040-5369>>
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CHAPTER 0
0:0 Greetings
0:1 |Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the
Church of God the Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
which is in Philadelphia in Asia, which has obtained
mercy, and is established in the harmony of God, and
rejoices in the Passion of our Lord without doubting,
and is fully assured in all mercy in his resurrection;
I greet her in the blood of Jesus Christ, which is
eternal and abiding joy, especially if men be at one
with the bishop, and with the presbyters and deacons,
who together with him have been appointed according to
the mind of Jesus Christ, and he established them in
security according to his own will by his Holy Spirit.
CHAPTER 1
1:0 The Bishop of Philadelphia
1:1 |I know that your bishop obtained the ministry,
which makes for the common good, neither from himself
nor through men, nor for vain-glory, but in the love of
God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And I was
amazed at his gentleness, and at his ability to do more
by silence than those who use vain words.
1:2 For he is attuned to the commandments as a harp
to its strings. Therefore my soul blesses his godly
mind, recognising its virtue and perfection, and the
unmoveable and passionless temper by which he lives in
all godly gentleness.
CHAPTER 2
2:0 Warning against heresy
2:1 |Therefore as children of the light of truth flee
from division and wrong doctrine. And follow as sheep
where the shepherd is.
2:2 For there are many specious wolves who lead
captive with evil pleasures the runners in God's race,
but they will find no place if you are in unity.
CHAPTER 3
3:0 Warning against schism
3:1 |Abstain from evil growths, which Jesus Christ
does not tend, because they are not the planting of the
Father. Not that I have found division among you but
`filtering.' ^1
3:2 For as many as belong to God and Jesus Christ,
-- these are with the bishop. And as many as repent and
come to the unity of the Church, -- these also shall be
of God, to be living according to Jesus Christ.
3:3 "Be not deceived," my brethren, if any one follow
a maker of schism, "he does not inherit the kingdom of
God;" if any man walk in strange doctrine he has no
part in the Passion.
== small type on ==
^1 The meaning is that the Christians at Philadelphia had
"filtered out" the impurity of heresy from their church.
== small type off ==
CHAPTER 4
4:0 The one Eucharist
4:1 |Be careful therefore to use one Eucharist (for
there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one
cup for union with his blood, one altar, as there is
one bishop with the presbytery and the deacons my
fellow servants), in order that whatever you do you may
do it according unto God.
CHAPTER 5
5:0 Petition for their prayers
5:1 |Brethren, I am overflowing with love to you, and
exceedingly joyful in watching over your safety. Yet
not I, but Jesus Christ, whose bonds I bear, but am the
more fearful in that I am not yet perfected; but your
prayer will make me perfect for God, that I may attain
the lot wherein I found mercy, making the Gospel my
refuge as the flesh of Jesus, and the Apostles as the
presbytery of the Church.
5:2 And the prophets ^1 also do we love, ^2 because
they also have announced the Gospel, and are hoping in
him and waiting for him, by faith in whom they also
obtain salvation, being united with Jesus Christ, for
they are worthy of love and saints worthy of
admiration, approved by Jesus Christ, and numbered
together in the Gospel of the common hope.
== small type on ==
^1 He probably means the Christian prophets: cf. the Didache and
Hermas.
^2 An alternative translation is "let us love."
== small type off ==
CHAPTER 6
6:0 Against Judaism
6:1 |But if anyone interpret Judaism to you do not
listen to him; for it is better to hear Christianity
from the circumcised than Judaism from the
uncircumcised. But both of them, unless they speak of
Jesus Christ, are to me tombstones and sepulchres of
the dead, on whom only the names of men are written.
6:2 Flee then from the wicked arts and snares of the
prince of this world, lest you be afflicted by his
device, and grow weak in love; but come all together
with undivided heart.
6:3 But I thank my God that I have a good conscience
towards you, and that no one can boast either secretly
or openly that I was a burden to anyone in small or in
great matters. And I pray for all among whom I spoke,
that they may not turn it to a testimony against
themselves.
CHAPTER 7
7:0 His conduct in Philadelphia
7:1 |For even if some desired to deceive me after the
flesh, the spirit is not deceived, for it is from God.
For it "knoweth whence it comes and whither it goes"
and tests secret things. I cried out while I was with
you, I spoke with a great voice, -- with God's own
voice, -- "Give heed to the bishop, and to the
presbytery and deacons."
7:2 But some suspected me of saying this because I
had previous knowledge of the division of some persons:
but he in whom I am bound is my witness that I had no
knowledge of this from any human being, but the Spirit
was preaching, and saying this, "Do nothing without the
bishop, keep your flesh as the temple of God, love
unity, flee from divisions, be imitators of Jesus
Christ, as was he also of his Father."
CHAPTER 8
8:0 Exhortation to unity
8:1 |I then did my best as a man who was set on
unity. But where there is division and anger God does
not dwell. The Lord then forgives all who repent, if
their repentance lead to the unity of God and the
council of the bishop. I have faith in the grace of
Jesus Christ, and he shall loose every bond from you.
8:2 But I beseech you to do nothing in factiousness,
but after the teaching of Christ. For I heard some men
saying, "if I find it not in the charters in the Gospel
I do not believe," ^1 and when I said to them that it
is in the Scripture, they answered me, "that is exactly
the question." But to me the charters are Jesus Christ,
the inviolable charter is his cross, and death, and
resurrection, and the faith which is through him; -- in
these I desire to be justified by your prayers.
== small type on ==
^1 The Greek, without punctuation, is as ambiguous as the English:
"If I find it not in the charters, -- In the Gospel I do not
believe," or "If I find it not in the charters, in the Gospel, I do
not believe." Probably the former should be preferred on the ground
that "the charters" probably means the Old Testament.
== small type off ==
CHAPTER 9
9:0 The old and new Dispensations
9:1 |The priests likewise are noble, but the High
Priest who has been entrusted with the Holy of Holies
is greater, and only to him have the secret things of
God been entrusted. He is the door of the Father,
through which enter Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the
Prophets and the Apostles and the Church. All these
things are joined in the unity of God.
9:2 But the Gospel has somewhat of pre-eminence, the
coming of the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, his
passion, and the resurrection. For the beloved prophets
had a message pointing to him, but the Gospel is the
perfection of incorruption. All things together are
good if you hold the faith in love.
CHAPTER 10
10:0 The Church in Syria
10:1 |Since it was reported to me that the Church
which is in Antioch in Syria is in peace, in accordance
with your prayers, and the compassion which you have in
Christ Jesus, it is proper for you, as a Church of God,
to appoint a deacon to go as the ambassador of God to
it, to congratulate those who are gathered together,
and to glorify the Name.
10:2 Blessed in Jesus Christ is he who shall be found
worthy of such a ministry, and you yourselves shall be
glorified. And if you have the will it is not
impossible for you to do this for the sake of the Name
of God, even as the neighbouring Churches have sent
bishops, and others presbyters and deacons.
CHAPTER 11
11:0 Thanks and final greetings
11:1 |But concerning Philo, the deacon from Cilicia,
a man of good report, who is at present serving me in
the word of God, with Rheus Agathopous, an elect man
who is following me from Syria, and has renounced this
life; -- these bear you witness (and I also thank God
on your behalf) that you received them even as the Lord
received you; ^1 but may those who treated them with
disrespect be redeemed by the grace of Jesus Christ.
11:2 The love of the brethren at Troas salutes you;
and I am writing thence to you by the hand of Burrhus,
who was sent with me by the Ephesians and Smyrnaeans as
a mark of honour. The Lord Jesus Christ shall reward
them, on whom they hope in flesh and soul and spirit,
in faith, in love and in harmony. Farewell in Christ
Jesus, our common hope.
== small type on ==
^1 Or possibly "even as may the Lord receive you."
== small type off ==