Chapter XX.--Promise of another letter.
If Jesus Christ shall graciously permit me through your prayers, and if it be His will, I shall, in a second little work which I will write to you, make further manifest to you [the nature of] the dispensation of which I have begun [to treat], with respect to the new man, Jesus Christ, in His faith and in His love, in His suffering and in His resurrection. Especially [will I do this [623] ] if the Lord make known to me that ye come together man by man in common through grace, individually, [624] in one faith, and in Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David according to the flesh, being both the Son of man and the Son of God, so that ye obey the bishop and the presbytery with an undivided mind, breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote to prevent us from dying, but [which causes] that we should live for ever in Jesus Christ.
[623] The punctuation and meaning are here doubtful.
[624] Literally, "by name."
Chapter XX.--Exhortations to stedfastness and unity.
Stand fast, brethren, in the faith of Jesus Christ, and in His love, in His passion, and in His resurrection. Do ye all come together in common, and individually, [625] through grace, in one faith of God the Father, and of Jesus Christ His only-begotten Son, and "the first-born of every creature," [626] but of the seed of David according to the flesh, being under the guidance of the Comforter, in obedience to the bishop and the presbytery with an undivided mind, breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote which prevents us from dying, but a cleansing remedy driving away evil, [which causes] that we should live in God through Jesus Christ.
[625] Literally, "by name."
[626] Col. i. 15.
Chapter XXI.--Conclusion.
My soul be for yours and theirs [627] whom, for the honour of God, ye have sent to Smyrna; whence also I write to you, giving thanks unto the Lord, and loving Polycarp even as I do you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ also remembered you. Pray ye for the Church which is in Syria, whence I am led bound to Rome, being the last of the faithful who are there, even as I have been thought worthy to be chosen [628] to show forth the honour of God. Farewell in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, our common hope.
My soul be for yours and theirs [629] whom, for the honour of God, ye have sent to Smyrna; whence also I write to you, giving thanks to the Lord, and loving Polycarp even as I do you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ also remembers you, who is blessed for evermore. Pray ye for the Church of Antioch which is in Syria, whence I am led bound to Rome, being the last of the faithful that are there, who [630] yet have been thought worthy to carry these chains to the honour of God. Fare ye well in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our common hope, and in the Holy Ghost. Fare ye well. Amen. Grace [be with you]. [631]
[627] Some render, "May I, in my turn, be the means of refreshing you and those," etc.
[628] Literally, "to be found for."
[629] Some render, "May I, in my turn, be the means of refreshing you and those," etc.
[630] Some read, "even as."
[631] Some omit, "Grace [be with you]."
[485] Literally, "before the ages."
[486] These words may agree with "glory," but are better applied to the "Church."
[487] Literally, "before the ages."
[488] These words may agree with "glory," but are better applied to the "Church."
[489] Some read, as in the shorter recension, "grace."
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians Shorter and Longer Versions
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the [Church] blessed in the grace of God the Father, in Jesus Christ our Saviour, in whom I salute the Church which is at Magnesia, near the Mæander, and wish it abundance of happiness in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ.
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the [Church] blessed in the grace of God the Father, in Jesus Christ our Saviour, in whom I salute the Church which is at Magnesia, near the Mæander, and wish it abundance of happiness in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whom may you have abundance of happiness.