Chapter I.--As a prisoner, I hope to see you.
Through prayer [822] to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, [823] and have even [824] been granted more than I requested; for I hope as a prisoner in Christ Jesus to salute you, if indeed it be the will of God that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to [825] my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, [826] lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye spare me.
Through prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, [827] even as I earnestly begged might be granted me; for as a prisoner in Christ Jesus I hope to salute you, if indeed it be the will [of God] that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to [828] my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, [829] lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye do not spare me, [830] under the pretence of carnal affection.
[822] Some read, "since I have," leaving out the following "for," and finding the apodosis in "I hope to salute you."
[823] Literally, "worthy of God."
[824] Some read, "which I much desired to do."
[825] Literally, "to receive."
[826] He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.
[827] Literally, "worthy of God."
[828] Literally, "to receive."
[829] He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.
[830] Some read ge instead of me, and translate as in shorter recension.
Chapter II.--Do not save me from martyrdom.
For it is not my desire to act towards you as a man-pleaser, [831] but as pleasing God, even as also ye please Him. For neither shall I ever have such [another] opportunity of attaining to God; nor will ye, if ye shall now be silent, ever be entitled to [832] the honour of a better work. For if ye are silent concerning me, I shall become God's; but if you show your love to my flesh, I shall again have to run my race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favour upon me than that I be sacrificed to God while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, ye may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for [833] from the east unto the west. It is good to set from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him.
For it is not my desire that ye should please men, but God, even as also ye do please Him. For neither shall I ever hereafter have such an opportunity of attaining to God; nor will ye, if ye shall now be silent, ever be entitled to [834] the honour of a better work. For if ye are silent concerning me, I shall become God's; but if ye show your love to my flesh, I shall again have to run my race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favour upon me than that I be sacrificed to God, while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, ye may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for [835] from the east unto the west, and to become a martyr [836] in behalf of His own precious [837] sufferings, so as to pass from the world to God, that I may rise again unto Him.
[831] Some translate as in longer recension, but there is in the one case humin, and in the other humas.
[832] Literally, "have to be inscribed to."
[833] Literally, "to be found and sent for."
[834] Literally, "have to be inscribed to."
[835] Literally, "to be found and sent for."
[836] The text is here in great confusion.
[837] Literally, "beautiful." Some read, "it is good," etc.