Chapter V.--I desire to die.
From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts, [850] both by land and sea, both by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, I mean a band of soldiers, who, even when they receive benefits, [851] show themselves all the worse. But I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ]; "yet am I not thereby justified." [852] May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me; and I pray they may be found eager to rush upon me, which also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to assail me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me [in this]: I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or invisible, envy [853] me that I should attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, [854] breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful [855] torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.
From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts, [856] both by land and sea, both by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, I mean a band of soldiers, who, even when they receive benefits, [857] show themselves all the worse. But I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ]; "yet am I not thereby justified." [858] May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me; and I pray that they may be found eager to rush upon me, which also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to assail me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me [in this] I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple, and have [859] no desire after anything visible or invisible, that I may attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let breakings, tearings, and separations of bones; let cutting off of members; let bruising to pieces of the whole body; and let the very torment of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.
[850] Comp. 1 Cor. xv. 32, where the word is also used figuratively.
[851] Probably the soldiers received gifts from the Christians, to treat Ignatius with kindness.
[852] 1 Cor. iv. 4.
[853] In the shorter recension there is zelose, and in the longer zelosai; hence the variety of rendering, but the translation is by no means certain.
[854] Some deem this and the following word spurious.
[855] Literally, "evil."
[856] Comp. 1 Cor. xv. 32, where the word is also used figuratively.
[857] Probably the soldiers received gifts from the Christians, to treat Ignatius with kindness.
[858] 1 Cor. iv. 4.
[859] In the shorter recension there is zelose, and in the longer zelosai; hence the variety of rendering, but the translation is by no means certain.
Chapter VI.--By death I shall attain true life.
All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, [860] shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die in behalf of [861] Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. "For what shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?" [862] Him I seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose again for our sake. This is the gain which is laid up for me. Pardon me, brethren: do not hinder me from living, do not wish to keep me in a state of death; [863] and while I desire to belong to God, do not ye give me over to the world. Suffer me to obtain pure light: when I have gone thither, I shall indeed be a man of God. Permit me to be an imitator of the passion of my God. If any one has Him within himself, let him consider what I desire, and let him have sympathy with me, as knowing how I am straitened.
All the ends of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, [864] shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die for the sake of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. "For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?" I long after the Lord, the Son of the true God and Father, even Jesus Christ. Him I seek, who died for us and rose again. Pardon me, brethren: do not hinder me in attaining to life; for Jesus is the life of believers. Do not wish to keep me in a state of death, [865] for life without Christ is death. While I desire to belong to God, do not ye give me over to the world. Suffer me to obtain pure light: when I have gone thither, I shall indeed be a man of God. Permit me to be an imitator of the passion of Christ, my God. If any one has Him within himself, let him consider what I desire, and let him have sympathy with me, as knowing how I am straitened.
[860] Literally, "this age."
[861] Literally, "into."
[862] Matt. xvi. 26. Some omit this quotation.
[863] Literally, "to die."
[864] Literally, "this age."
[865] Literally, "to die."