ST. IGNATIUS
of ANTIOCH
Letters to the Ephesians, Magnesians  Romans & Smyrneans (sel.)

TLG  1443 Epistulae vii genuinae (recensio media) Ignace d'Antioche. Polycarpe de Smyrne. Lettres. Martyre de Polycarpe,  ed. P.T.Camelot, 4th ed. (Cerf, Paris,1969) pp. 56-154..  Tr. based on A.Roberts, J.Donaldson, ANF v. I.,  pp. 49-98; tr. mod. L.Dysinger, OSB

Introd. to Ignatius of Antioch .   EPHESIANS 1.1) Separate BISHOP and PRESBYTERY;    1.2) Episc. Min. = “will of Christ”;    1.3) HARMONY and Unity with BISHOP;    2.1) Bishop’s “SILENCE”;    2.2) CHRIST the PHYSICIAN;    3) Hear “SILENCE” of  Christ; 4) Mysteries in SILENCE;    5. EUCHARIST “MEDICINE of IMMORTALITY”;    MAGNESIANS 6.1) Father = “Bishop of All”; 7.1) THREEFOLD MINISTRY = God/apostles;    8.1: THREEFOLD MINISTRIES God/apostles ; 9.1 ROMANS Ign. Passion = Euch. Offering;     9.1 My EROS has been CRUCIFIED;   SMYRNEANS  9.2 THREEFOLD MINISTRY;    (sel.)  9.3 VIRGINS = WIDOWS

 

 
   

the Letter of IGNATIUS
to the EPHESIANS

.
   

 

 

IGNATIUS, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which is at Ephesus, in Asia, deservedly most happy, being blessed in the greatness and fulness of God the Father, and predestinated before the beginning of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory, being united and elected through the true passion by the will of the Father, and Jesus Christ, our God: Abundant happiness through Jesus Christ, and His undefiled grace. 

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, τῇ εὐλογημένῃ ἐν μεγέθει θεοῦ πατρὸς πληρώματι, τῇ προωρισμένῃ πρὸ αἰώνων εἶναι διὰ παντὸς εἰς δόξαν παράμονον, ἄτρεπτον ἡνωμένην καὶ ἐκλελεγμένην ἐν πάθει ἀληθινῷ, ἐν θελήματι τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τῇ ἀξιομακαρίστῳ, τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Ἐφέσῳ τῆς Ἀσίας, πλεῖστα ἐνἸησοῦ Χριστῷ καὶ ἐν ἀμώμῳ χαρᾷ χαίρειν.̈

 

 
1. I have become acquainted with your name, much-beloved in God, which you have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Being the followers of God, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of God, you have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to you. For, on hearing that I came bound from Syria for the common name and hope, trusting through your prayers to be permitted to fight with beasts at Rome, that so by martyrdom I may indeed become the disciple of Him “who gave Himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God,”(Eph. v. 2) [you hastened to see me ]. 1.1.1 Ἀποδεξάμενος ἐν θεῷ τὸ πολυαγάπητόν σου ὄνομα, ὃ κέκτησθε φύσει δικαίᾳ κατὰ πίστιν καὶ ἀγάπην ἐν ΧριστῷἸησοῦ, τῷ σωτῆρι ἡμῶν· "μιμηταὶ" ὄντες "θεοῦ" ἀναζωπυρήσαντες ἐν αἵματι θεοῦ τὸ συγγενικὸν ἔργον τελείως ἀπηρτίσατε· 1.1.2 ἀκούσαντες γὰρ δεδεμένον ἀπὸ Συρίας ὑπὲρ τοῦ κοινοῦ ὀνόματος καὶ ἐλπίδος, ἐλπίζοντα τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν ἐπιτυχεῖν ἐνῬώμῃ θηριομαχῆσαι, ἵνα διὰ τοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν δυνηθῶ μαθητὴς εἶναι, ἰδεῖν ἐσπουδάσατε·

 I received, therefore, your whole multitude in the name of God, through Onesimus, a man of inexpressible love and your bishop in the flesh, whom I pray you by Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to be like him. And blessed be He who has granted unto you, being worthy, to obtain such an excellent bishop.

 1.1.3 ἐπεὶ οὖν τὴν πολυπληθίαν ὑμῶν ἐν ὀνόματι θεοῦ ἀπείληφα ἐνὈνησίμῳ, τῷ ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀδιηγήτῳ, ὑμῶν δὲ ἐν σαρκὶ ἐπισκόπῳ, ὃν εὔχομαι κατὰἸησοῦν Χριστὸν ὑμᾶς ἀγαπᾶν καὶ πάντας ὑμᾶς αὐτῷ ἐν ὁμοιότητι εἶναι. Εὐλογητὸς γὰρ ὁ χαρισάμενος ὑμῖν ἀξίοις οὖσι τοιοῦτον ἐπίσκοπον κεκτῆσθαι.

 

 

 

 

2. As to my fellow-servant Burrhus, your deacon in regard to God and blessed in all things, I beg that he may continue longer, both for your honour and that of your bishop. And Crocus also, worthy both of God and you, whom I have received as the manifestation of your love, has in all things refreshed me, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ shall also refresh him; together with Onesimus, and Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto, by means of whom, I have, as to love, beheld all of you. May I always have joy of you, if indeed I be worthy of it.

           1.2.1 Περὶ δὲ τοῦ συνδούλου μου Βούρρου, τοῦ κατὰ θεὸν διακόνου ὑμῶν ἐν πᾶσιν εὐλογημένου, εὔχομαι παραμεῖναι αὐτὸν εἰς τιμὴν ὑμῶν καὶ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου· καὶ Κρόκος δέ, ὁ θεοῦ ἄξιος καὶ ὑμῶν, ὃν ἐξεμπλάριον τῆς ἀφ' ὑμῶν ἀγάπης ἀπέλαβον, κατὰ πάντα με ἀνέπαυσεν· ὡς καὶ αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀναψύξαι ἅμαὈνησίμῳ καὶ Βούρρῳ καὶ Εὔπλῳ καὶ Φρόντωνι, δι' ὧν πάντας ὑμᾶς κατὰ ἀγάπην εἶδον. 1.2.2  Ὀναίμην ὑμῶν διὰ παντός, ἐάνπερ ἄξιος ὦ.

The Office of Readings, Second Sunday of O.T. The Liturgy of the Hours, 

 vol.3, pp. 80-81

 

 

Submission to (separate) Bishop and Presbytery

 

 

 

        It is therefore befitting that you should in every way glorify Jesus Christ, who has glorified you, that by a unanimous obedience “you may be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment, and may all speak the same thing concerning the same thing,”(1 Cor. i. 10) and that, being subject to the bishop and the presbytery, you may in all respects be sanctified.

 Πρέπον οὖν ἐστὶν κατὰ πάντα τρόπον δοξάζεινἸησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν δοξάσαντα ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἐν μιᾷ ὑποταγῇ κατηρτισμένοι, ὑποτασσόμενοι τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ, κατὰ πάντα ἦτε ἡγιασμένοι.

 

 

 

 

Episcopal ministry is “the will of Christ”

[see also Mag 3: God Father =
 “bishop of us all”] 

 

 

3. I do not issue orders to you, as if I were some great person. For though I am bound for the name [of Christ], I am not yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For now I begin to be a disciple, and I speak to you as fellow-disciples with me. For it was needful for me to have been stirred up by you in faith, exhortation, patience, and long-suffering. But inasmuch as love suffers me not to be silent in regard to you, I have therefore taken upon me first to exhort you that you would all run together in accordance with the will of God. For even Jesus Christ, our inseparable life, is the [manifested] will of the Father; as also bishops, settled everywhere to the utmost bounds [of the earth], are so by the will of Jesus Christ.

  1.3.1 Οὐ διατάσσομαι ὑμῖν ὡς ὤν τις. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ δέδεμαι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι, οὔπω ἀπήρτισμαι ἐνἸησοῦ Χριστῷ. Νῦν γὰρ ἀρχὴν ἔχω τοῦ μαθητεύεσθαι καὶ προσλαλῶ ὑμῖν ὡς συνδιδασκαλίταις μου.Ἐμὲ γὰρ ἔδει ὑφ' ὑμῶν ὑπαλειφθῆναι πίστει, νουθεσίᾳ, ὑπομονῇ, μακροθυμίᾳ. 1.3.2 Ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ ἡ ἀγάπη οὐκ ἐᾷ με σιωπᾶν περὶ ὑμῶν, διὰ τοῦτο προέλαβον παρακαλεῖν ὑμᾶς, ὅπως συντρέχητε τῇ γνώμῃ τοῦ θεοῦ. Καὶ γὰρ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, τὸ ἀδιάκριτον ἡμῶν ζῆν, τοῦ πατρὸς ἡ γνώμη, ὡς καὶ οἱ ἐπίσκοποι, οἱ κατὰ τὰ πέρατα ὁρισθέντες, ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ γνώμῃ εἰσίν.

 

 

Harmony and Unity with Bishop

  

 

 

 Chapter IV.—The Same Continued.

 
4. Wherefore it is fitting that you should run together in accordance with the will of your bishop, which thing also you do. For your justly renowned presbytery, worthy of God, is fitted as exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp. Therefore in your concord and harmonious love, Jesus Christ is sung. 1.4.1 Ὅθεν πρέπει ὑμῖν συντρέχειν τῇ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου γνώμῃ, ὅπερ καὶ ποιεῖτε. Τὸ γὰρ ἀξιονόμαστον ὑμῶν πρεσβυτέριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἄξιον, οὕτως συνήρμοσται τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ, ὡς χορδαὶ κιθάρᾳ. Διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τῇ ὁμονοίᾳ ὑμῶν καὶ συμφώνῳ ἀγάπῃ Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ᾄδεται.

And you, man by man, are to become a choir, that being harmonious in love, and taking up the song of God in unison, you may with one voice sing to the Father through Jesus Christ, so that He may both hear you, and perceive by your works that you are indeed the members of His Son. It is profitable, therefore, that you should live in an unblameable unity [henotes], that thus you may always enjoy participation in God.

1.4.2 Καὶ οἱ κατ' ἄνδρα δὲ χορὸς γίνεσθε, ἵνα σύμφωνοι ὄντες ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ, χρῶμα θεοῦ λαβόντες ἐν ἑνότητι, ᾄδητε ἐν φωνῇ μιᾷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῷ πατρί, ἵνα ὑμῶν καὶ ἀκούσῃ καὶ ἐπιγινώσκῃ δι' ὧν εὖ πράσσετε, μέλη ὄντας τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ. Χρήσιμον οὖν ἐστὶν ὑμᾶς ἐν ἀμώμῳ ἑνότητι εἶναι, ἵνα καὶ θεοῦ πάντοτε μετέχητε.

 

 

 

 

5. For if I in this brief space of time, have enjoyed such fellowship with your bishop—I mean not of a mere human, but of a spiritual nature—how much more do I reckon you happy who are so joined to him as the Church is to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ is to the Father, that so all things may agree (symphona) in unity [henotes]!

 1.5.1 Εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἐν μικρῷ χρόνῳ τοιαύτην συνήθειαν ἔσχον πρὸς τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ὑμῶν, οὐκ ἀνθρωπίνην οὖσαν, ἀλλὰ πνευματικήν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς μακαρίζω τοὺς ἐγκεκραμένους αὐτῷ ὡς ἡ ἐκκλησίαἸησοῦ Χριστῷ καὶ ὡςἸησοῦς Χριστὸς τῷ πατρί, ἵνα πάντα ἐν ἑνότητι σύμφωνα ᾖ;
Let no man deceive himself: if any one be not within the altar, he is deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two possesses34 such power, how much more that of the bishop and the whole Church! He, therefore, that does not assemble with the Church, has even35 by this manifested his pride, and condemned himself. For it is written, “God resisteth the proud.”36 Let us be careful, then, not to set ourselves in opposition to the bishop, in order that we may be subject to God. 1.5.2 Μηδεὶς πλανάσθω· ἐὰν μή τις ᾖ ἐντὸς τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου, ὑστερεῖται "τοῦ ἄρτου τοῦ θεοῦ". Εἰ γὰρ ἑνὸς καὶ δευτέρου προσευχὴ τοσαύτην ἰσχὺν ἔχει, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἥ τε τοῦ ἐπισκόπου καὶ πάσης τῆς ἐκκλησίας; 1.5.3Ὁ οὖν μὴ ἐρχόμενος ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, οὗτος ἤδη ὑπερηφανεῖ καὶ ἑαυτὸν διέκρινεν. Γέγραπται γάρ· "Ὑπερηφάνοις ὁ θεὸς ἀντιτάσσεται." Σπουδάσωμεν οὖν μὴ ἀντιτάσσεσθαι τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ, ἵνα ὦμεν θεῷ ὑποτασσόμενοι.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bishop's “silence”

 

 Chapter VI.—Have Respect to the Bishop as to Christ Himself.

 

6. Now the more any one sees the bishop keeping silence,43 the more ought he to revere him. For we ought to receive every one whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household,44 as we would do Him that sent him. It is manifest, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as we would upon the Lord Himself. And indeed Onesimus himself greatly commends your good order in God, that you all live according to the truth, and that no sect45 has any dwelling-place among you. Nor, indeed, do you hearken to any one rather than to Jesus Christ speaking in truth.

 Καὶ ὅσον βλέπει τις σιγῶντα ἐπίσκοπον, πλειόνως αὐτὸν φοβείσθω· πάντα γὰρ ὃν πέμπει ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἰς ἰδίαν οἰκονομίαν, οὕτως δεῖ ἡμᾶς αὐτὸν δέχεσθαι, ὡς αὐτὸν τὸν πέμψαντα. Τὸν οὖν ἐπίσκοπον δῆλον ὅτι ὡς αὐτὸν τὸν κύριον δεῖ προσβλέπειν. 1.6.2 Αὐτὸς μὲν οὖνὈνήσιμος ὑπερεπαινεῖ ὑμῶν τὴν ἐν θεῷ εὐταξίαν, ὅτι πάντες κατὰ ἀλήθειαν ζῆτε καὶ ὅτι ἐν ὑμῖν οὐδεμία αἵρεσις κατοικεῖ· ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἀκούετέ τινος πλέον ἢ περὶἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ λαλοῦντος ἐν ἀληθείᾳ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ the Physician

 

 Chapter VII.—Beware of False Teachers.

 

7.  For some are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, whom you must flee as you would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly, against whom you must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men who can scarcely be cured.

  1.7.1 Εἰώθασιν γάρ τινες δόλῳ πονηρῷ τὸ ὄνομα περιφέρειν, ἄλλα τινὰ πράσσοντες ἀνάξια θεοῦ· οὓς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ὡς θηρία ἐκκλίνειν. Εἰσὶν γὰρ κύνες λυσσῶντες, λαθροδῆκται· οὓς δεῖ ὑμᾶς φυλάσσεσθαι ὄντας δυσθεραπεύτους.
 There is one Physician: who has both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passible and then impassible,— 50 even Jesus Christ our Lord. 1.7.2 Εἷς ἰατρός ἐστιν, σαρκικός τε καὶ πνευματικός, γεννητὸς καὶ ἀγέννητος, ἐν σαρκὶ γενόμενος θεός, ἐν θανάτῳ ζωὴ ἀληθινή, καὶ ἐκ Μαρίας καὶ ἐκ θεοῦ, πρῶτον παθητὸς καὶ τότε ἀπαθής,Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν.

 

 

 

 

8. Let not then any one deceive you, as indeed you are not deceived, inasmuch as you are wholly devoted to God. For since there is no strife raging among you which might distress you, you are certainly living in accordance with God’s will. I am far inferior to you, and require to be sanctified by your Church of Ephesus, so renowned throughout the world. They that are carnal cannot do those things which are spiritual, nor they that are spiritual the things which are carnal; even as faith cannot do the works of unbelief, nor unbelief the works of faith. But even those things which you do according to the flesh are spiritual; for you do all things in Jesus Christ.

 1.8.1 Μὴ οὖν τις ὑμᾶς ἐξαπατάτω, ὥσπερ οὐδὲ ἐξαπατᾶσθε, ὅλοι ὄντες θεοῦ.Ὅταν γὰρ μηδεμία ἔρις ἐνήρεισται ἐν ὑμῖν ἡ δυναμένη ὑμᾶς βασανίσαι, ἄρα κατὰ θεὸν ζῆτε. Περίψημα ὑμῶν καὶ ἁγνίζομαι ὑπὲρ ὑμῶνἘφεσίων, ἐκκλησίας τῆς διαβοήτου τοῖς αἰῶσιν. 1.8.2 Οἱ σαρκικοὶ τὰ πνευματικὰ πράσσειν οὐ δύνανται οὐδὲ οἱ πνευματικοὶ τὰ σαρκικά, ὥσπερ οὐδὲ ἡ πίστις τὰ τῆς ἀπιστίας οὐδὲ ἡ ἀπιστία τὰ τῆς πίστεως.Ἃ δὲ καὶ κατὰ σάρκα πράσσετε, ταῦτα πνευματικά ἐστιν· ἐνἸησοῦ γὰρ Χριστῷ πάντα πράσσετε.

 

 

 

 

9. Nevertheless, I have heard of some who have passed on from this to you, having false doctrine, whom you did not suffer to sow among you, but stopped your ears, that you might not receive those things which were sown by them, as being stones58 of the temple of the Father, prepared for the building of God the Father, and drawn up on high by the instrument of Jesus Christ, which is the cross,59 making use of the Holy Spirit as a rope, while your faith was the means by which you ascended, and your love the way which led up to God. You, therefore, as well as all your fellow-travellers, are God-bearers, temple-bearers, Christ-bearers, bearers of holiness, adorned in all respects with the commandments of Jesus Christ, in whom also I exult that I have been thought worthy, by means of this Epistle, to converse and rejoice with you, because with respect to your Christian life60 you love nothing but God only.

 1.9.1Ἔγνων δὲ παροδεύσαντάς τινας ἐκεῖθεν, ἔχοντας κακὴν διδαχήν· οὓς οὐκ εἰάσατε σπεῖραι εἰς ὑμᾶς, βύσαντες τὰ ὦτα, εἰς τὸ μὴ παραδέξασθαι τὰ σπειρόμενα ὑπ' αὐτῶν, ὡς ὄντες λίθοι ναοῦ πατρός, ἡτοιμασμένοι εἰς οἰκοδομὴν θεοῦ πατρός, ἀναφερόμενοι εἰς τὰ ὕψη διὰ τῆς μηχανῆςἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν σταυρός, σχοινίῳ χρώμενοι τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ· ἡ δὲ πίστις ὑμῶν ἀναγωγεὺς ὑμῶν, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη ὁδὸς ἡ ἀναφέρουσα εἰς θεόν. 1.9.2Ἐστὲ οὖν καὶ σύνοδοι πάντες, θεοφόροι καὶ ναοφόροι, χριστοφόροι, ἁγιοφόροι, κατὰ πάντα κεκοσμημένοι ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖςἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ· οἷς καὶ ἀγαλλιώμενος ἠξιώθην δι' ὧν γράφω προσομιλῆσαι ὑμῖν καὶ συγχαρῆναι ὅτι κατ' ἄλλον βίον οὐδὲν ἀγαπᾶτε εἰ μὴ μόνον τὸν θεόν.

 

 

 

 

10. And pray you without ceasing in behalf of other men. For there is in them hope of repentance that they may attain to God. See,70 then, that they be instructed by your works, if in no other way. Be you meek in response to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their blasphemies return71 your prayers; in contrast to their error, be you steadfast72 in the faith; and for their cruelty, manifest your gentleness.

1.10.1 Καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἄλλων δὲ ἀνθρώπων "ἀδιαλείπτως προσεύχεσθε".Ἔστιν γὰρ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐλπὶς μετανοίας, ἵνα θεοῦ τύχωσιν. Ἐπιτρέψατε οὖν αὐτοῖς κἂν ἐκ τῶν ἔργων ὑμῖν μαθητευθῆναι. 1.10.2 Πρὸς τὰς ὀργὰς αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς πραεῖς, πρὸς τὰς μεγαλορημοσύνας αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς ταπεινόφρονες, πρὸς τὰς βλασφημίας αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς τὰς προσευχάς, πρὸς τὴν πλάνην αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς "ἑδραῖοι τῇ πίστει", πρὸς τὸ ἄγριον αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς ἥμεροι,
While we take care not to imitate their conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true kindness; and let us seek to be followers of the Lord (who ever more unjustly treated, more destitute, more condemned?), that so no plant of the devil may be found in you, but you may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ, both with respect to the flesh and spirit. μὴ σπουδάζοντες ἀντιμιμήσασθαι αὐτούς. 1.10.3Ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν εὑρεθῶμεν τῇ ἐπιεικείᾳ· "μιμηταὶ" δὲ "τοῦ κυρίου" σπουδάζωμεν εἶναι· τίς πλέον ἀδικηθείς; τίς ἀποστερηθείς; τίς ἀθετηθείς; ἵνα μὴ τοῦ διαβόλου βοτάνη τις εὑρεθῇ ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ' ἐν πάσῃ ἁγνείᾳ καὶ σωφροσύνῃ μένητε ἐνἸησοῦ Χριστῷ σαρκικῶς καὶ πνευματικῶς.

 

 

 

 

11. The last times are come upon us. Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit, and fear the long-suffering of God, that it tend not to our condemnation. For let us either stand in awe of the wrath to come, or show regard for the grace which is at present displayed—one of two things. Only [in one way or another] let us be found in Christ Jesus unto the true life. Apart from Him, let nothing attract84 you, for whom I bear about these bonds, these spiritual jewels, by which may I arise through your prayers, of which I entreat I may always be a partaker, that I may be found in the lot of the Christians of Ephesus, who have always been of the same mind with the apostles through the power of Jesus Christ.

1.11.1Ἔσχατοι καιροί. Λοιπὸν αἰσχυνθῶμεν, φοβηθῶμεν τὴν μακροθυμίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἡμῖν εἰς κρίμα γένηται.Ἢ γὰρ τὴν μέλλουσαν ὀργὴν φοβηθῶμεν, ἢ τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν χάριν ἀγαπήσωμεν, ἓν τῶν δύο· μόνον ἐν ΧριστῷἸησοῦ εὑρεθῆναι εἰς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ζῆν. 1.11.2 Χωρὶς τούτου μηδὲν ὑμῖν πρεπέτω, ἐν ᾧ τὰ δεσμὰ περιφέρω, τοὺς πνευματικοὺς μαργαρίτας, ἐν οἷς γένοιτό μοι ἀναστῆναι τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν, ἧς γένοιτό μοι ἀεὶ μέτοχον εἶναι, ἵνα ἐν κλήρῳἘφεσίων εὑρεθῶ τῶν Χριστιανῶν, οἳ καὶ τοῖς ἀποστόλοις πάντοτε συνῄνεσαν ἐν δυνάμειἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

 

 

 

 

12. I know both who I am, and to whom I write. I am a condemned man, you have been the objects of mercy; I am subject to danger, you are established in safety. You are the persons through87 whom those pass that are cut off for the sake of God. You are initiated into the mysteries of the Gospel with Paul, the holy, the martyred, the deservedly most happy, at whose feet88 may I be found, when I shall attain to God; who in all his Epistles makes mention of you in Christ Jesus.

1.12.1 Οἶδα τίς εἰμι καὶ τίσιν γράφω.Ἐγὼ κατάκριτος, ὑμεῖς ἐλεημένοι· ἐγὼ ὑπὸ κίνδυνον, ὑμεῖς ἐστηριγμένοι. 1.12.2 Πάροδός ἐστε τῶν εἰς θεὸν ἀναιρουμένων, Παύλου συμμύσται, τοῦ ἡγιασμένου, τοῦ μεμαρτυρημένου, ἀξιομακαρίστου οὗ γένοιτό μοι ὑπὸ τὰ ἴχνη εὑρεθῆναι, ὅταν θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω, ὃς ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιστολῇ μνημονεύει ὑμῶν ἐν ΧριστῷἸησοῦ.

 

 

 

 
The Office of Readings, Monday of the Second Week in O.T. The Liturgy of the Hours, vol. 3, pp. 84-885

13. Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when you assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyoud, and the destruction at which he aims92 is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth,93 is brought to an end.

1.13.1 Σπουδάζετε οὖν πυκνότερον συνέρχεσθαι εἰς εὐχαριστίαν θεοῦ καὶ εἰς δόξαν.Ὅταν γὰρ πυκνῶς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ γίνεσθε, καθαιροῦνται αἱ δυνάμεις τοῦ σατανᾶ, καὶ λύεται ὁ ὄλεθρος αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁμονοίᾳ ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως. 1.13.2 Οὐδέν ἐστιν ἄμεινον εἰρήνης, ἐν ᾗ πᾶς πόλεμος καταργεῖται ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων.

 

 

 

 

14. None of these things is hid from you, if you perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ Jesus96 which are the beginning and the end of life. For the beginning is faith, and the end is love.97 Now these two, being inseparably connected together,98 are of God, while all other things which are requisite for a holy life follow after them. No man [truly] making a profession of faith sinneth;99 nor does he that possesses love hate any one. The tree is made manifest by its fruit;100 so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognised by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession,101 but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end.

 1.14.1Ὧν οὐδὲν λανθάνει ὑμᾶς, ἐὰν τελείως εἰςἸησοῦν Χριστὸν ἔχητε τὴν πίστιν καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀρχὴ ζωῆς καὶ τέλος· ἀρχὴ μὲν πίστις, "τέλος δὲ ἀγάπη". Τὰ δὲ δύο ἐν ἑνότητι γενόμενα θεός ἐστιν, τὰ δὲ ἄλλα πάντα εἰς καλοκἀγαθίαν ἀκόλουθά ἐστιν. 1.14.2 Οὐδεὶς πίστιν ἐπαγγελλόμενος ἁμαρτάνει, οὐδὲ ἀγάπην κεκτημένος μισεῖ. "Φανερὸν τὸ δένδρον ἀπὸ τοῦ καρποῦ αὐτοῦ" οὕτως οἱ ἐπαγγελλόμενοι Χριστοῦ εἶναι δι' ὧν πράσσουσιν ὀφθήσονται. Οὐ γὰρ νῦν ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἔργον, ἀλλ' ἐν δυνάμει πίστεως ἐάν τις εὑρεθῇ εἰς τέλος.

 

 

 

 

On hearing the  “silence” of  Christ 

 

 

 

15. It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one. It is good to teach, if he who speaks also acts. There is then one Teacher, who spake and it was done; while even those things which He did in silence are worthy of the Father. He who possesses the word of Jesus, is truly able to hear even His very silence [hesuchia], that he may be perfect, and may both act as he speaks, and be recognised by his silence. There is nothing which is hid from God, but our very secrets are near to Him. Let us therefore do all things as those who have Him dwelling in us, that we may be His temples,106 and He may be in us as our God, which indeed He is, and will manifest Himself before our faces. Wherefore we justly love Him.

1.15.1  Ἄμεινόν ἐστιν σιωπᾶν καὶ εἶναι, ἢ λαλοῦντα μὴ εἶναι. Καλὸν τὸ διδάσκειν, ἐὰν ὁ λέγων ποιῇ. Εἷς οὖν διδάσκαλος, ὃς "εἶπεν, καὶ ἐγένετο"· καὶ ἃ σιγῶν δὲ πεποίηκεν, ἄξια τοῦ πατρός ἐστιν. 1.15.2 Ὁ λόγον Ἰησοῦ κεκτημένος ἀληθῶς δύναται καὶ τῆς ἡσυχίας αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν, ἵνα τέλειος ᾖ, ἵνα δι' ὧν λαλεῖ πράσσῃ καὶ δι' ὧν σιγᾷ γινώσκηται. Οὐδὲν λανθάνει τὸν κύριον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ ἡμῶν ἐγγὺς αὐτῷ ἐστιν. 1.15.3 Πάντα οὖν ποιῶμεν ὡς αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν κατοικοῦντος, ἵνα ὦμεν αὐτοῦ ναοὶ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ἡμῖν θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὅπερ καὶ ἔστιν καὶ φανήσεται πρὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν, ἐξ ὧν δικαίως ἀγαπῶμεν αὐτόν.

 

 

 

 

16. Do not err, my brethren.112 Those that corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God.113 If, then, those who do this as respects the flesh have suffered death, how much more shall this be the case with any one who corrupts by wicked doctrine the faith of God, for which Jesus Christ was crucified! Such an one becoming defiled [in this way], shall go away into everlasting fire, and so shall every one that hearkens unto him.

1.16.1 "Μὴ πλανᾶσθε, ἀδελφοί μου"· οἱ οἰκοφθόροι "βασιλείαν θεοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν" 1.16.2 Εἰ οὖν οἱ κατὰ σάρκα ταῦτα πράσσοντες ἀπέθανον, πόσῳ μᾶλλον, ἐὰν πίστιν θεοῦ ἐν κακῇ διδασκαλίᾳ φθείρῃ, ὑπὲρ ἧς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐσταυρώθη; ὁ τοιοῦτος, ῥυπαρὸς γενόμενος, εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ ἄσβεστον χωρήσει, ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ ἀκούων αὐτοῦ.
Christ's Baptism Consecrates Baptismal Water  

Christ's Baptism Consecrates
 Baptismal Water
 Neonian Baptistry, Ravenna

 

Arian Baptistry
Ravenna

 See also Maximus of Turin, Serm.13A.3 and Serm.100.3

 

 

 

 

 

17. For this reason the Lord received the ointment [myron]  poured upon His head (cf. Jn. 12:7), that He might breathe immortality into His Church. Be not you anointed with the bad odour of the doctrine of the prince of this world; let him not lead you away captive from the life which is set before you. And why are we not all prudent, since we have received the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we foolishly perish, not recognising the gift which the Lord has of a truth sent to us?

1.17.1 Διὰ τοῦτο μύρον ἔλαβεν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος, ἵνα πνέῃ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀφθαρσίαν. Μὴ ἀλείφεσθε δυσωδίαν τῆς διδασκαλίας τοῦ ἄρχοντος τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, μὴ αἰχμαλωτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ προκειμένου ζῆν. 1.17.2 Διὰ τί δὲ οὐ πάντες φρόνιμοι γινόμεθα λαβόντες θεοῦ γνῶσιν, ὅ ἐστινἸησοῦς Χριστός; τί μωρῶς ἀπολλύμεθα, ἀγνοοῦντες τὸ χάρισμα ὃ πέπομφεν ἀληθῶς ὁ κύριος;

 

 

 

 

18. Let my spirit be counted as nothing122 for the sake of the cross, which is a stumbling-block123 to those that do not believe, but to us salvation and life eternal. “Where is the wise man? where the disputer? “124 Where is the boasting of those who are styled prudent? For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment125 of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Ghost. He was born and baptized, that by His passion He might purify the water.

 1.18.1 Περίψημα τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα τοῦ σταυροῦ, ὅ ἐστιν "σκάνδαλον" τοῖς ἀπιστοῦσιν, ἡμῖν δὲ σωτηρία καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος. "Ποῦ σοφός; ποῦ συζητητής"; ποῦ καύχησις τῶν λεγομένων συνετῶν; 1.18.2 Ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἡμῶνἸησοῦς ὁ Χριστὸς ἐκυοφορήθη ὑπὸ Μαρίας κατ' οἰκονομίαν θεοῦ "ἐκ σπέρματος" μὲν "Δαυίδ", πνεύματος δὲ ἁγίου· ὃς ἐγεννήθη καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη, ἵνα τῷ πάθει τὸ ὕδωρ καθαρίσῃ.

 

 

Christ's Baptism Consecrates
 Baptismal Water
Arian Baptistry
Ravenna

 

Neonian (Orthodox/Catholic) Baptistry, Ravenna

 

 
 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Celebrated Mysteries:
 ALL WROUGHT IN “SILENCE” 

 

 

 
19.   Now:
    [1] the virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world,
    [2] as was also her offspring,
    [3] and the death of the Lord;
three mysteries of renown,129 which were wrought in silence [hesuchia] by130 God. 		1.19.1 Καὶ ἔλαθεν τὸν ἄρχοντα τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου ἡ παρθενία Μαρίας καὶ ὁ τοκετὸς αὐτῆς, ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ θάνατος τοῦ κυρίου· τρία μυστήρια κραυγῆς, ἅτινα ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ θεοῦ ἐπράχθη.
How, then, was He manifested to the world?131 A star shone forth in heaven above all the other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light was exceedingly great above them all. And there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so unlike to everything else [in the heavens]. Hence every kind of magic was destroyed, and every bond of wickedness disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the old kingdom abolished, God Himself being manifested in human form for the renewal of eternal life. And now that took a beginning which had been prepared by God. Henceforth all things were in a state of tumult, because He meditated the abolition of death. 1.19.2  Πῶς οὖν ἐφανερώθη τοῖς αἰῶσιν; ἀστὴρ ἐν οὐρανῷ ἔλαμψεν ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς ἀστέρας, καὶ τὸ φῶς αὐτοῦ ἀνεκλάλητον ἦν καὶ ξενισμὸν παρεῖχεν ἡ καινότης αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ πάντα ἄστρα ἅμα ἡλίῳ καὶ σελήνῃ χορὸς ἐγένετο τῷ ἀστέρι, αὐτὸς δὲ ἦν ὑπερβάλλων τὸ φῶς αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ πάντα· 1.19.3 ταραχή τε ἦν, πόθεν ἡ καινότης ἡ ἀνόμοιος αὐτοῖς.Ὅθεν ἐλύετο πᾶσα μαγεία καὶ πᾶς δεσμὸς ἠφανίζετο κακίας· ἄγνοια καθῃρεῖτο, παλαιὰ βασιλεία διεφθείρετο θεοῦ ἀνθρωπίνως φανερουμένου εἰς καινότητα ἀϊδίου ζωῆς· ἀρχὴν δὲ ἐλάμβανεν τὸ παρὰ θεῷ ἀπηρτισμένον.Ἔνθεν τὰ πάντα συνεκινεῖτο διὰ τὸ μελετᾶσθαι θανάτου κατάλυσιν.

 

 

The Eucharist, the  “Medicine of Immortality”

 

 
The Eucharist:

The Medicine
of
Immortality

Last Supper,
Ravenna
[Note form of table: exactly like clergy-bema in Christian churches]

 

 

20. 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 this139 ] if the Lord make known to me that you come together man by man in common through grace, individually,140 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,

1.20.1Ἐάν με καταξιώσῃἸησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν καὶ θέλημα ᾖ, ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ βιβλιδίῳ ὃ μέλλω γράφειν ὑμῖν, προσδηλώσω ὑμῖν, ἧς ἠρξάμην οἰκονομίας εἰς τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπονἸησοῦν Χριστόν, ἐν τῇ αὐτοῦ πίστει καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγάπῃ, ἐν πάθει αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναστάσει. 1.20.2 Μάλιστα ἐὰν ὁ κύριός μοι ἀποκαλύψῃ ὅτι οἱ κατ' ἄνδρα κοινῇ πάντες ἐν χάριτι ἐξ ὀνόματος συνέρχεσθε ἐν μιᾶ πίστει καὶ ἐνἸησοῦ Χριστῷ, τῷ "κατὰ σάρκα" ἐκ γένους "Δαυίδ", τῷ υἱῷ ἀνθρώπου καὶ υἱῷ θεοῦ,
so that you 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. εἰς τὸ ὑπακούειν ὑμᾶς τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ ἀπερισπάστῳ διανοίᾳ, ἕνα ἄρτον κλῶντες, ὅς ἐστιν φάρμακον ἀθανασίας, ἀντίδοτος τοῦ μὴ ἀποθανεῖν, ἀλλὰ ζῆν ἐνἸησοῦ Χριστῷ διὰ παντός.

 

 

 

 

21. My soul be for yours and theirs143 whom, for the honour of God, you 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 you 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 chosen144 to show forth the honour of God. Farewell in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, our common hope.

1.21.1Ἀντίψυχον ὑμῶν ἐγὼ καὶ ὧν ἐπέμψατε εἰς θεοῦ τιμὴν εἰς Σμύρναν, ὅθεν καὶ γράφω ὑμῖν, εὐχαριστῶν τῷ κυρίῳ, ἀγαπῶν Πολύκαρπον ὡς καὶ ὑμᾶς. Μνημονεύετέ μου, ὡς καὶ ὑμῶνἸησοῦς Χριστός. 1.21.2 Προσεῦχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἐν Συρίᾳ, ὅθεν δεδεμένος εἰςῬώμην ἀπάγομαι, ἔσχατος ὢν τῶν ἐκεῖ πιστῶν, ὥσπερ ἠξιώθην εἰς τιμὴν θεοῦ εὑρεθῆναι.Ἔρρωσθε ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ ἐνἸησοῦ Χριστῷ, τῇ κοινῇ ἐλπίδι ἡμῶν.

 

 
   

[2]   the Letter of IGNATIUS
to the MAGNESIANS

ΜΑΓΝΗΣΙΕΥΣΙΝ
ΙΓΝΑΤΙΟΣ
   

 

 
The Office of Readings, The 16th Sunday in O.T The Liturgy of the Hours, vol.3, pp. 517-517

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 Moeander, and wish it abundance of happiness in God the father, and in Jesus Christ.

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, τῇ εὐλογημένῃ ἐν χάριτι θεοῦ πατρὸς ἐν ΧριστῷἸησοῦ τῷ σωτῆρι ἡμῶν, ἐν ᾧ ἀσπάζομαι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν οὖσαν ἐν Μαγνησίᾳ τῇ πρὸς Μαιάνδρῳ καὶ εὔχομαι ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ ἐνἸησοῦ Χριστῷ πλεῖστα χαίρειν.

 

 

 

 

2.1. HAVING been informed of your godly1 love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced greatly, and determined to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ. For as one who has been thought worthy of the most honourable of all names,2 in those bonds which I bear about, I commend the Churches, in which I pray for a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, the constant source of our life, and of faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred, but especially of Jesus and the Father, in whom, if we endure all the assaults of the prince of this world, and escape them, we shall enjoy God.

 2.1.1 Γνοὺς ὑμῶν τὸ πολυεύτακτον τῆς κατὰ θεὸν ἀγάπης, ἀγαλλιώμενος, προειλόμην ἐν πίστειἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ προσλαλῆσαι ὑμῖν. 2.1.2 Καταξιωθεὶς γὰρ ὀνόματος θεοπρεπεστάτου, ἐν οἷς περιφέρω δεσμοῖς, ᾄδω τὰς ἐκκλησίας, ἐν αἷς ἕνωσιν εὔχομαι σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματοςἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ διὰ παντὸς ἡμῶν ζῆν, πίστεώς τε καὶ ἀγάπης, ἧς οὐδὲν προκέκριται, τὸ δὲ κυριώτερονἸησοῦ καὶ πατρός· ἐν ᾧ ὑπομένοντες τὴν πᾶσαν ἐπήρειαν τοῦ ἄρχοντος τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου καὶ διαφυγόντες θεοῦ τευξόμεθα.

 

 

 

 

2.2 Since, then, I have had the privilege of seeing you, through Damas your most worthy bishop, and through your worthy presbyters Bassus and Apollonius, and through my fellow-servant the deacon Sotio, whose friendship may I ever enjoy, inasmuch as he is subject to the bishop as to the grace of God, and to the presbytery as to the law of Jesus Christ, [I now write7 to you].

2.2.1Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἠξιώθην ἰδεῖν ὑμᾶς διὰ Δαμᾶ τοῦ ἀξιοθέου ὑμῶν ἐπισκόπου καὶ πρεσβυτέρων ἀξίων Βάσσου καὶἈπολλωνίου καὶ τοῦ συνδούλου μου διακόνου Ζωτίωνος, οὗ ἐγὼ ὀναίμην, ὅτι ὑποτάσσεται τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ ὡς χάριτι θεοῦ καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ ὡς νόμῳἸησοῦ Χριστου

 

 

 

 

 

 

God the Father = “The Bishop of us All”

 

 

 

Chapter III.—Honour Your Youthful Bishop.

 

2.3. Now it becomes you also not to treat your bishop too familiarly on account of his youth,12 but to yield him all reverence, having respect to13 the power of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not judging rashly, from the manifest youthful appearance14 [of their bishop], but as being themselves prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. It is therefore fitting that you should, after no hypocritical fashion, obey [your bishop], in honour of Him who has wired us [so to do], since he that does not so deceives not [by such conduct] the bishop that is visible, but seeks to mock Him that is invisible. And all such conduct has reference not to man,15 but to God, who knows all secrets.

. Καὶ ὑμῖν δὲ πρέπει μὴ συγχρᾶσθαι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν θεοῦ πατρὸς πᾶσαν ἐντροπὴν αὐτῷ ἀπονέμειν, καθὼς ἔγνων καὶ τοὺς ἁγίους πρεσβυτέρους οὐ προσειληφότας τὴν φαινομένην νεωτερικὴν τάξιν, ἀλλ' ὡς φρονίμους ἐν θεῷ συγχωροῦντας αὐτῷ, οὐκ αὐτῷ δέ, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρὶἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τῷ πάντων ἐπισκόπῳ. 2.3.2 Εἰς τιμὴν οὖν ἐκείνου τοῦ θελήσαντος ἡμᾶς πρέπον ἐστὶν ἐπακούειν κατὰ μηδεμίαν ὑπόκρισιν· ἐπεὶ οὐχ ὅτι τὸν ἐπίσκοπον τοῦτον τὸν βλεπόμενον πλανᾷ τις, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἀόρατον παραλογίζεται. Τὸ δὲ τοιοῦτον οὐ πρὸς σάρκα ὁ λόγος, ἀλλὰ πρὸς θεὸν τὸν τὰ κρύφια εἰδότα.

 

 

 

 

2.4. It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so in reality: as some indeed give one the title of bishop, but do all things without him. Now such persons seem to me to be not possessed of a good conscience, seeing they are not stedfastly gathered together according to the commandment.

 2.4.1 Πρέπον οὖν ἐστὶν μὴ μόνον καλεῖσθαι Χριστιανούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἶναι· ὥσπερ καί τινες ἐπίσκοπον μὲν καλοῦσιν, χωρὶς δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα πράσσουσιν. Οἱ τοιοῦτοι δὲ οὐκ εὐσυνείδητοί μοι εἶναι φαίνονται διὰ τὸ μὴ βεβαίως κατ' ἐντολὴν συναθροίζεσθαι.

 

 

 

 

2.5. Seeing, then, all things have an end, these two things are simultaneously set before us—death and life; and every one shall go unto his own place. For as there are two kinds of coins, the one of God, the other of the world, and each of these has its special character stamped upon it, [so is it also here.]33 The unbelieving are of this world; but the believing have, in love, the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not in readiness to die into His passion,34 His life is not in us.

Ἐπεὶ οὖν τέλος τὰ πράγματα ἔχει καὶ πρόκειται τὰ δύο ὁμοῦ, ὅ τε θάνατος καὶ ἡ ζωή, καὶ ἕκαστος "εἰς τὸν ἴδιον τόπον" μέλλει χωρεῖν. 2.5.2Ὥσπερ γάρ ἐστιν νομίσματα δύο, ὃ μὲν θεοῦ, ὃ δὲ κόσμου, καὶ ἕκαστον αὐτῶν ἴδιον χαρακτῆρα ἐπικείμενον ἔχει, οἱ ἄπιστοι τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, οἱ δὲ πιστοὶ ἐν ἀγάπῃ χαρακτῆρα θεοῦ πατρὸς διὰἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δι' οὗ ἐὰν μὴ αὐθαιρέτως ἔχωμεν τὸ ἀποθανεῖν εἰς τὸ αὐτοῦ πάθος, τὸ ζῆν αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἡμῖν.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threefold ministery (bishop/presbyter/deacon) ANALOGY: Bishops/God; Presbyters/Apostles

 

 

 

The Office of Readings, Monday of the 16th Week in O.T.

The Liturgy of the Hours, vol.3, pp. 520-521
2.6. Since therefore I have, in the persons before mentioned, beheld the whole multitude of you in faith and love, I exhort you to study to do all things with a divine harmony,36   2.6.1Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἐν τοῖς προγεγραμμένοις προσώποις τὸ πᾶν πλῆθος ἐθεώρησα ἐν πίστει καὶ ἠγάπησα, παραινῶ, ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ θεοῦ σπουδάζετε πάντα πράσσειν,

(1) while your bishop presides in the place of God,

(2) and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles,

(3) along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ,

who was with the Father before [all] ages, and in the end was revealed. 

̈προκαθημένου τοῦ ἐπισκόπου εἰς τόπον θεοῦ

̈καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων εἰς τόπον συνεδρίου τῶν ἀποστόλων,

καὶ τῶν διακόνων τῶν ἐμοὶ γλυκυτάτων πεπιστευμένων διακονίανἸησοῦ Χριστου

͂ ὃς πρὸ αἰώνων παρὰ πατρὶ ἦν καὶ ἐν τέλει ἐφάνη.̈

All of you, then, having received the ability to behave as God does, offer respect to one another: and let no one look upon his neighbor after the flesh, but [instead] continually love each other in Jesus Christ. Let nothing exist among you that may divide you ; but be you united with your bishop, and those that preside over you, as a type and evidence of your immortality.39

2.6.2 Πάντες οὖν ὁμοήθειαν θεοῦ λαβόντες ἐντρέπεσθε ἀλλήλους καὶ μηδεὶς κατὰ σάρκα βλεπέτω τὸν πλησίον, ἀλλ' ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ ἀλλήλους διὰ παντὸς ἀγαπᾶτε. Μηδὲν ἔστω ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ δυνήσεται ὑμᾶς μερίσαι, ἀλλ' ἑνώθητε τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ τοῖς προκαθημένοις εἰς τύπον καὶ διδαχὴν ἀφθαρσίας.

 

 

 

 

2.7. As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him, neither by Himself nor by the apostles, so neither do you anything without the bishop and presbyters. Neither endeavour that anything appear reasonable and proper to yourselves apart; but being come together into the same place, let there be one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope, in love and in joy undefiled. There is one Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is more excellent. Do you therefore all run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father, and is with and has gone to one.

  2.7.1Ὥσπερ οὖν ὁ κύριος ἄνευ τοῦ πατρὸς οὐδὲν ἐποίησεν, ἡνωμένος ὤν, οὔτε δι' ἑαυτοῦ οὔτε διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων, οὕτως μηδὲ ὑμεῖς ἄνευ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων μηδὲν πράσσετε· μηδὲ πειράσητε εὔλογόν τι φαίνεσθαι ἰδίᾳ ὑμῖν, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό· μία προσευχή, μία δέησις, εἷς νοῦς, μία ἐλπὶς ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ἐν τῇ χαρᾷ τῇ ἀμώμῳ, ὅ ἐστινἸησοῦς Χριστός, οὗ ἄμεινον οὐθέν ἐστιν. 2.7.2 Πάντες ὡς εἰς ἕνα ναὸν συντρέχετε θεοῦ, ὡς ἐπὶ ἓν θυσιαστήριον, ἐπὶ ἕναἸησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν ἀφ' ἑνὸς πατρὸς προελθόντα καὶ εἰς ἕνα ὄντα καὶ χωρήσαντα.

 

 

 

 

2.8. Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace. For the divinest prophets lived according to Christ Jesus. On this account also they were persecuted, being inspired by His grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, not proceeding forth from silence,45 and who in all things pleased Him that sent Him.

 2.8.1 Μὴ πλανᾶσθε ταῖς ἑτεροδοξίαις μηδὲ μυθεύμασιν τοῖς παλαιοῖς ἀνωφελέσιν οὖσιν, εἰ γὰρ μέχρι νῦν κατὰ νόμον ζῶμεν, ὁμολογοῦμεν χάριν μὴ εἰληφέναι. 2.8.2 Οἱ γὰρ θειότατοι προφῆται κατὰ ΧριστὸνἸησοῦν ἔζησαν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἐδιώχθησαν, ἐμπνεόμενοι ὑπὸ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὸ πληροφορηθῆναι τοὺς ἀπειθοῦντας, ὅτι εἷς θεός ἐστιν, ὁ φανερώσας ἑαυτὸν διὰἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν αὐτοῦ λόγος ἀπὸ σιγῆς προελθών, ὃς κατὰ πάντα εὐηρέστησεν τῷ πέμψαντι αὐτόν.

 

 

 

 

2.9. If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things49 have come to the possession of a new50 hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance51 of the Lord’s Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death—whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith,52 and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master—how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? And therefore He whom they rightly waited for, being come, raised them from the dead.53

 2.9.1 Εἰ οὖν οἱ ἐν παλαιοῖς πράγμασιν ἀναστραφέντες εἰς καινότητα ἐλπίδος ἦλθον, μηκέτι σαββατίζοντες, ἀλλὰ κατὰ κυριακὴν ζῶντες, ἐν ᾗ καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν ἀνέτειλεν δι' αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ, ὅ τινες ἀρνοῦνται, δι' οὗ μυστηρίου ἐλάβομεν τὸ πιστεύειν καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ὑπομένομεν, ἵνα εὑρεθῶμεν μαθηταὶἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ μόνου διδασκάλου ἡμῶν· 2.9.2 πῶς ἡμεῖς δυνησόμεθα ζῆσαι χωρὶς αὐτοῦ, οὗ καὶ οἱ προφῆται μαθηταὶ ὄντες τῷ πνεύματι ὡς διδάσκαλον αὐτὸν προσεδόκων; Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο, ὃν δικαίως ἀνέμενον, παρὼν ἤγειρεν αὐτοὺς ἐκ νεκρῶν.

 

 

 

 

The Office of Readings, Tuesday of the 16th Week in O.T.

The Liturgy of the Hours, vol.3, pp. 522-523

2.10. Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity.64 For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be you changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be you salted in Him, lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour you shall be convicted. It is absurd to profess65 Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace66 Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.

2.10.1 Μὴ οὖν ἀναισθητῶμεν τῆς χρηστότητος αὐτοῦ.Ἐὰν γὰρ ἡμᾶς μιμήσηται καθὰ πράσσομεν, οὐκ ἔτι ἐσμέν. Διὰ τοῦτο, μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ γενόμενοι, μάθωμεν κατὰ Χριστιανισμὸν ζῆν.Ὃς γὰρ ἄλλῳ ὀνόματι καλεῖται πλέον τούτου, οὐκ ἔστιν τοῦ θεοῦ. 2.10.2Ὑπέρθεσθε οὖν τὴν κακὴν ζύμην, τὴν παλαιωθεῖσαν καὶ ἐνοξίσασαν, καὶ μεταβάλεσθε εἰς νέαν ζύμην, ὅ ἐστινἸησοῦς Χριστός.Ἁλίσθητε ἐν αὐτῷ, ἵνα μὴ διαφθαρῇ τις ἐν ὑμῖν, ἐπεὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ὀσμῆς ἐλεγχθήσεσθε. 2.10.3Ἄτοπόν ἐστιν,Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν λαλεῖν καὶ ἰουδαΐζειν.Ὁ γὰρ Χριστιανισμὸς οὐκ εἰςἸουδαϊσμὸν ἐπίστευσεν, ἀλλ'Ἰουδαϊσμὸς εἰς Χριστιανισμόν, εἰς ὃν πᾶσα γλῶσσα πιστεύσασα εἰς θεὸν συνήχθη.

 

 

 

 

2.11. These things [I address to you], my beloved, not that I know any of you to be in such a state;75 but, as less than any of you, I desire to guard you beforehand, that you fall not upon the hooks of vain doctrine, but that you attain to full assurance in regard to the birth, and passion, and resurrection which took place in the time of the government of Pontius Pilate, being truly and certainly accomplished by Jesus Christ, who is our hope,76 from which may no one of you ever be turned aside.

2.11.1 Ταῦτα δέ, ἀγαπητοί μου, οὐκ ἐπεὶ ἔγνων τινὰς ἐξ ὑμῶν οὕτως ἔχοντας, ἀλλ' ὡς μικρότερος ὑμῶν θέλω προφυλάσσεσθαι ὑμᾶς, μὴ ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς τὰ ἄγκιστρα τῆς κενοδοξίας, ἀλλὰ πεπληροφορῆσθαι ἐν τῇ γεννήσει καὶ τῷ πάθει καὶ τῇ ἀναστάσει τῇ γενομένῃ ἐν καιρῷ τῆς ἡγεμονίας Ποντίου Πιλάτου· πραχθέντα ἀληθῶς καὶ βεβαίως ὑπὸἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τῆς ἐλπίδος ἡμῶν, ἧς ἐκτραπῆναι μηδενὶ ὑμῶν γένοιτο.

 

 

 

 

2.12. May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to any of you that are at liberty. I know that you are not puffed up, for you have Jesus Christ in yourselves. And all the more when I commend you, I know that you cherish modesty80 of spirit; as it is written, “The righteous man is his own accuser.”81  

̓Οναίμην ὑμῶν κατὰ πάντα, ἐάνπερ ἄξιος ὦ. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ δέδεμαι, πρὸς ἕνα τῶν λελυμένων ὑμῶν οὐκ εἰμί. Οἶδα ὅτι οὐ φυσιοῦσθε·Ἰησοῦν γὰρ Χριστὸν ἔχετε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· καὶ μᾶλλον, ὅταν ἐπαινῶ ὑμᾶς, οἶδα ὅτι ἐντρέπεσθε, ὡς γέγραπται, ὅτι ὁ "δίκαιος ἑαυτοῦ κατήγορος".

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Reiteration]: Threefold ministry: ANALOGY

 

 

 

2.13. Study, therefore, to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the apostles, that so all things, whatsoever you do, may prosper both in the flesh and spirit; in faith and love; in the Son, and in the Father, and in the Spirit; in the beginning and in the end;
   (1) with your most admirable bishop,
    (2) and the well-compacted spiritual crown of your presbytery,
    (3) and the deacons who are according to God.

Be you subject to the bishop, and to one another, as Jesus Christ to the Father, according to the flesh, and the apostles to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit; that so there may be a union both fleshly and spiritual.

Σπουδάζετε οὖν βεβαιωθῆναι ἐν τοῖς δόγμασιν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων, ἵνα "πάντα ὅσα ποιεῖτε, κατευοδωθῆτε" σαρκὶ καὶ πνεύματι, πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ, ἐν υἱῷ καὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἐν πνεύματι, ἐν ἀρχῇ καὶ ἐν τέλει, μετὰ τοῦ ἀξιοπρεπεστάτου ἐπισκόπου ὑμῶν καὶ ἀξιοπλόκου πνευματικοῦ στεφάνου τοῦ πρεσβυτερίου ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν κατὰ θεὸν διακόνων.

2.13.2Ὑποτάγητε τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καὶ ἀλλήλοις, ὡςἸησοῦς Χριστὸς τῷ πατρὶ κατὰ σάρκα καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι τῷ Χριστῷ καὶ τῷ πατρὶ καὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ἵνα ἕνωσις ᾖ σαρκική τε καὶ πνευματική.

 

 

 

 

2.14. Knowing as I do that you are full of God, I have but briefly exhorted you. Be mindful of me in your prayers, that I may attain to God; and of the Church which is in Syria, whence I am not worthy to derive my name: for I stand in need of your united prayer in God, and your love, that the Church which is in Syria may be “deemed worthy of being refreshed by your Church.

2.14.1 Εἰδὼς ὅτι θεοῦ γέμετε, συντόμως παρεκέλευσα ὑμᾶς. Μνημονεύετέ μου ἐν τοῖς προσευχαῖς ὑμῶν, ἵνα θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω, καὶ τῆς ἐν Συρίᾳ ἐκκλησίας, ὅθεν οὐκ ἄξιός εἰμι καλεῖσθαι· ἐπιδέομαι γὰρ τῆς ἡνωμένης ὑμῶν ἐν θεῷ προσευχῆς καὶ ἀγάπης, εἰς τὸ ἀξιωθῆναι τὴν ἐν Συρίᾳ ἐκκλησίαν διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ὑμῶν δροσισθῆναι.

2.15. The Ephesians from Smyrna (whence I also write to you), who are here for the glory of God, as you also are, who have in all things refreshed me, salute you, along with Polycarp, the bishop of the Smyrnaeans. The rest of the Churches, in honour of Jesus Christ, also salute you. Fare you well in the harmony of God, you who have obtained the inseparable Spirit, who is Jesus Christ.

Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶςἘφέσιοι ἀπὸ Σμύρνης, ὅθεν καὶ γράφω ὑμῖν, παρόντες εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ ὥσπερ καὶ ὑμεῖς, οἳ κατὰ πάντα με ἀνέπαυσαν ἅμα Πολυκάρπῳ, ἐπισκόπῳ Σμυρναίων. Καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ δὲ ἐκκλησίαι ἐν τιμῇἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς.Ἔρρωσθε ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ θεοῦ κεκτημένοι ἀδιάκριτον πνεῦμα, ὅς ἐστινἸησοῦς Χριστός.

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

the Letter of IGNATIUS
to the ROMANS

ΡΩΜΑΙΟΙΣ
ΙΓΝΑΤΙΟΣ
   

The Office of Readings, Tenth Sunday in O.T.

The Liturgy of the Hours, vol.3, pp. 320-321

ESTEEM for ROM[AN PAPACY(?)]

  
4.0. Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, Ιγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος,
to the Church which has obtained mercy, through the majesty of the Most High Father, and Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son;  τῇ ἐλεημένῃ ἐν μεγαλειότητι πατρὸς ὑψίστου καὶἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ μόνου υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐκκλησίᾳ
the Church which is beloved and enlightened by the will of Him that wills all things that are according to the love of Jesus Christ our God, ἠγαπημένῃ καὶ πεφωτισμένῃ ἐν θελήματι τοῦ θελήσαντος τὰ πάντα ἃ ἔστιν, κατὰ πίστιν καὶ ἀγάπηνἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν,
which also presides in the place of the report of the Romans, worthy of God, ἥτις καὶ προκάθηται ἐν τόπῳ χωρίουῬωμαίων,

worthy of honour,

worthy of the highest happiness,

worthy of praise,

worthy of obtaining her every desire,

worthy of being deemed holy,1

ἀξιόθεος,

ἀξιοπρεπής,

ἀξιομακάριστος,

ἀξιέπαινος,

ἀξιοεπίτευκτος,

ἀξιόαγνος

and which presides over love, καὶ προκαθημένη τῆς ἀγάπης,
is named from Christ, and from the Father, χριστόνομος, πατρώνυμος,
which I also salute in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father: to those who are united, both according to the flesh and spirit, to every one of His commandments; who are filled inseparably with the grace of God, and are purified from every strange taint, [I wish] abundance of happiness unblameably, in Jesus Christ our God. ἣν καὶ ἀσπάζομαι ἐν ὀνόματιἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ πατρός· κατὰ σάρκα καὶ πνεῦμα ἡνωμένοις πάσῃ ἐντολῇ αὐτοῦ, πεπληρωμένοις χάριτος θεοῦ ἀδιακρίτως καὶ ἀποδιϋλισμένοις ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀλλοτρίου χρώματος, πλεῖστα ἐνἸησοῦ Χριστῷ, τῷ θεῷ ἡμῶν, ἀμώμως χαίρειν.

 

 

 

 
4.1. Through prayer4 to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces,5 and have even6 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 to7 my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love,8 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 you spare me. 4.1.1Ἐπεὶ εὐξάμενος θεῷ ἐπέτυχον ἰδεῖν ὑμῶν τὰ ἀξιόθεα πρόσωπα, ὡς καὶ πλέον ᾐτούμην λαβεῖν· δεδεμένος γὰρ ἐν ΧριστῷἸησοῦ ἐλπίζω ὑμᾶς ἀσπάσασθαι, ἐάνπερ θέλημα ᾖ τοῦ ἀξιωθῆναί με εἰς τέλος εἶναι. 4.1.2Ἡ μὲν γὰρ ἀρχὴ εὐοικονόμητός ἐστιν, ἐάνπερ χάριτος ἐπιτύχω εἰς τὸ τὸν κλῆρόν μου ἀνεμποδίστως ἀπολαβεῖν. Φοβοῦμαι γὰρ τὴν ὑμῶν ἀγάπην, μὴ αὐτή με ἀδικήσῃ.Ὑμῖν γὰρ εὐχερές ἐστιν, ὃ θέλετε ποιῆσαι· ἐμοὶ δὲ δύσκολόν ἐστιν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν, ἐάνπερ ὑμεῖς μὴ φείσησθέ μοι.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IGNATIUS' PASSION Like Eucharistic Offering

 

 

 
4.2. For it is not my desire to act towards you as a man-pleaser, but as pleasing God, even as also you please Him. For neither shall I ever have such [another] opportunity of attaining to God; nor will you, if you shall now be silent, ever be entitled to14 the honour of a better work. For if you 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 favor upon me than that I be sacrificed to God while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, you may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for15 from the east unto the west. It is good to set from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him. 4.2.1 Οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀνθρωπαρεσκῆσαι, ἀλλὰ θεῷ ἀρέσαι, ὥσπερ καὶ ἀρέσκετε. Οὔτε γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε ἕξω καιρὸν τοιοῦτον θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν, οὔτε ὑμεῖς, ἐὰν σιωπήσητε, κρείττονι ἔργῳ ἔχετε ἐπιγραφῆναι.Ἐὰν γὰρ σιωπήσητε ἀπ' ἐμοῦ, ἐγὼ γενήσομαι θεοῦ, ἐὰν δὲ ἐρασθῆτε τῆς σαρκός μου, πάλιν ἔσομαι τρέχων. 4.2.2 Πλέον μοι μὴ παράσχησθε τοῦ σπονδισθῆναι θεῷ, ὡς ἔτι θυσιαστήριον ἕτοιμόν ἐστιν, ἵνα ἐν ἀγάπῃ χορὸς γενόμενοι ᾄσητε τῷ πατρὶ ἐν ΧριστῷἸησοῦ, ὅτι τὸν ἐπίσκοπον Συρίας ὁ θεὸς κατηξίωσεν εὑρεθῆναι εἰς δύσιν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῆς μεταπεμψάμενος. Καλὸν τὸ δῦναι ἀπὸ κόσμου πρὸς θεόν, ἵνα εἰς αὐτὸν ἀνατείλω.

 

 

 

 

The Office of Readings, Monday of the Tenth Week in O.T. The Liturgy of the Hours, 

vol.3, pp. 324-325

4.3. You have never envied any one; you have taught others. Now I desire that those things may be confirmed [by your conduct], which in your instructions you enjoin [on others]. Only request in my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but [truly] will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one. For if I be truly found [a Christian], I may also be called one, and be then deemed faithful, when I shall no longer appear to the world. Nothing visible is eternal.20 “For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”21 For our God, Jesus Christ, now that He is with22 the Father, is all the more revealed [in His glory]. Christianity is not a thing23 of silence only, but also of [manifest] greatness.

 4.3.1 Οὐδέποτε ἐβασκάνατε οὐδενί, ἄλλους ἐδιδάξατε.Ἐγὼ δὲ θέλω, ἵνα κἀκεῖνα βέβαια ᾖ, ἃ μαθητεύοντες ἐντέλλεσθε. 4.3.2 Μόνον μοι δύναμιν αἰτεῖσθε ἔσωθέν τε καὶ ἔξωθεν, ἵνα μὴ μόνον λέγω, ἀλλὰ καὶ θέλω, ἵνα μὴ μόνον λέγωμαι Χριστιανός, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὑρεθῶ.Ἐὰν γὰρ εὑρεθῶ, καὶ λέγεσθαι δύναμαι καὶ τότε πιστὸς εἶναι, ὅταν κόσμῳ μὴ φαίνωμαι. 4.3.3 Οὐδὲν φαινόμενον καλόν.Ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἡμῶνἸησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν πατρὶ ὢν μᾶλλον φαίνεται. Οὐ πεισμονῆς τὸ ἔργον, ἀλλὰ μεγέθους ἐστὶν ὁ Χριστιανισμός, ὅταν μισῆται ὑπὸ κόσμου.

 

 

 

 

4.4. I write to the Churches, and impress on them all, that I shall willingly die for God, unless you hinder me. I beseech of you not to show an unseasonable good-will towards me. Suffer me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God.

4.4.1Ἐγὼ γράφω πάσαις ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις καὶ ἐντέλλομαι πᾶσιν ὅτι ἐγὼ ἑκὼν ὑπὲρ θεοῦ ἀποθνήσκω, ἐάνπερ ὑμεῖς μὴ κωλύσητε. Παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς, μὴ εὔνοια ἄκαιρος γένησθέ μοι.Ἄφετέ με θηρίων εἶναι βοράν, δι' ὧν ἔστιν θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν.
I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body; so that when I have fallen asleep [in death], I may be no trouble to any one. Then shall I truly be a disciple of Christ, when the world shall not see so much as my body. Σῖτός εἰμι θεοῦ καὶ δι' ὀδόντων θηρίων ἀλήθομαι, ἵνα καθαρὸς ἄρτος εὑρεθῶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ. 4.4.2 Μᾶλλον κολακεύσατε τὰ θηρία, ἵνα μοι τάφος γένωνται καὶ μηθὲν καταλίπωσι τῶν τοῦ σώματός μου, ἵνα μὴ κοιμηθεὶς βαρύς τινι γένωμαι. Τότε ἔσομαι μαθητὴς ἀληθῶςἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅτε οὐδὲ τὸ σῶμά μου ὁ κόσμος ὄψεται.
Entreat Christ for me, that by these instruments28 I may be found a sacrifice [to God]. I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles; I am but a condemned man: they were free,29 while I am, even until now, a servant. But when I suffer, I shall be the freed-man of Jesus, and shall rise again emancipated in Him. And now, being a prisoner, I learn not to desire anything worldly or vain. Λιτανεύσατε τὸν Χριστὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, ἵνα διὰ τῶν ὀργάνων τούτων θεῷ θυσία εὑρεθῶ. 4.4.3 Οὐχ ὡς Πέτρος καὶ Παῦλος διατάσσομαι ὑμῖν.Ἐκεῖνοι ἀπόστολοι, ἐγὼ κατάκριτος· ἐκεῖνοι ἐλεύθεροι, ἐγὼ δὲ μέχρι νῦν δοῦλος.Ἀλλ' ἐὰν πάθω, ἀπελεύθερος γενήσομαιἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἀναστήσομαι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐλεύθερος. Νῦν μανθάνω δεδεμένος μηδὲν ἐπιθυμεῖν.

 

 

 

 

4.5. From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts,32 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,33 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.”34 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.

 4.5.1 Ἀπὸ Συρίας μέχριῬώμης θηριομαχῶ, διὰ γῆς καὶ θαλάσσης, νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας, δεδεμένος δέκα λεοπάρδοις, ὅ ἐστιν στρατιωτικὸν τάγμα· οἳ καὶ εὐεργετούμενοι χείρους γίνονται.Ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἀδικήμασιν αὐτῶν μᾶλλον μαθητεύομαι, "ἀλλ' οὐ παρὰ τοῦτο δεδικαίωμαι". 4.5.2 Ὀναίμην τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐμοὶ ἡτοιμασμένων καὶ εὔχομαι σύντομά μοι εὑρεθῆναι· ἃ καὶ κολακεύσω, συντόμως με καταφαγεῖν, οὐχ ὥσπερ τινῶν δειλαινόμενα οὐχ ἥψαντο. Κἂν αὐτὰ δὲ ἄκοντα μὴ θελήσῃ, ἐγὼ προσβιάσομαι. Συγγνώμην μοι ἔχετε· τί μοι συμφέρει, ἐγὼ γινώσκω.
Now I begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or invisible, envy me that I should attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings,36 breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful37 torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ. 4.5.3 Νῦν ἄρχομαι μαθητὴς εἶναι. Μηθέν με ζηλώσαι τῶν ὁρατῶν καὶ ἀοράτων, ἵναἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐπιτύχω. Πῦρ καὶ σταυρὸς θηρίων τε συστάσεις, ἀνατομαί, διαιρέσεις, σκορπισμοὶ ὀστέων, συγκοπὴ μελῶν, ἀλεσμοὶ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος, κακαὶ κολάσεις τοῦ διαβόλου ἐπ' ἐμὲ ἐρχέσθωσαν, μόνον ἵναἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐπιτύχω.

 

 

 

 

Ignatius' desire / will

          My Eros has been crucified

  

 

 

The Office of Readings, Tuesday of the Tenth Week in O.T.

The Liturgy of the Hours, vol.3, pp. 329-330

4.6. All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth,42 shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die in behalf of43 Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth.

 4.6.1 Οὐδέν μοι ὠφελήσει τὰ τερπνὰ τοῦ κόσμου οὐδὲν αἱ βασιλεῖαι τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου. Καλόν μοι ἀποθανεῖν εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, ἢ βασιλεύειν τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς.

    Him I seek [zētō] who died for us:
       Him I desire [thelō], who rose again for our sake.
This is the gain which is laid up for me.

Ἐκεῖνον ζητῶ, τὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἀποθανόντα·

ἐκεῖνον θέλω, τὸν δι' ἡμᾶς ἀναστάντα.Ὁ δὲ τοκετός μοι ἐπίκειται.

 Pardon me, brethren: do not hinder me from living, do not wish to keep me in a state of death;45 and while I desire [thelonta] to belong to God, do not you give me over to the world. Suffer me to obtain pure light: when I have gone there, 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 [thelō], and let him have sympathy with me, as knowing how I am straitened. 4.6.2 Σύγγνωτέ μοι, ἀδελφοί· μὴ ἐμποδίσητέ μοι ζῆσαι, μὴ θελήσητέ με ἀποθανεῖν· τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ θέλοντα εἶναι κόσμῳ μὴ χαρίσησθε μηδὲ ὕλῃ ἐξαπατήσητε· ἄφετέ με καθαρὸν φῶς λαβεῖν· ἐκεῖ παραγενόμενος ἄνθρωπος ἔσομαι. 4.6.3Ἐπιτρέψατέ μοι μιμητὴν εἶναι τοῦ πάθους τοῦ θεοῦ μου. Εἴ τις αὐτὸν ἐν ἑαυτῷ ἔχει, νοησάτω ὃ θέλω, καὶ συμπαθείτω μοι, εἰδὼς τὰ συνέχοντά με.

 

 

 

 

4.7. The prince of this world would fain carry me away, and corrupt my disposition towards God. Let none of you, therefore, who are [in Rome] help him; rather be you on my side, that is, on the side of God. Do not speak of Jesus Christ, and yet set your desires  [epithumeite] on the world. Let not envy find a dwelling-place among you; nor even should I, when present with you, exhort you to it, be you persuaded to listen to me, but rather give credit to those things which I now write to you.

4.7.1Ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου διαρπάσαι με βούλεται καὶ τὴν εἰς θεόν μου γνώμην διαφθεῖραι. Μηδεὶς οὖν τῶν παρόντων ὑμῶν βοηθείτω αὐτῷ· μᾶλλον ἐμοῦ γίνεσθε, τουτέστιν τοῦ θεοῦ. Μὴ λαλεῖτε Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, κόσμον δὲ ἐπιθυμεῖτε. Βασκανία ἐν ὑμῖν μὴ κατοικείτω. 4.7.2 Μηδ' ἂν ἐγὼ παρὼν παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς, πείσθητέ μοι· τούτοις δὲ μᾶλλον πείσθητε, οἷς γράφω ὑμῖν.
     For though I am alive while I write to you, you I am eager [erōn] to die. My love  [erōs]48 has been crucified, and there is no fire in me desiring [philōülon] to be fed;49 but there is within me a water that lives and speaks,50 saying to me inwardly, Come to the Father. Ζῶν γὰρ γράφω ὑμῖν, ἐρῶν τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν.Ὁ ἐμὸς ἔρως ἐσταύρωται, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἐμοὶ πῦρ φιλόϋλον· ὕδωρ δὲ ζῶν καὶ λαλοῦν ἐν ἐμοί, ἔσωθέν μοι λέγον· Δεῦρο πρὸς τὸν πατέρα.
I have no delight in corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I desire [thelō] the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of David and Abraham; and I desire [thelō] the drink of God, namely His blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life. Οὐχ ἥδομαι τροφῇ φθορᾶς οὐδὲ ἡδοναῖς τοῦ βίου τούτου. Ἄρτον θεοῦ θέλω, ὅ ἐστιν σὰρξἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, "τοῦ ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυίδ", καὶ πόμα θέλω τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ, ὅ ἐστιν ἀγάπη ἄφθαρτος.

 

 

 

 
4.8. I no longer desire [thelō] to live after the manner of men, and my desire shall be fulfilled if you consent. Desire, then, that you also may have your desires fulfilled. 4.8.1 Οὐκέτι θέλω κατὰ ἀνθρώπους ζῆν. Τοῦτο δὲ ἔσται, ἐὰν ὑμεῖς θελήσατε. Θελήσητε, ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς θεληθῆτε.

        I entreat you in this brief letter; do you give credit to me. Jesus Christ will reveal these things to you, [so that you shall know] that I speak truly. He53 is the mouth altogether free from falsehood, by which the Father has truly spoken. Pray you for me, that I may attain [my goal]. I have not written to you according to the flesh, but according to the will of God. If I shall suffer, you have wished [well] to me; but if I am rejected, you have hated me.

 Δι' ὀλίγων γραμμάτων αἰτοῦμαι ὑμᾶς· 4.8.2 πιστεύσατέ μοι·Ἰησοῦς δὲ Χριστὸς ὑμῖν ταῦτα φανερώσει ὅτι ἀληθῶς λέγω· τὸ ἀψευδὲς στόμα, ἐν ᾧ ὁ πατὴρ ἐλάλησεν ἀληθῶς. 4.8.3 Αἰτήσασθε περὶ ἐμοῦ, ἵνα ἐπιτύχω. Οὐ κατὰ σάρκα ὑμῖν ἔγραψα, ἀλλὰ κατὰ γνώμην θεοῦ.Ἐὰν πάθω, ἠθελήσατε· ἐὰν ἀποδοκιμασθῶ, ἐμισήσατε.

 

 

 

 

4.9. Remember in your prayers the Church in Syria, which now has God for its shepherd, instead of me. Jesus Christ alone will oversee [episkopēsei] it, and your love [will also regard it]. But as for me, I am ashamed to be counted one of them; for indeed I am not worthy, as being the very last of them, and one born out of due time.56 But I have obtained mercy to be somebody, if I shall attain to God. My spirit salutes you, and the love of the Churches that have received me in the name of Jesus Christ, and not as a mere passer-by. For even those Churches which were not57 near to me in the way, I mean according to the flesh,58 have gone before me,59 city by city, [to meet me.]

4.9.1 Μνημονεύετε ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ ὑμῶν τῆς ἐν Συρίᾳ ἐκκλησίας, ἥτις ἀντὶ ἐμοῦ ποιμένι τῷ θεῷ χρῆται. Μόνος αὐτὴν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐπισκοπήσει καὶ ἡ ὑμῶν ἀγάπη. 4.9.2Ἐγὼ δὲ αἰσχύνομαι ἐξ αὐτῶν λέγεσθαι· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἄξιός εἰμι, ὢν ἔσχατος αὐτῶν καὶ ἔκτρωμα ἀλλ' ἠλέημαί τις εἶναι, ἐὰν θεοῦ ἐπιτύχω. 4.9.3Ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν τῶν δεξαμένων με εἰς ὄνομαἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ, οὐχ ὡς παροδεύοντα. Καὶ γὰρ αἱ μὴ προσήκουσαί μοι τῇ ὁδῷ τῇ κατὰ σάρκα, κατὰ πόλιν με προῆγον.

 

 

 

 

4.10. Now I write these things to you from Smyrna by the Ephesians, who are deservedly most happy. There is also with me, along with many others, Crocus, one dearly beloved by me.60 As to those who have gone before me from Syria to Rome for the glory of God, I believe that you are acquainted with them; to whom, [then, ] do you make known that I am at hand. For they are all worthy, both of God and of you; and it is becoming that you should refresh them in all things. I have written these things unto you, on the day before the ninth of the Kalends of September (that61 is, on the twenty-third day of August). Fare you well to the end, in the patience of Jesus Christ. Amen.

4.10.1 Γράφω δὲ ὑμῖν ταῦτα ἀπὸ Σμύρνης δι'Ἐφεσίων τῶν ἀξιομακαρίστων.Ἔστιν δὲ καὶ ἅμα ἐμοὶ σὺν ἄλλοις πολλοῖς καὶ Κρόκος, τὸ ποθητόν μοι ὄνομα. 4.10.2 Περὶ τῶν προελθόντων με ἀπὸ Συρίας εἰςῬώμην εἰς δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ πιστεύω ὑμᾶς ἐπεγνωκέναι, οἷς καὶ δηλώσατε ἐγγύς με ὄντα. Πάντες γάρ εἰσιν ἄξιοι τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν· οὓς πρέπον ὑμῖν ἐστὶν κατὰ πάντα ἀναπαῦσαι. 4.10.3Ἔγραψα δὲ ὑμῖν ταῦτα τῇ πρὸ ἐννέα καλανδῶν Σεπτεμβρίων.Ἔρρωσθε εἰς τέλος ἐν ὑπομονῇἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

the Letter of IGNATIUS
to the SMYRNEANS

.
   

 

 

 Threefold Ministry

 

 

 

6.8. See that ye all follow:

[1] the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father,

[2] and the presbytery as you would the apostles;

[3] and reverence the deacons, as being the institution (lit. commandment) of God.

Πάντες

̈τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ ἀκολουθεῖτε, ὡςἸησοῦς Χριστὸς τῷ πατρί,

καὶ τῷ πρεσβυτερίῳ ὡς τοῖς ἀποστόλοις·

τοὺς δὲ διακόνους ἐντρέπεσθε ὡς θεοῦ ἐντολήν.

Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a valid Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Μηδεὶς χωρὶς τοῦ ἐπισκόπου τι πρασσέτω τῶν ἀνηκόντων εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.Ἐκείνη βεβαία εὐχαριστία ἡγείσθω, ἡ ὑπὸ ἐπίσκοπον οὖσα ἢ ᾧ ἂν αὐτὸς ἐπιτρέψῃ.
Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.  6.8.2Ὅπου ἂν φανῇ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ἐκεῖ τὸ πλῆθος ἔστω, ὥσπερ ὅπου ἂν ᾖ ΧριστὸςἸησοῦς, ἐκεῖ ἡ καθολικὴ ἐκκλησία.
It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate an agape; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid. Οὐκ ἐξόν ἐστιν χωρὶς τοῦ ἐπισκοπου οὔτε βαπτίζειν οὔτε ἀγάπην ποιεῖν· ἀλλ' ὃ ἂν ἐκεῖνος δοκιμάσῃ, τοῦτο καὶ τῷ θεῷ εὐάρεστον, ἵνα ἀσφαλὲς ᾖ καὶ βέβαιον πᾶν ὃ πράσσεται.

 

 

Virgins Called Widows

 

Conclusion.  

 
6.13. I salute the families of my brethren, with their wives and children, and the virgins who are called widows. 6.13.1.1   ̈Ἀσπάζομαι τοὺς οἴκους τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις καὶ τὰς παρθένους τὰς λεγομένας χήρας.
   

21 (1.

27 Comp. Philem. 8, 9.

34 (  (Matt. xviii. 19).

35 Or, “already.”

36   (P  (Prov. iii. 34; James iv. 6; 1 Pet. v. 5)  .

43 That is, “showing forbearance.”

44 Comp. Matt. xxiv. 25.

45 Or, “heresy.”

50 This clause is wanting in the Greek, and has been supplied from the ancient Latin version.

58 Comp. 1 Pet. ii. 5.

59 Comp. John xii. 32.

60 Literally, “according to the other life.”

70 Literally, “permit.”

71 The verb is here omitted in the original.

72 Comp. Col. i. 23.

84 Literally, “Let nothing become you.”

87 Literally, “you are the passage of.”

88 Literally, “footsteps.”

92 Literally, “his destruction.”

93 Literally, “of heavenly and earthly things.”

96 1 Tim. 1. 14.

97 1 Tim. i. 5.

98 Literally, “being in unity.”

99 Comp. 1 John iii. 7.

100 Matt. xii. 33.

101 Literally, “there is not now the work of profession.”

106 1 Cor. vi. 19.

112 Comp. James i. 16.

113 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.

118 Comp. John xii. 7.

122  translated “offscouring,” 1 Cor. iv. 13.

123 Comp. 1 Cor. i. 18.

124 1 Cor. i. 20.

125 Or, “economy,” or “dispensation.” Comp. Col. i. 25; 1 Tim. i. 4.

129 Literally, “of noise.”

130 Or, “in the silence of God”—divine silence.

131 Literally, “to the ages.”

139 The punctuation and meaning are here doubtful.

140 Literally, “by name.”

143 Some render, “May I, in my turn, be the means of refreshing you and those,” etc.

144 Literally, “to be found for.”

1 Literally, “according to God.”

2 Literally, “of the most God-becoming name,” referring either to the appellation “Theophorus,” or to that of “martyr” or “confessor.”

7 The apodosis is here wanting in the original, but must evidently be supplied in some such way as above.

12 Literally, “to use the age of your bishop.”

13 Literally, “according to.”

14 Literally, “youthful condition.”

15 Literally, “to flesh.”

33 The apodosis is wanting in the original, and some prefer finding it in the following sentence.

34 Or, “after the likeness of His passion.”

36 Literally, “in harmony of God.”

37 Literally, “before the ages.”

38 Literally, “receiving the like manners of God.”

39 The meaning is here doubtful.

45 Some have argued that the Gnostic, silence, is here referred to, and have consequently inferred that this epistle could not have been written by Ignatius.

49 Literally, “in old things.”

50 Or, “newness of.”

51 Or, “according to.”

52 Literally, “we have received to believe.”

53 Comp. Matt. xxvii. 52.

64 Literally, “according to Christianity.”

65 Some read, “to name.”

66 Literally, “believe into,” merge into.

75 i.e., addicted to the error of Judaizing.

76 1 Tim. i. 1.

80 Literally, “are reverent.”

81 Prov. xviii. 17. (LXX).

1 Or, “most holy.”

4 Some read, “since I have,” leaving out the following “for,” and finding the apodosis in “I hope to salute you.”

5 Literally, “worthy of God.”

6 Some read, “which I much desired to do.”

7 Literally, “to receive.”

8 He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.

14 Literally, “have to be inscribed to.”

15 Literally, “to be found and sent for.”

20 Some read, “good.”

21 2 Cor. iv. 18. This quotation is not found in the old Latin version of the shorter recension.

22 Or, “in.”

23 Literally, “work.”

28 i.e., by the teeth of the wild beasts.

29 “Free,” probably from human infirmity.

32 Comp. 1 Cor. xv. 32, where the word is also used figuratively.

33 Probably the soldiers received gifts from the Christians, to treat Ignatius with kindness.

34 1 Cor. iv. 4.

36 Some deem this and the following word spurious.

37 Literally, “evil.”

42 Literally, “this age.”

43 Literally, “into.”

44 Matt. xvi. 26. Some omit this quotation.

45 Literally, “to die.”

48 Some understand by love in this passage, Christ Himself; others regard it as referring to the natural desires of the heart.

49 Literally, “desiring material.”

50 The text and meaning are here doubtful. We have followed Hefele, who understands by the water the Holy Spirit, and refers to John vii. 38.

53 Some refer this to Ignatius himself.

56 Comp. 1 Cor. xv. 8, 9.