Epistle of St. Ignatius of Antioch to Polycarp-Bishop of Smyrna--
This epistle was written in the first century.
St. Ignatius had been trained by the Apostles.
Polycarp was a disciple of St. John.
Tradition holds that St. Ignatius was the
child that Jesus picked up and used as an
example in His preaching.
Since these early Fathers of the Church were trained
by the Apostles,
their writings provide a window to view, beyond the book of Acts,
the functioning of the Church under
the Apotles and their choosen disciples.
Emile
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THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO
POLYCARP: SHORTER VERSION
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, Bishop of the Church of the Smyrnâans, or
rather, who has, as his own bishop, God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: [wishes] abundance
of happiness.
CHAP. I.-- COMMENDATION AND EXHORTATION.
HAVING obtained good proof that thy mind is fixed in God as upon an immoveable rock, I loudly
glorify [His name] that I have been thought worthy [to behold] thy blameless face,(1) which may I
ever enjoy in God! I entreat thee, by the grace with which thou art clothed, to press forward in thy
course, and to exhort all that they may be saved. Maintain thy position with all care, both in the flesh
and spirit. Have a regard to preserve unity, than which nothing is better. Bear with all, even as the
Lord does with thee. Support(2) all in love, as also thou doest. Give thyself to prayer without
ceasing.(3) Implore additional understanding to what thou already hast. Be watchful, possessing a
sleepless spirit. Speak to every man separately, as God enables thee.(4) Bear the infirmities of all, as
being a perfect athlete [in the Christian life]: where the labour is great, the gain is all the more.
CHAP.II.--EXHORTATIONS.
If thou lovest the good disciples, no thanks are due to thee on that account; but rather seek by
meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with the same
plaster. Mitigate violent attacks [of disease] by gentle applications.(1) Be in all things "wise as a
serpent, and harmless as a dove."(2) For this purpose thou art composed of both flesh and spirit,
that thou mayest deal tenderly(3) with those [evils] that present themselves visibly before thee. And
as respects those that are not seen,(4) pray that [God] would reveal them unto thee, in order that
thou mayest be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times call for thee, as pilots
do for the winds, and as on tossed with tempest seeks for the haven, so that both thou [and those
under thy care] may attain to God. Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before thee is
immortality and eternal life, of which thou art also persuaded. In all things may my soul be for
thing,(5) and my bonds also, which thou hast loved.
CHAP. III.--EXHORTATIONS.
Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines,(6) fill thee with apprehension.
Stand firm, as does an anvil which is beaten. It is the part of a noble(7) athlete to be wounded, and
yet to conquer. And especially, we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also may
bear with us. Be ever becoming more zealous than what thou art. Weigh carefully the times. Look
for Him who is above all time, eternal and invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes;
impalpable and impassible, yet who became passible on our account; and who in every kind of way
suffered for our sakes.
CHAP. IV.--EXHORTATIONS.
Let not widows be neglected. Be thou, after the Lord, their protector(8) and friend. Let nothing be
done without thy consent; neither do thou anything without the approval of God, which indeed thou
dost not, inasmuch as thou art stedfast. Let your assembling together be of of frequent(9)
occurrence: seek after all by name.(10) Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet neither let
them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them submit themselves(1) the more, for the glory of
God, that they my obtain from God a better liberty. Let them not long to be set free [from slavery] at
the public expense, that they be not found slaves to their own desires.
CHAP. V.--THE DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
Flee evil arts; but all the more discourse in public regarding them.(2) Speak to my sisters, that they
love the Lord, and be satisfied with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit. In like manner also,
exhort my brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as the Lord the
Church.(3) If any one can continue in a state of purity,(4) to the honour of Him who is Lord of the
flesh,(5) let him so remain without boasting. If he begins to boast, he is undone; and if he reckon
himself greater than the bishop, he is ruined. But it becomes both men and women who marry, to
form their union with the approval of the bishop, that their marriage may be according to God, and
not after their own lust. Let all things be done to the honour of God.(7)
CHAP. VI.--THE DUTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN
FLOCK.
Give ye heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you. My soul be for theirs(9) that are
submissive to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to the deacons, and may my portion be along with
them in God! Labour together with one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer
together; sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates,(10) and servants of
God. Please ye Him under whom ye fight, and from whom ye receive your wages. Let none of you
be found a deserter. Let your baptism endure as your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as
your spear; your patience as a complete panoply. Let your works be the charge(12) assigned to
you, that ye may receive a worthy recompense. Be long-suffering, therefore, with one another, in
meekness, as God is towards you.May I have joy of you for ever!(13)
CHAP. VII.--REQUEST THAT POLYCARP WOULD
SEND A MESSENGER TO ANTIOCH.
Seeing that the Church which is at Antioch in Syria is, as report has informed me, at peace, through
your prayers, I also am the more encouraged, resting without anxiety in God,(1) if indeed by means
of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple [of
Christ].(2) It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a very solemn(3) council, and
to elect one whom you greatly love, and know to be a man of activity, who may be designated the
messenger of God;(4) and to bestow on him this honour that he may go into Syria, and glorify your
ever active love to the praise of Christ. A Christian has not power over himself, but must always be
ready for(5) the service of God. Now, this work is both God's and yours, when ye shall have
completed it to His glory.(6) For I trust that, through grace, ye are prepared for every good work
pertaining to God. Knowing, therefore, your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted you by this
brief Epistle.
CHAP. VIII.--LET OTHER CHURCHES ALSO SEND
TO ANTIOCH.
Inasmuch as I have not been able to write to all the Churches, because I must suddenly sail from
Troas to Neapolis, as the will(7) [of the emperor] enjoins, [I beg that] thou, as being acquainted
with the purpose(8) of God, wilt write to the adjacent Churches, that they also may act in like
manner, such as are able to do so sending messengers,(9) and the others transmitting letters through
those persons who are sent by thee, that thou(10) mayest be glorified by a work(11) which shall be
remembered for ever, as indeed thou art worthy to be. I salute all by name, and in particutar the wife
of Epitropus, with all her house and children. I salute Attalus, my beloved. I salute him who shall be
deemed worthy to go [from you] into Syria. Grace shall be with him for ever, and with Polycarp that
sends him. I pray for your happiness for ever in our God, Jesus Christ, by whom continue ye in the
unity and under the protection of God,(12) I salute Alce, my dearly beloved.(13) Fare ye well in the
Lord. |
