Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol I: IGNATIUS: Chapter VII.

Sacred Texts Christianity Early Church Fathers Index Previous Next

Chapter 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, 1109 if indeed by means of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple [of Christ]. 1110 It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a very solemn 1111 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; 1112 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 1113 the service of God. Now, this work is both God’s and yours, when ye shall have completed it to His glory. 1114 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.

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, 1115 if indeed by means of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple [of Christ]. It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a very solemn 1116 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; 1117 and to bestow on him the honour of going into Syria, so that, going into Syria, he may glorify your ever active love to the praise of God. A Christian has not power over himself, but must always be ready for 1118 the service of God. Now, this work is both God’s and yours, when ye shall have completed it. For I trust that, through grace, ye are prepared for every good work pertaining to God. Knowing your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted you by this brief Epistle.