Saint Ignatius of Antioch - Faith, Flesh of the Lord; Charity, Blood of Jesus Christ
Letter of Saint Ignatius of Antioch to the Trallians
SIGNATURE AND GREETING
Ignatius, also called Theophorus, term which means "loved by God the Father of Jesus Christ": to the Holy Church which is in Tralles in Asia, chosen and worthy by God, having peace in the flesh and in the spirit through the Passion of Jesus Christ, who is our hope through our resurrection in Him; Church to which I also salute in the divine plenitude in apostolic form, wishing you abudant well-being.
PRAISES TO THE ADDRESSEE
1 I have known that you have an impeccable, irreproachable mind and that you are firm in patience, not merely as a habit, but by nature, according to what Polibius your bishop has told me; who, by the will of God and of Jesus Christ has visited me in Smyrna. And with this I was much overjoyed in my imprisionment in Jesus Christ, as I could in Polibius contemplate all of you. Thus, having received your pious benevolence from your bishop's hands, I gave glory, since I have seen that you are imitators of God, just like he had said.
LIFE ACCORDING TO JESUS CHRIST
2 Because when you are obedient to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, it is evident for me that you are living not according to men but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that believing in His death we could escape death.
It is therefore necessary, as you already are accustomed to, not to do anything without the bishop, but rather, that you be obedient also to the presbyter, like the apostles of Jesus Christ, who is our hope; because if we live in Him, we will also be found in Him.
And, in the same manner, those who are deacons of the mysteries of Jesus Christ must please all men in all ways. This is because they are not deacons of flesh and drink but servants of the Church of God. It is proper, thus, that you maintain yourselves free from guilt, as if it were fire.
WITHOUT HIERARCHY THERE IS NO CHURCH
3 In the same manner, may all respect the deacons like they respect Jesus Christ, in the same way as they must respect the bishop as a type that is of the Father and the presbyters as the council of God and as the college of the apostles. Aside from these there is not yet even the name of a church.
And, I am persuaded that you think in this way with regards to all these matters; because I have received the demonstration of your love, and I have it with me, in the person of your bishop, whose comportment is a great lesson, whose meekness is power; a man I believe that even the impious lend reverence to. Being that I love you, I treat you softly, even though it is possible that I could write in a more strict manner in your favor; yet, I did not think I was competent to do so and, that being as a delinquent, I give you orders as if I were an apostle.
FEARS IN PRAISE
4 I have many deep thoughts in God; yet, I procure to exercise restraint, should I perish by cause of my pretentiousness. For now I should have more fear and not pay attention to those who would want me to be filled with pride; because those who flatter me are, for me, a scourge.
Because, even though I desire to suffer: considering everything, I do not know for sure if I am worthy of it: because many really do not see the envy of the devil; yet, against me, he is unleashing a fierce battle. For this reason I am anxious to be meek, with which the prince of this world is reduced to nothing.
SUPERNATURAL CHARISMS
5 Am I not capable of writing to you regarding heavenly things? Yet, I fear that I could cause you harm as you are still just children. So have patience with me, so that you do not choke, not yet being able to ingest these things.
Because I myself also, in spite of being in chains and understanding celestial things and the formations of angels and the revue of princes, plus visible and invisible things, am not a disciple for all these reasons. We lack many things, so that God is not lacking in us.
THE BAD GRASS OF HERESY
6 I thus exhort you - even though it is not I that does, but the love of Jesus Christ - that you only ingest of Christian food, and abstain from strange forage, which is herecy.
It is because these heretical men mix poison with Jesus Christ, imposing themselves on others with the pretension of honesty and sincerity, as people that administer a lethal potion with wine and honey, so that one not recognize the poison, and fear not, drinking their death, with a fatal delicacy.
AGAINST HERECY; UNION WITH THE BISHOP
7 Be therefore on guard against these men. And it will certainly be this way if you do not become conceited and vain and you are inseparable from God Jesus Christ and the bishop and the ordinances of the apostles.
The one who is inside the sanctuary is clean; the one that is outside the sanctuary is not clean; this is to say, the one who does something - without the bishop and the presbyter and the deacons - does not have a clean conscience.
FAITH, THE FLESH OF THE LORD; CHARITY, THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
8 It really is not that I have known of anything of this sort among yourselves, but rather that I am watching over you always as my beloved, because I see in advance the snares of the devil. Therefore, arm youselves with meekness and cover yourselves with the faith that is the flesh of the Lord, and the love that is the blood of Jesus Christ.
May no one have aversion or rancor against anyone. Do not give opportunity to the gentiles so that it not happen that, because of a few stubborn ones, the multitude of pious ones be blasphemed because, woe of him for whose vanity my name is blasphemed in front of some.
RULE OF FAITH AGAINST DOCETISTS 1
9 Be thus deaf when someone speaks to you separately from Jesus Christ, who was from the race of David, who was the Son of Mary, who truly was born and ate and drank and was certainly persecuted under Pontius Pilate, who was truly crucified and died in sight of those in Heaven, those on earth, and those below the earth.
In addition, the one who truly resurrected from the dead, having been resurrected by the Father, who, in this same manner, will raise us - those who have believed in Him; that is to say, His Father will resurrect us, in Christ Jesus, apart from which we do not have true life.
PHANTOM ENTITIES
10 If it were as if, certain people that are not believers, are impious, and they say that He suffered only in appearance, they themselves are then mere appearance; if this is not so, why then am I in chains? And, why do I desire to confront myself with the beasts? If it were true that He was just appearance, then I would die in vain. Truly I would be lying against the Lord.
PLANTATIONS THAT ARE NOT OF THE FATHER
11 Therefore, avoid these vile shoots that produce a mortal fruit, which if one tries it, dies at that very moment. This is because these men are not planted by the Father.
For if they were, one would see them as branches of the Cross, and their fruit imperishable - the Cross by which He, through His Passion, invites us, being His members. Now very well, it is not possible to find a head without members, being that God promises union, and this union is He, Himself.
GREETINGS AND PLEADINGS
12 I salute you from Smyrna, together with the churches of God that are present with me; men who have comforted me in all possible ways, as much in the flesh as in the spirit.
My chains that I carry for love of Jesus Christ, exhort you pleading that I can arrive to God; remain in your concord and in prayer, with one another. This is because it is advantageous for each one of you, and in a special manner, for the presbyters, to gladden the soul of your bishop in the honor of the Father and in the honor of Jesus Christ and the apostles.
I beg that you lend me your attention in love; this is so that I am not a testimony against you for having written you these things. And plead also for me, for I have the need of your love in the mercy of God, so that I may be granted the fortune that I wish to reach, with the end that I am not found reprehensible.
FINAL SALUTATIONS
13 The love of the Smyrnians and the Ephesians greets you. Remember in your prayers the church that is in Syria, of which I am also not worthy to be called a member, being one of the least of them.
Pass your time well in Jesus Christ, subjecting yourselves to the bishop as a commandment, and in the same manner to the presbyter; and, each one of you: love one another with an undivided heart.
My spirit is offered for you all, not only now, but also when I come to God. I am still in danger; but the Father is faithful in Jesus Christ to satisfy my petition and yours. May we be able to be found faultless and impeccable in Him.
Translated from the Spanish by Jan Paul von Wendt -
www.acoantioquena.com
(Catholic Apostolic Orthodox Church of Antioch - Archdiocese of Argentina - Official Site)
(Catholic Apostolic Orthodox Church of Antioch - Archdiocese of Argentina - Official Site)
1 Docetae or Docestism - one of the first herecies. It denies above all the true humanity of Jesus Christ, labelling His human body but an "appearance". The term itself, from the Greek doketai, means to appear or have the appearance of something (but not be in fact what the appearance makes us believe). Judaizers (Hebrews) and Docetists (Pagans) eventually fused into Gnosticism, the largest and most complicated rational-speculative anti-Christian synthesis. Saint Ignatius of Antioch was one of the foremoset defenders of the orthodoxy against this herecy. The New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia article on this herecy is accessible here.
Letter of Saint Ignatius of Antioch to the Trallians
SIGNATURE AND GREETING
Ignatius, also called Theophorus, term which means "loved by God the Father of Jesus Christ": to the Holy Church which is in Tralles in Asia, chosen and worthy by God, having peace in the flesh and in the spirit through the Passion of Jesus Christ, who is our hope through our resurrection in Him; Church to which I also salute in the divine plenitude in apostolic form, wishing you abudant well-being.
PRAISES TO THE ADDRESSEE
1 I have known that you have an impeccable, irreproachable mind and that you are firm in patience, not merely as a habit, but by nature, according to what Polibius your bishop has told me; who, by the will of God and of Jesus Christ has visited me in Smyrna. And with this I was much overjoyed in my imprisionment in Jesus Christ, as I could in Polibius contemplate all of you. Thus, having received your pious benevolence from your bishop's hands, I gave glory, since I have seen that you are imitators of God, just like he had said.
LIFE ACCORDING TO JESUS CHRIST
2 Because when you are obedient to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, it is evident for me that you are living not according to men but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that believing in His death we could escape death.
It is therefore necessary, as you already are accustomed to, not to do anything without the bishop, but rather, that you be obedient also to the presbyter, like the apostles of Jesus Christ, who is our hope; because if we live in Him, we will also be found in Him.
And, in the same manner, those who are deacons of the mysteries of Jesus Christ must please all men in all ways. This is because they are not deacons of flesh and drink but servants of the Church of God. It is proper, thus, that you maintain yourselves free from guilt, as if it were fire.
WITHOUT HIERARCHY THERE IS NO CHURCH
3 In the same manner, may all respect the deacons like they respect Jesus Christ, in the same way as they must respect the bishop as a type that is of the Father and the presbyters as the council of God and as the college of the apostles. Aside from these there is not yet even the name of a church.
And, I am persuaded that you think in this way with regards to all these matters; because I have received the demonstration of your love, and I have it with me, in the person of your bishop, whose comportment is a great lesson, whose meekness is power; a man I believe that even the impious lend reverence to. Being that I love you, I treat you softly, even though it is possible that I could write in a more strict manner in your favor; yet, I did not think I was competent to do so and, that being as a delinquent, I give you orders as if I were an apostle.
FEARS IN PRAISE
4 I have many deep thoughts in God; yet, I procure to exercise restraint, should I perish by cause of my pretentiousness. For now I should have more fear and not pay attention to those who would want me to be filled with pride; because those who flatter me are, for me, a scourge.
Because, even though I desire to suffer: considering everything, I do not know for sure if I am worthy of it: because many really do not see the envy of the devil; yet, against me, he is unleashing a fierce battle. For this reason I am anxious to be meek, with which the prince of this world is reduced to nothing.
SUPERNATURAL CHARISMS
5 Am I not capable of writing to you regarding heavenly things? Yet, I fear that I could cause you harm as you are still just children. So have patience with me, so that you do not choke, not yet being able to ingest these things.
Because I myself also, in spite of being in chains and understanding celestial things and the formations of angels and the revue of princes, plus visible and invisible things, am not a disciple for all these reasons. We lack many things, so that God is not lacking in us.
THE BAD GRASS OF HERESY
6 I thus exhort you - even though it is not I that does, but the love of Jesus Christ - that you only ingest of Christian food, and abstain from strange forage, which is herecy.
It is because these heretical men mix poison with Jesus Christ, imposing themselves on others with the pretension of honesty and sincerity, as people that administer a lethal potion with wine and honey, so that one not recognize the poison, and fear not, drinking their death, with a fatal delicacy.
AGAINST HERECY; UNION WITH THE BISHOP
7 Be therefore on guard against these men. And it will certainly be this way if you do not become conceited and vain and you are inseparable from God Jesus Christ and the bishop and the ordinances of the apostles.
The one who is inside the sanctuary is clean; the one that is outside the sanctuary is not clean; this is to say, the one who does something - without the bishop and the presbyter and the deacons - does not have a clean conscience.
FAITH, THE FLESH OF THE LORD; CHARITY, THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
8 It really is not that I have known of anything of this sort among yourselves, but rather that I am watching over you always as my beloved, because I see in advance the snares of the devil. Therefore, arm youselves with meekness and cover yourselves with the faith that is the flesh of the Lord, and the love that is the blood of Jesus Christ.
May no one have aversion or rancor against anyone. Do not give opportunity to the gentiles so that it not happen that, because of a few stubborn ones, the multitude of pious ones be blasphemed because, woe of him for whose vanity my name is blasphemed in front of some.
RULE OF FAITH AGAINST DOCETISTS 1
9 Be thus deaf when someone speaks to you separately from Jesus Christ, who was from the race of David, who was the Son of Mary, who truly was born and ate and drank and was certainly persecuted under Pontius Pilate, who was truly crucified and died in sight of those in Heaven, those on earth, and those below the earth.
In addition, the one who truly resurrected from the dead, having been resurrected by the Father, who, in this same manner, will raise us - those who have believed in Him; that is to say, His Father will resurrect us, in Christ Jesus, apart from which we do not have true life.
PHANTOM ENTITIES
10 If it were as if, certain people that are not believers, are impious, and they say that He suffered only in appearance, they themselves are then mere appearance; if this is not so, why then am I in chains? And, why do I desire to confront myself with the beasts? If it were true that He was just appearance, then I would die in vain. Truly I would be lying against the Lord.
PLANTATIONS THAT ARE NOT OF THE FATHER
11 Therefore, avoid these vile shoots that produce a mortal fruit, which if one tries it, dies at that very moment. This is because these men are not planted by the Father.
For if they were, one would see them as branches of the Cross, and their fruit imperishable - the Cross by which He, through His Passion, invites us, being His members. Now very well, it is not possible to find a head without members, being that God promises union, and this union is He, Himself.
GREETINGS AND PLEADINGS
12 I salute you from Smyrna, together with the churches of God that are present with me; men who have comforted me in all possible ways, as much in the flesh as in the spirit.
My chains that I carry for love of Jesus Christ, exhort you pleading that I can arrive to God; remain in your concord and in prayer, with one another. This is because it is advantageous for each one of you, and in a special manner, for the presbyters, to gladden the soul of your bishop in the honor of the Father and in the honor of Jesus Christ and the apostles.
I beg that you lend me your attention in love; this is so that I am not a testimony against you for having written you these things. And plead also for me, for I have the need of your love in the mercy of God, so that I may be granted the fortune that I wish to reach, with the end that I am not found reprehensible.
FINAL SALUTATIONS
13 The love of the Smyrnians and the Ephesians greets you. Remember in your prayers the church that is in Syria, of which I am also not worthy to be called a member, being one of the least of them.
Pass your time well in Jesus Christ, subjecting yourselves to the bishop as a commandment, and in the same manner to the presbyter; and, each one of you: love one another with an undivided heart.
My spirit is offered for you all, not only now, but also when I come to God. I am still in danger; but the Father is faithful in Jesus Christ to satisfy my petition and yours. May we be able to be found faultless and impeccable in Him.
Translated from the Spanish by Jan Paul von Wendt -
www.acoantioquena.com
(Catholic Apostolic Orthodox Church of Antioch - Archdiocese of Argentina - Official Site)
(Catholic Apostolic Orthodox Church of Antioch - Archdiocese of Argentina - Official Site)
1 Docetae or Docestism - one of the first herecies. It denies above all the true humanity of Jesus Christ, labelling His human body but an "appearance". The term itself, from the Greek doketai, means to appear or have the appearance of something (but not be in fact what the appearance makes us believe). Judaizers (Hebrews) and Docetists (Pagans) eventually fused into Gnosticism, the largest and most complicated rational-speculative anti-Christian synthesis. Saint Ignatius of Antioch was one of the foremoset defenders of the orthodoxy against this herecy. The New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia article on this herecy is accessible here.
He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest.
He who rose for our sake is my one desire."
"I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth.
He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest.
He who rose for our sake is my one desire."
He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest.
He who rose for our sake is my one desire."
The Letter to the Trallians by Ignatius, an early-second-century
Bishop of Antioch and martyr, was written to the church in Tralles
during the bishops transport from Antioch, Syria, to his execution
in Rome. Trallians is one of seven epistles written by Ignatius to
early centers of Christianity in Anatolia.
The Letter to the Trallians by Ignatius, an early-second-century
Bishop of Antioch and martyr, was written to the church in Tralles
during the bishops transport from Antioch, Syria, to his execution
in Rome. Trallians is one of seven epistles written by Ignatius to
early centers of Christianity in Anatolia.
February 1 (Traditional) / October 17 (New) - Saint Ignatius of Antioch (35-108) - Faith, Flesh of the Lord; Charity, Blood of Jesus Christ - Letter to the Trallians
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