L---+---T1----+-T--2----R----V --+----4T---+---T5----R-T--V----r----7--T-+-- R Short Version THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS Long Version Ephesians TO THE EPHESIANS Ephesians Ignatius, Ignatius, = who is Theophorus, who is also Theophorus, = to the Church unto her to the Church which is in Eph., in Asia, deservedly most happy which is blessed which hath been blessed being blessed in the greatness in greatness in the gr. through the plentitude and fullness of God the Father, of God the Father; of G. the F., and perfected; to her who which hath and was separated been foreordained predestinated from eternity before the ages bef. the ages to be at all times to be forever to be always for glory that abideth and unto abiding for an enduring and changeth not, and unchangeable glory, & unch. gl., and is perfected united being un. and chosen and elect & elected in the purpose of truth, in a true passion, thru the tr.pa. by the will by the will by t.w. of the Father of the Father of God t. F. of Jesus Christ and of Jesus Christ & of our L.J.C. our God; our God; o. Savior: even unto the church [see below] which is at Ephesus [see above] [of Asia], to her who is worthy worthy of happiness; of all felicitation; to her who is at Ephesus in Jesus Christ abundant greeting Abundant happiness in Christ Jesus thru J.C., in joy unblameable; and in blameless joy. & his undefiled joy. much peace. [1.1] For as much as [ 1 ] While [1.1] I welcomed in God your well-beloved name [your] well beloved name is acceptable to me in God, which ye have acquired which ye bear by nature by natural right, by a right [in an upright and just will, and virtuous mind], and also by faith by faith and love of Jesus Christ and love in Christ Jesus our Saviour, our Savior -- and ye are imitators being imitators of God, of God, of the love of G. and fervent and having your hearts in the blood kindled in the blood of God, of God, of Christ, and have speedily ye have perfectly accomplished a work fulfilled your congenial to you; congenial work -- for when ye heard for when ye heard that I was bound that I was on my way from Syria, = from actions in bonds for the sake of for the sake of = Christ, the common name and hope the common Name and hope, our common hope, -- and I hope and was hoping through your prayers through your prayers to be devoured to succeed in fighting of beasts at Rome, the wild beasts in Rome, that by means of this that by so succeeding that so by martyrd. of which I am accounted worthy I may be empowered I might have power I may indeed become with strength to be a disciple of God to be a disciple, the disciple of him [[quote]] -- ye were diligent ye were eager to come and see me. to visit me -- For as much, therefore, seeing then in God's name as we have received I have received your abundance your whole multitude in the name of God in the person of in the name of G. by Onesimus, Onesimus, thru O. whose love passeth utterance who is your Bishop and who is moreover your in love unutterable, bishop [in the flesh] whom I pray that and I pray that ye love ye may love him in Jesus Christ our Lord, according to Jesus Christ and that all of you and that ye all be like him; may be like him; for blessed is He for blessed is He who hath given you that granted unto you such a Bishop, according to as ye deserve; your deserving to have such a bishop. [2.1] [ 2 ] But as touching my fellow servant Burrhus, who by the will of God is your deacon blessed in all things, I pray that he may remain with me to the honor of yourselves and of your bishop. Yea, and Crocus also, who is worthy of God and of you whom I received as an ensample of the love which ye bear me, hath relieved me in all ways-- [[quote]] even so may the Father of Jesus Christ refresh him- -together with Onesimus and Burrhus and Euplus and Fronto; in whom I saw you all with the eyes of love. May I have joy of you always, if so be I an worthy of it. It is therefore meet for you in every way to glorify Jesus Christ who glorified you; that being perfectly joined together in one submission, [[quote]] submitting yourselves to your bishop and presbytery, ye may be sanctified in all things. [3.1] [ 3 ] I do not command you, as though I were somewhat. For even though I am in bonds for the Name's sake, I am not yet perfected in Jesus Christ. [For] now am I beginning to be a disciple; and I speak to you as to my school- fellows. For I ought to be trained by you for the contest in faith, in admonition, in endurance, in long-suffering. but for as much as love But, since love suffereth me not doth not suffer me to be silent to be silent respecting you, concerning you, on this account therefore I have been forward was I forward to entreat you to exhort you, to be diligent that ye run in harmony in the will of God; with the mind of God: for Jesus Christ also, our inseparable life, is the mind of the Father, [[quote]] even as the bishops that are settled in the [[divergence]] farthest parts of the earth are in the mind of [[quote]] Jesus Christ. [4.1] [ 4 ] So then it becometh you to run in harmony with the mind of the bishop; which thing also ye do. being instructed by the Spirit. For your honorable presbytery, which is worthy of God, is attuned to the bishop, even as its strings to a lyre. Therefore in your concord and harmonious love Jesus Christ J.C. Capt.& Guard. is sung. And do ye, each and all, form yourselves into a chorus, that being harmonious in concord and taking the key note of God ye may in unison sing with one voice through Jesus Christ unto the Father, that He may both hear you and acknowledge you by your good deeds to be members of His Son. [[quote]] It is therefore profitable for you to be in blameless unity, that ye may also be partakers of God always. [5.1] [ 5 ] For if I in a short time had such converse with your bishop, which was not after the manner of men but in the Spirit, how much more do I congratulate you who are closely joined with him as the Church is with Jesus Christ and as Jesus Christ is with the Father, that all things may be harmonious in unity. Let no man be deceived. If any one be not within the precinct of the altar, he lacketh the bread [of God]. For, if the prayer of one and another hath so great force, [[+]] how much more that of the bishop and of the whole Church. [[+]] Whosoever therefore cometh not to the congregation, he doth thereby show his pride and hath separated himself; for it is written, [[//quote]] "God resisteth the proud". Let us therefore be careful not to resist the bishop, [[+pr.& deacons]] that by our submission we [[+, quotes, ++]] may give ourselves to God. [6.1] [ 6 ] And in proportion as a man seeth that his bishop is silent, let him fear him the more. For every one whom the Master of the household sendeth to be steward over His own house, we ought so to receive as Him that sent him. Plainly therefore we ought to regard the bishop as the Lord Himself. Now Onesimus of his own accord highly praiseth your orderly conduct in God, for that ye all live according to truth, and that no heresy hath a home among you: nay, ye do not so much as listen to any one, if he speak of aught else save concerning Jesus Christ in truth. [7.1] [ 7 ] For some are wont of malicious guile to hawk about the Name, while they do certain other things unworthy of God. These men ye ought to shun, as wild-beasts; for they are mad dogs, biting by stealth; against whom ye ought to be on your guard, for they are hard to heal. There is one only physician, of flesh and of spirit, generate and ingenerate, God in man, true Life in death, Son of Mary and Son of God, first passible and then impassible, Jesus Christ our Lord. [8.1] [ 8 ] Let no one therefore deceive you, as indeed ye are not deceived, seeing that ye belong wholly to God. for so long as For when no one lust is implanted no lust is established in you which is able to in you, which hath power torment you, to torment you, then lo, ye live in God. truly ye live after God. I rejoice in you, I devote myself for you, and offer supplication on and I dedicate myself as account of you, an offering for the Ephesians, a church church of you Ephesians renowned which is famous in all ages. unto all the ages. For those They who are carnal that are of the flesh are not able to do cannot do the things spiritual things, of the Spirit, neither neither can they the spiritual that are of the Spirit carnal do the things things; of the flesh; likewise neither faith even as faith those things which are cannot do the things foreign to faith, of unfaithfulness, nor lack of faith neither unfaithfulness what is faith's. the things of the faith. For those things Nay, even those things which ye have done which ye do in the flesh after the flesh even they are spiritual, are spiritual; because ye have done for ye do every thing all things in Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ. [9.1] [ 9 ] But I have learned that certain persons passed through you from yonder, bringing evil doctrine; whom ye suffered not to sow seed in you, for ye stopped your ears, so that ye might not receive the seed sown by them; and ye are forasmuch as ye are stones of a temple, which were prepared prepared beforehand for the building of God for a building of God the Father, the Father, and are raised up being hoisted up on high to the heights by the engine through the engine of Jesus Christ, of Jesus Christ, which is the Cross, which is the Cross, and ye are drawn by and using for the rope, a rope which is the Holy Ghost; the Holy Spirit; and your pulley while your faith is your faith, is your windlass, and your love is the way and love is the way that leadeth up on high that leadeth up to God. to God. So then ye are all companions in the way, carrying your God and your shrine, your Christ and your holy things, being arrayed from head to foot in the commandments of Jesus Christ. And I too, taking part in the festivity, am permitted by letter to bear you company and to rejoice with you, that ye set not your love on anything after the common life of men, but only on God. [10.1] Pray [ 10 ] And pray ye also without ceasing for all men, for the rest of mankind for there is hope (for there is in them a of repentance for them, hope of repentance), that they may be that they may accounted worthy of God. find God. By your works rather Therefore permit them let them to take lessons at least be instructed. from your works. Against their Against their harsh words outbursts of wrath be ye meek; [[++, //]] against their proud words be ye conciliatory be ye humble; in meekness of mind and gentleness: against their blasphemies against their railings do ye pray: set ye your prayers; and against their error against their errors be ye armed be ye steadfast with faith: in the faith; and against against their fierceness their fierceness be ye peaceful and quiet: be ye gentle. and be ye not And be not zealous to astounded by them. imitate them by requital. Let us show ourselves their brothers by our forbearance; Let us then but let us be zealous be imitators to be imitators of our Lord of the Lord, in meekness, and [emulous] as to vying with each other who shall who shall be injured, suffer and oppressed the greater wrong, and defrauded who shall be defrauded, more [than the rest]. who shall be set at nought; that no herb of the devil be found in you: but in all purity and temperance abide ye in Christ Jesus, with your flesh and with your spirit. [11.1] [ 11 ] These are the last times. Henceforth let us have reverence; let us fear the long- suffering of God, lest it turn into a judgment against us. For either let us fear the wrath which is to come or let us love the grace which now is--the one or the other; provided only that we be found in Christ Jesus unto true life. Let nothing glitter in your eyes apart from Him, in whom I carry about my bonds, my spiritual pearls in which I would fain rise again through your prayer, whereof may it be my lot to be always a partaker, that I may be found in the company of those Christians of Ephesus who moreover were ever of one mind with the Apostles in the power of [[++]] Jesus Christ. [12.1] [ 12 ] I know who I am and to whom I write. I am a convict, ye have received mercy: I am in peril, ye are established. Ye are the high-road of those that are on their way to die unto God. Ye are associates in the mysteries with Paul, who was sanctified, who obtained a good report, who is worthy of all felicitation; in whose foot-steps I would fain be found treading, when I shall attain unto God; who in every letter maketh mention of you in Christ Jesus. [13.1] [ 13 ] Do your diligence therefore to meet together more frequently for thanksgiving to God and for His glory. For when ye meet together frequently, the powers of Satan are cast down; and his mischief cometh to nought in the concord of your faith. There is nothing better than peace, in which all warfare of things in heaven and things on earth is abolished. [[+quote]] [14.1] [ 14 ] None of these things is hidden from you, if ye be perfect in [[+like Paul]] your faith and love toward Jesus Christ, for these are the beginning and end of life--faith is the beginning and love is the end--and the two being found in unity are God, while all things else follow in their train unto true nobility. No man professing faith sinneth, and no man possessing love hateth. "The tree is manifest from its fruit"; so they that profess to be Christ's shall be seen through their actions. The work is not For the Work is not [[om!]] of promise, a thing of profession now, unless a man but is seen then be found when one is found in the power of faith in the power of faith even to the end. unto the end. [15.1] It is better [ 15 ] It is better that a man be silent to keep silence when he is something and to be, than that he should than be speaking to talk when he is not; and not to be. [[+quotes]] It is a fine thing to teach, if the speaker practice. Now there is one teacher, who "spake and it came to pass": yea and even the things which He hath done in silence are worthy of the Father. He that truly possesseth the word of Jesus is able also to hearken unto His silence, that he may be perfect; that by those things that which he speaks through his speech he should act, he may act and by those things and through [[om!]] of which he is silent his silence he should be known. he may be known. Nothing is hidden from the Lord, but even our secrets are nigh unto Him. Let us therefore do all things as knowing that He dwelleth in us, to the end that we may be His temples and He Himself may be in us as our God. This is so, and it will also be made clear in our sight from the love which we rightly bear towards Him. [16.1] [ 16 ] Be not deceived, my brethren. Corrupters of houses "shall not inherit the kingdom of God". If then they which do these things after the flesh are put to death, how much more if a man through evil doctrine corrupt the faith of God for which Jesus Christ was crucified. Such a man, having defiled himself, shall go into the unquenchable fire; and in like manner also shall he that hearkeneth unto him. [17.1] [ 17 ] For this cause the Lord received ointment on His head, that He might breathe incorruption upon the Church. Be not anointed with the ill odor of the teaching of the prince of this world, lest he lead you captive and rob you o the life which is set before you. And wherefore do we not all walk prudently, receiving the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why perish we in our folly, not knowing the gift of grace which the Lord hath truly sent? [18.1] My spirit [ 18 ] My spirit boweth down is made an offscouring to the Cross, for the Cross, which is an offence which is a stumbling- block to those who to them that are do not believe, unbelievers, but to you salvation but to us salvation and life eternal. and life eternal. "Where is the wise? Where is the disputer? Where is the boasting of them that are called prudent? For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived in the womb by Mary according to a dispensation, of the seed of David but also of the Holy Ghost; and He was born and was baptized that by His passion He might cleanse water. [19.1] There was [ 19 ] And concealed hidden from the ruler from the prince of this world of this world were the virginity of Mary, the virginity of Mary and and the birth of our Lord, her child-bearing and and likewise also the death of the Lord-- the three mysteries three mysteries of the shout, to be cried aloud -- which were done the which were wrought in the quietness of God in the silence of God. How then were they made manifest to the ages? from the star. A star shone forth in the heaven above all the stars; and its light was unutterable, and its strangeness caused amazement; and all the rest of the constellations with the sun and moon formed themselves into a chorus about the star; but the star itself far outshone them all; and there was perplexity to know whence came this strange appearance which was so unlike them. And here at the manifestation From that time forward of the Son magic every sorcery and every spell began to be destroyed, was dissolved, and all bonds the ignorance of wickedness were loosed, vanished away, and the ancient kingdom the ancient kingdom and the error of evil was destroyed. was pulled down, when God appeared in the likeness of man unto "newness of" everlasting "life"; [see below] and that which had been perfected in the counsels of God began to take effect. From hence all things Thence all things were moved together, were perturbed, and the destruction because the abolishing of death of death was devised, was taken in hand. and there was the commencement [see above] of that which is perfected in God. //end// [ 20 ] If Jesus Christ should count me worthy through your prayer, and it should be the Divine will, in my second tract, which I intend to write to you, I will further set before you the dispensation whereof I have begun to speak, relating to the new man Jesus Christ, which consisteth in faith towards Him and in love towards Him, in His passion and resurrection, especially if the Lord should reveal aught to me. Assemble yourselves together in common, every one of you severally, man by man, in grace, in one faith and one Jesus Christ, who after the flesh was of David's race, who is Son of Man and Son of God, to the end that ye may obey the bishop and the presbytery without distraction of mind; breaking one bread, which is the medicine of immortality and the antidote that we should not die but live for ever in Jesus Christ. [ 21 ] I am devoted to you and to those whom for the honor of God ye sent to Smyrna; whence also I write unto you with thanksgiving to the Lord, having love for Polycarp as I have for you also. Remember me, even as I would that Jesus Christ may also remember you. Pray for the church which is in Syria, whence I am led a prisoner to Rome-- I who am the very last of the faithful there; according as I was counted worthy to be found unto the honor of God. Fare ye well in God the Father and in Jesus Christ our common hope. 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