Letters — Letter to the Trallians

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the holy Church at Tralles in Asia, loved by God the Father of Jesus Christ, chosen and worthy of God, possessing peace through the flesh, blood, and suffering of Jesus Christ, who is our hope through our resurrection to Him. I greet this church in its fullness and in its apostolic character, and I wish it abundant happiness.

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the holy Church which is at Tralles, in Asia, beloved of God, the Father of Jesus Christ, elect, and worthy of God, possessing peace through the flesh, and blood, and passion of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, through our rising again to Him, which also I salute in its fullness, and in the apostolic character, and wish abundance of happiness.

I know that you possess a blameless and sincere mind in patience, and that this is true not only in your present practice but also according to your inherent nature, as Polybius your bishop has shown me. He came to Smyrna by the will of God and Jesus Christ, and so shared in the joy which I, who am bound in Christ Jesus, possess, that I saw your whole community in him. Therefore, having received through him the witness of your goodwill, according to God, I rejoiced to find you, as I already knew you were, followers of God.

I know that you possess an unblameable and sincere mind in patience, and that not only in present practice, but according to inherent nature, as Polybius your bishop has shown me, who has come to Smyrna by the will of God and Jesus Christ, and so sympathized in the joy which I, who am bound in Christ Jesus, possess, that I beheld your whole multitude in him. Having therefore received through him the testimony of your good-will, according to God, I gloried to find you, as I knew you were, the followers of God.

Since you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live not according to human standards, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that by believing in His death, you may escape from death. It is therefore necessary that, just as you are already doing, you should do nothing without the bishop, but should also be subject to the presbytery as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall at last be found. It is also fitting that the deacons, as being the ministers of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not ministers of food and drink, but servants of the Church of God. They are bound, therefore, to avoid all grounds of accusation against them, as they would avoid fire.

For, since you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order, by believing in His death, you may escape from death. It is therefore necessary that, as you indeed do, so without the bishop you should do nothing, but should also be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall [at last] be found. It is fitting also that the deacons, as being [the ministers] of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not ministers of meat and drink, but servants of the Church of God. They are bound, therefore, to avoid all grounds of accusation [against them], as they would do fire.

In the same way, let everyone reverence the deacons as an appointment of Jesus Christ, and the bishop as Jesus Christ, who is the Son of the Father, and the presbyters as the sanhedrim of God and assembly of the apostles. Apart from these, there is no Church. Concerning all this, I am convinced that you share the same opinion. For I have received the evidence of your love, and still have it with me, in your bishop, whose very appearance is highly instructive, and whose meekness is itself a power; I imagine that even the ungodly must reverence him, seeing they are also pleased that I do not spare myself. But should I, when permitted to write on this point, reach such a level of self-importance that, though being a condemned man, I should issue commands to you as if I were an apostle?

In like manner, let all reverence the deacons as an appointment of Jesus Christ, and the bishop as Jesus Christ, who is the Son of the Father, and the presbyters as the sanhedrim of God, and assembly of the apostles. Apart from these, there is no Church. Concerning all this, I am persuaded that you are of the same opinion. For I have received the manifestation of your love, and still have it with me, in your bishop, whose very appearance is highly instructive, and his meekness of itself a power; whom I imagine even the ungodly must reverence, seeing they are also pleased that I do not spare myself. But shall I, when permitted to write on this point, reach such a height of self-esteem, that though being a condemned man, I should issue commands to you as if I were an apostle?

I have great knowledge of God, but I hold myself back, so that I won't be destroyed by boasting. Right now I need to be even more cautious and not listen to those who flatter me. Those who speak to me in praise are actually whipping me. I truly do want to suffer, but I don't know if I'm worthy to do so. This desire, though hidden from many people, attacks me all the more fiercely. Therefore I need humility, through which the prince of this world is destroyed.

I have great knowledge in God, but I restrain myself, lest, I should perish through boasting. For now it is needful for me to be the more fearful; and not give heed to those that puff me up. For they that speak to me [in the way of commendation] scourge me. For I do indeed desire to suffer, but I know not if I be worthy to do so. For this longing, though it is not manifest to many, all the more vehemently assails me. I therefore have need of meekness, by which the prince of this world is brought to nought.

Can't I write to you about heavenly things? But I'm afraid to do so, in case I harm you who are only babies in Christ. Forgive me for this—I don't want you to choke on these teachings because you're not yet able to receive them. Even I, though I am in chains for Christ, am not yet able to understand heavenly things: the ranks of the angels, their assemblies under their various rulers, things visible and invisible. Setting aside such difficult subjects, I am still only a learner in other ways. Many things are still lacking in us, so that we do not fall short of God.

Am I not able to write to you of heavenly things? But I fear to do so, lest I should inflict injury on you who are but babes [in Christ]. Pardon me in this respect, lest, as not being able to receive [such doctrines], you should be strangled by them. For even I, though I am bound [for Christ], yet am not on that account able to understand heavenly things, and the places of the angels, and their gatherings under their respective princes, things visible and invisible. Without reference to such abstruse subjects, I am still but a learner [in other respects]; for many things are wanting to us, that we come not short of God.

I urge you—though it is not really I, but the love of Jesus Christ—to use only Christian nourishment and stay away from different kinds of food, by which I mean heresy. For those who practice heresy mix Jesus Christ together with their own poison, speaking things that are not worthy of belief, like people who give a deadly drug in sweet wine. The person who doesn't know what it contains eagerly drinks it, and the fatal pleasure leads to his own death.

I therefore, yet not I, but the love of Jesus Christ, entreat you that you use Christian nourishment only, and abstain from herbage of a different kind; I mean heresy. For those [that are given to this] mix up Jesus Christ with their own poison, speaking things which are unworthy of credit, like those who administer a deadly drug in sweet wine, which he who is ignorant of does greedily take, with a fatal pleasure leading to his own death.

Be on your guard, therefore, against such people. You will be able to do this if you are not puffed up, and if you continue in intimate union with Jesus Christ our God, and with the bishop, and the teachings of the apostles. The one who is within the altar is pure, but the one who is outside is not pure. That is, whoever does anything apart from the bishop, presbytery, and deacons—such a person is not pure in his conscience.

Be on your guard, therefore, against such persons. And this will be the case with you if you are not puffed up, and continue in intimate union with Jesus Christ our God, and the bishop, and the enactments of the apostles. He that is within the altar is pure, but he that is without is not pure; that is, he who does anything apart from the bishop, and presbytery, and deacons, such a man is not pure in his conscience.

It's not that I know of anything like this among you, but I'm warning you ahead of time because I love you deeply and can see the devil's traps coming. So clothe yourselves with gentleness and be made new in faith, which is the flesh of the Lord, and in love, which is the blood of Jesus Christ. Don't let any of you hold a grudge against your neighbor. Don't give the Gentiles any reason to criticize, so that because of a few foolish people, the entire community of believers in God won't be slandered. For, "Woe to the one whose foolishness causes my name to be blasphemed among anyone."

Not that I know there is anything of this kind among you; but I put you on your guard, inasmuch as I love you greatly, and foresee the snares of the devil. Wherefore, clothing yourselves with meekness, be renewed in faith, that is the flesh of the Lord, and in love, that is the blood of Jesus Christ. Let no one of you cherish any grudge against his neighbour. Give no occasion to the Gentiles, lest by means of a few foolish men the whole multitude [of those that believe] in God be evil spoken of. For, Woe to him by whose vanity my name is blasphemed among any. Isaiah 52:5

Close your ears whenever anyone speaks to you in a way that contradicts Jesus Christ, who was descended from David and was also of Mary. He was truly born and ate and drank. He was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate. He was truly crucified and truly died, in the sight of beings in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. He was also truly raised from the dead, His Father giving Him life, just as in the same way His Father will raise up us who believe in Him through Christ Jesus, apart from whom we do not possess true life.

Stop your ears, therefore, when any one speaks to you at variance with Jesus Christ, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly born, and ate and drank. He was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate; He was truly crucified, and [ truly] died, in the sight of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. He was also truly raised from the dead, His Father quickening Him, even as after the same manner His Father will so raise up us who believe in Him by Christ Jesus, apart from whom we do not possess the true life.

But if, as some who are without God—that is, the unbelieving—say, that he only seemed to suffer (while they themselves only seem to exist), then why am I in chains? Why do I long to be thrown to the wild beasts? Do I then die for nothing? Am I not then guilty of lying about the Lord's cross?

But if, as some that are without God, that is, the unbelieving, say, that He only seemed to suffer (they themselves only seeming to exist), then why am I in bonds? Why do I long to be exposed to the wild beasts? Do I therefore die in vain? Am I not then guilty of falsehood against [the cross of] the Lord?

Flee, therefore, from those evil offshoots of Satan, which produce fruit that brings death—if anyone tastes it, he dies immediately. For these men are not planted by the Father. If they were, they would appear as branches of the cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible. Through the cross He calls you by His passion, since you are His members. The head cannot exist by itself without its members, for God, who is the Savior Himself, has promised their union.

Flee, therefore, those evil offshoots [of Satan], which produce death-bearing fruit, whereof if any one tastes, he instantly dies. For these men are not the planting of the Father. For if they were, they would appear as branches of the cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible. By it He calls you through His passion, as being His members. The head, therefore, cannot be born by itself, without its members; God, who is [the Saviour] Himself, having promised their union.

I greet you from Smyrna, together with the Churches of God that are with me, who have refreshed me in every way, both physically and spiritually. My chains, which I carry around for the sake of Jesus Christ (praying that I may reach God), urge you onward. Continue in harmony with one another and in prayer for each other, for it is fitting for each of you, especially the presbyters, to encourage the bishop, to the honor of the Father, of Jesus Christ, and of the apostles. I beg you in love to listen to me, so that by having written to you, I will not become a witness against you. Also pray for me, who needs your love along with God's mercy, so that I may be counted worthy of the calling I am appointed to and not be found unqualified.

I salute you from Smyrna, together with the Churches of God which are with me, who have refreshed me in all things, both in the flesh and in the spirit. My bonds, which I carry about with me for the sake of Jesus Christ ( praying that I may attain to God), exhort you. Continue in harmony among yourselves, and in prayer with one another; for it becomes every one of you, and especially the presbyters, to refresh the bishop, to the honour of the Father, of Jesus Christ, and of the apostles. I entreat you in love to hear me, that I may not, by having written, be a testimony against you. And also pray for me, who have need of your love, along with the mercy of God, that I may be worthy of the lot for which I am destined, and that I may not be found reprobate.

The Smyrneans and Ephesians send you their love. Remember in your prayers the Church in Syria, from which I am not even worthy to take my title, being the least among them. Farewell in Jesus Christ, as long as you remain subject to the bishop as to God's command, and likewise to the presbytery. And let everyone love one another with an undivided heart. May my spirit be sanctified by yours, not only now but also when I reach God. For I am still in danger. But the Father is faithful in Jesus Christ to fulfill both my petitions and yours. May you be found blameless in him.

The love of the Smyrnæans and Ephesians salutes you. Remember in your prayers the Church which is in Syria, from which also I am not worthy to receive my appellation, being the last of them. Fare well in Jesus Christ, while you continue subject to the bishop, as to the command [of God], and in like manner to the presbytery. And, every man, love one another with an undivided heart. Let my spirit be sanctified by yours, not only now, but also when I shall attain to God. For I am as yet exposed to danger. But the Father is faithful in Jesus Christ to fulfil both mine and your petitions: in whom may you be found unblameable.