Letters — Letter to the Romans

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church that has received mercy through the majesty of the Most High Father and Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son; the Church that is beloved and enlightened by the will of Him who wills all things that are according to the love of Jesus Christ our God, which also presides in the place of the region of the Romans, worthy of God, worthy of honor, worthy of the highest happiness, worthy of praise, worthy of obtaining her every desire, worthy of being deemed holy, and which presides over love, is named from Christ and from the Father—which I also greet in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father: to those who are united, both according to the flesh and spirit, to every one of His commandments, who are filled inseparably with the grace of God and are purified from every foreign stain, I wish abundant happiness blamelessly, in Jesus Christ our God.

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which has obtained mercy, through the majesty of the Most High Father, and Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son; the Church which is beloved and enlightened by the will of Him that wills all things which are according to the love of Jesus Christ our God, which also presides in the place of the region of the Romans, worthy of God, worthy of honour, worthy of the highest happiness, worthy of praise, worthy of obtaining her every desire, worthy of being deemed holy, and which presides over love, is named from Christ, and from the Father, which I also salute in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father: to those who are united, both according to the flesh and spirit, to every one of His commandments; who are filled inseparably with the grace of God, and are purified from every strange taint, [I wish] abundance of happiness unblameably, in Jesus Christ our God.

Through prayer to God, I have been given the privilege of seeing your faces, which are worthy of honor, and I have received even more than I asked for. As a prisoner in Christ Jesus, I hope to greet you—if it is God's will that I be counted worthy to reach the end. The beginning has gone well, and if I can receive grace to hold fast to my lot without obstacle until the end, I will be satisfied. But I am afraid of your love, because it might harm me. It is easy for you to do what you want, but it is hard for me to reach God if you show me mercy.

Through prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, and have even been granted more than I requested; for I hope as a prisoner in Christ Jesus to salute you, if indeed it be the will of God that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if you spare me.

I don't want to act as someone who pleases people, but rather as one who pleases God—just as you also please Him. I will never have another opportunity like this to reach God, and if you remain silent now, you will never be credited with a better work. If you say nothing on my behalf, I will become God's; but if you show love for my flesh, I will have to run my race all over again. So please, don't try to do me any greater favor than letting me be sacrificed to God while the altar is still ready. Then, gathered together in love, you can sing praise to the Father through Christ Jesus, because God has considered me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be summoned from the east to the west. It is good to depart from the world to God, so that I may rise again to Him.

For it is not my desire to act towards you as a man-pleaser, but as pleasing God, even as also you please Him. For neither shall I ever have such [another] opportunity of attaining to God; nor will you, if you shall now be silent, ever be entitled to the honour of a better work. For if you are silent concerning me, I shall become God's; but if you show your love to my flesh, I shall again have to run my race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favour upon me than that I be sacrificed to God while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, you may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for from the east unto the west. It is good to set from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him.

You have never envied anyone; you have taught others. Now I desire that those things may be confirmed by your conduct, which in your instructions you command to others. Only request on my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but truly will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one. For if I am truly found to be a Christian, I may also be called one, and be considered faithful, when I no longer appear to the world. Nothing visible is eternal. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For our God, Jesus Christ, now that He is with the Father, is all the more revealed in His glory. Christianity is not a thing of silence only, but also of manifest greatness.

You have never envied any one; you have taught others. Now I desire that those things may be confirmed [by your conduct], which in your instructions you enjoin [on others]. Only request in my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but [ truly] will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one. For if I be truly found [a Christian], I may also be called one, and be then deemed faithful, when I shall no longer appear to the world. Nothing visible is eternal. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For our God, Jesus Christ, now that He is with the Father, is all the more revealed [in His glory]. Christianity is not a thing of silence only, but also of [manifest] greatness.

I write to the Churches and urge them all that I am willing to die for God, unless you prevent me. I beg you not to show me a kindness that is out of place. Allow me to become food for the wild beasts, through which I will be able to reach God. I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts so that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Instead, encourage the wild beasts so that they may become my tomb and may leave nothing of my body, so that when I have died, I may not be a burden to anyone. Then I will truly be a disciple of Christ, when the world cannot even see my body. Pray to Christ for me, that through these means I may be found a sacrifice to God. I do not give you commands as Peter and Paul did. They were apostles; I am only a condemned man. They were free, while I am, even now, a slave. But when I suffer, I will be the freedman of Jesus and will rise again set free in Him. And now, being a prisoner, I learn not to desire anything worldly or vain.

I write to the Churches, and impress on them all, that I shall willingly die for God, unless you hinder me. I beseech of you not to show an unseasonable good-will towards me. Allow me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God. I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body; so that when I have fallen asleep [in death], I may be no trouble to any one. Then shall I truly be a disciple of Christ, when the world shall not see so much as my body. Entreat Christ for me, that by these instruments I may be found a sacrifice [to God]. I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles; I am but a condemned man: they were free, while I am, even until now, a servant. But when I suffer, I shall be the freed-man of Jesus, and shall rise again emancipated in Him. And now, being a prisoner, I learn not to desire anything worldly or vain.

From Syria all the way to Rome I fight with wild beasts, both by land and sea, both by night and day, being bound to ten leopards—I mean a group of soldiers who, even when they receive kind treatment, only become worse. But through their mistreatment I am learning more about being a disciple of Christ, though this does not make me righteous. May I have the joy of facing the wild beasts that are prepared for me, and I pray they will be eager to rush at me. I will even encourage them to devour me quickly and not treat me as they have treated some others whom they have not touched out of fear. But if they are unwilling to attack me, I will force them to do so. Forgive me for saying this—I know what is good for me. Now I am beginning to be a disciple. Let nothing, whether visible or invisible, prevent me from reaching Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross come; let crowds of wild beasts come; let my body be torn, broken, and my bones dislocated; let my limbs be cut off; let my whole body be shattered; and let all the terrible torments of the devil come upon me—only let me reach Jesus Christ.

From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts, both by land and sea, both by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, I mean a band of soldiers, who, even when they receive benefits, show themselves all the worse. But I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ]; yet am I not thereby justified. 1 Corinthians 4:4 May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me; and I pray they may be found eager to rush upon me, which also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to assail me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me [in this]: I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or invisible, envy me that I should attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.

All the pleasures of the world and all the kingdoms of this earth will profit me nothing. It is better for me to die on behalf of Jesus Christ than to reign over all the ends of the earth. For what will a man gain if he wins the whole world but loses his own soul? I seek Him who died for us; I desire Him who rose again for our sake. This is the gain that is laid up for me. Pardon me, brothers: do not hinder me from living; do not wish to keep me in a state of death. While I desire to belong to God, do not give me over to the world. Allow me to obtain pure light: when I have gone there, I shall indeed be a man of God. Permit me to be an imitator of the passion of my God. If anyone has Him within himself, let him consider what I desire, and let him have sympathy with me, knowing how I am constrained.

All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die on behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. For what shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul? Him I seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose again for our sake. This is the gain which is laid up for me. Pardon me, brethren: do not hinder me from living, do not wish to keep me in a state of death; and while I desire to belong to God, do not give me over to the world. Allow me to obtain pure light: when I have gone there, I shall indeed be a man of God. Permit me to be an imitator of the passion of my God. If any one has Him within himself, let him consider what I desire, and let him have sympathy with me, as knowing how I am straitened.

The ruler of this world wants to take me away and corrupt my attitude toward God. Therefore, let none of you who are in Rome help him. Instead, be on my side, which is God's side. Do not talk about Jesus Christ while setting your hearts on the world. Do not let envy live among you. Even if I were there with you urging you toward envy, do not be persuaded to listen to me. Instead, believe what I am writing to you now. For although I am alive as I write to you, I am eager to die. My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me that desires to be fed. But there is a living water within me that speaks, saying to me inwardly, "Come to the Father." I take no pleasure in perishable food or in the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who later came from the seed of David and Abraham. And I desire the drink of God, which is His blood—incorruptible love and eternal life.

The prince of this world would fain carry me away, and corrupt my disposition towards God. Let none of you, therefore, who are [in Rome] help him; rather be on my side, that is, on the side of God. Do not speak of Jesus Christ, and yet set your desires on the world. Let not envy find a dwelling-place among you; nor even should I, when present with you, exhort you to it, be persuaded to listen to me, but rather give credit to those things which I now write to you. For though I am alive while I write to you, yet I am eager to die. My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me desiring to be fed; but there is within me a water that lives and speaks, saying to me inwardly, Come to the Father. I have no delight in corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of David and Abraham; and I desire the drink of God, namely His blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life.

I no longer want to live in the way humans normally live, and my desire will be fulfilled if you agree. Be willing, then, so that you too may have your desires fulfilled. I am asking you in this short letter; believe me. Jesus Christ will reveal these things to you, so that you will know I am speaking the truth. He is the mouth completely free from falsehood, through which the Father has truly spoken. Pray for me, that I may reach what I desire. I have not written to you according to the flesh, but according to the will of God. If I suffer, you have wished well for me; but if I am rejected, you have hated me.

I no longer wish to live after the manner of men, and my desire shall be fulfilled if you consent. Be willing, then, that you also may have your desires fulfilled. I entreat you in this brief letter; give credit to me. Jesus Christ will reveal these things to you, [so that you shall know] that I speak truly. He is the mouth altogether free from falsehood, by which the Father has truly spoken. Pray for me, that I may attain [the object of my desire]. I have not written to you according to the flesh, but according to the will of God. If I shall suffer, you have wished [well] to me; but if I am rejected, you have hated me.

Remember in your prayers the Church in Syria, which now has God for its shepherd instead of me. Jesus Christ alone will oversee it, and your love will also regard it. But as for me, I am ashamed to be counted as one of them, for indeed I am not worthy, being the very last of them and one born out of due time. But I have obtained mercy to be somebody, if I shall attain to God. My spirit greets you, and so does the love of the Churches that have received me in the name of Jesus Christ, and not as a mere passer-by. For even those Churches which were not near to me on the way—I mean according to the flesh—have gone ahead of me, city by city, to meet me.

Remember in your prayers the Church in Syria, which now has God for its shepherd, instead of me. Jesus Christ alone will oversee it, and your love [will also regard it]. But as for me, I am ashamed to be counted one of them; for indeed I am not worthy, as being the very last of them, and one born out of due time. 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 But I have obtained mercy to be somebody, if I shall attain to God. My spirit salutes you, and the love of the Churches that have received me in the name of Jesus Christ, and not as a mere passer-by. For even those Churches which were not near to me in the way, I mean according to the flesh, have gone before me, city by city, [to meet me.]

I am writing these things to you from Smyrna through the Ephesians, who are deservedly very happy. Besides many others, Crocus is also with me, a person I dearly love. As for those who have gone ahead of me from Syria to Rome for the glory of God, I believe you know about them. Please let them know that I am nearby. They are all worthy, both of God and of you, and it is fitting that you should support them in every way. I wrote these things to you on the day before the ninth of the Kalends of September (that is, on the twenty-third day of August). Farewell until the end, in the patience of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now I write these things to you from Smyrna by the Ephesians, who are deservedly most happy. There is also with me, along with many others, Crocus, one dearly beloved by me. As to those who have gone before me from Syria to Rome for the glory of God, I believe that you are acquainted with them; to whom, [then,] make known that I am at hand. For they are all worthy, both of God and of you; and it is becoming that you should refresh them in all things. I have written these things unto you, on the day before the ninth of the Kalends of September (that is, on the twenty-third day of August). Fare well to the end, in the patience of Jesus Christ. Amen.