Letters — Letter to the Philadelphians

Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to the Church of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ at Philadelphia in Asia, which has received mercy and is established in the harmony of God, and rejoices continually in the suffering of our Lord, and is filled with all mercy through his resurrection. I greet this church in the blood of Jesus Christ, who is our eternal and lasting joy, especially if people are in unity with the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons, who have been appointed according to the mind of Jesus Christ, whom he has established securely according to his own will and by his Holy Spirit.

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia, in Asia, which has obtained mercy, and is established in the harmony of God, and rejoices unceasingly in the passion of our Lord, and is filled with all mercy through his resurrection; which I salute in the blood of Jesus Christ, who is our eternal and enduring joy, especially if [men] are in unity with the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons, who have been appointed according to the mind of Jesus Christ, whom He has established in security, after His own will, and by His Holy Spirit.

I know this bishop received his ministry for the common good not by his own doing, neither by human appointment, nor through vainglory, but by the love of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am amazed at his gentleness, and he accomplishes more through his silence than those who talk without purpose. He is in harmony with God's commandments, just as a harp is in harmony with its strings. Therefore my soul declares that his disposition toward God is blessed, knowing it to be virtuous and complete, and that his steadiness and freedom from all anger follows the pattern of the infinite gentleness of the living God.

Which bishop, I know, obtained the ministry which pertains to the common [good], not of himself, neither by men, Galatians 1:1 nor through vainglory, but by the love of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ; at whose meekness I am struck with admiration, and who by his silence is able to accomplish more than those who vainly talk. For he is in harmony with the commandments [of God], even as the harp is with its strings. Wherefore my soul declares his mind towards God a happy one, knowing it to be virtuous and perfect, and that his stability as well as freedom from all anger is after the example of the infinite meekness of the living God.

Therefore, as children of light and truth, avoid division and false teachings. Instead, follow wherever the shepherd goes, just as sheep do. Many wolves seem trustworthy, but through harmful pleasure they capture those who are running toward God. However, when you maintain your unity, these wolves will find no opportunity among you.

Wherefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked doctrines; but where the shepherd is, there follow as sheep. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of credit, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive 2 Timothy 3:6 those that are running towards God; but in your unity they shall have no place.

Stay away from those evil groups that Jesus Christ does not care for, because they are not planted by the Father. I don't say this because I have found any division among you, but rather an exceeding purity. For all who belong to God and to Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And all who, through repentance, return to the unity of the Church will also belong to God, so that they may live according to Jesus Christ. Do not be deceived, my brothers. If anyone follows a person who creates a schism in the Church, he will not inherit the kingdom of God. If anyone follows a strange teaching, he does not agree with the passion of Christ.

Keep yourselves from those evil plants which Jesus Christ does not tend, because they are not the planting of the Father. Not that I have found any division among you, but exceeding purity. For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of repentance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ. Do not err, my brethren. If any man follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If any one walks according to a strange opinion, he agrees not with the passion [of Christ.].

Make sure, then, to have only one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to show the unity of His blood; one altar; just as there is one bishop, together with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants. In this way, whatever you do, you may do it according to God's will.

Take heed, then, to have but one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to [show forth] the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: that so, whatsoever you do, you may do it according to [the will of] God.

My brothers and sisters, my love for you has grown tremendously, and as I rejoice greatly over you, I am working to ensure your safety. Yet it is not really I doing this, but Jesus Christ. Because I am imprisoned for his sake, I am even more fearful, since I am not yet perfect. But your prayer to God will make me perfect, so that I may reach the inheritance that has been mercifully given to me. Meanwhile, I turn to the Gospel as if it were the flesh of Jesus, and to the apostles as if they were the presbytery of the Church. Let us also love the prophets, because they too proclaimed the Gospel, placed their hope in him, and waited for him. By believing in him, they were saved through union with Jesus Christ. They were holy people, worthy of love and admiration, testified to by Jesus Christ himself, and counted together with us in the Gospel of our common hope.

My brethren, I am greatly enlarged in loving you; and rejoicing exceedingly [over you], I seek to secure your safety. Yet it is not I, but Jesus Christ, for whose sake being bound I fear the more, inasmuch as I am not yet perfect. But your prayer to God shall make me perfect, that I may attain to that portion which through mercy has been allotted me, while I flee to the Gospel as to the flesh of Jesus, and to the apostles as to the presbytery of the Church. And let us also love the prophets, because they too have proclaimed the Gospel, and placed their hope in Him, and waited for Him; in whom also believing, they were saved, through union to Jesus Christ, being holy men, worthy of love and admiration, having had witness borne to them by Jesus Christ, and being reckoned along with [us] in the Gospel of the common hope.

If anyone preaches the Jewish law to you, do not listen to him. It is better to hear Christian teaching from a man who has been circumcised than to hear Judaism from one who is uncircumcised. But if either of these people does not speak about Jesus Christ, I consider them nothing more than monuments and tombs of the dead, on which only the names of men are written. Therefore, flee from the evil schemes and traps of the prince of this world, so that you will not be defeated by his cunning tactics and grow weak in your love. Instead, all of you should be united together with an undivided heart. I thank my God that I have a good conscience regarding you, and that no one has the ability to claim, either privately or publicly, that I have been a burden to anyone in any matter, great or small. And I pray for all those to whom I have spoken, that they may not have this as a testimony against them.

But if any one preach the Jewish law unto you, listen not to him. For it is better to hearken to Christian doctrine from a man who has been circumcised, than to Judaism from one uncircumcised. But if either of such persons do not speak concerning Jesus Christ, they are in my judgment but as monuments and sepulchres of the dead, upon which are written only the names of men. Flee therefore the wicked devices and snares of the prince of this world, lest at any time being conquered by his artifices, grow weak in your love. But be all joined together with an undivided heart. And I thank my God that I have a good conscience in respect to you, and that no one has it in his power to boast, either privately or publicly, that I have burdened any one either in much or in little. And I wish for all among whom I have spoken, that they may not possess that for a testimony against them.

For though some would have tried to deceive me according to the flesh, the Spirit, being from God, is not deceived. For it knows both where it comes from and where it goes, and it uncovers the secrets of the heart. For when I was among you, I cried out, I spoke with a loud voice: Pay attention to the bishop, and to the presbytery and deacons. Now, some suspected me of having spoken this way because I knew beforehand about the division caused by some among you. But He is my witness, for whose sake I am in chains, that I received no information from any human being. Rather, the Spirit proclaimed these words: Do nothing without the bishop; keep your bodies as the temples of God; love unity; avoid divisions; be followers of Jesus Christ, just as He is of His Father.

For though some would have deceived me according to the flesh, yet the Spirit, as being from God, is not deceived. For it knows both whence it comes and whither it goes, John 3:8 and detects the secrets [of the heart]. For, when I was among you, I cried, I spoke with a loud voice: Give heed to the bishop, and to the presbytery and deacons. Now, some suspected me of having spoken thus, as knowing beforehand the division caused by some among you. But He is my witness, for whose sake I am in bonds, that I got no intelligence from any man. But the Spirit proclaimed these words: Do nothing without the bishop; keep your bodies as the temples of God; love unity; avoid divisions; be the followers of Jesus Christ, even as He is of His Father.

I therefore did what was my duty as someone devoted to unity. For where there is division and anger, God does not dwell. To all who repent, the Lord grants forgiveness, if they turn in repentance to the unity of God and to communion with the bishop. I trust in the grace of Jesus Christ concerning you, who will free you from every bond. And I urge you to do nothing out of conflict, but according to the teaching of Christ. When I heard some people saying, "If I do not find it in the ancient Scriptures, I will not believe the Gospel," and when I said to them, "It is written," they answered me, "That remains to be proved." But to me Jesus Christ stands in the place of all that is ancient: His cross, and death, and resurrection, and the faith which comes through Him, are pure monuments of antiquity; by which I desire, through your prayers, to be justified.

I therefore did what belonged to me, as a man devoted to unity. For where there is division and wrath, God does not dwell. To all them that repent, the Lord grants forgiveness, if they turn in penitence to the unity of God, and to communion with the bishop. I trust [as to you] in the grace of Jesus Christ, who shall free you from every bond. And I exhort you to do nothing out of strife, but according to the doctrine of Christ. When I heard some saying, If I do not find it in the ancient Scriptures, I will not believe the Gospel; on my saying to them, It is written, they answered me, That remains to be proved. But to me Jesus Christ is in the place of all that is ancient: His cross, and death, and resurrection, and the faith which is by Him, are undefiled monuments of antiquity; by which I desire, through your prayers, to be justified.

The priests are indeed good, but the High Priest is better. To him the holy of holies has been entrusted, and he alone has been trusted with the secrets of God. He is the door of the Father, through which Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets, the apostles, and the Church all enter. All of these aim at attaining the unity of God. But the Gospel possesses something that transcends the former dispensation: namely, the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, his passion and resurrection. For the beloved prophets announced him, but the Gospel is the perfection of immortality. All these things together are good if you believe in love.

The priests indeed are good, but the High Priest is better; to whom the holy of holies has been committed, and who alone has been trusted with the secrets of God. He is the door of the Father, by which enter in Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the prophets, and the apostles, and the Church. All these have for their object the attaining to the unity of God. But the Gospel possesses something transcendent [above the former dispensation], viz., the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, His passion and resurrection. For the beloved prophets announced Him, but the Gospel is the perfection of immortality. All these things are good together, if you believe in love.

Since, according to your prayers and the compassion you feel in Christ Jesus, it has been reported to me that the Church at Antioch in Syria has peace, it is fitting for you, as a Church of God, to choose a deacon to serve as God's ambassador on your behalf to the believers there, so that he may rejoice with them when they gather together and glorify the name of God. Blessed is he in Jesus Christ who is considered worthy of such a ministry, and you too will be honored. And if you are willing, this is not beyond your ability to do for the sake of God, just as the nearby Churches have sent bishops in some cases, and in other cases presbyters and deacons.

Since, according to your prayers, and the compassion which you feel in Christ Jesus, it is reported to me that the Church which is at Antioch in Syria possesses peace, it will become you, as a Church of God, to elect a deacon to act as the ambassador of God [for you] to [the brethren there], that he may rejoice along with them when they are met together, and glorify the name [of God]. Blessed is he in Jesus Christ, who shall be deemed worthy of such a ministry; and you too shall be glorified. And if you are willing, it is not beyond your power to do this, for the sake of God; as also the nearest Churches have sent, in some cases bishops, and in others presbyters and deacons.

Now, concerning Philo the deacon from Cilicia, a man of good reputation who continues to serve me in the word of God, along with Rheus Agathopus, a chosen man who has followed me from Syria without regard for his own life—these testify on your behalf. And I myself give thanks to God for you because you have received them, just as the Lord receives you. But may those who dishonored them be forgiven through the grace of Jesus Christ! The love of the brothers at Troas greets you. I am writing to you from there through Burrhus, who was sent with me by the Ephesians and Smyrnaeans as a sign of their respect. May the Lord Jesus Christ honor them, in whom they place their hope—in flesh, soul, faith, love, and concord! Farewell in Christ Jesus, our common hope.

Now, as to Philo the deacon, of Cilicia, a man of reputation, who still ministers to me in the word of God, along with Rheus Agathopus, an elect man, who has followed me from Syria, not regarding his life — these bear witness in your behalf; and I myself give thanks to God for you, that you have received them, even as the Lord you. But may those that dishonoured them be forgiven through the grace of Jesus Christ! The love of the brethren at Troas salutes you; whence also I write to you by Burrhus, who was sent along with me by the Ephesians and Smyrnæans, to show their respect. May the Lord Jesus Christ honour them, in whom they hope, in flesh, and soul, and faith, and love, and concord! Fare well in Christ Jesus, our common hope.