Letters — Letter to Polycarp

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, Bishop of the Church of the Smyrnaeans, or rather, who has God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as his own bishop: I wish you abundant happiness.

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, Bishop of the Church of the Smyrnæans, or rather, who has, as his own bishop, God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: [wishes] abundance of happiness.

I have received convincing evidence that your mind is firmly established in God as if on an unshakable rock, and I enthusiastically praise His name that I have been considered worthy to see your blameless character, which I hope always to benefit from in God. I urge you, by the grace you have been given, to keep advancing in your spiritual journey and to encourage everyone so they may be saved. Guard your role carefully, both physically and spiritually. Make it your priority to preserve unity, since nothing is better than that. Put up with everyone, just as the Lord puts up with you. Sustain everyone in love, as you already do. Devote yourself to constant prayer. Ask for greater understanding beyond what you already possess. Stay alert, maintaining a vigilant spirit. Speak to each person individually, as God empowers you. Carry the weaknesses of everyone, as one who is a complete athlete in the Christian life: where the effort is greatest, the reward is even greater.

Having obtained good proof that your mind is fixed in God as upon an immoveable rock, I loudly glorify [His name] that I have been thought worthy [to behold] your blameless face, which may I ever enjoy in God! I entreat you, by the grace with which you are clothed, to press forward in your course, and to exhort all that they may be saved. Maintain your position with all care, both in the flesh and spirit. Have a regard to preserve unity, than which nothing is better. Bear with all, even as the Lord does with you. Support all in love, as also you do. Give yourself to prayer without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Implore additional understanding to what you already have. Be watchful, possessing a sleepless spirit. Speak to every man separately, as God enables you. Bear the infirmities of all, as being a perfect athlete [in the Christian life]: where the labour is great, the gain is all the more.

If you love the good disciples, you deserve no special credit for that. Instead, try through gentleness to win over the more difficult ones. Not every wound is healed with the same treatment. Calm violent outbreaks with gentle remedies. Be wise as a serpent in all things, and harmless as a dove. You are made of both flesh and spirit for this reason: so you can deal gently with the troubles that appear visibly before you. As for those things that are unseen, pray that God would reveal them to you, so that you may lack nothing but may overflow with every gift. The times demand you, as ship captains need the winds, and as someone tossed by a storm longs for the harbor, so that both you and those in your care may reach God. Be disciplined like an athlete of God: the prize waiting for you is immortality and eternal life, which you already believe in. In everything, may my soul be devoted to yours, and my chains too, which you have cherished.

If you love the good disciples, no thanks are due to you on that account; but rather seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Mitigate violent attacks [of disease] by gentle applications. Be in all things wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove. Matthew 10:16 For this purpose you are composed of both flesh and spirit, that you may deal tenderly with those [ evils] that present themselves visibly before you. And as respects those that are not seen, pray that [God] would reveal them unto you, in order that you may be wanting in nothing, but may abound in every gift. The times call for you, as pilots do for the winds, and as one tossed with tempest seeks for the haven, so that both you [and those under your care] may attain to God. Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before you is immortality and eternal life, of which you are also persuaded. In all things may my soul be for yours, and my bonds also, which you have loved.

Let not those who seem trustworthy but teach strange doctrines fill you with fear. Stand firm, like an anvil that is struck. It is the mark of a noble athlete to be wounded and yet still win. And above all, we ought to endure all things for God's sake, so that He also may bear with us. Keep becoming more zealous than you already are. Consider carefully the times. Look for Him who is above all time, eternal and invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes; impalpable and impassible, yet who became passible on our account; and who suffered for our sakes in every kind of way.

Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines, 1 Timothy 1:3, 1 Timothy 6:3 fill you with apprehension. Stand firm, as does an anvil which is beaten. It is the part of a noble athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer. And especially, we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also may bear with us. Be ever becoming more zealous than what you are. Weigh carefully the times. Look for Him who is above all time, eternal and invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes; impalpable and impassible, yet who became passible on our account; and who in every kind of way suffered for our sakes.

Don't neglect widows. After the Lord, be their protector and friend. Let nothing be done without your consent, and don't do anything without God's approval—which you already practice, since you are steadfast. Meet together frequently, and seek out everyone by name. Don't look down on slaves, whether male or female, but don't let them become arrogant either. Instead, they should serve even more faithfully for God's glory, so they may receive from God a better freedom. They should not seek to be freed from slavery at public expense, so they won't end up enslaved to their own desires.

Let not widows be neglected. Be, after the Lord, their protector and friend. Let nothing be done without your consent; neither do anything without the approval of God, which indeed you do not, inasmuch as you are steadfast. Let your assembling together be of frequent occurrence: seek after all by name. Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet neither let them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them submit themselves the more, for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God a better liberty. Let them not long to be set free [from slavery] at the public expense, that they be not found slaves to their own desires.

Avoid evil practices, but speak about them even more in public. Tell my sisters that they should love the Lord and be content with their husbands in both body and spirit. Likewise, urge my brothers, in the name of Jesus Christ, to love their wives just as the Lord loves the Church. If anyone can remain in purity to honor Him who is Lord of the flesh, let him do so without boasting. If he begins to boast, he is lost; and if he considers himself greater than the bishop, he is destroyed. But it is fitting for both men and women who marry to form their union with the bishop's approval, so that their marriage may be according to God and not according to their own desire. Let everything be done for the honor of God.

Flee evil arts; but all the more discourse in public regarding them. Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit. In like manner also, exhort my brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as the Lord the Church. Ephesians 5:25 If any one can continue in a state of purity, to the honour of Him who is Lord of the flesh, let him so remain without boasting. If he begins to boast, he is undone; and if he reckon himself greater than the bishop, he is ruined. But it becomes both men and women who marry, to form their union with the approval of the bishop, that their marriage may be according to God, and not after their own lust. Let all things be done to the honour of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Pay attention to the bishop, so that God may also pay attention to you. I pledge my soul for those who submit to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to the deacons, and may I share their portion with them in God! Work together with one another; struggle together; run together; suffer together; sleep together; and wake together, as God's stewards, partners, and servants. Please Him under whom you serve as soldiers, and from whom you receive your pay. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism remain as your weapons; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience as your full armor. Let your works be the assignment given to you, so that you may receive a worthy reward. Therefore, be patient with one another in gentleness, just as God is toward you. May I have joy in you forever!

Give heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you. My soul be for theirs that are submissive to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to the deacons, and may my portion be along with them in God! Labour together with one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer together; sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates, and servants of God. Please Him under whom you fight, and from whom you receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism endure as your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience as a complete panoply. Let your works be the charge assigned to you, that you may receive a worthy recompense. Be long-suffering, therefore, with one another, in meekness, as God is towards you. May I have joy of you for ever!

I've been informed that the church in Antioch, Syria, is now at peace because of your prayers. This news has encouraged me greatly, and I can rest calmly in God without worry, hoping that through suffering I may reach God, so that through your prayers I may be proven to be a true disciple of Christ. Polycarp, you are greatly blessed in God, and it's appropriate for you to call together a very important council and choose someone you deeply love and know to be an energetic person. This person should be appointed as God's messenger and given the honor of traveling to Syria to bring glory to your tireless love, for the praise of Christ. A Christian does not have authority over himself but must always be ready to serve God. This task belongs to both God and you, and when you complete it, it will be to His glory. I'm confident that by grace you are ready for every good work that belongs to God. Knowing how energetically you love the truth, I've urged you to do this through this short letter.

Seeing that the Church which is at Antioch in Syria is, as report has informed me, at peace, through your prayers, I also am the more encouraged, resting without anxiety in God, if indeed by means of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple [of Christ]. It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a very solemn council, and to elect one whom you greatly love, and know to be a man of activity, who may be designated the messenger of God; and to bestow on him this honour that he may go into Syria, and glorify your ever active love to the praise of Christ. A Christian has not power over himself, but must always be ready for the service of God. Now, this work is both God's and yours, when you shall have completed it to His glory. For I trust that, through grace, you are prepared for every good work pertaining to God. Knowing, therefore, your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted you by this brief Epistle.

Since I have not been able to write to all the churches, because I must suddenly sail from Troas to Neapolis, as the emperor's will requires, I ask that you, since you understand God's purpose, write to the nearby churches so that they also may do the same thing. Those churches that are able should send messengers, and the others should send letters through the people you send, so that you may be honored by a work that will be remembered forever, as you truly deserve to be. I greet everyone by name, and especially the wife of Epitropus, along with all her household and children. I greet Attalus, my beloved. I greet the one who will be considered worthy to go from you into Syria. Grace will be with him forever, and with Polycarp who sends him. I pray for your continual happiness in our God, Jesus Christ, through whom you should remain in unity and under God's protection. I greet Alce, my dearly beloved. Farewell in the Lord.

Inasmuch as I have not been able to write to all the Churches, because I must suddenly sail from Troas to Neapolis, as the will [of the emperor] enjoins, [I beg that] you, as being acquainted with the purpose of God, will write to the adjacent Churches, that they also may act in like manner, such as are able to do so sending messengers, and the others transmitting letters through those persons who are sent by you, that you may be glorified by a work which shall be remembered for ever, as indeed you are worthy to be. I salute all by name, and in particular the wife of Epitropus, with all her house and children. I salute Attalus, my beloved. I salute him who shall be deemed worthy to go [from you] into Syria. Grace shall be with him for ever, and with Polycarp that sends him. I pray for your happiness for ever in our God, Jesus Christ, by whom continue in the unity and under the protection of God. I salute Alce, my dearly beloved. Fare well in the Lord.