The Epistle of Ignatius to the PhiladelphiansShorter and Longer Versions
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 rejoiceth 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.
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church of God the Father, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia, which has obtained mercy through love, and is established in the harmony of God, and rejoiceth unceasingly, in the passion of our Lord Jesus, 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 to those who are in unity with the bishop, and the presbyters, and the deacons, who have been appointed by the will of God the Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His own will, has firmly established His Church upon a rock, by a spiritual building, not made with hands, against which the winds and the floods have beaten, yet have not been able to overthrow it: yea, and may spiritual wickedness never be able to do so, but be thoroughly weakened by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.
bishop, I know, obtained the ministry which
pertains to the common [weal], not of himself, neither by men, 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.
beheld your bishop, I know that he was not selected to undertake the
ministry which pertains to the common [weal], either by himself or by
men, or out of vainglory, but by
the love of Jesus Christ, and of God the Father, who raised Him from the
dead; at whose meekness I am struck with admiration, and who by His
silence is able to accomplish more than they who talk a great deal. For
he is in harmony with the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, even
as the strings are with the harp, and is no less blameless than was
Zacharias the priest. 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.
Chapter II.—Maintain union with the bishop.
Wherefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked doctrines; but where the shepherd is, there do ye as sheep follow. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of credit, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive those that are running towards God; but in your unity they shall have no place.
Wherefore, as children of light and truth, avoid the
dividing of your unity, and the wicked doctrine of the heretics, from
whom “a defiling influence has gone forth into all the
earth.” But where the shepherd is, there do ye as
sheep follow. For there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive those that are running towards God; but in your unity they shall have no place.
Chapter III.—Avoid schismatics.
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.].