Ignatius, who is also Theoforus, to the assembly
of God the Father and of the beloved Anointed Jesus,
which has obtained every gift through mercy,
which is filled with trust and love, not lacking in any gift,
is most worthy of God,
and is adorned with holiness:
to the one in Smyrna in Asia, much joy through the blameless breath
and in God's message.
I glorify God (even Anointed Jesus), who has made you so wise. For I have observed that you have been made complete in an immovable trust, as though you were nailed to the cross of our Lord Anointed Jesus physically and spiritually, and you were established in love in the Anointed One's blood. You have been fully persuaded about our Lord, that he was truly of David's seed according to the flesh and God's son according to the wishes and power of God. He was truly born of a virgin, baptized by John, so that "every right deed would be fulfilled" by him. He was truly physically nailed to the cross for us during the time of Pontius Pilate and Herod the Tetrarch. We are from the fruit of his cross, from his divinely blessed suffering, so that he might raise up a sign for the ages through the resurrection, to the holy ones, even those who trust in him, whether they are among the Jews or the gentiles, in the one body of his assembly.
Now he endured all these things on our behalf, so that we might be saved. And he truly suffered, just as he truly raised himself up--unlike what certain untrusting people say, that he seemed to suffer. They themselves only seem to exist, and also, according to their opinions it will happen unto them; they are bodiless and are mere spirit beings.
3:1 For also, I know and trust that he existed physically after the resurrection. And when he went to the ones who were with Peter, he told them, "Touch, handle me, and see that I am not a bodiless spirit." And immediately they touched him and believed, being convinced by both his flesh and his spirit. On account of this too, they hated death and were found victorious over it. Now after his resurrection, he ate and drank with them, since he was there physically, though spiritually he was united to the Father.
4:1 Beloved, I am advising you of these things, knowing that this is just what you believe. But I am guarding you in advance against wild animals in human form. Not only is it necessary that you not receive them, but also, if it is possible, you should not even meet with them. But only pray for them, if by any means they might change their minds; now this is hard, but Anointed Jesus, our true life, has the power to do it.
Now if these things were done by our Lord only in appearance, then I am only bound apparently. And why have I given myself up to death, to fire, to sword, to wild animals? But nearness to the sword is nearness to God; to be among the wild beasts is to be in the God's arms--only if it is in the name of Anointed Jesus. I endure all things so that I may suffer together with him. The one who became a complete human being is strengthening me.
5:1 Some deny him in ignorance, but rather they have been denied by him, since they are advisors of death rather than of the truth. Neither have prophets pursuaded them, nor has the law of Moses, nor to the present day has the good message, nor the sufferings that each of us individually has endured. For truly they think that our sufferings also are in appearance. For how can anyone profit me, if he praises me but speaks evil of my Lord, not acknowledging that he physically lived? Now the one who does not acknowledge this has denied him completely, being dead while he lives.
But it has not seemed good to me to write the untrusting people's names, May it happen to me that I not remember them, until they change their minds about the Anointed's suffering, which is our resurrection.
6:1 No one should be deceived! Even the heavenly things: even the glory of the messengers, and the principalities--both visible and invisible--if they don't trust in the blood of the Anointed One, there is judgment even for them. "Whoever can receive it should receive it." Let no [high] place puff anyone up, for trust and love is worth everything; there is nothing preferable to this.
But consider those who hold different opinions about that generosity of Anointed Jesus which came to us: consider how opposed they are to God's attitude. They don't care care about love, nor are they concerned for the widow, nor for the orphan, nor for the afflicted, nor for the one who is bound, or free, nor the one is hungry, or thirsty. They abstain from the Thanksgiving and from prayer, because they don't acknowledge that the Thanksgiving is the flesh of our Saviour Anointed Jesus Christ. His flesh suffered for our sins, and the Father, out of his goodness, raised it up.
7:1 Therefore, those who speak against God's gift die in their disputing. But it would make sense for them to love, so that they would also rise again. Therefore, it is appropriate to stand away from such people and not to speak about them, either privately or publically; but to attend to the prophets and especially to the good message, in which the suffering has been revealed to us, and the resurrection was completely proven. But avoid divisions, since they are the beginning of evils.
8:1 You should all follow the Overseer, just as Anointed Jesus follows
the Father. And follow the old people like the envoys. And respect
the Servants like you do God's precept.
No one should do any of the things that relate to the assembly
without the Overseer. The only Thanksgiving that is appropriate is that
which is done in the Overseer's presence, or of the one to whom
he entrusted it. Wherever the Overseer should appear, let the
multitude be there, just as wherever Anointed Jesus is, there is the
universal assembly. It is not lawful either to baptize, or to hold a
love-feast without the Overseer; but only do whatever he
approves of (that also is well pleasing to God), so that whatever is
done might be safe and sure.
9:1 It is reasonable to be sober in the future, and while we still have time, to change our minds toward God. It is a nice thing to honor God and the Overseer. The one who honors the Overseer is honored by God; the one who does something without the knowledge of the Overseer is serving the Accuser.
Therefore, let all things be abundant for you in generosity, for you are worthy. You have refreshed me in all things, and Anointed Jesus has refreshed you. You have refreshed me both while I was absent and while present. May God repay you, for whom you shall reach him by enduring all things.
10:1 You have done well, since you have received as servants of the Anointed One, of God, Philo and Rheus Agathopus. They have followed me for God's sake. They also return thanks to the Lord on your behalf, because you have refreshed them in every way. Nothing will be lost to you. My spirit is given for you, and my bonds, (which you have neither hated nor have been ashamed of). Neither will the complete faith, even Anointed Jesus, be ashamed of you.
11:1 Your prayer came to the assembly that is at Antioch in Syria. Coming from there I greet everyone, being bound with most godly bonds. I am not worthy to be away from there, since I am the least of them. But I was considered worthy, according to his wishes: not from anything I deserve that I am conscious of, but from God's generosity, which I pray may be given to me completely, so that (through your prayers) I may reach God. Therefore, so that your work would be complete--both on earth and in heaven--it is appropriate that your assembly should select a worthy ambassador for the honor of God, who, when he comes Syria would congratulate them, since they are at peace, and that they have received their proper greatness, and that their own government has been restored to them. So, it has seemed to me to be a worthwhile thing that you should send someone of your people with a letter, so that together with them he would glorify the tranquility which has happened to them according to God's wishes, and because it has already reached the harbor on account of your prayer. Since you are complete, you should also think those things that are complete. For if you want to do well, God is also ready to help you.
12:1 The love of the brothers in Troas greets you. From there also I am writing to you by means of Burrhus, whom, together with your brothers the Ephesians, you sent along with me. In all ways he has refreshed me, and I wish that all would imitate him; he is a type of the service of God. Generosity will reward him in all things!
I greet also your Overseer, who is worthy of God, and your godly
old people, your servants (who are my fellow-servants), and all of you,
both individually and in common, in the name of Anointed Jesus:
in his flesh and his blood,
in his suffering and resurrection, both physical and spiritual,
in the unity of both God and of you.
To you let there be generosity, mercy, peace, and patience for the age.
13:1 I greet my brothers' families, together with their
wives and children, and the virgins who are called widows. Succeed
with the power of the breath.
Philo, who is with me, greets you.
I greet the house of Tavias, which I pray would be fixed in trust
and love, both physical and spiritual.
I greet Alce, the one I desire, and Daphnus the incomparable, and
Eutecnus, and everyone by name. Succeed with the generosity of God!
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