The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians Shorter and Longer Versions
Chapter I.—Reason of writing the epistle.
Chapter II.—I rejoice in your messengers.
Chapter III.—Honour your youthful bishop.
Chapter IV.—Some wickedly act independently of the bishop.
Chapter V.—Death is the fate of all such.
Chapter VII.—Do nothing without the bishop and presbyters.
Chapter VIII.—Caution against false doctrines.
Chapter IX.—Let us live with Christ.
Chapter X.—Beware of Judaizing.
Chapter XI.—I write these things to warn you.
Chapter XII.—Ye are superior to me.
Chapter XIII.—Be established in faith and unity.
Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity.64 Literally, “according to Christianity.” For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in Him, lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour ye shall be convicted. It is absurd to profess65 Some read, “to name.” Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace66 Literally, “believe into,” merge into. Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.
Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. For “if Thou, Lord, shalt mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?”67 Ps. cxxx. 3. Let us therefore prove ourselves worthy of that name which we have received. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, he is not of God; for he has not received the prophecy which speaks thus concerning us: “The people shall be called by a new name, which the Lord shall name them, and shall be a holy people.”68 Isa. lxii. 2, 12. This was first fulfilled in Syria; for “the disciples were called Christians at Antioch,”69 Acts xi. 26. when Paul and Peter were laying the foundations of the Church. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the corrupt leaven,70 1 Cor. v. 7. and be ye changed into the new leaven of grace. Abide in Christ, that the stranger71 Or, “enemy.” may not have dominion over you. It is absurd to speak of Jesus Christ with the tongue, and to cherish in the mind a Judaism which has now come to an end. For where there is Christianity there cannot be Judaism. For Christ is one, in whom every nation that believes, and every tongue that confesses, is gathered unto God. And those that were of a stony heart have become the children of Abraham, the friend of God;72 Matt. iii. 9; Isa. xli. 8; Jas. ii. 23. Some read, “children of God, friends of Abraham.” and in his seed all those have been blessed73 Gen. xxviii. 14. who were ordained to eternal life74 Acts xiii. 48. in Christ.
X 1. Μὴ οὖν ἀναισθητῶμεν τῆς ψρηστότητος αὐτοῦ. ἐὰν γὰρ ἡμᾶς μιμήσηται καθὰ πράσσομεν, οὐκέτι ἐσμέν. διὰ τοῦτο, μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ γενόμενοι, μάθωμεν κατὰ Χριστιανισμὸν ζῆν. ὃς γὰρ ἄλλῳ ὀνόματι καλεῖται πλέον τούτου, οὐκ ἔστιν τοῦ θεοῦ. 2. ὑπέρθεσθε οὖν τὴν κακὴν ζύμην, τὴν παλαιωθεῖσαν καὶ ἐνοξίσασαν, καὶ Χριστός. ἁλίσθητε ἐν αὐτῷ, ἵνα μὴ διαφθαρῇ τις ἐν ὑμῖν, ἐπεὶ ἀπὸ τῆς τῆς ὀσμῆς ἐλεγχθήσεσθε. 3. ἄτοπόν ἐστιν, Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν λαλεῖν καὶ ἰουδαΐζειν. ὁ γὰρ χριστιανισμὸς οὐκ εἰς Χριστιανισμόν, ᾧ πᾶσα γλῶσσα πιστεύσασα εἰς θεὸν συνήχθη.