# To the Ephesians 17.1

- Author: [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/ignatius-of-antioch/)
- Work: [To the Ephesians](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-ephesians/) (*Ad Ephesios*)
- Date: ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:190; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 172–277 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Also in: PG 5:657b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-ephesians/17/1/

Summary: Christ's anointing brings incorruption; avoid the stench of the devil's teaching.

## Greek text

Διὰ τοῦτο μύρον ἔλαβεν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος, ἵνα πνέῃ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀφθαρσίαν, μὴ ἀλείφεσθε δυσωδίαν τῆς διδασκαλίας τοῦ ἄρχοντος τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, μὴ αἰχμαλωτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ προκειμένου ζῆν.

## English translation (Claude)

For this reason the Lord received ointment on his head, so that he might breathe incorruption on the church. Do not be anointed with the foul odor of the teaching of the ruler of this age, lest he take you captive away from the life that lies before you.

## Scripture references

- Matt 26:7: allusion, high confidence
- John 12:31: echo, medium confidence
- 2 Cor 2:14: echo, low confidence

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Eph. 17.1 (PG 5:657b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-ephesians/17/1/).