# To the Magnesians 3.1

- Author: [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/ignatius-of-antioch/)
- Work: [To the Magnesians](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-magnesians/) (*Ad Magnesios*)
- Date: ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:198; 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 5:664b–665a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-magnesians/3/1/

Summary: The young bishop deserves full respect, since in obeying him the church obeys God.

## Greek text

Καὶ ὑμῖν δὲ πρέπει μὴ συγχρᾶσθαι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν θεοῦ πατρὸς πᾶσαν ἐντροπὴν αὐτῷ ἀπονέμειν, καθὼς ἔγνων καὶ τοὺς ἁγίους πρεσβυτέρους οὐ προσειληφότας τὴν φαινομένην νεωτερικὴν τάξιν, ἀλλʼ ὡς φρονίμους ἐν θεῷ συγχωροῦντας αὐτῷ, οὐκ αὐτῷ δέ, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τῷ πάντων ἐπισκόπῳ.

## English translation (Claude)

It is fitting for you also not to take advantage of the bishop's youth, but to render him all respect according to the power of God the Father, just as I have learned that the holy presbyters too have not presumed upon his evidently youthful position, but as those wise in God defer to him; yet not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of all.

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Magn. 3.1 (PG 5:664b–665a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-magnesians/3/1/).