# To the Magnesians 4.1

- 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 24:200; 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 5:665b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-magnesians/4/1/

Summary: Those who acknowledge the bishop but act without him are Christians in name only.

## Greek text

Πρέπον οὖν ἐστιν μὴ μόνον καλεῖσθαι Χριστιανούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἶναι· ὥσπερ καί τινες ἐπίσκοπον μὲν καλοῦσιν, χωρὶς δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα πράσσουσιν. οἱ τοιοῦτοι δὲ οὐκ εὐσυνείδητοί μοι εἶναι φαίνονται διὰ τὸ μὴ βεβαίως κατʼ ἐντολὴν συναθροίζεσθαι.

## English translation (Claude)

It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians but also to be Christians, just as some speak of “the bishop” but do everything without him. Such people do not seem to me to have a good conscience, since they do not meet validly according to the commandment.

## Translation notes

- “Validly” (βεβαίως): firmly, properly; that is, in gatherings recognized by the bishop.

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Magn. 4.1 (PG 5:665b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-magnesians/4/1/).