To the Smyrnaeans

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church of God the Father and of the beloved Jesus Christ, which has received mercy in every spiritual gift, is filled with faith and love, lacks no spiritual gift, is most godly and bears holiness, which is at Smyrna in Asia: abundant greetings in a blameless spirit and in the word of God.

I glorify Jesus Christ, the God who has made you so wise. For I have observed that you are established in unshakable faith, nailed, as it were, to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ in flesh and spirit, and firmly set in love by the blood of Christ, fully convinced about our Lord, that he is truly of the family of David according to the flesh, Son of God according to the will and power of God, truly born of a virgin, baptized by John so that all righteousness might be fulfilled by him,

truly nailed for us in the flesh under Pontius Pilate and Herod the tetrarch (we are of its fruit, of his divinely blessed suffering), so that through his resurrection he might raise a standard for the ages for his saints and believers, whether among Jews or among Gentiles, in the one body of his church.

For he suffered all these things for our sake, so that we might be saved; and he truly suffered, just as he also truly raised himself, not, as some unbelievers say, that he suffered only in appearance (it is they who exist only in appearance!). And as they think, so it will happen to them: they will be bodiless and demon-like.

For I know and believe that he was in the flesh even after the resurrection.

And when he came to those with Peter, he said to them, “Take hold, touch me and see that I am not a bodiless demon.” And at once they touched him and believed, being closely joined with his flesh and spirit. For this reason they also despised death, and were found to be above death.

And after the resurrection he ate and drank with them as one who was flesh, although spiritually united with the Father.

I urge these things on you, beloved, knowing that you too are of this mind. But I am guarding you in advance against beasts in human form, whom you must not only not receive, but if possible not even meet. Only pray for them, that somehow they may repent, which is difficult; but Jesus Christ, our true life, has power over this.

For if these things were done by our Lord only in appearance, then I am in chains only in appearance. And why have I given myself up to death, to fire, to the sword, to wild beasts? But near the sword is near God; among the wild beasts is among God; only let it be in the name of Jesus Christ. I endure all things in order to suffer with him, since he who became the perfect human being gives me strength.

Some deny him in ignorance, or rather have been denied by him, being advocates of death rather than of the truth. The prophecies have not persuaded them, nor the law of Moses, nor even to this day the gospel, nor the sufferings of each of us.

For they think the same about us. For what good does anyone do me if he praises me but blasphemes my Lord, not confessing that he bore flesh? Whoever does not say this has denied him completely, and is himself a bearer of a corpse.

Their names, since they are unbelievers, I have not thought fit to write down. Indeed, may I not even remember them until they repent concerning the Passion, which is our resurrection.

Let no one be deceived: even the heavenly beings and the glory of the angels and the rulers, visible and invisible, if they do not believe in the blood of Christ, face judgment too. “Let the one who can accept it accept it.” Let no one be puffed up by position; for faith and love are everything, and nothing is preferred to them.

But notice those who hold other opinions about the grace of Jesus Christ that came to us, how contrary they are to the mind of God. They have no concern for love, none for the widow, none for the orphan, none for the oppressed, none for the prisoner or the one released, none for the hungry or the thirsty.

They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins and which the Father raised in his goodness. So those who speak against the gift of God die in their disputing. It would be better for them to love, so that they might also rise.

It is fitting to keep away from such people and not to speak about them either in private or in public, but to pay attention to the prophets, and especially to the gospel, in which the Passion has been made clear to us and the resurrection has been accomplished. Flee divisions as the beginning of evils.

All of you, follow the bishop as Jesus Christ followed the Father, and the council of presbyters as the apostles; and respect the deacons as the commandment of God. Let no one do anything that concerns the church without the bishop. Let that Eucharist be considered valid which is held under the bishop or someone to whom he entrusts it.

Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be, just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic church. It is not permitted either to baptize or to hold a love feast without the bishop; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God, so that everything you do may be secure and valid.

It is reasonable, finally, for us to come to our senses, while we still have time to repent toward God. It is good to acknowledge God and the bishop. Whoever honors the bishop has been honored by God; whoever does anything without the bishop's knowledge serves the devil.

May all things, then, abound for you in grace, for you are worthy. You have refreshed me in every way, and Jesus Christ will refresh you. You loved me both when I was absent and when I was present. God is your reward; if you endure all things for his sake, you will attain to him.

Philo and Rheus Agathopus, who followed me for the word of God, you did well to receive as servants of God. They also give thanks to the Lord for you, because you refreshed them in every way. Nothing will be lost to you.

My spirit is a ransom for you, and so are my chains, which you did not look down on and were not ashamed of. Nor will the perfect hope, Jesus Christ, be ashamed of you.

Your prayer has reached the church in Antioch of Syria. Coming from there bound in most godly chains, I greet everyone, though I am not worthy to be from there, being the least of them. But by God's will I was counted worthy, not from any merit of mine, but by the grace of God, which I pray may be given to me in full, so that by your prayer I may attain to God.

So that your work may be complete both on earth and in heaven, it is fitting for your church, for the honor of God, to appoint a godly ambassador to go to Syria and rejoice with them because they are at peace and have recovered their proper greatness, and their proper body has been restored to them.

So it seemed to me a thing worthy of God to send one of your people with a letter, to join in glorifying the calm that has come to them by God's will, and that they have already reached harbor through your prayer. Being perfect, set your minds on perfect things; for if you wish to do good, God is ready to grant it.

The love of the brothers in Troas greets you; from there I am also writing to you through Burrhus, whom you sent with me together with the Ephesians, your brothers, and who has refreshed me in every way. I wish everyone imitated him, for he is a model of the ministry of God. Grace will reward him in every way.

I greet the bishop, worthy of God, and the godly council of presbyters, and my fellow servants the deacons, and all of you, one by one and together, in the name of Jesus Christ and in his flesh and blood, in his suffering and resurrection, both of flesh and of spirit, in the unity of God and of you. Grace, mercy, peace, and endurance be with you always.

I greet the households of my brothers with their wives and children, and the virgins who are called widows. Farewell in the power of the Father. Philo, who is with me, greets you.

I greet the household of Tavia, whom I pray may be established in faith and love, both of flesh and of spirit. I greet Alce, a name dear to me, and the incomparable Daphnus and Eutecnus and everyone by name. Farewell in the grace of God.