# To the Trallians 2.3

- Author: [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/ignatius-of-antioch/)
- Work: [To the Trallians](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-trallians/) (*Ad Trallianos*)
- Date: ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:214; 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)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-trallians/2/3/

Summary: Deacons serve Christ's mysteries, not merely food and drink, and must be above reproach.

## Greek text

δεῖ δὲ καὶ τοὺς διακόνους ὄντας μυστηρίων Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον πᾶσιν ἀρέσκειν. οὐ γὰρ βρωμάτων καὶ ποτῶν εἰσιν διάκονοι, ἀλλʼ ἐκκλησίας θεοῦ ὑπηρέται· δέον οὖν αὐτοὺς φυλάσσεσθαι τὰ ἐγκλήματα ὡς πῦρ.

## English translation (Claude)

And the deacons, who are deacons of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, must also please everyone in every way. For they are not deacons of food and drink but servants of the church of God. They must therefore guard against accusations as against fire.

## Scripture references

- 1 Cor 4:1: allusion, medium confidence
- Acts 6:2: echo, low confidence

## Translation notes

- “Not deacons of food and drink”: their office is more than serving at tables (compare Acts 6:2).

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Trall. 2.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-trallians/2/3/).