Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol I:
IGNATIUS: Chapter I.—Reason of writing the...

Chapter I.—Reason of writing the epistle.

Having been informed of your godly 632 love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced greatly, and determined to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ. For as one who has been thought worthy of the most honourable of all names, 633 in those bonds which I bear about, I commend the Churches, in which I pray for a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, the constant source of our life, and of faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred, but especially of Jesus and the Father, in whom, if we endure all the assaults of the prince of this world, and escape them, we shall enjoy God.

Having been informed of your godly 634 love, so well-ordered, I rejoiced greatly, and determined to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ. For as one who has been thought worthy of a divine and desirable name, in those bonds which I bear about, I commend the Churches, in which I pray for a union both of the flesh and spirit of Jesus Christ, “who is the Saviour of all men, but specially of them that believe;” 635 by whose blood ye were redeemed; by whom ye have known God, or rather have been known by Him; 636 in whom enduring, ye shall escape all the assaults of this world: for “He is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which ye are able.” 637

Footnotes

Literally, “according to God.”

Literally, “of the most God-becoming name,” referring either to the appellation “Theophorus,” or to that of “martyr” or “confessor.”

Literally, “according to God.”

1 Tim. iv. 10.

Comp. Gal. iv. 9.

1 Cor. x. 13.