Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol I:
IGNATIUS: Chapter I.—As a prisoner, I hope to...

Chapter I.—As a prisoner, I hope to see you.

Through prayer 822 to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, 823 and have even 824 been granted more than I requested; for I hope as a prisoner in Christ Jesus to salute you, if indeed it be the will of God that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, p. 74 if I may obtain grace to cling to 825 my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, 826 lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye spare me.

Through prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, 827 even as I earnestly begged might be granted me; for as a prisoner in Christ Jesus I hope to salute you, if indeed it be the will [of God] that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to 828 my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, 829 lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye do not spare me, 830 under the pretence of carnal affection.

Footnotes

Some read, “since I have,” leaving out the following “for,” and finding the apodosis in “I hope to salute you.”

Literally, “worthy of God.”

Some read, “which I much desired to do.”

Literally, “to receive.”

He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.

Literally, “worthy of God.”

Literally, “to receive.”

He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.

Some read γε instead of μή, and translate as in shorter recension.