Epistle to the Magnesians (Short Version)

HAVING BEEN INFORMED OF YOUR GODLY LOVE: so well-ordered, I rejoiced greatly and decided to commune with you in the faith of Jesus Christ. As one who has been considered worthy of the most honorable of all names, I commend the Churches while I bear these bonds, praying 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, especially of Jesus and the Father. In them, if we endure all the assaults of the prince of this world and escape them, we shall enjoy God.

SINCE I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING YOU THROUGH DAMAS: your most worthy bishop, and through your worthy presbyters Bassus and Apollonius, and through my fellow servant, the deacon Sotio, whose friendship I hope to always enjoy, as he is subject to the bishop as to the grace of God, and to the presbytery as to the law of Jesus Christ, I now write to you.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU NOT TO TREAT YOUR BISHOP TOO CASUALLY BECAUSE OF HIS YOUTH: but to show him full respect, honoring the authority of God the Father, as I have seen even holy elders do. They do not judge hastily based on their bishop's youthful appearance, but being wise in God, they submit to him—or rather, not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. Therefore, it is right for you to obediently follow your bishop, sincerely honoring Him who has willed us to do so, since those who do not deceive not the visible bishop, but attempt to mock Him who is invisible. All such actions are directed not at people, but at God, who knows all secrets.

IT IS FITTING: then, not only to be called Christians, but to truly be so: just as some indeed give someone the title of bishop, but do everything without them. Now, such people seem to me to lack a good conscience, as they are not steadfastly gathered together according to the commandment.

SEEING: then, that all things have an end, these two options are set before us—death and life; and everyone will go to their own place. Just as there are two kinds of coins, one of God and the other of the world, and each has its own distinct mark, so it is here as well. The unbelieving are of this world, but those who believe have, in love, the character of God the Father through Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not prepared to die into His passion, His life is not in us.

SINCE THEREFORE I HAVE: in the people previously mentioned, seen all of you in faith and love, I urge you to strive to do everything with a divine harmony, while your bishop leads in the place of God, and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before the beginning of time and was revealed in the end. Do you all then, imitating the same divine conduct, show respect to one another, and let no one view their neighbor in a worldly way, but do you continually love each other in Jesus Christ. Let nothing exist among you that may divide you; but be united with your bishop and those that lead you as a type and evidence of your immortality.

AS THE LORD DID NOTHING WITHOUT THE FATHER: being united to Him, neither by Himself nor by the apostles, do not do anything without the bishop and presbyters. Do not attempt to decide anything as reasonable and proper on your own; but when gathered together in the same place, let there be one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope, in love and in pure joy. There is one Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is more excellent. Therefore, all of you run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came from one Father, and is with and has gone to one.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY STRANGE DOCTRINES OR OLD FABLES: which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace. For the most divine prophets lived according to Christ Jesus. For this reason, they were persecuted, being inspired by His grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one God, who has manifested Himself through Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, not proceeding from silence, and who in all things pleased Him who sent Him.

IF: therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to possess a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in observance of the Lord’s Day, on which our life has also sprung up again by Him and by His death—whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master—how can we live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves, in the Spirit, waited for as their Teacher? And therefore, He whom they rightly waited for, having come, raised them from the dead.

LET US NOT BE INSENSITIVE TO HIS KINDNESS: For if He rewarded us according to our actions, we would cease to exist. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For anyone called by any other name besides this is not of God. Lay aside the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be salted in Him, lest anyone among you becomes corrupted, since by your savor you will be judged. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus and then follow Judaism. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism embraced Christianity, so that every tongue which believes might be gathered together to God.

I ADDRESS THESE THINGS TO YOU: my beloved, not because I know any of you to be in such a state, but as less than any of you, I wish to guard you in advance so that you do not fall into the traps of false doctrine. Instead, I hope you attain full assurance regarding the birth, passion, and resurrection that occurred during the governance of Pontius Pilate, truly and certainly accomplished by Jesus Christ, who is our hope, from which may none of you ever be turned aside.

MAY I APPRECIATE YOU IN ALL RESPECTS: if indeed I am worthy! For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to any of you who are free. I know that you are not arrogant, for you have Jesus Christ within yourselves. And even more so when I commend you, I know that you value modesty of spirit; as it is written, “The righteous person is his own accuser.”

THEREFORE: strive to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the apostles, so that everything you do may prosper both in the flesh and spirit; in faith and love; in the Son, and in the Father, and in the Spirit; from the beginning to the end; with your most admirable bishop, and the well-formed spiritual crown of your presbytery, and the deacons who are according to God. Be subject to the bishop, and to one another, as Jesus Christ is to the Father, according to the flesh, and the apostles are to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit; so that there may be a union both fleshly and spiritual.

KNOWING AS I DO THAT YOU ARE FULL OF GOD: I have only briefly exhorted you. Be mindful of me in your prayers, that I may attain to God; and of the Church which is in Syria, where I am not worthy to derive my name: for I stand in need of your united prayer in God, and your love, that the Church which is in Syria may be considered worthy of being refreshed by your Church.

The Ephesians from Smyrna (from where I also write to you), who are here for the glory of God, as you also are, who have refreshed me in all things, greet you, along with Polycarp, the bishop of the Smyrnæans. The rest of the Churches, in honor of Jesus Christ, also greet you. Farewell in the harmony of God, you who have obtained the inseparable Spirit, who is Jesus Christ.