The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Long Version)

Become acquainted with your greatly-desired name in God, which you have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Christ Jesus our Savior. Being the followers of the love of God towards man, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of Christ, you have perfectly accomplished the work which was fitting for you. For, on hearing that I came bound from Syria for the sake of Christ, our common hope, trusting through your prayers to be permitted to fight with beasts at Rome, so that by martyrdom I may indeed become the disciple of Him “who gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God,” you hastened to see me. I have therefore received your whole multitude in the name of God, through Onesimus, a man of inexpressible love, and who is your bishop, whom I pray you by Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to be like him. Blessed be God, who has granted to you, who are yourselves so excellent, to obtain such an excellent bishop.

Regarding our fellow-servant Burrhus, your deacon in relation to God and blessed in all things, I pray that he may remain blameless for the honor of the Church and of your most blessed bishop. Crocus also, worthy of both God and you, whom we have received as the manifestation of your love to us, has refreshed me in every way and "has not been ashamed of my chain," as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will also refresh him; along with Onesimus, Burrhus, Euplus, and Fronto, through whom I have, in love, seen all of you. May I always have joy in you, if indeed I am worthy of it. It is therefore fitting that you should in every way glorify Jesus Christ, who has glorified you, so that by a unanimous obedience "you may be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, and may all speak the same thing concerning the same thing," and that, being subject to the bishop and the presbytery, you may in all respects be sanctified.

I DO NOT ISSUE ORDERS TO YOU: as if I were some great person. For though I am bound for His name, I am not yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For now I am beginning to be a disciple, and I speak to you as my fellow servants. For it was necessary for me to be admonished by you in faith, encouragement, patience, and perseverance. But since love does not allow me to be silent about you, I have therefore undertaken first to urge you to work together in accordance with the will of God. For even Jesus Christ does all things according to the will of the Father, as He Himself declares in a certain place, “I always do those things that please Him.” Therefore, it is our duty also to live according to the will of God in Christ, and to imitate Him as Paul did. For, he says, “Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

THEREFORE: it is fitting that you also should align yourselves with the will of the bishop who, by God’s appointment, rules over you. This you indeed do of your own accord, being guided by the Spirit. For your highly respected presbytery, being worthy of God, is as precisely matched to the bishop as strings are to a harp. Thus, being united in harmony and love, of which Jesus Christ is the Captain and Guardian, you should, each individual, become one choir; so that, agreeing together in unity and achieving perfect harmony with God, you may indeed be one in harmony with God the Father, and His beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. For, He says, “Grant unto them, Holy Father, that as I and You are one, they also may be one in us.” It is therefore beneficial that you, being united with God in an unblemished unity, should follow the example of Christ, of whom you are also members.

FOR IF I: in this brief period, have enjoyed such fellowship with your bishop—not just a human, but a spiritual one—how much more fortunate I consider you, who rely on him as the Church relies on the Lord Jesus, and the Lord relies on God and His Father, so that all things may be in unity! Let no one deceive themselves: if anyone is not within the altar, they are deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two is so powerful that Christ is among them, how much more will the prayer of the bishop and the whole Church, in harmony with God, succeed in granting all their requests in Christ! Therefore, whoever separates themselves from them and does not meet in the assembly where sacrifices are offered, and with "the Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven," is a wolf in sheep's clothing, while presenting a mild outward appearance.

Beloved, be careful to be subject to the bishop, and the presbyters and deacons. For being subject to them is being obedient to Christ, who appointed them; but being disobedient to them is being disobedient to Christ Jesus. And "he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." For one who does not obey his leaders is self-confident, quarrelsome, and proud.

But "God," says the Scripture, "resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble;" and, "The proud have greatly transgressed." The Lord also says to the priests, "He who hears you, hears Me; and he who hears Me, hears the Father who sent Me.

He who despises you, despises Me; and he who despises Me, despises Him who sent Me."

THE MORE: therefore, you see the bishop silent, the more you should respect him. For we ought to receive everyone whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household, as we would receive Him who sent him. It is clear, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop just as we would look upon the Lord Himself, since he stands before the Lord. For “it is fitting for the man who is diligent and attentive in his work to stand before kings, and not to stand before lazy men.” And indeed Onesimus himself greatly praises your good order in God, that you all live according to the truth, and that no sect has any place among you. Nor do you listen to anyone other than Jesus Christ, the true Shepherd and Teacher. And you are, as Paul wrote to you, “one body and one spirit, for you have also been called in one hope of the faith. Since also “there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.” Such, then, are you, having been taught by such instructors, Paul the Christ-bearer, and Timothy the most faithful.

But some worthless people are in the habit of carrying around the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked deceit, while they practice things unworthy of God and hold opinions contrary to the doctrine of Christ, to their own destruction and that of those who believe them, whom you must avoid as you would wild beasts. For “the righteous person who avoids them is saved forever; but the destruction of the ungodly is sudden and a cause for rejoicing.” For “they are dumb dogs that cannot bark,” raving mad and biting secretly, against whom you must be on your guard, since they suffer from an incurable disease. But our Physician is the only true God, the unbegotten and unapproachable, the Lord of all, the Father and Creator of the only-begotten Son. We also have as a Physician the Lord our God, Jesus the Christ, the only-begotten Son and Word, before time began, but who later became man through Mary the virgin. For “the Word was made flesh.” Being incorporeal, He was in the body; being impassible, He was in a passible body; being immortal, He was in a mortal body; being life, He became subject to corruption, so that He might free our souls from death and corruption, heal them, and restore them to health when they were diseased with ungodliness and wicked lusts.

LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU: as indeed you are not deceived; for you are wholly devoted to God. For when there is no evil desire within you, which might defile and torment you, then you live in accordance with the will of God and are the servants of Christ. Cast out that which defiles you, who are of the most holy Church of the Ephesians, which is so famous and celebrated throughout the world. Those who are carnal cannot do things which are spiritual, nor can those who are spiritual do things which are carnal; just as faith cannot do the works of unbelief, nor unbelief the works of faith. But you, being full of the Holy Spirit, do nothing according to the flesh, but all things according to the Spirit. You are complete in Christ Jesus, “who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”

NEVERTHELESS: I have heard of some who have come among you, holding the wicked doctrine of the strange and evil spirit; to whom you did not allow entrance to sow their tares, but closed your ears so that you might not receive the error they proclaimed. You were persuaded that this spirit, which deceives the people, does not speak the things of Christ, but its own, for it is a lying spirit.

But the Holy Spirit does not speak His own things, but those of Christ, and this not from himself, but from the Lord; just as the Lord also announced to us the things that He received from the Father.

For, He says, “the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s, who sent Me.” And He says of the Holy Spirit, “He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever things He shall hear from Me.” And He says of Himself to the Father, “I have,” He says, “glorified You on the earth; I have finished the work You gave Me; I have manifested Your name to men.” And of the Holy Spirit, “He shall glorify Me, for He receives from Mine.” But the spirit of deceit preaches himself and speaks his own things, seeking to please himself.

He glorifies himself, for he is full of arrogance. He is lying, fraudulent, soothing, flattering, treacherous, rhapsodical, trivial, inharmonious, verbose, sordid, and timid. From his power, Jesus Christ will deliver you, who has founded you upon the rock, as being chosen stones, well fitted for the divine edifice of the Father, and who are raised up by Christ, who was crucified for you, using the Holy Spirit as a guide, and being borne up by faith, while elevated by love from earth to heaven, walking alongside those who are undefiled.

For, says [the Scripture], “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.” Now the way is unerring, namely, Jesus Christ. For, He says, “I am the way and the life.” And this way leads to the Father. For “no one,” He says, “comes to the Father except through Me.” Blessed, then, are you who are God-bearers, spirit-bearers, temple-bearers, bearers of holiness, adorned in every way with the commandments of Jesus Christ, being “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people,” on whose account I rejoice exceedingly, and have had the privilege, through this Epistle, of conversing with “the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.” I rejoice, therefore, over you, that you do not give heed to vanity, and love nothing according to the flesh, but according to God.

And pray without ceasing on behalf of others; for there is hope of their repentance, that they may attain to God. For “can’t the one who falls rise again, and the one who goes astray return?” Permit them, then, to be instructed by you. Be therefore the ministers of God and the mouth of Christ. For thus says the Lord, “If you take the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth.” Be humble in response to their wrath; oppose their blasphemies with your earnest prayers; while they go astray, stand steadfast in the faith.

CONQUER THEIR HARSH TEMPER WITH GENTLENESS: their passion with meekness. For “blessed are the meek;” and Moses was meek above all men; and David was exceedingly meek.

Therefore, Paul exhorts as follows: “The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle towards all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves.” Do not seek to avenge yourselves on those who injure you, for says [the Scripture], “If I have returned evil to those who returned evil to me.” Let us make them brethren by our kindness.

For say to those who hate you, You are our brethren, that the name of the Lord may be glorified. And let us imitate the Lord, “who, when He was reviled, reviled not again;” when He was crucified, He answered not; “when He suffered, He threatened not;” but prayed for His enemies, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” If anyone, the more he is injured, displays more patience, blessed is he. If anyone is defrauded, if anyone is despised, for the name of the Lord, he truly is the servant of Christ.

Take heed that no plant of the devil is found among you, for such a plant is bitter and salty. “Watch, and be sober,” in Christ Jesus.

THE FINAL TIMES HAVE COME UPON US: Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit and fear the patience of God, lest we despise the riches of His goodness and restraint. For let us either fear the wrath to come, or let us love the present joy in the life that is now; and let our present and true joy be only this, to be found in Christ Jesus, that we may truly live. Do not at any time desire to even breathe apart from Him. For He is my hope; He is my boast; He is my never-failing riches, because of whom I carry these bonds from Syria to Rome, these spiritual jewels, in which may I be perfected through your prayers, and become a partaker of the sufferings of Christ, and have fellowship with Him in His death, His resurrection from the dead, and His everlasting life. May I attain this, so that I may be found among the Christians of Ephesus, who have always been in contact with the apostles by the power of Jesus Christ, with Paul, John, and Timothy the most faithful.

I KNOW BOTH WHO I AM AND TO WHOM I WRITE: I am the very insignificant Ignatius, who shares my fate with those exposed to danger and condemnation. But you have been the objects of mercy and are established in Christ. I am one delivered over [to death], but the least of all those who have been cut off for the sake of Christ, “from the blood of righteous Abel” to the blood of Ignatius. You are initiated into the mysteries of the Gospel with Paul, the holy, the martyred, as he was “a chosen vessel;” at whose feet may I be found, and at the feet of the rest of the saints, when I attain to Jesus Christ, who is always mindful of you in His prayers.

TAKE HEED: then, to come together often to give thanks to God and proclaim His praise. For when you gather frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and his "fiery darts" urging to sin become ineffective. Your unity and harmonious faith bring about his destruction and the torment of his followers. Nothing is better than the peace that is in Christ, which ends all conflict, both with spirits of the air and those on earth. "For we wrestle not against blood and flesh, but against principalities and powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places."

THEREFORE: none of the schemes of the devil shall be hidden from you, if, like Paul, you perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ, which are the beginning and the end of life. The beginning of life is faith, and the end is love. And these two, being inseparably connected, perfect the man of God, while all other things necessary for a holy life follow them. No one making a profession of faith ought to sin, nor should anyone possessing love hate their brother. For He who said, "You shall love the Lord your God," also said, "and your neighbor as yourself." Those who profess to be Christ’s are known not only by what they say, but by what they practice. "For the tree is known by its fruit."

It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not be one. "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." Men "believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth," the one "unto righteousness," the other "unto salvation." It is good to teach if the one who speaks also acts. For he who both "does and teaches, the same shall be great in the kingdom." Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, first did and then taught, as Luke testifies, "whose praise is in the Gospel through all the Churches." There is nothing hidden from the Lord, but our very secrets are near to Him. Let us therefore do all things as those who have Him dwelling in us, that we may be His temples, and He may be in us as God. Let Christ speak in us, just as He did in Paul. Let the Holy Spirit teach us to speak the things of Christ in the same way as He did.

DO NOT ERR: my brethren. Those who corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And if those who corrupt mere human families are condemned to death, how much more shall those suffer everlasting punishment who endeavor to corrupt the Church of Christ, for which the Lord Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, endured the cross and submitted to death! Whoever, "becoming fat," and "becoming gross," disregards His doctrine, shall go into hell. Similarly, everyone who has received from God the power of discernment, and yet follows an unskilled shepherd and accepts a false opinion for the truth, shall be punished. "What communion has light with darkness? or Christ with Belial? Or what portion has he who believes with an infidel? or the temple of God with idols?" And similarly say I, what communion has truth with falsehood? or righteousness with unrighteousness? or true doctrine with that which is false?

FOR THIS PURPOSE DID THE LORD ALLOW THE OINTMENT TO BE POURED UPON HIS HEAD: so that His Church might exude immortality. For Scripture says, "Your name is like ointment poured forth; therefore the virgins have loved You; they have drawn You; at the fragrance of Your ointments we will run after You." Let no one be anointed with the foul odor of the doctrine of this world; let not the holy Church of God be led captive by his trickery, as was the first woman. Why do we not, as beings with reason, act wisely? Having received from Christ, and having within us the ability to judge concerning God, why do we fall into ignorance? And why, through careless neglect of acknowledging the gift we have received, do we foolishly perish?

The cross of Christ is indeed a stumbling-block to those who do not believe, but to the believing it is salvation and eternal life. “Where is the wise man? Where is the disputer?” Where is the boasting of those who are called mighty? For the Son of God, who was begotten before time began and established all things according to the will of the Father, was conceived in the womb of Mary, according to the appointment of God, of the seed of David, and by the Holy Ghost. For says the Scripture, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and He shall be called Immanuel.” He was born and was baptized by John, so that He might ratify the institution committed to that prophet.

NOW THE VIRGINITY OF MARY WAS HIDDEN FROM THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD: as was also her child, and the death of the Lord; three renowned mysteries, which were accomplished quietly, but have been revealed to us. A star shone in heaven above all that came before it, and its light was indescribable, while its newness astonished people. All the other stars, along with the sun and moon, joined together in a chorus to this star. It far outshone them all in brightness, and there was a sense of wonder about where this new spectacle came from. Thus, worldly wisdom became foolishness; conjuring was seen as trivial; and magic became utterly absurd. Every law of wickedness vanished; the darkness of ignorance was dispelled; and tyrannical authority was destroyed, God being manifested as a man, and man showing power as God. Yet neither was the first a mere imagination, nor did the second imply a simple humanity; but the one was absolutely true, and the other a purposeful arrangement. Now that began which was perfected by God. From then on, everything was in a state of upheaval, because He planned the abolition of death.

MY SOUL IS FOR YOURS AND THEIRS WHOM: for the honor of God, you have sent to Smyrna; from where I also write to you, giving thanks to the Lord, and loving Polycarp even as I do you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ also remembers you, who is blessed forever. Pray for the Church of Antioch which is in Syria, from where I am led bound to Rome, being the last of the faithful that are there, who have been thought worthy to carry these chains to the honor of God. Farewell in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our common hope, and in the Holy Ghost. Farewell. Amen. Grace [be with you].