Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to her who is blessed in the grace of God, through Jesus the Messiah, our guide, in whom I greet the community which is in Magnesia on the Maeander, and bid it in God abundant greeting.

I

1 Knowing the great orderliness of your love towards God I gladly determined to address you in faith. 2. For being counted worthy to bear a most godly name I sing the praise of the communities in the bonds which I carry about, and pray that in them there may be a union of flesh and spirit, which is God's gift of everlasting life, a union of faith and love, to which nothing is preferable, and (what is more than all) a union with God. If we endure in Him all the evil treatment of the Prince of this world and escape, we shall attain unto God.

II

1 Forasmuch then as I was permitted to see you in the person of Damas, your godly overseer, and the worthy elders Bassus and Apollonius, and my fellow servant the deacon Zotion, whose friendship I would enjoy because he is subject to the overseer as to the grace of God, and to the elders as to the law of God,

III

1 Now it becomes you not to presume on the youth of the overseer, but to render him all respect according to the power of God, as I have heard that even the holy elders have not taken advantage of his outwardly youthful appearance, but yield to him in their godly prudence, yet not to him, but to God, the Overseer of all. 2. For the honour therefore of Him who desired us, it is right that we yield obedience without hypocrisy, for a man does not merely deceive this overseer who is seen, but is dealing wrongly with Him who is invisible. And in this matter his reckoning is not with flesh, but with God, who knows the secret things.

IV

1 It is right, then, that we should be really followers of the Messiah, and not merely have the name; even as there are some who recognize the overseer in their words, but disregard him in all their actions. Such men seem to me not to act in good faith, since they do not hold valid meetings according to the commandment.

V

1 Seeing then that there is an end to all, that the choice is between two things, death and life, and that each is to go to his own place; 2. for, just as there are two coinages, the one of God, the other of the world, and each has its own stamp impressed on it, so the unbelievers bear the stamp of this world, and the believers the stamp of God in love, and unless we willingly choose to die to this world, the life of faith is not in us.

VI

1 Seeing then that I have looked on the whole congregation in faith in the persons mentioned above, and have embraced them, I exhort you: Be zealous to do all things in harmony with God, with the overseer presiding in the name of God and the elders in the place of the Council of the Apostles, and the deacons, who are most dear to me, entrusted with the service of Jesus, God's messenger. 2. Be then all in conformity with God, and respect one another, and let no man regard his neighbour according to the flesh, but in everything love one another for the sake of God. Let there be nothing in you which can divide you, but be united with the overseer and with those who preside over you as an example and lesson of immortality.

VII

1 As then Jesus, the messenger, did nothing of himself but only by God's command, neither by himself nor did the Apostles, so do you do nothing without the overseer and the elders. Do not attempt to make anything appear right for you by yourselves, but let there be in common one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope in love, in the joy which is without fault, that is the remembrance of God, than which there is nothing better. 2. Hasten all to come together as to one house of God, as to one place of worship, to the one God, who sent His messenger Jesus and raised him to Himself.

VIII

1 Be not led astray by strange doctrines or by old fables which are profitless. For if we are living until now by empty custom, we confess that we have not received grace. 2. For the divine prophets lived by God's guidance. Therefore they were also persecuted, being inspired by His grace, to convince the disobedient that there is one God, who made Himself known through His messengers, among them Jesus, son of Mary, a word from God, who in all respects was well-pleasing to Him that sent him.

IX

1 If then they who walked in ancient customs came to a new hope, no longer living by empty custom, but living in the hope of the Lord's Day and the life to come,though some deny it, and by this we received faith, and for this reason also we suffer, that we may be found disciples of Jesus, God's messenger and our teacher; 2. if these things be so, how then shall we be able to live without God's guidance, to which even the prophets looked in the Spirit as their teacher? And for this reason God, whom they waited for in righteousness, raises His servants from the dead.

X

1 Let us then not be insensible to His goodness, for if He should deal with us according to our actions we are lost. For this cause let us be His servants, and let us learn to lead lives of submission to God. For whoever is called by any name other than this is not of God. 2. Put aside then the evil leaven, which has grown old and sour, and turn to the new leaven, which is the way of God's messenger Jesus. Be salted in it, that none among you may be corrupted, since by your savour you shall be tested. 3. It is monstrous to speak of Jesus, God's messenger, and to practise what he did not teach. For true faith is one: all the messengers brought one message, and every tongue believing on God was brought together in it.

XI

1 Now I say this, beloved, not because I know that there are any of you that are thus, but because I wish to warn you, though I am less than you, not to fall into the snare of vain doctrine, but to be convinced of the birth of Jesus, son of Mary, and of his trials, and of his being raised by God, in the time of the procuratorship of Pontius Pilate; for these things truly and certainly happened, God being our hope, from which God grant that none of you be turned aside.

XII

1 Let me have joy of you in all things, if I be but worthy. For even though I am in bonds I am not to be compared to one of you that have been set free. I know that you are not puffed up; for you have the remembrance of God in yourselves. And I know that when I praise you your modesty increases the more, as it is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser."

XIII

1 Be diligent therefore to be confirmed in the ordinances of the Lord and the Apostles, in order that "you may prosper in all things whatsoever ye do" in the flesh and in the spirit, in faith and love, in obedience to God, at the beginning and at the end, together with your revered overseer and with your elders, that aptly woven spiritual crown, and with the godly deacons. 2. Be subject to the overseer and to one another, even as Jesus was subject to God, and the Apostles were subject to God, in order that there may be a union both of flesh and of spirit.

XIV

1 I know that you are full of God, and I have exhorted you briefly. Remember me in your prayers, that I may attain to God, and remember the community in Syria, of which I am not worthy to be called a member. For I need your united prayer in God and your love, that the community which is in Syria may be granted refreshment from the dew of your community.

XV

1 The Ephesians greet you from Smyrna, whence also I am writing to you; they, like yourselves, are here for the glory of God and have in all things given me comfort, together with Polycarp the overseer of the Smyrnaeans. And the other communities also greet you in honour of the messenger Jesus. Farewell in godly concord and may you possess an unhesitating spirit.