THE EPISTLE OF
IGNATIUS TO THE
EPHESIANS
CHAPTER 1
1 Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church which is at Ephesus in Asia; most deservedly happy; being blessed ᵃthrough the greatness and ᵇfulness of God the Father, and predestinated before the world began, that it should be always unto an enduring and unchangeable glory; being united and chosen ᶜthrough his true passion, according to the will of the Father, and Jesus Christ our God; all ᵈhappiness, by Jesus Christ, and ᵉhis undefiled grace.
2 I have heard of your name much beloved in God; which ye have very justly attained by a habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love which is in Jesus Christ our Saviour.
3 How that being ᵃfollowers of God, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of Christ ye have perfectly ᵇaccomplished the work that was connatural unto you.
4 For hearing that I came bound from Syria, for the common name and ᵃhope, trusting through your prayers to fight with beasts at Rome; so that by ᵇsuffering I may become indeed the disciple of him who ᶜgave himself to God, an ᵈoffering and sacrifice for us; (ye hastened to see me). I received, therefore, in the name of God, your whole multitude in Onesimus.
5 Who by inexpressible love is ours, but according to the flesh is your bishop; whom I beseech you, by Jesus Christ, to love; and that you would all strive to be like unto him. And blessed be God, who has granted unto you, who are so worthy of him, to enjoy such an excellent bishop.
6 For what concerns my fellow servant Burrhus, and your most blessed deacon in things pertaining to God; I entreat you that he may tarry longer both for yours, and your bishop's honour.
7 And Crocus also worthy both our God and you, whom I have received as the pattern of your love, has in all things ᵃrefreshed me, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ shall also refresh him; together with Onesimus and Burrhus, and Euclus, and Fronto, ᵇin whom I have, as to your charity, seen all of you. And may I always have ᶜjoy of you, if I shall be worthy of it.
8 It is therefore fitting that you should ᵃby all means glorify Jesus Christ who hath glorified you: that a uniform obedience ye may be ᵇperfectly joined together, in the same ᶜmind, and in the same judgment: and may all ᵈspeak the same things concerning everything.
9 And that being ᵃsubject to your bishop, and the presbytery, ye may be wholly and thoroughly sanctified.
10 These things I ᵃprescribe to you, not as if I were somebody extraordinary: for though I am bound for his name, I am not yet ᵇperfect in Christ Jesus. ᶜBut now I begin to ᵈlearn, and I speak to you as fellow disciples together with me.
11 For I ought to have been stirred up by you, in faith, in admonition, in patience, in long-suffering; but forasmuch as charity suffers me not to be silent ᵃtowards you, I have first taken upon me to exhort you, that ye would all run together according to the will of God.
12 For even Jesus Christ, our inseparable life, is ᵃsent by the ᵇwill of the Father; as the bishops, appointed unto the utmost bounds of the earth, are by the will of Jesus Christ.
13 Wherefore it will become you to run together according to the will of your bishop, as also ye do.
14 For your famous presbytery, worthy of God, is fitted as exactly to the bishop, as the strings are to the harp.
15 Therefore in your concord and agreeing charity, Jesus Christ is sung: and every single person among you makes up the chorus:
16 That so being all consonant in ᵃlove, and taking up the ᵇsong of God ye may in a perfect unity with one voice, sing to the Father by Jesus Christ; to the end that he may both hear you, and perceive by your works, that ye are indeed the members of his son.
17 Wherefore it is profitable for you to live in an unblameable unity, that so ye may always ᵃhave a fellowship with God.