Ignatius of Antioch
Ignatius of Antioch
Ignatius of Antioch, also known as Ignatius Theophorus, Ignatius Nuronowas an Apostolic Father, student of the Apostle John, and the third bishop of Antioch. En route to Rome, where he met his martyrdom by being fed to wild beasts, he wrote a series of letters which have been preserved as an example of very early Christian theology. Important topics addressed in these letters include ecclesiology, the sacraments, and the role of bishops. In speaking of the authority of the Church...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionClergyman
blessings faith love paramount puff rank
Let no rank puff up anyone; for faith and love are paramount - the greatest blessings in the world.
aims assemble faith forth frequently god powers satan thankful thanks together unity
Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when you assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith.
god ground pure shall
I am God's wheat, and I shall be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may become the pure bread of Christ.
bishop christ people wherever
Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be, even as wheresoever Christ Jesus is, there is the catholic church.
christ follow followed god jesus lead reverence
You must all follow the lead of the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed that of the Father; follow the presbytery as you would the Apostles; reverence the deacons as you would God's commandment.
attain begin
Now I begin to be a disciple... Let fire and cross, flocks of beasts, broken bones, dismemberment... come upon me, so long as I attain to Jesus Christ.
angels chains comprehend god heavenly hierarchy lest perish ranks visible
I have many deep thoughts in God, but I take my own measure, lest I perish by boasting... For I myself, though I am in chains and can comprehend heavenly things, the ranks of the angels and the hierarchy of principalities, things visible and invisible, for all this I am not yet a disciple.
amidst bound company fight grow kindly land night rome syria ten wild worse
From Syria even to Rome I fight with wild beasts, by land and sea, by night and by day, being bound amidst ten leopards, even a company of soldiers, who only grow worse when they are kindly treated.
christ death died farthest jesus limits object power prefer
I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.
churches die food gladly god known stand
I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way... Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God.
god
Reverence the deacons as you would the command of God.
christian believe tree
We recognize a tree by its fruit, and we ought to be able to recognize a Christian by his action. The fruit of faith should be evident in our lives, for being a Christian is more than making sound professions of faith. It should reveal itself in practical and visible ways. Indeed it is better to keep quiet about our beliefs, and live them out, than to talk eloquently about what we believe, but fail to live by it.
jesus cutting fire
Now do I begin to be a disciple of Christ, and care for nothing in this world, that so I may find Jesus. Let fire, or the cross, or wild beasts, or the breaking of my bones, or the cutting of me to pieces, or the shattering of my whole body, yea, all the tortures of the devil - let them all come upon me, only let me enjoy my God.
jesus heart world
Do not have Jesus Christ on your lips, and the world in your heart.