Truly in the Flesh

Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to the church of God the Father and of the beloved Jesus Christ — the church that has received mercy in every gift, that is filled with faith and love and lacks no gift at all, most worthy of God and a bearer of holy things — the church at Smyrna in Asia. Warmest greetings, in a spirit without blemish and in the word of God.

I glorify Jesus Christ, the God who has made you as wise as this. I have seen that you are complete in a faith that cannot be moved, as though you were nailed to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ in flesh and in spirit, and firmly rooted in love by the blood of Christ — fully convinced about our Lord: that he is truly of David’s family according to the flesh, and Son of God according to God’s will and power; that he was truly born of a virgin, and baptized by John so that all righteousness might be fulfilled by him; and that under Pontius Pilate and Herod the tetrarch he was truly nailed up for us in the flesh. And we are the fruit of it — of his suffering, which God has blessed — so that through his resurrection he might raise a signal for all ages over his holy and faithful people, whether among Jews or among Gentiles, in the one body of his church. [d]

He suffered all of this for us, so that we might be saved. And he truly suffered, just as he also truly raised himself. It was not as some unbelievers say, that he only seemed to suffer — it is they who only seem to exist. And as they think, so it will turn out for them: bodiless and demonic. [h] For my part, I know that he was in the flesh even after the resurrection, and I believe he is so now. When he came to Peter and those with him, he said to them, “Take hold of me, handle me and see that I am not a bodiless demon.” And they touched him at once and believed, fused with his flesh and with his spirit. That is why they thought nothing of death and were found to be above it. And after the resurrection he ate and drank with them as one who was flesh, though in spirit he was united with the Father. [j]

I am urging this on you, dear friends, though I know you already think as I do. But I am putting you on guard in advance against the beasts in human form. You must not only refuse to take them in; if you can, do not even meet them. Only pray for them, in case they somehow repent — which is hard. Still, Jesus Christ, who is our true life, has the power to bring it about. [l]

For if what our Lord did was only in appearance, then my chains are only in appearance too. And why have I handed myself over to death — to fire, to the sword, to wild beasts? But near the sword is near God; among wild beasts is among God. Only let it be in the name of Jesus Christ. To suffer along with him I endure everything, and he himself gives me the strength — he who is a complete human being.

Some deny him in ignorance — or rather, they have been denied by him. They are advocates for death rather than for the truth. The prophecies did not persuade them, nor the law of Moses, nor even yet the good news, nor what each one of us has suffered. For they think the same thing about us. What good is anyone to me if he praises me and slanders my Lord, refusing to confess that he carried flesh? Anyone who talks that way has denied him utterly, and is himself carrying a corpse. I did not think their names worth writing down, since they are unbelieving. May I never even bring them to mind — not until they repent and turn to the suffering, which is our resurrection. [m]

Let no one be deceived. The heavenly beings too, and the glory of the angels, and the rulers seen and unseen — if they do not believe in the blood of Christ, judgment is waiting for them as well. Let the one who can take this in, take it in. Let no one’s position swell his head. The whole of it is faith and love, and nothing is put ahead of these. [q]

Take a good look at the people who hold a different opinion about the grace of Jesus Christ that came to us, and see how contrary they are to the mind of God. Love does not concern them, nor the widow, nor the orphan, nor anyone in distress, nor the prisoner in chains or the one released, nor the hungry or the thirsty. They keep away from the thanksgiving and from prayer, because they will not confess that the thanksgiving is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ — the flesh that suffered for our sins, and that the Father raised up in his kindness. So those who argue against God’s gift die in the middle of their arguing. It would have been better for them to love, so that they too might rise. [s]

It is right to keep away from such people and not to talk about them, either privately or in public. Give your attention to the prophets, and above all to the good news, in which the suffering has been made plain to us and the resurrection has been brought to completion. Run from divisions; they are where every evil begins.

All of you, follow the overseer as Jesus Christ follows the Father, and follow the council of elders as you would the apostles. Show the deacons respect as you would God’s own command. Let no one do anything that concerns the church apart from the overseer. Consider the thanksgiving valid only when it is held under the overseer, or under someone he has entrusted with it. Wherever the overseer appears, let the congregation be there, just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the universal church. Apart from the overseer it is not permitted either to baptize or to hold a love feast; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God, so that everything you do may be safe and sure. [u]

From here on it is only reasonable that we sober up, while we still have time to turn back to God in repentance. It is a good thing to know God and the overseer. Whoever honors the overseer has been honored by God; whoever does anything behind the overseer’s back is serving the devil. So may everything you have overflow with grace — you deserve it. You have refreshed me in every way, and Jesus Christ will refresh you. You loved me when I was away as much as when I was there. May God be your repayment. For his sake you endure everything, and you will reach him. [x]