Page:Ante-Nicene Fathers volume 1.djvu/292

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278
THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS

have become acquainted with your multitude[1] in the name of God, by Onesimus, who is your bishop, in love which is unutterable, whom I pray that ye love in Jesus Christ our Lord, and that all of you imitate his example;[2] for blessed is He who has given you such a bishop, even as ye deserve [to have].[3]


Chap. iii.[4]

But inasmuch as love does not permit me to be silent in regard to you, on this account I have been forward to entreat of you that ye would be diligent in the will of God.


Chap. viii.[5]

For, so long as there is not implanted in you any one lust which is able to torment you, behold, ye live in God. I rejoice in you, and offer supplication[6] on account of you, Ephesians, a church which is renowned in all ages. For those who are carnal are not able to do spiritual things, nor those that are spiritual carnal things; in like manner as neither can faith [do] those things which are foreign to faith, nor want of faith [do] what belongs to faith. For those things which ye have done in the flesh, even these are spiritual, because ye have done everything in Jesus Christ.


Chap. ix.

And ye are prepared for the building of God the Father, and ye are raised up on high by the instrument of Jesus Christ, which is the cross; and ye are drawn by the rope,

  1. Cureton renders, "have received your abundance," probably referring the words to gifts sent by the Ephesians to Ignatius.
  2. Literally, "be in his image."
  3. There is no apodosis, unless it be found in what follows.
  4. The following clause is the whole of chap. iii. in the Greek, which is represented in the Syriac.
  5. Chaps. iv. v. vi. vii. of the Greek are totally omitted in the Syriac.
  6. Thus Cureton renders the words, referring in confirmation to the Peshito version of Phil. i. 4, but the meaning is doubtful.