Ignatius to the Philadelphians 3

1NOW as concerning the church of Antioch which is in Syria, seeing I am told that through your prayers and the bowels which ye have towards it in Jesus Christ, it is in peace; it will become you, as the church of God, to ordain some 1 deacon to go to them thither as the ambassador of God; that he may rejoice with them when they meet together, and glorify God's name.

Χ, Ἐπειδὴ κατὰ τὴν προσευχὴν ὑμῶν, καὶ κατὰ τὰ σπλάγχνα ἃ ἔχετε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ἀπηγγέλη μοι εἰρη- ᾿ ψαύειν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν ἐν ᾿Αντιοχείᾳ τῆς Συρίας" πρέπον ἐστὶν ὑμῖν, ὡς ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεοῦ, χειροτονῆσαι διάκονον εἰς τὸ πρεσβεῦσαι ἐκεῖ Θεοῦ πρεσβείαν, eis τὸ συγχαρῆναε αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ γενομένοις καὶ δοξάσαι τὸ ὄνομα'

2Blessed be that man in Jesus Christ, who shall be found worthy of such a ministry; and ye yourselves also shall be glorified.

3Now if you be willing, it is not impossible for you to do this for the grace of God; as also the other neighbouring churches have sent them, some bishops, some priests and deacons.

4As concerning Philo the deacon of Cilicia, a most worthy 2 man, he still ministers unto me in the word of God: together with Rheus 3 of Agathopolis, a singular good person, who has followed me even from Syria, not regarding his life: These also bear witness unto you.

μακάριος ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ὃς καταξιωθήσεται τῆς τοιαύτης διακονέας" καὶ ὑμεῖς δοξασθήσεσθε. θέλουσιν δὲ ὑμῖν οὐκ ἔστιν ἀδύνα- τὸν ὑπὲρ ὀνόματος Θεοῦ" ὡς καὶ αἱ ἄγγιστα ἐκκλησίαι ἔπεμ- ψαν ἐπισκόπους, αἱ δὲ πρεσβυτέρους καὶ διακόνους. ΧΙ. Περὶ δὲ Φίλωνος τοῦ διακόνου ἀπὸ Κιλικίας, ἀνδρὸς μεμαρτυρημένου, ὃς καὶ νῦν ἐν λόγῳ Θεοῦ ὑπηρετεῖ μοι, ἅμα “Pal ᾿Αγαθόποδι, ἀνδρὶ ἐκλεκτῷ, ὃς ἀπὸ Συρίας μοι ἀκο- hover ἀποταξάμενος τῷ Bip of καὶ μαρτυροῦσιν ὑμῖν. κἀγὼ τῷ Θεῷ εὐχαριστώ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ὅτι ἐδέξασθε αὐτούς, ὡς καὶ ὑμᾶς ὁ Κύριος. οἱ δὲ ἀτιμάσαντες αὐτοὺς λυτρωθείησαν ἐν τῇ χάριτι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

5And I myself give thanks to God for you that you receive them as the Lord shall receive you. But for those that dishonoured them, may they be forgiven through the grace of Jesus Christ.

6The charity of the brethren that are at Troas salutes you: from whence also I now write by Burrhus, who was sent together with me by those of Ephesus and Smyrna, for respect sake.

7May our Lord Jesus Christ honour them; in whom they hope, both in flesh, and soul, and spirit; in faith, in love, in unity. Farewell in Christ Jesus our common hope.

ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς ἡ ἀγάπη τῶν ἀδελφῶν τῶν ἐν Τρωάδι: ὅθεν καὶ γράφω ὑμῖν διὰ Βούρ- ρου πεμφθέντος ἅμα ἐμοὶ ἀπὸ ᾿φεσίων καὶ Σμυρναίων εἰς λόγον τιμῆς. τιμήσει αὐτοὺς ὁ Κύριος ᾿Ιησοῦς Χριστός, εἰς ὃν ἐλπίζουσιν σαρκί, ψυχῇ, πνεύματι, πίστει, ἀγάπῃ, ὁμονοίᾳ. ἔρρωσθε ἐν Χριστῷ ᾿Ἰησοῦ, τῇ κοινῇ ἐλπίδι ἡμῶν.