My LORD’s BibleIgnatius to Polycarp 1
1IGNATIUS, who is also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, bishop of the church which is at Smyrna; their overseer, but rather himself overlooked by God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: all happiness.
ἸΓΝΑΤΙΟΣ ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, Πολυκάρπῳ ἐπισκόπῳ ἐκκλησίας Σμυρναίων, μᾶλλον ἐπισκοπημένῳ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, πλεῖστα χαίρειν.
2Having known that thy mind towards God, is fixed as it were upon an immovable rock; I exceedingly give thanks, that I have been thought worthy to behold thy blessed face, in which may I always rejoice in God.
3Wherefore I beseech thee by the grace of God with which thou art clothed, to press forward in thy course, and to exhort all others that they may be saved.
᾿Αποδεχόμενός σου τὴν ἐν Θεῷ γνώμην ἡδρασμένην ὡς ἐπὶ πέτραν ἀκίνητον, vrepdokato καταξιωθεὶς τοῦ προ- σώπον σον τοῦ ἀμώμου, οὗ ὀναίμην ἐν Θεῷ.
4Maintain thy place with all care both of flesh and spirit: Make it thy endeavour to preserve unity, than which nothing is better. Bear with all men, even as the Lord with thee.
5Support all in love, as also thou dost. Pray without ceasing: ask more understanding than what thou already hast. Be watchful, having thy spirit always awake.
παρακαλῶ σε ἐν χάριτε ἡ ἐνδέδυσαι προσθεῖναι τῷ δρόμῳ σου, καὶ πάντας παρακαλεῖν ἵνα σώζωνται. ἐκδίκει σου τὸν τόπον ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιμελείᾳ σαρκικῇ τε καὶ πνευματικῇ. τῆς ἑνώσεως φρόντιζε, ἧς οὐδὲν ἄμεινον πάντας βάσταξε, ὡς καί σε ὁ Κύριος" πάντων ἀνέχου ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ὥσπερ καὶ ποιεῖς"
6Speak to every one according as God shall enable thee. Bear the infirmities of all, as a perfect combatant; where the labour is great, the gain is the more.
προσ- ευχαῖς σχόλαζε ἀδιαλείπτοις. αἰτοῦ σύνεσιν πλείονα ἧς ἔχεις γρηγόρει ἀκοίμητον πνεῦμα κεκτημένος᾽ τοῖς κατ᾽ ἄνδρα κατὰ ὁμοήθειαν Θεοῦ λάλει πάντων τὰς νόσους βά- orale, ὡς τέλειος ἀθλητής ὅπου πλείων κόπος, πολὺ κέρδος.
7If thou shalt love the good disciples, what thank is it? But rather do thou subject to thee those that are mischievous, in meekness.
8Every wound is not healed with the same plaster: if the accessions of the disease be vehement, modify them with soft remedies: be in all things wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove.
Καλοὺς μαθητὰς ἐὰν φιλῇς, χάρις σοι οὐκ ἔστεν' μᾶλλον τοὺς λοιμοτέρους ἐν πραύτητι ὑπότασσε. οὐ πᾶν τραῦμα τῇ αὐτῇ ἐμπλάστρῳ θεραπεύεται" τοὺς παροξυσμοὺς ἐμβροχαῖς παῦε.
9For this cause thou art composed of flesh and spirit; that thou mayest modify those things that appear before thy face.
10And as for those that are not seen, pray to God that he would reveal them unto thee, that so thou mayest be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift.
φρόνιμος rinoy ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐν πᾶσιν Kai ἀκέρωος εἰσαεὶ ὡς H mepicrepd. διὰ τοῦτο σαρκικὸς εἶ καὶ πνευματικός, ἵνα τὰ φαινόμενά σου εἰς πρόσωπον κολακεύῃς" τὰ δὲ ἀόρατα αἴτει ἵνα σοι φανερωθῇ: ἵνα μηδενὸς λείπῃ, καὶ παντὸς χαρίσματος περισσεύῃςς
11The times demand thee, as the pilots the winds; and he that is tossed in a tempest, the haven where he would be; that thou mayst attain unto God.
12Be sober as the combatant of God: the crown proposed to thee is immortality, and eternal life; concerning which thou art also fully persuaded. I will be thy surety in all things, and my bonds, which thou hast loved.
6 καιρὸς ἀπαιτεῖ σε, ὡς κυβερνῆταε ἀνέμους καὶ ὡς χειμαζόμενος λιμένα, εἰς τὸ Θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν. νῆφε, ὡς Θεοῦ ἀθλητής τὸ θέμα ἀφθαρσία καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος, περὶ ἧς καὶ σὺ πέπεισαι. κατὰ πάντα σου ἀντίψυχον ἐγὼ καὶ τὰ δεσμά μου ἃ ἠγάπησας.
13Let not those that seem worthy of credit, but teach other doctrines, disturb thee. Stand firm and immovable, as au anvil when it is beaten upon.
Οἱ δοκοῦντες ἀξιόπιστοι εἶναι καὶ ἑτεροδιδασκα- λοῦντες μή σε καταπλησσέτωσαν. στῆθι ἑδραῖος, ὡς ἄκμων τυπτόμενος. μεγάλον ἐστὶν ἀθλητοῦ [τὸ] δέρεσθαι καὶ νικᾶν. 'μάλιστα δὲ ἕνεκεν Θεοῦ πάντα ὑπομένειν ἡμᾶς δεῖ, ἵνα καὶ αὐτὸς ἡμᾶς ὑπομείνῃ.
14It is the part of a brave combatant to be wounded, and yet overcome. But especially we ought to endure all things for God's sake, that he may bear with us.
15Be every day better than other: consider the times; and expect him, who is above all time, eternal, invisible, though for our sakes made visible: impalpable, and impassable, yet for us subjected to sufferings; enduring all manner of ways for our salvation.
πλέον σπουδαῖος γίνου οὗ el. τοὺς καιροὺς καταμάνθανε: τὸν ὑπὲρ καιρὸν προσδόκα, τὸν ἄχρο- νον, τὸν ἀόρατον, τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς ὁρατόν, τὸν ἀψηλάφητον, τὸν ἀπαθῆ, τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς παθητόν, τὸν κατὰ πάντα τρόπον δι᾽ ἡμᾶς ὑπομείναντα.