My LORD’s BibleIgnatius to Polycarp 2
1LET not the widows be neglected: be thou after God, their guardian.
Xijpac μὴ ἀμελείσθωσαν' μετὰ τὸν Κύριον σὺ αὐτῶν φροντιστὴς Exo. μηδὲν ἄνευ γνώμης σου γινέσθω, μηδὲ σὺ ἄνευ Θεοῦ γνώμης τι πρᾶσσε᾽ ὅπερ οὐδὲ πράσσεις. εὐστάθει.
2Let nothing be done without thy knowledge and consent; neither do thou anything but according to the will of God; as also thou dost, with all constancy.
3Let your assemblies be more full: inquire into all by name.
4Overlook not the men and maid servants; neither let them be puffed up: but rather let them be the more subject to the glory of God, that they may obtain from him a better liberty.
5Let them not desire to be set free at the public cost, that they be not slaves to their own lusts.
πυκνότερον συνωγωγαὶ γινέσθωσαν᾽ ἐξ ὀνόματος πάντας ζήτει.
6Flee evil arts; or rather, make not any mention of them.
7Say to my sisters, that they love the Lord; and be satisfied with their own husbands, both in the flesh and spirit.
8In like manner, exhort my brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as the Lord the Church.
9If any man can remain in a virgin state, to the honour of the flesh of Christ, let him remain without boasting; but if he boast, he is undone. And if he desire to be more taken notice of than the bishop he is corrupted.
δούλους καὶ δούλας μὴ ὑπερηφάνει: ἀλλὰ μηδὲ αὐτοὶ φυσιούσθωσαν, ἀλλ᾽ εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ πλέον δουλευέτω- σαν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἐλευθερίας ἀπὸ Θεοῦ τύχωσιν μὴ ἐρά- τωσαν ἀπὸ τοῦ κοινοῦ ἐλευθεροῦσθα:, ἵνα μὴ δοῦλοι εὑρεθῶσιν ἐπιθυμίας. Ν. Τὰς κακοτεχνίας φεῦγε, μᾶλλον δὲ περὶ τούτων ὁμιλίαν ποιοῦ. ταῖς ἀδελφαῖς pou προσλάλει ἀγαπᾶν τὸν Κύριον καὶ τοῖς συμβίοις ἀρκεῖσθαι σαρκὶ καὶ πνεύματι. ὁμοίως καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μον παράγγελλε ἐν ὀνόματι ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀγαπᾶν τὰς συμβίους, ὡς ὁ Κύριος τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.
10But it becomes all such as are married, whether men or women to come together with the consent of the bishop, that so their marriage may be according to godliness, and not in lust.
11Let all things be done to the honour of God.
12Hearken unto the bishop, that God also may hearken unto you. My soul be security for them that submit to their bishop, with their presbyters and deacons. And may my portion be together with theirs in God.
εἴ τις δύναται ἐν ἁγνείᾳ μένειν εἰς τιμὴν τῆς σαρκὸς τοῦ Κυρίου, ἐν ἀκαυχησίᾳ μενέτω: ἐὰν καυχήσηται, ἀπώλετο" καὶ ἐὰν γνωσθῇ πλέον τοῦ ἐπισκόπου, ἔφθαρται. πρέπει δὲ τοῖς γαμοῦσι καὶ ταῖς γαμούσαις μετὰ γνώμης τοῦ ἐπισκόπου τὴν ἕνωσιν ποιεῖσθαι, ἵνα ὁ γάμος ἡ κατὰ Κύριον καὶ μὴ κατ᾽ ἐπιθυμίαν. πάντα eis τιμὴν Θεοῦ γινέσθω. ΝΙ. Τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ προσέχετε, ἵνα καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῖν. ἀντύψυχον ἐγὼ τῶν ὑποτασσομένων [τῷ] ἐπισκόπῳ, πρεσβυ- τέροις, διακόνοις" μετ᾽ αὐτῶν μοι τὸ μέρος γένοιτο σχεῖν παρὰ Θεῷ. συγκοπιᾶτε ἀλλήλοις, συναθλεῖτε, συντρέχετε, συμ- πάσχετε, συγκοιμᾶσθε, συνεγείρεσθε, ὡς Θεοῦ οἰκονόμοι καὶ πάρεδροι καὶ ὑπηρέται.
13Labour with one another; contend together, run together, suffer together; sleep together, and rise together; as the stewards, and assessors, and ministers of God.
14Please him under whom ye war, and from whom ye receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter; but let your baptism remain, as your arms; your faith, as your helmet; your charity, as your spear; your patience, as your whole armour.
15Let your works be your charge, that so you may receive a suitable reward. Be longsuffering therefore towards each other in meekness: as God is towards you.
16Let me have joy of you in all things.
ἀρέσκετε ᾧ στρατεύεσθε, ἀφ᾽ οὗ καὶ τὰ ὀψώνια κομίζεσθε. μήτις ὑμῶν δεσέρτωρ εὑρεθῇ. τὸ βάπτισμα ὑμῶν μενέτω ὡς ὅπλα, ἡ πίστις ὡς περικεφα- Nala, ἡ ἀγάπη ὡς δόρυ, ἡ ὑπομονὴ ὡς πανοπλία: τὰ δεπόσιτα ὑμῶν τὰ ἔργα ὑμῶν, ἵνα τὰ ἄκκεπτα ὑμῶν ἄξια κομίσησθε. μακροθυμήσατε οὖν μετ᾽ ἀλλήλων ἐν πραύτητι, ὡς ὁ Θεὸς μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν. ὀναίμην ὑμῶν διὰ παντός.