Ignatius of Antioch · Epistles of Ignatius

Chapter I — As a prisoner, I hope to see you.

Through prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, and have even been granted more than I requested; for I hope as a prisoner in Christ Jesus to salute you, if indeed it be the will of God that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye spare me.

Through prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, even as I earnestly begged might be granted me; for as a prisoner in Christ Jesus I hope to salute you, if indeed it be the will [of God] that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye do not spare me, under the pretence of carnal affection.

Notes

  1. 822. Some read, "since I have," leaving out the following "for," and finding the apodosis in "I hope to salute you."
  2. 823. Literally, "worthy of God."
  3. 824. Some read, "which I much desired to do."
  4. 825. Literally, "to receive."
  5. 826. He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.
  6. 827. Literally, "worthy of God."
  7. 828. Literally, "to receive."
  8. 829. He probably refers here, and in what follows, to the influence which their earnest prayers in his behalf might have with God.
  9. 830. Some read ge instead of me, and translate as in shorter recension.