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Catecharium

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans

Chapter 5

3 sections

Ignatius of Antioch

Transcribed from a dated scan; artifacts may remain. Edition notes

There are some who ignorantly deny him, but rather were denied by him, being advocates of death rather than of the truth. These are they whom neither the prophesies nor the law of Moses persuaded, nor the gospel even until now, nor our own individual sufferings.

For they have the same opinion concerning us. For what does anyone profit me if he praise me but blaspheme my Lord, and do not confess that he was clothed in flesh? But he who says this has denied him absolutely and is clothed with a corpse.

Now I have not thought right to put into writing their unbelieving names ; but would that I might not even remember them, until they repent concerning the Passion, which is our resurrection.

Trans. Kirsopp Lake, The Apostolic Fathers, Volume I (Loeb Classical Library), 1912. Public domain.

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