Epistle to the Tarsians
Greeting
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which is at Tarsus, saved in Christ, worthy of praise, worthy of remembrance, and worthy of love: Mercy and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, be ever multiplied.
Chapter 1. His own sufferings: exhortation to stedfastness
From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts: not that I am devoured by brute beasts, for these, as you know, by the will of God, spared Daniel, but by beasts in the shape of men, in whom the merciless wild beast himself lies hid, and pricks and wounds me day by day. But none of these hardships move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, in such a way as to love it better than the Lord. Wherefore I am prepared for [encountering] fire, wild beasts, the sword or the cross, so that only I may see Christ my Saviour and God, who died for me. I therefore, the prisoner of Christ, who am driven along by land and sea, exhort you: stand fast in the faith, and be steadfast, for the just shall live by faith; be unwavering, for the Lord causes those to dwell in a house who are of one and the same character.
Chapter 2. Cautions against false doctrine
I have learned that certain of the ministers of Satan have wished to disturb you, some of them asserting that Jesus was born [only ] in appearance, was crucified in appearance, and died in appearance; others that He is not the Son the Creator, and others that He is Himself God over all. Others, again, hold that He is a mere man, and others that this flesh is not to rise again, so that our proper course is to live and partake of a life of pleasure, for that this is the chief good to beings who are in a little while to perish. A swarm of such evils has burst in upon us. But you have not given place by subjection to them, no, not for one hour. For you are the fellow citizens as well as the disciples of Paul, who fully preached the Gospel from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, and bore about the marks of Christ in his flesh.
Chapter 3. The true doctrine respecting Christ
Mindful of him, by all means know that Jesus the Lord was truly born of Mary, being made of a woman; and was as truly crucified. For, says he, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus. And He really suffered, and died, and rose again. For says [Paul], If Christ should become passible, and should be the first to rise again from the dead. And again, In that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He lives, He lives unto God. Otherwise, what advantage would there be in [becoming subject to] bonds, if Christ has not died? What advantage in patience? What advantage in [enduring] stripes? And why such facts as the following: Peter was crucified; Paul and James were slain with the sword; John was banished to Patmos; Stephen was stoned to death by the Jews who killed the Lord? But, [in truth,] none of these sufferings were in vain; for the Lord was really crucified by the ungodly.
Chapter 4. Continuation
And [know, moreover], that He who was born of a woman was the Son of God, and He that was crucified was the first-born of every creature, and God the Word, who also created all things. For says the apostle, There is one God, the Father, of whom are all things; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things. And again, For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus; and, By Him were all things created that are in heaven, and on earth, visible and invisible; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.