To the Trallians

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the holy church that is in Tralles in Asia, beloved by God the Father of Jesus Christ, chosen and worthy of God, at peace in flesh and spirit through the suffering of Jesus Christ, who is our hope through our resurrection to him. I greet it in the fullness, in the apostolic manner, and wish it abundant greetings.

I have learned that you possess a mind blameless and unwavering in endurance, not from habit but by nature, as your bishop Polybius made clear to me. By the will of God and of Jesus Christ he came to Smyrna, and he so rejoiced with me, a prisoner in Christ Jesus, that in him I saw your whole congregation.

Having received, then, through him your godly goodwill, I gave glory, finding you, as I had learned, to be imitators of God.

For when you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to be living not according to human standards but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that by believing in his death you may escape dying.

It is necessary, then, as you already do, that you do nothing without the bishop, but that you also be subject to the council of presbyters as to the apostles of Jesus Christ our hope, in whom we shall be found if we live in him.

And the deacons, who are deacons of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, must also please everyone in every way. For they are not deacons of food and drink but servants of the church of God. They must therefore guard against accusations as against fire.

Likewise let everyone respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, as also the bishop, who is a type of the Father, and the presbyters as God's council and as the band of the apostles. Without these no church is called a church.

I am convinced that you are so disposed. For I have received the living example of your love, and I have it with me in your bishop, whose very bearing is a great lesson and whose gentleness is power; I think even the godless respect him.

Because I love you I spare you, though I could write more sharply on this matter. I did not think myself entitled, being a condemned man, to give you orders as though I were an apostle.

I have many thoughts in God, but I measure myself, so that I may not perish through boasting. For now I must be the more afraid and not pay attention to those who puff me up; for those who praise me scourge me.

For I do love to suffer, but I do not know whether I am worthy. For envy is not apparent to many, but it wages war against me all the more. So I need gentleness, by which the ruler of this age is destroyed.

Am I not able to write to you about heavenly things? But I am afraid that I might do you harm, since you are infants. Forgive me, lest, being unable to take them in, you choke on them.

For I too, not because I am in chains and can understand heavenly things, the places of the angels and the ranks of the powers, things visible and invisible, not for this reason am I already a disciple. For we lack much, so that we may not lack God.

I urge you, then (not I, but the love of Jesus Christ): use only Christian food, and keep away from a foreign plant, which is heresy.

These people mix Jesus Christ in with themselves, while passing themselves off as trustworthy. They are like those who give a deadly poison with honeyed wine, which the unsuspecting person gladly takes, and with wicked pleasure takes his death.

Be on your guard, then, against such people. And you will be, if you are not puffed up and are inseparable from God, Jesus Christ, and from the bishop and the ordinances of the apostles.

Whoever is within the sanctuary is pure; but whoever is outside the sanctuary is not pure. That is, whoever does anything without the bishop and the council of presbyters and the deacons is not pure in conscience.

Not that I have learned of any such thing among you; but I am guarding you in advance, since you are my beloved, foreseeing the snares of the devil. So take up gentleness and renew yourselves in faith, which is the flesh of the Lord, and in love, which is the blood of Jesus Christ.

Let none of you hold anything against his neighbor. Do not give the Gentiles occasions for offense, so that the godly multitude may not be blasphemed because of a few fools. For “Woe to him through whom my name is blasphemed in vain among some.”

Be deaf, then, when anyone speaks to you apart from Jesus Christ, who was of the family of David, who was of Mary, who was truly born, who ate and drank, who was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate, was truly crucified and died, while those in heaven and on earth and under the earth looked on;

who was also truly raised from the dead, his Father raising him; and in the same way his Father will also raise us who believe in him in Christ Jesus, apart from whom we do not have true life.

But if, as some who are godless (that is, unbelievers) say, he suffered only in appearance (it is they who exist only in appearance!), why am I in chains? Why do I even pray to fight the wild beasts? Then I die for nothing. Then indeed I am lying about the Lord.

Flee, then, the evil offshoots that bear deadly fruit; if anyone tastes it, he dies on the spot. For these are not the Father's planting.

For if they were, they would appear as branches of the cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible. Through the cross, in his suffering, he calls you, who are his members. So a head cannot be born by itself without members, since God promises union, which is himself.

I greet you from Smyrna, together with the churches of God that are present with me, who have refreshed me in every way, in flesh and in spirit.

My chains, which I carry about for the sake of Jesus Christ, asking to attain to God, exhort you: remain in your concord and in prayer with one another. For it is fitting for each of you, and especially the presbyters, to refresh the bishop, to the honor of the Father, of Jesus Christ, and of the apostles.

I pray that you listen to me in love, so that I may not be a testimony against you by what I have written. And pray for me too, since I need your love in the mercy of God, so that I may be counted worthy of the lot that I am eager to attain, so that I may not be found disqualified.

The love of the Smyrnaeans and Ephesians greets you. Remember in your prayers the church in Syria, of which I am not worthy to be called a member, being the least of them.

Farewell in Jesus Christ, being subject to the bishop as to the commandment, and likewise to the council of presbyters. And each of you, love one another with an undivided heart.

My spirit is offered for you, not only now but also when I attain to God. For I am still in danger; but the Father is faithful in Jesus Christ to fulfill my request and yours. In him may you be found blameless.