Ignatius to the Philadelphians

THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE PHILADELPHIANS SHORTER AND LONGER VERSIONS

[Greeting — Shorter Version] Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church of Yahweh the Father, and our Yeshua the Messiah, which is at Philadelphia, in Asia, which has obtained mercy, and is established in the harmony of Yahweh, and rejoiceth unceasingly(1) in the passion of our Yeshua, and is filled with all mercy through his resurrection; which I salute in the blood of Yeshua the Messiah, who is our eternal and enduring joy, especially if [men] are in unity with the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons, who have been appointed according to the mind of Yeshua the Messiah, whom He has established in security, after His own will, and by His Holy Spirit.

[Greeting — Longer Version] Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church of Yahweh the Father, and of Yeshua the Messiah, which is at Philadelphia, which has obtained mercy through love, and is established in the harmony of Yahweh, and rejoiceth unceasingly,(1) in the passion of our Yeshua, and is filled with all mercy through His resurrection; which I salute in the blood of Yeshua the Messiah, who is our eternal and enduring joy, especially to those who are in unity with the bishop, and the presbyters, and the deacons, who have been appointed by the will of Yahweh the Father, through Yeshua the Messiah, who, according to His own will, has firmly established His Church upon a rock, by a spiritual building, not made with hands, against which the winds and the floods have beaten, yet have not been able to overthrow it:(2) yea, and may spiritual wickedness never be able to do so, but be thoroughly weakened by the power of Yeshua the Messiah.

CHAP. I. – PRAISE OF THE BISHOP.

[Shorter Version] WHICH bishop,(3) I know, obtained the ministry which pertains to the common [weal], not of himself, neither by men,(4) nor through vainglory, but by the love of Yahweh the Father, and Yeshua the Messiah; at whose meekness I am struck with admiration, and who by his silence is able to accomplish more than those who vainly talk. For he is in harmony with the commandments [of Yahweh], even as the harp is with its strings. Wherefore my soul declares his mind towards Yahweh a happy one, knowing it to be virtuous and perfect, and that his stability as well as freedom from all anger is after the example of the infinite(6) meekness of the living God.

[Longer Version] HAVING beheld your bishop, I know that he was not selected to undertake the ministry which pertains to the common [weal], either by himself or by men,(4) or out of vainglory, but by the love of Yeshua the Messiah, and of Yahweh the Father, who raised Him from the dead; at whose meekness I am struck with admiration, and who by His silence is able to accomplish more than they who talk a great deal. For he is in harmony with the commandments and ordinances of Yahweh, even as the strings are with the harp, and is no less blameless than was Zacharias the priest.(5) Wherefore my soul declares his mind towards Yahweh a happy one, knowing it to be virtuous and perfect, and that his stability as well as freedom from all anger is after the example of the infinite meekness of the living God.

CHAP. II. – MAINTAIN UNION WITH THE BISHOP.

[Shorter Version] Wherefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked doctrines; but where the shepherd is, there do ye as sheep follow. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of credit, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captives those that are running towards Yahweh; but in your unity they shall have no place.

[Longer Version] Wherefore, as children of light and truth, avoid the dividing of your unity, and the wicked doctrine of the heretics, from whom "a defiling influence has gone forth into all the earth."(1) But

[Printed p. 419 — facing page; every line cut at the photograph's right edge.] where the shepherd is, there do ye as sheep follow. For there [cut] many wolves in sheep's clothing,(2) who, by means [cut] pernicious pleasure, carry captive(3) those that are run[cut] towards Yahweh; but in your unity they shall have no place.

CHAP. III. – AVOID SCHISMATICS.

[Shorter Version] Keep yourselves from those evil plants which Yeshua the Messiah [cut] not tend, because they are not the planting of the Father [cut] that I have found any division among you, but exceeding [cut] For as many as are of Yahweh and of Yeshua the Messiah are also wi[cut] bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of repent[cut] return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall be [cut] Yahweh, that they may live according to Yeshua the Messiah. Do no[cut] my brethren. If any man follows him that makes a schism [cut] Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of Yahweh. If anyon[cut] according to a strange(3) opinion, he agrees not with the [cut] [of the Messiah.].

[Longer Version] Keep yourselves, then, from those evil plants which [cut] the Messiah does not tend, but that wild beast, the destroyer [cut] because they are not the planting of the Father, but th[cut] the wicked one. Not that I have found any division amo[cut] do I write these things; but I arm you beforehand, as th[cut] of Yahweh. For as many as are of the Messiah are also with the [cut] but as many as fall away from him, and embrace or [cut] with the accursed, these shall be cut off along with [cut] they are not the Messiah's husbandry, but the seed of the ene[cut] whom may you ever be delivered by the prayers of the [cut] that most faithful and gentle shepherd who presides o[cut] therefore exhort you in Yeshua to receive with all [cut] those that repent and return to the unity of the Ch[cut] through your kindness and forbearance they may [cut] themselves out of the snare of the devil, and becom[cut] of Yeshua the Messiah, may obtain eternal salvation in th[cut] the Messiah. Brethren, be not deceived. If any man follow[cut] separates from the truth, he shall not inherit the [cut] Yahweh; and if any man does not stand aloof from the [cut] falsehood, he shall be condemned to hell. For it is [cut] neither to separate from the godly, nor to associa[cut] ungodly. If anyone walks according to a strange(5) [cut] is not of the Messiah, nor a partaker of His passion; but [cut] destroyer of the vineyard of the Messiah. Have no fellow[cut] such a man, lest ye perish along with him, even sho[cut] father, thy son, thy brother, or a member of thy fam[cut] [the Scripture], "Thine eye shall not spare him."( [cut] therefore to "hate those that hate Yahweh, and to was[cut] grief] on account of His enemies."(9) I do not m[cut] should beat them or persecute them, as do the [cut] know not Yahweh and Elohim;"(10) but that you s[cut] them as your enemies, and separate yourselves fro[cut] yet you admonish them, and exhort them to repent [cut] be they will hear, if it may be they will submit th[cut] our Elohim is a lover of mankind, and "will have all m[cut] and to come to the knowledge of the truth."(11) [cut] makes His sun to rise upon the evil and on the goo[cut] rain on the just and on the unjust;"(12) of whose [cut] Yeshua, wishing us also to be imitators, says, "Be ye [cut] as also your Father that is in heaven is perfect." [cut]

CHAP. IV. – HAVE BUT ONE EUCHARIST, ETC.

Take ye heed, then, to have but one Eucharist. F[cut] flesh of our Yeshua the Messiah, and one cup to [cut] the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is on[cut] with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-se[cut] whatsoever ye do, ye may do it according to [the [cut]

I have confidence of you in Yeshua, that ye wi[cut] mind. Wherefore I write boldly to your love, wh[cut]

[Printed pages 420–421 were not photographed; the letter's remainder, from the continuation of ch. IV to its end, is not held.]