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Die sieben Briefe des Ignatius von Antiochien (BKV)

2. Kap. Belehrung über die Hirtenpflicht.

1. Wenn du nur die guten Schüler lieb hast, bringt es dir keinen Dank; bringe vielmehr die Bösartigen in Sanftmut zur Unterordnung. Nicht jede Wunde wird mit dem gleichen Pflaster geheilt. Fieberanfälle stille durch feuchte Umschläge. 2. Werde klug wie die Schlange in allen Dingen und für immer einfältig wie die Taube¹. Deshalb bist du fleischlich und geistig, dass du, was dir unter die Augen kommt, freundlich behandelst; bitte, dass das Unsichtbare dir offenbar werde, auf dass dir nichts fehle und du Überfluss habest an jeglicher Gnadengabe. 3. Die Zeit verlangt nach dir, damit du zu Gott gelangest, wie der Steuermann nach dem Winde, wie der vom Sturm Bedrängte nach dem Hafen. Sei nüchtern wie ein Gottesheld; der Preis ist Unvergänglichkeit und ewiges Leben, wovon auch du überzeugt bist. In allem bin ich für dich zum Opfer bereit und meine Ketten, die du lieb gewonnen hast.

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Epistles of Ignatius

Chapter II.--Exhortations.

If thou lovest the good disciples, no thanks are due to thee on that account; but rather seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Mitigate violent attacks [of disease] by gentle applications. ¹ Be in all things "wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove." ² For this purpose thou art composed of both flesh and spirit, that thou mayest deal tenderly ³ with those [evils] that present themselves visibly before thee. And as respects those that are not seen, ⁴ pray that [God] would reveal them unto thee, in order that thou mayest be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times call for thee, as pilots do for the winds, and as one tossed with tempest seeks for the haven, so that both thou [and those under thy care] may attain to God. Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before thee is immortality and eternal life, of which thou art also persuaded. In all things may my soul be for thine, ⁵ and my bonds also, which thou hast loved.

If thou lovest the good disciples, no thanks are due to thee on that account; but rather seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Mitigate violent attacks [of disease] by gentle applications. ⁶ Be in all things "wise as a serpent, and harmless always as a dove." ⁷ For this purpose thou art composed of both soul and body, art both fleshly and spiritual, that thou mayest correct those [evils] that present themselves visibly before thee; and as respects those that are not seen, mayest pray that these should be revealed to thee, so that thou mayest be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times call upon thee to pray. For as the wind aids the pilot of a ship, and as havens are advantageous for safety to a tempest-tossed vessel, so is also prayer to thee, in order that thou mayest attain to God. Be sober as an athlete of God, whose will is immortality and eternal life; of which thou art also persuaded. In all things may my soul be for thine, ⁸ and my bonds also, which thou hast loved.