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Epistles of Ignatius

Chapter XI.--Request to them to send a messenger to Antioch.

Your prayer has reached to the Church which is at Antioch in Syria. Coming from that place bound with chains, most acceptable to God, ¹ I salute all; I who am not worthy to be styled from thence, inasmuch as I am the least of them. Nevertheless, according to the will of God, I have been thought worthy [of this honour], not that I have any sense ² [of having deserved it], but by the grace of God, which I wish may be perfectly given to me, that through your prayers I may attain to God. In order, therefore, that your work may be complete both on earth and in heaven, it is fitting that, for the honour of God, your Church should elect some worthy delegate; ³ so that he, journeying into Syria, may congratulate them that they are [now] at peace, and are restored to ⁴ their proper greatness, and that their proper constitution ⁵ has been re-established among them. It seems then to me a becoming thing, that you should send some one of your number with an epistle, so that, in company with them, he may rejoice ⁶ over the tranquillity which, according to the will of God, they have obtained, and because that, through your prayers, they have now reached the harbour. As persons who are perfect, ye should also aim at ⁷ those things which are perfect. For when ye are desirous to do well, God is also ready to assist you.

Your prayers have reached to the Church of Antioch, and it is at peace. Coming from that place bound, I salute all; I who am not worthy to be styled from thence, inasmuch as I am the least of them. Nevertheless, according to the will of God, I have been thought worthy [of this honour], not that I have any sense ⁸ [of having deserved it], but by the grace of God, which I wish may be perfectly given to me, that through your prayers I may attain to God. In order, therefore, that your work may be complete both on earth and in heaven, it is fitting that, for the honour of God, your Church should elect some worthy delegate; ⁹ so that he, journeying into Syria, may congratulate them that they are [now] at peace, and are restored to their proper greatness, and that their proper constitution ¹⁰ has been re-established among them. What appears to me proper to be done is this, that you should send some one of your number with an epistle, so that, in company with them, he may rejoice over the tranquillity which, according to the will of God, they have obtained, and because that, through your prayers, I have secured Christ as a safe harbour. As persons who are perfect, ye should also aim at ¹¹ those things which are perfect. For when ye are desirous to do well, God is also ready to assist you.

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Die sieben Briefe des Ignatius von Antiochien (BKV)

11. Kap. Nach Antiochien soll ein Bote gesandt werden.

1. Euer Gebet ist gedrungen bis zur Kirche von Antiochien in Syrien, von wo ich (komme), gefesselt mit den Gott angenehmsten Fesseln, und alle grüße, obwohl ich nicht wert bin, von dort zu sein, da ich der geringste von ihnen bin; aber durch (Gottes) Willen wurde ich für würdig befunden, nicht aus Selbstbewusstsein, sondern durch Gottes Gnade, die mir vollkommen zuteil werden möge, damit ich durch euer Gebet zu Gott gelange. 2. Auf dass nun euer Werk vollkommen werde auf Erden wie im Himmel, ist es geziemend, dass eure Kirche zu Gottes Ehre einen Gottgesandten wähle, dass er bis nach Syrien reise und sie beglückwünsche, dass sie (wieder) in Frieden sind und die ihnen eigene Größe wiedererlangt haben und ihnen der rechtmäßige Körper (= die richtige Verfassung) wieder hergestellt worden ist. 3. Es dünkt mich also eine würdige Tat, aus eurer Mitte einen Boten mit einem Briefe abzusenden, dass er den nach Gottes Wille ihnen gegebenen Frieden mitverherrliche und dass sie (= die Kirche) auf euer Gebet hin bereits den Hafen erreicht hat. Ihr seid vollkommen, sinnet auch auf Vollkommenes. Denn wenn ihr gewillt seid, Gutes zu tun, ist Gott zum Geben bereit.