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Die sieben Briefe des Ignatius von Antiochien (BKV)

7. Kap. Nach Antiochien soll ein Gesandter gehen.

1. Da die Kirche von Antiochien in Syrien, wie mir mitgeteilt wurde, auf euer Gebet hin Friede hat, wurde auch ich freudiger gestimmt in sorglosem Vertrauen auf Gott, wenn ich nur durch meine Leiden zu Gott gelange, damit ich bei der Auferstehung als euer Jünger erfunden werde. 2. Es wäre angebracht, gottseliger Polykarp, dass ihr eine gottgefällige Versammlung veranstaltet und einen Mann wählet, den ihr gar sehr liebet, einen unermüdlichen, den man Gottesläufer nennen kann; dass ihr diesen beehret, nach Syrien zu reisen, damit er eure unverdrossene Liebe kund tue zur Ehre Gottes. 3. Ein Christ hat nicht freies Recht über sich selbst, sondern er hat seine Zeit für Gott. Dieses Werk gehört Gott und euch, wenn ihr es vollbringet. Ich habe nämlich das Vertrauen zur Gnade, dass ihr bereit seid zu schöner Tat, die Gott gebührt. Da ich euren Eifer für die Wahrheit kenne, habe ich nur mit wenigen Worten euch ermahnt.

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Epistles of Ignatius

Chapter VII.--Request that Polycarp would send a messenger to Antioch.

Seeing that the Church which is at Antioch in Syria is, as report has informed me, at peace, through your prayers, I also am the more encouraged, resting without anxiety in God, ¹ if indeed by means of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple [of Christ]. ² It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a very solemn ³ council, and to elect one whom you greatly love, and know to be a man of activity, who may be designated the messenger of God; ⁴ and to bestow on him this honour that he may go into Syria, and glorify your ever active love to the praise of Christ. A Christian has not power over himself, but must always be ready for ⁵ the service of God. Now, this work is both God's and yours, when ye shall have completed it to His glory. ⁶

For I trust that, through grace, ye are prepared for every good work pertaining to God. Knowing, therefore, your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted you by this brief Epistle.

Seeing that the Church which is at Antioch in Syria is, as report has informed me, at peace, through your prayers, I also am the more encouraged, resting without anxiety in God, ⁷ if indeed by means of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple [of Christ]. It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a very solemn ⁸ council, and to elect one whom you greatly love, and know to be a man of activity, who may be designated the messenger of God; ⁹ and to bestow on him the honour of going into Syria, so that, going into Syria, he may glorify your ever active love to the praise of God. A Christian has not power over himself, but must always be ready for ¹⁰ the service of God. Now, this work is both God's and yours, when ye shall have completed it. For I trust that, through grace, ye are prepared for every good work pertaining to God. Knowing your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted you by this brief Epistle.