The Church according to St. Ignatius of Antioch From "Letter to the Trallians" of St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (chapters 1, 1 - 3, 2, 4, 1-2, 6, 1, 7, 1 - 8, 1, Funk, 1, 203-209)
I take precautions, as beloved children
Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to the holy church, loved by God, the Father of Jesus Christ, which is located in Asia and Tralli who, chosen by God and worthy of him, has peace in body and soul for the passion of Jesus Christ, our hope, waiting to rise again in him. I greet you in the fullness of the spirit, according to the apostolic use, and I wish her well.
So you show feelings without blame and you are firm in test, not opportunism, but for an education that has become natural to you. He told me exactly your bishop Polybius when he came to Smyrna by the will of God and Jesus Christ. He rejoiced in it with me, chained to Jesus Christ, and I was able to contemplate in his person throughout your community. Getting through your proof of his benevolence in God, glory to the Lord made for having found, as I already knew, his imitators.
fact you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, and therefore not live with men, but according to Jesus Christ who died for us. Believing in the death of him, escaped death. It is necessary that, as you already do, nothing less front the bishop and you are also subject to the college of priests as the apostles of Jesus Christ, our hope, to be found in communion with him.
must also deacons, as ministers of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, to be acceptable to all in everything: in fact, ministers are not food or drink, but of the Church of God, and therefore must stay away from any guilt as the fire. For their part, all respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, especially to honor the bishop, who is the image of the Father and the presbyters as the senate and the assembly of the apostles of God. Without them we can not speak of the church.
I am sure that these are your rules about it. In the person of your vescovo ho accolto e ho tuttora presso di me l'immagine della vostra carità: il suo modo di comportarsi è un grande insegnamento e la sua dolcezza una forza.
Dio si manifesta in molti modi al mio spirito, ma vado cauto nel parlare di ciò per non perdermi, cadendo nella vanagloria. Proprio adesso devo maggiormente temere, né intendo prestar orecchio alle lodi. Coloro che mi lodano, mi flagellano. Certo desidero soffrire, ma non so se ne sia degno. La mia impazienza non si manifesta ai più, ma mi tormenta senza tregua. Ho bisogno di umiltà con la quale si sconfigge il principe di questo mondo.
Vi scongiuro, non io ma l'amore di Gesù Cristo: nutritevi solo della sana dottrina cristiana e tenetevi lontani da ogni erba estranea, qual è l'eresia. Ciò avverrà se non vi lascerete gonfiare dall'orgoglio e non vi separerete da Gesù Cristo Dio e dal vescovo e dai comandi degli apostoli. Chi sta all'interno del santuario è puro; ma chi ne è al di fuori, è impuro. In altri termini: chiunque compie qualche cosa senza il vescovo, il collegio dei presbiteri e i diaconi, non agisce con coscienza pura.
Non già che abbia riscontrato in voi queste cose: ma vi scrivo per premunirvi, come figli amatissimi.