Ante-Nicene Christian library : translations of the writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325

Front matter

LIBRARY Brigham Young University

LIBRAKT

UNIVERSITY!

Contents

The Spurious Epistles of Ignatius, The Epistle to the Tarsians, The Epistle to the Antiochians, .

The Epistle to Hero, a Deacon of Antioch, The Epistle to the Philippians, .

The Epistle of Maria the Proselyte to Ignatius, The Epistle to Mary at Neapolis, near Zarbus, The Epistle to St John the Apostle, A Second Epistle to St John, The Epistle to the Virgin Mary, .

Chap. ii. — Praise of the Corinthians continued

Moreover, ye were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it,1 and were more willing to give than to receive.2 Content with the provision which God had made for you, and carefully attending to His words, ye were inwardly filled3 with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes. Thus a profound and abundant peace was given to you all, and ye had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy designs, ye did, with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if ye had been guilty of any involuntary transgression. Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood,4 that the number of God's elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience.6 Ye were sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of Taction and schism was abominable in your sight. Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbours : their deficiencies you deemed your own. Ye never grudged any act

3 Literally, " ye embraced it in your bowels." 4 1 Pet. ii. 17.

5 So in the MS., but many have suspected that the text is here corrupt. Perhaps the best emendation is that which substitutes cvvxtaOvjoeag, 41 compassion," for oMul'/iawc, " conscience."

of kindness, being "ready to every good work."1 Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, ye did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.2

Chap. hi. — The sad state of the Corinthian church after sedition arose in it from envy and emulation.

Every kind of honour and happiness3 was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, " My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked."4 Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honoured, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith,5 neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian,6 but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.7

Chap. iv. — Many evils have already flowed from this source in

ancient times.

For thus it is written : " And it came to pass after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God ; and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his sheep, and of the fat thereof. And God had respect to Abel and to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He

1 Tit. iii. 1. 2 Prov. vii. 3.

3 Literally, "enlargement." 4 Deut. xxxii. 15.

6 It seems necessary to refer ocvrov to God, in opposition to the translation given by Abp. Wake and others.

6 Literally, " Christ;" comp. 2 Cor. i. 21, Eph. iv. 20.

7 Wisd. ii. 24.

did not regard. And Cain was deeply grieved, and his countenance fell. And God said to Cain, Why art thou grieved, and why is thy countenance fallen ? If thou offerest rightly, but dost not divide rightly, hast thou not sinned? Be at peace : thine offering returns to thyself, and thou shalt again possess it. And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field. And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." l Ye see, brethren, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother. Through envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother.2 Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death, and to come into bondage.3 Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he heard these words from his fellowcountryman, " Who made thee a judge or a ruler over us ? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday?"4 On account of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their abode without the camp.5 Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades, through the sedition which they excited against God's servant Moses.6 Through envy, David underwent the hatred not only of foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul king of Israel.7

Chap. v. — No less evils have arisen from the same source in the most recent times. The martyrdom of Peter and Paid.

But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes.8 Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the church] have

1 Gen. iv. 3-8. The writer here, as always, follows the reading of the Septuagint, which in this passage both alters and adds to the Hebrew text. We have given the rendering approved by the best critics ; but some prefer to translate, as in our English version, "unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." See, fcr an ancient explanation of the passage, Irenseus, Adv. User. iv. 18, 3.

2 Gen. xxvii. 41, etc. s Gen. xxxvii. 4 Ex. ii. 14.

5 Num. xii. 14, 15. * Num. xvi. 33. 7 1 Kings xviii. 8, etc.

8 Literally, " those who have been athletes."

been persecuted and put to death.1 Let us set before our eyes the illustrious2 apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labojaxs ; and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity,3 compelled4 to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west,5 and suffered martyrdom under the prefects.6 Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.

Chap. vi. — Continuation. Several other martyrs

To these men who spent their lives in the practice of holiness, there is to be added a great multitude of the elect, who, having through envy endured many indignities and tortures, furnished us with a most excellent example. Through envy, those women, the Danaids7 and Dircse, being persecuted, after they had suffered terrible and unspeakable torments, finished the course of their faith with stedfastness,8 and though weak in body, received a noble reward. Envy has

1 Some fill up the lacuna here found in the MS. so as to read, " have come to a grievous death."

2 Literally " good."

3 Seven imprisonments of St Paul are not referred to in Scripture.

4 Archbishop Wake here reads " scourged." We have followed the most recent critics in filling up the numerous lacanse in this chapter.

5 Some think Rome, others Spain, and others even Britain, to be here referred to.

6 That is, under Tigellinus and Sabinus, in the last year of the Emperor Nero ; but some think Helius and Polycletus referred to ; and others, both here and in the preceding sentence, regard the words as denoting simply the witness borne by Peter and Paul to the truth of the gospel before the rulers of the earth.

7 Some suppose these to have been the names of two eminent female martyrs under Nero ; others regard the clause as an interpolation.

8 Literally, " have reached to the stedfast course of faith."

alienated wives from their husbands, and changed that saying of our father Adam, " This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." * Envy and strife have overthrown great cities, and rooted up mighty nations.

Chap. vii. — An exhortation to repentance

These things, beloved, we write unto you, not merely to admonish you of your duty, but also to remind ourselves. For we are stru^a-linc? on the same arena, and the same conflict is assigned to both of us. Wherefore let us give up vain and fruitless cares, and approach to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us attend to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look stedfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God,2 which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed, and learn that, from generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all such as would be converted unto Him. Noah preached repentance, and as many as listened to him were saved.3 Jonah proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites ;4 but they, repenting of their sins, propitiated God by prayer, and obtained salvation, although they were aliens [to the covenant] of God.

Chap. viii. — Continuation respecting repentance

The ministers of the grace of God have, by the Holy Spirit, spoken of repentance ; and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it, u As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance ;"5 adding, moreover, this gracious declaration, "Repent, O house of Israel, of your iniquity.6 Say to the children of my people, Though your sins reach

1 Gen. ii. 23. 2 Some insert " Father."

8 Gen. vii. ; 1 Pet. iii. 20 ; 2 Pet. ii. 5. 4 Jonah iii.

5 Ezek. xxxiii. 11. 6 Ezek. xviii. 30.

from earth to heaven, and though they be redder * than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, yet if ye turn to me with your whole heart, and say, Father! I will listen to you, as to a holy2 people." And in another place He speaks thus : " Wash you, and become clean ; put away the wickedness of your souls from before mine eyes ; cease from your evil ways, and learn to do well ; seek out judgment, deliver the oppressed, judge the fatherless, and see that justice is done to the widow ; and come, and let us reason together. He declares, Though your sins be like crimson, I will make them white as snow; though they be like scarlet, I will whiten them like wool. And if ye be willing and obey me, ye shall eat the good of the land ; but if ye refuse, and will not hearken unto me, the sword shall devour you, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these things."3 Desiring, therefore, that all His beloved should be partakers of repentance, He has, by His almighty will, established [these declarations].

Chap. ix. — Examples of the saints

Wherefore, let us yield obedience to His excellent and glorious will ; and imploring Hi's mercy and loving-kindness, while we forsake all fruitless labours,4 and strife, and envy, which leads to death, let us turn and have recourse to His compassions. Let us stedfastly contemplate those who have perfectly ministered to his excellent glory. Let us take (for instance) Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience, was translated, and death was never known to happen to him.5 /Noah, being found faithful, preached regeneration to the world through his ministry ; and the Lord saved by him the animals which, with one accord, entered into the ark.

1 Comp. Isa. i. 18.

2 These words are not found in Scripture, though they are quoted again by Clem. Alex. (Pxdag. i. 10) as from Ezekiel.

4 Some read pa.Toito'hoytoiv, vain talk.

5 Gen. v. 24 ; Heb. xi. 5. Literally, " and his death was not found."

Chap. X. — Continuation of the above

Abraham, styled "the friend/'1 was found faithful, inasmuch as he rendered obedience to the words of God. He, in the exercise of obedience, went out from his own country, and from his kindred, and from his father's house, in order that, by forsaking a small territory, and a weak family, and an insignificant house, he might inherit the promises of God. For God said to him, " Get thee out from thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, into the land which I shall show thee. And I will make thee a great nation, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be blessed. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee ; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed."2 And again, on his departing from Lot, God said to him, "Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou now art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward ; for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, [so that] if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered."3 And again [the Scripture] saith, "God brought • forth Abram, and spake unto him, Look up now to heaven, and count the stars if thou be able to number them ; so shall thy seed be. And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."4 On account of his faith and hospitality, a son was given him in his old age ; and in the exercise of obedience, he offered him as a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains which He showed him.5

Chap. xi. — Continuation. Lot

On account of his hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved out of Sodom when all the country round was punished

1 Isa. xli. 8 ; 2 Chron. xx. 7 ; Judith viii. 19 ; James ii. 23.

by means of fire and brimstone, the Lord thus making it manifest that He does not forsake those that hope in Him, but gives up such as depart from Him to punishment and torture.1 For Lot's wife, who went forth with him, being of a different mind from himself, and not continuing in agreement with him [as to the command which had been given them], was made an example of, so as to be a pillar of salt unto this day.2 This was done that all might know that those who are of a double mind, and who distrust the power of God, bring down judgment on themselves,3 and become a sign to all succeeding generations.

Chap. xh. — Hie rewards of faith and hospitality. Rahab.

On account of her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. For when spies were sent by Joshua, the son of Nun, to Jericho, the king of the country ascertained that they were come to spy out their land, and sent men to seize them, in order that, when taken, they might be put to death. But the hospitable Rahab receiving them, concealed them on the roof of her house under some stalks of flax. And when the men sent by the king arrived and said, " There came men unto thee who are to spy out our land ; bring them forth, for so the king commands," she answered them, " The two men whom ye seek came unto me, but quickly departed again and are gone," thus not discovering the spies to them. Then she said to the men, "I know assuredly that the Lord your God hath given you this city, for the fear and dread of you have fallen on its inhabitants. When therefore ye shall have taken it, keep ye me and the house of my father in safety." And they said to her, " It shall be as thou hast spoken to us. As soon, therefore, as thou knowest that we are at hand, thou shalt gather all thy family under thy roof, and they shall be preserved, but all that are found outside of thy dwelling shall perish." 4 Moreover, they gave her a sign to

1 Gen. xix. ; comp. 2 Pet. ii. 6-9.

2 So Joseph. Antiq. i. 11, 4 ; Irenaeus, Adv. Hser. iv. 31.

s Literally, " become a judgment and sign." 4 Josh. ii. ; Heb. xi. 31.

this effect, that she should hang forth from her house a scarlet thread. And thus they made it manifest that redemption should flow through the blood of the Lord to all them that believe and hope in God.1 Ye see, beloved, that there was not only faith, but prophecy, in this woman.

Chap. xiii. — An exhortation to humility

Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings ; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit saith, " Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches ; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness"2), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke : u Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy ; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you ; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you ; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged ; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you ; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you."3 By this precept and by these rules let us stablish ourselves, that we walk with all humility in obedience to His holy words. For the holy word saith, " On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek and peaceable, and that trembleth at my words?"4

Chap. xiv. — We should obey God rather than the authors

of sedition.

It is right and holy therefore, men and brethren, rather to obey God than to follow those who, through pride and sedition,

1 Others of the fathers adopt the same allegorical interpretation, e.g. Justin Mar. Dial. c. TrypTi. n. Ill ; Irenseus, Adv. Hser. iv. 20.

4 Jsa. lxvi. 2.

have become the leaders of a detestable emulation. For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and tumults, so as to draw us away from what is good. Let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender mercy and benignity of our Creator. For it is written, "The kind-hearted shall inhabit the land, and the guiltless shall be left upon it, but transgressors shall be destroyed from off the face of it." * And again [the Scripture] saith, " I saw the ungodly highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon : I passed by, and, behold, he was not ; and I diligently sought his place, and could not find it. Preserve innocence, and look on equity : for there shall be a remnant to the peaceable man."2

Chap. xv. — We must adhere to those who cultivate peace, not to those who merely pretend to do so.

Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it. For [the Scripture] saith in a certain place, " This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." 3 And again : " They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart."4 And again it saith, " They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue ; but their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant."5 "Let the deceitful lips become silent,"6 [and "let the Lord destroy all the lying lips,7] and the boastful tongue of those who have said, Let us magnify our tongue ; our lips are our own ; who is lord over us ? For the oppression of the poor, and for the sighing

2 Ps. xxxvii. 35-37. " Remnant " probably refers either to the memory or posterity of the righteous.

3 Isa. xxix. 13 ; Matt. xv. 8 ; Mark vii. 6. 4 Ps. lxii. 4.

6 Ps. lxxviii. 36, 37. 6 Ps. xxxi. 18.

7 These words within brackets are not found in the MS., but have been inserted from the Septuagint by most editors.

VOL. I. B of the needy, will I now arise, saith the Lord: I will place him in safety; I will deal confidently with him."1

Chap. XVI. — Christ as an example of humility

For Christ is of those who^re humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might havedone so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him. For He says, "Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? We have declared [our message] in His presence : He is, as it were, a child, and like a root in thirsty ground ; He has no form nor glory, yea, we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness ; but His form was without eminence, yea, deficient in comparison with the [ordinary] form of men. He is a man exposed to stripes and suffering, and acquainted with the endurance of grief : for His countenance was turned away; He was despised, and not esteemed. He bears our iniquities, and is in sorrow for our sakes ; yet we supposed that [on His own account] He was exposed to labour, and stripes, and affliction. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray ; [every] man has wandered in his own way ; and the Lord has delivered Him up for our sins, while He in the midst of His sufferings openeth not His mouth. He was brought as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before her shearer is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away ; who shall declare His generation ? for His life is taken from the earth. For the transgressions of my people was He brought down to death. And I will give the wicked for His sepulchre, and the rich for His death,2 because He did no iniquity, neither was guile found in His mouth. And the

2 The Latin of Cotelerius, adopted by Ilefele and Dressel, translates

Lord is pleased to purify Him by stripes.1 If ye make2 an offering for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived seed. And the Lord is pleased to relieve Him of the affliction of His soul, to show Him light, and to form Him with understanding,3 to justify the Just One who ministereth well to many ; and He Himself shall carry their sins. On this account He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoil of the strong ;

because His soul was delivered to death, and He was reckoned among the transgressors, and He bare the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered." 4 And again He saith, " I am a worm, and no man ; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All that see me have derided me; they have spoken with their lips ; they have wagged their head, [saying] He hoped in God, let Him deliver Him, let Him save Him, since He delighteth in Him."5 Ye see, beloved, what is the example which has been given us ; for if the Lord thus humbled Himself, what shall we do who have through Him come under the yoke of His grace ?

Chap. xvii. — The saints as examples of humility

Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins6 went about proclaiming the coming of Christ ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne [in Scripture]. Abraham was specially honoured, and was called the friend of God ; yet he, earnestly regarding the glory of God, humbly declared, " I am but dust and ashes." 7 Moreover, it is thus

this clause as follows : "I will set free the wicked on account of His sepulchre, and the rich on account of His death.1'

1 The reading of the MS. is rij? s-Ajjyjfc, "purify, or free Him, from stripes." We have adopted the emendation of Junius.

2 Wotton reads, " If He make."

3 Or, "Jill Him with understanding," if KTivjacti should be read instead of xAa<7ot/, as Grabe suggests.

4 Isa. liii. The reader will observe how often the text of the Septuagint, here quoted, differs from the Hebrew as represented by our authorized English version.

6 Ps. xxii. 6-8. « Heb. xi. 37. 7 Gen. xviii. 27.

written of Job, "Job was a righteous man, and blameless, truthful, God-fearing, and one that kept himself from all evil." 1 But bringing an accusation against himself, he said, " No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but of one day." 2 Moses was called faithful in all God's house ;3 and through his instrumentality, God punished Egypt4 with plagues and tortures. Yet he, though thus greatly honoured, did not adopt lofty language, but said, when the divine oracle came to him out of the bush, u Who am I, that Thou sendest me? I am a man of a feeble voice and a slow tongue."5 And again he said, " I am but as the smoke of a pot." 6

Chap, xviii. — David as an example of humility.

But what shall we say concerning David, to whom such testimony was borne, and of whom7 God said, "I have found a man after mine own heart, David the son of Jesse ; and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him?"8 Yet this very man saith to God, " Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy ; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression. Wash me still more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight ; that Thou mayest be justified in Thy sayings, and mayest overcome when Thou9 art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, Thou hast loved truth ; the secret and hidden things of wisdom hast Thou shown me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed ; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness ; my bones, wThich have been humbled, shall exult. Turn away Thy face from my

1 Job i. 1. 2 Job xiv. 4, 5. 3 Num. xii. 7 ; Heb. iii. 2.

4 Some fill up the lacuna which here occurs in the MS. by " Israel."

6 Ex. iii. 11, iv. 10. 6 This is not found in Scripture.

7 Or, as some render, "to whom.1' 8 Ps. lxxxix. 21. 9 Or, " when Thou judgest."

sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, 0 God, and renew a right spirit within me.1 Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and establish me by Thy governing Spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,2 O God, the God of my salvation : my tongue shall exult in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall show forth Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it ; Thou wilt not delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a bruised spirit ; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise." 3

Chap. xix. — Imitating these examples, let us seek after peace

Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have rendered not only us, but also all the generations before us, better ; even as many as have received His oracles in fear and truth. Wherefore, having so many great and glorious examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from the beginning was the mark set before us;4 and let us look stedfastly to the Father and Creator of the universe, and cleave to His mighty and surpassingly great gifts and benefactions of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding, and look with the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us reflect how free from wrath He is towards all His creation.

Chap. xx. — The peace and harmony of the universe. The heavens, revolving under His government, are subject