From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts, [850] both by land and sea, both by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, I mean a band of soldiers, who, even when they receive benefits, [851] show themselves all the worse. But I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ]; "yet am I not thereby justified." [852] May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me; and I pray they may be found eager to rush upon me, which also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to assail me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me [in this]: I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or invisible, envy [853] me that I should attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, [854] breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful [855] torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ. From Syria even unto Rome I fight with beasts, [856] both by land and sea, both by night and day, being bound to ten leopards, I mean a band of soldiers, who, even when they receive benefits, [857] show themselves all the worse. But I am the more instructed by their injuries [to act as a disciple of Christ]; "yet am I not thereby justified." [858] May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me; and I pray that they may be found eager to rush upon me, which also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to assail me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me [in this] I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple, and have [859] no desire after anything visible or invisible, that I may attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let breakings, tearings, and separations of bones; let cutting off of members; let bruising to pieces of the whole body; and let the very torment of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ. Footnotes: [850] Comp. 1 1 Corinthians 15:32, where the word is also used figuratively. [851] Probably the soldiers received gifts from the Christians, to treat Ignatius with kindness. [852] 1 Corinthians 4:4. [853] In the shorter recension there is zelose, and in the longer zelosai; hence the variety of rendering, but the translation is by no means certain. [854] Some deem this and the following word spurious. [855] Literally, "evil." [856] Comp. 1 1 Corinthians 15:32, where the word is also used figuratively. [857] Probably the soldiers received gifts from the Christians, to treat Ignatius with kindness. [858] 1 Corinthians 4:4. [859] In the shorter recension there is zelose, and in the longer zelosai; hence the variety of rendering, but the translation is by no means certain. |
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