Ignatius of Antioch, Theophorus: EPISTLE TO MAGNESIANS Complete

Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson (Shorter and Longer Versions)

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15 Pages

Page 12

Chapter XII. — Ye are superior to me.

May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to any of you that are at liberty. I know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have Jesus Christ in yourselves. And all the more when I commend you, I know that ye cherish modesty [711] of spirit; as it is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser." [712]

May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to one of you that are at liberty. I know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have Jesus in yourselves. And all the more when I commend you, I know that ye cherish modesty [713] of spirit; as it is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser;" [714] and again, "Declare thou first thine iniquities, that thou mayest be justified;" [715] and again, "When ye shall have done all things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants;" [716] "for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." [717] For says [the Scripture], "God be merciful to me a sinner." [718] Therefore those great ones, Abraham and Job, [719] styled themselves "dust and ashes [720] before God. And David says, "Who am I before Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast glorified me hitherto?" [721] And Moses, who was "the meekest of all men," [722] saith to God, "I am of a feeble voice, and of a slow tongue." [723] Be ye therefore also of a humble spirit, that ye may be exalted; for "he that abaseth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased." [724]


[711] Literally, "are reverent."

[712] Prov. xviii. 17. (LXX).

[713] Literally, "are reverent."

[714] Prov. xviii. 17. (LXX).

[715] Isa. xliii. 26.

[716] Luke xvii. 10.

[717] Luke xvi. 15.

[718] Luke xviii. 13.

[719] Some read, "Jacob."

[720] Gen. xviii. 27; Job xxx. 19.

[721] 1 Chron. xvii. 16.

[722] Num. xii. 3.

[723] Ex. iv. 10.

[724] Luke xiv. 11.

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