Letter to the Ephesians
Ignatius thanks the Ephesian church for its support and writes at length about unity, worship, faithful Christian living, and life centered on Christ.
~11 min 22 chapters
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The Seven Letters of Ignatius
The Middle Recension letters of St Ignatius of Antioch
About this collection
The Seven Letters of Ignatius were written as St Ignatius of Antioch was being taken under guard toward Rome, where he expected to face martyrdom. Along the way, he wrote to Christian communities that had welcomed or supported him, and to St Polycarp of Smyrna.
The letters are brief, personal, and urgent. Ignatius calls Christians to remain united in the Church, to gather around the Eucharist, and to hold firmly to Jesus Christ, who truly became man, suffered, died, and rose again. He also warns against false teaching and urges each church to remain faithful in worship, teaching, and common life.
His approaching death gives the letters much of their force. Ignatius writes about martyrdom not as an abstract idea, but as the path directly before him. Yet the letters are also full of practical pastoral concerns: peace, humility, perseverance, care for others, and a Christian life that matches the faith being confessed.
Texts in this collection
Letter to the Magnesians
Written to a church led by a young bishop, this letter urges respect for its ministers, warns against merely bearing the Christian name, and calls for unity in Christ.
~7 min 16 chapters
Letter to the Trallians
Ignatius praises the church’s faithfulness while warning against teaching that denies the real human life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.
~6 min 14 chapters
Letter to the Romans
The most personal of the seven letters, written as Ignatius looks toward martyrdom and asks the Roman Christians not to prevent the death he expects.
~7 min 11 chapters
Letter to the Philadelphians
Ignatius addresses division and rival teaching, calling the church back to one Eucharistic fellowship, repentance, and unity in Christ.
~6 min 12 chapters
Letter to the Smyrnaeans
Ignatius strongly affirms Christ’s real humanity and suffering and warns against teachers who refuse the Eucharist because they deny that Christ truly took flesh.
~7 min 14 chapters
Letter to Polycarp
Personal pastoral counsel to St Polycarp on perseverance, care for others, marriage, discipline, church leadership, and the responsibilities of a bishop.
~5 min 9 chapters