“Constantly pray for others; for there is still hope that they may repent so as to attain to God. And so, allow them to learn from you, at least by your deeds. In response to their anger, show meekness; to their boasting, be humble; to their blasphemies, offer up prayers; to their wandering in error, be firmly rooted in faith; to their savage behavior, act civilized. Do not be eager to follow their example. Through gentleness we should be their brothers, And we should be seen to be eager to imitate the Lord. Who was mistreated more than he? Or defrauded? Or rejected? Do this, so that no weed planted by the Devil may be found in you and you may abide in Jesus Christ both in the flesh and in the spirit with all holiness and self-control.”
Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was arrested during the reign of Trajan (98-117) and taken by ten soldiers from Syria to Rome for his martyrdom. He met up with Christians on the way and his letters to three of the communities have survived: Ephesus, Magnesia and Tralles, and this excerpt is from his letter To The Ephesians, 10.