Archives by: Gary Hoag

“Let no one become haughty because of his position. For faith and love are everything; nothing is preferable to them. But take note of those who spout off false opinions about the gracious gift of Jesus Christ that has come to us, and see how they are opposed to the mind of God. They have no interest in love, in the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the one who is in chains or the one set free, the one who is hungry or the one who thirsts…It would be better for them to engage in acts of love.”

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, anticipating his martyrdom in Rome under Trajan (98-117), writes to the Church in Smyrna urging them to avoid haughtiness and live out their faith with humility and love. Cf. Matthew 25:31-46. This excerpt is from his letter, To The Smyrneans, 6.1.5-6.2.6.

“My fellow slaves, whatever you do, do according to God. My brothers, I am completely overflowing with love for you and out of extreme joy I am watching over you–not I, but Jesus Christ.”

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, anticipating his martyrdom in Rome under Trajan (98-117), writes to the Church in Philadelphia praising them for their doctrinal purity and simply calling them to put their faith in action for God. This excerpt is from 4.1.5.

“Grant this to me: I know what benefits me. Now I am beginning to be a disciple. May nothing visible or invisible show any envy toward me, that I may attain to Jesus Christ. Fire and cross and packs of wild beasts, cuttings and being torn apart, the scattering of bones, the mangling of limbs, the grinding of the whole body, the evil torments of the devil–let them come upon me, only that I may attain to Christ. Neither the ends of the world nor the kingdoms of this age will benefit me in the least. It is better for me to die in Jesus than the rule the ends of the earth.

The ruler of this age wished to snatch me away and corrupt my mind which is directed toward God…My passion has been crucified [Gal 6:14] and there is no burning love within me for material things; instead there is living water [John 4:10, 14] which also is speaking in me, saying to me from within: “Come to the Father.”

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, writes to the Church in Rome having arrived in Rome under Trajan (98-117), with his martyrdom at the mercy of the beasts in the Coliseum imminent, he wrote this letter To The Romans, and this excerpt is from 5.3-6.1, 7.1-2.

“I have learned that your way of thinking is blameless and unwavering in endurance, not by force of habit but by your very nature, just as Polybius, your bishop, showed me. He arrived in Smyrna by the will of God and Jesus Christ, and so rejoiced together with me, who am in chains in Jesus Christ, so that I saw your entire congregation in him. I was exultant when I received your act of godly kindness through him, for I found that you were imitators of God, as I had known.”

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, while under Roman guard in Smyrna en route to Rome for his martyrdom during the reign of Trajan (98-117), was visited by Polybius, Bishop of Tralles of Asia. Polybius ministered refreshment to Ignatius on behalf of his congregation. In response Ignatius wrote To The Trallians, and this excerpt is from 1.1-2.3.

“I want to protect you from being snagged by the fish hooks of worthless ideas…Be eager therefore to stand securely in the decrees of the Lord and the apostles, that you may prosper in everything you do in flesh and spirit, in faith and love, in the Son and the Father and in the Spirit.”

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, visited Christians in Magnesia, about 12 miles up river from Ephesus during the reign of Trajan (98-117) when he was en route to Rome for his martyrdom. Shortly thereafter, while on house arrest visiting Polycarp in Smyrna, he wrote a letter To The Magnesians, and this excerpt is from 11.3-4, 13.1-4.

“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.

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Luke 1:46-55 (NIV). A glimpse into the heart of a humble servant who understood the generosity of God, and a tribute to my wife, my mother, my mother-in-law and all mothers in the family of God.

“Therefore, bind up your loose robes and serve as God’s slaves in reverential fear and truth, abandoning futile reasoning and the error that deceives many, and believing in the one who raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave him glory and a throne at his right hand. Everything in heaven and on earth is subject to him; everything that breathes will serve him; he is coming as a judge of the living and the dead; and God will hold those who disobey him accountable for his blood. But the one who raised him from the dead will raise us as well, if we do his will, walking in his commandments and loving the things he loved, abstaining from every kind of injustice, greed, love of money, slander, and false witness, not paying back evil for evil or abuse for abuse, or blow for blow, or curse for curse.”

Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 110), Letter to the Philippians 2.1-2. LCL 335.

“Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, the God of angels, of powers, and of all creation, and of every race of the upright who live before you. I bless you for making me worthy of this day and hour, that I may receive a share among the number of the martyrs in the cup of your Christ, unto the resurrection of eternal life in both soul and body in the immortality of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be received before you today as a sacrifice that is rich and acceptable, just as you prepared and revealed in advance and now fulfilled–the true God who does not lie. For this reason and for all things I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you through the eternal and heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, both now and for the ages to come. Amen.”

Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 69-155) in Martyrdom of Polycarp 14.1.5-3.5. LCL 387-89.

“Let the one who is strong take care of the weak; and let the weak show due respect to the strong. Let the wealthy provide what is needed to the poor, and let the poor offer thanks to God, since he has given him someone to supply his need. Let the one who is wise show forth wisdom not through words but through good deeds.”

1 Clement 38:2 (c. 96) LCL 103.