To the Ephesians

Contents

1. 0Ignatius greets the church at Ephesus, chosen by God for glory.
2. 1.1Ignatius praises the Ephesians, who have acted as true imitators of God.
3. 1.2The Ephesians hurried to meet Ignatius on his way to martyrdom in Rome.
4. 1.3Ignatius has met the whole church in its bishop, Onesimus.
5. 2.1Ignatius thanks the Ephesian delegates who came to him, especially the deacon Burrhus.
6. 2.2United in obedience to the bishop and presbyters, the church will be holy.
7. 3.1Ignatius writes humbly, as one only beginning to be a disciple.
8. 3.2Christ expresses the Father's mind, and the bishops everywhere share Christ's mind.
9. 4.1The presbyters are in tune with their bishop like strings on a lyre.
10. 4.2The whole church should be like a choir singing to the Father with one voice.
11. 5.1The church is joined to its bishop as the church to Christ and Christ to the Father.
12. 5.2Whoever stays away from the church's gathering lacks the bread of God.
13. 5.3Those who avoid the assembly are proud; to be subject to God, do not oppose the bishop.
14. 6.1The bishop is to be received as the Lord who sent him.
15. 6.2The Ephesian church is orderly and free from heresy.
16. 7.1Beware of false teachers who bear Christ's name but act unworthily.
17. 7.2Christ is the one physician, both human and divine.
18. 8.1The Ephesians live as God's people, free of strife; Ignatius gives himself for them.
19. 8.2Because they act in Christ, even the Ephesians' bodily actions are spiritual.
20. 9.1The Ephesians refused false teaching; they are stones raised into God's temple by the cross.
21. 9.2The Ephesians are like a festal procession carrying God and Christ within them.
22. 10.1Pray for unbelievers and teach them by your conduct.
23. 10.2Answer hostility with gentleness, humility, and prayer.
24. 10.3Imitate the Lord, who suffered wrong more than anyone, and remain pure.
25. 11.1In the last times, respond to God's patience by fear of judgment or love of grace.
26. 11.2Ignatius wears his chains as spiritual pearls and hopes to share the Ephesians' lot.
27. 12.1Ignatius contrasts his danger with the Ephesians' security.
28. 12.2Martyrs pass through Ephesus on their way to death, as Paul did.
29. 13.1Frequent gatherings for the Eucharist defeat the powers of Satan.
30. 13.2Peace ends every war, in heaven and on earth.
31. 14.1Faith is the beginning of life and love its goal; together they are of God.
32. 14.2Christians are known by their deeds, not their words.
33. 15.1Better to be a Christian in silence than to talk without being one; Christ the one Teacher spoke and acted.
34. 15.2One who truly has Christ's word can hear even his silence.
35. 15.3Live as temples in which God dwells.
36. 16.1Those who destroy households will not inherit God's kingdom.
37. 16.2Corrupting the faith by false teaching is even worse than bodily sin.
38. 17.1Christ's anointing brings incorruption; avoid the stench of the devil's teaching.
39. 17.2Jesus Christ is the knowledge of God; why perish by ignoring him?
40. 18.1Ignatius gives himself for the cross, which is salvation to believers.
41. 18.2Christ was conceived by Mary, born, and baptized to sanctify the water of baptism.
42. 19.1Christ's virgin birth and death were hidden from the devil.
43. 19.2A brilliant star announced Christ's coming to the universe.
44. 19.3Christ's coming broke the power of magic and evil and began the defeat of death.
45. 20.1Ignatius hopes to write a second letter explaining more about Christ.
46. 20.2In the one Eucharistic bread, the “medicine of immortality,” the united church shares Christ's life.
47. 21.1Ignatius writes from Smyrna and asks to be remembered.
48. 21.2Ignatius asks prayer for the church in Syria and says farewell.