Epistles

Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius of Antioch. The Apostolic Fathers, Volume 1. Lake, Kirsopp, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1912.

if these things be so, how then shall we be able to live without him of whom even the prophets were disciples in the Spirit and to whom they looked

forward as their teacher? And for this reason he whom they waited for in righteousness, when he came raised them from the dead.[*](This is possibly a proleptic reference to final resurrection, but more probably to the belief, found in many documents of a later date, that Jesus by the descent into Hades set free, and took into Paradise, the righteous dead. Cf. especially the Gospel of Nicodemus or Acta Pilati.)

Let us then not be insensible to his goodness.[*](Christianity and Judaism) for if he should imitate us in our actions we are lost.[*](The meaning appears to be if God should treat us according to human standards none of us should see salvation.) For this cause let us be his disciples, and let us learn to lead Christian lives. For whoever is called by any name other than this is not of God.