beasts, on land and sea, by day and night, chained as I am
Icnatius oF ANTIOCH of my making my way to God. God's wheat I am, and by the _ teeth of wild beasts I am to be ground that I may prove
Christ's pure bread.
2 Better still, coax the wild beasts to become my tomb and to leave no part of my person behind: once I have fallen asleep, I do not wish to be a burden to anyone. Then only shall I be a genuine disciple of Jesus
Christ when the world will not see even my body. Petition Christ in my behalf that through these instruments I may prove God's sacrifice. 3 Not like Peter and Paul do I issue any orders to you. They were Apostles,** I am a convict; they were free, I am until this moment a slave. But once I have suffered, I shall become a freedman of Jesus Christ, and, united with Him, I shall rise a free man. Just now I learn, being in chains, to desire nothing.
5. All the way from Syria to Rome I am fighting wild beasts, on land and sea, by day and night, chained as I am to ten leopards, that is, a detachment of soldiers, who prove themselves the more malevolent for kindnesses shown them.
Yet in the school of this abuse I am more and more trained in discipleship, although I am not therefore justified.** 2 Oh, may the beasts prepared for me be my joy! And I pray that they may be found to be ready for me. I will even coax them to make short work of me, not as has happened to some whom they were too timid to touch. And should they be unwilling to attack me who am willing, I will myself compel them.
3 Pardon me—I know very well where my advantage lies.
At last I am well on the way to being a disciple. May nothing seen or unseen," fascinate me, so that I may happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs, crunching of the whole body, cruel tortures inflicted by the devil—let them come upon me, provided only I make my way to Jesus Christ.