2. As to my fellow servant * Burrus, your deacon by God's
IGNATIUS TO THE EPHESIANS
Ignatius, also called Theophorus, sends heartiest good wishes for unalloyed joy in Jesus Christ to the Church at Ephesus in Asia; a church deserving of felicitation, blessed, as she is, with greatness through the fullness of God the Father; predestined, before time was, to be—to her abiding and unchanging glory—forever united and chosen, through real suffering, by the will of the Father and Jesus Christ our
God.* 1. With joy in God I welcomed your community, which possesses its dearly beloved name because of a right disposition," enhanced by faith and love through Christ Jesus our
Savior. Being imitators* of God, you have, once restored to new life in the Blood of God, perfectly accomplished the task so natural to you. 2 Indeed, as soon as you heard that I was coming from Syria in chains for our common Name and hope—hoping I might, thanks to your prayer, obtain the favor of fighting wild beasts at Rome and through this favor be able to prove myself a disciple*—you hastened to see me.
3 In the name of God, then, I have received your numerous community in the person of Onesimus,® a man of indescribable charity and your bishop here on earth.® I pray you in the spirit of Jesus Christ to love him, and wish all of you to resemble him. Blessed, indeed, is He whose grace made you worthy to possess such a bishop."
2. As to my fellow servant * Burrus, your deacon by God's