People’s Open Bible
Letters of Ignatius 59
Crucify Worldly Desires for Christ
Open in the reader →1The farthest reaches of the universe will profit me nothing, nor will the kingdoms of this world. It is good for me to die for Jesus Christ rather than to reign over the farthest reaches of the earth. Him I seek, who died on our behalf; Him I desire, who rose again [for our sake].
2The pangs of a new birth are upon me. Bear with me, brethren. Do not hinder me from living; do not desire my death. Do not give to the world one who desires to be God’s, nor entice him with material things. Allow me to receive the pure light. When I have arrived there, then I will be a man.
3Permit me to be an imitator of the passion of my God. If anyone has Him within himself, let him understand what I desire and have fellow-feeling with me, for he knows the things that constrain me.
Composed from original Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Ge’ez manuscripts, rendered in multiple passes to stay as close to the originals as possible. About this project