{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/001/0010328.htm","path":"chr/ecf/001/0010328.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/001/0010328.htm","text":"For Trajan, in the ninth 1403 year of his reign, being lifted up [with pride], after the victory he had gained over the Scythians and Dacians, and many other nations, and thinking that the religious body of the Christians were yet wanting to complete the subjugation of all things to himself, and [thereupon] threatening them with persecution unless they should agree to 1404 worship d\u00e6mons, as did all other nations, thus compelled 1405 all who were living godly lives either to sacrifice [to idols] or die. Wherefore the noble soldier of Christ [Ignatius], being in fear for the Church of the Antiochians, was, in accordance with his own desire, brought before Trajan, who was at that time staying at Antioch, but was in haste [to set forth] against Armenia and the Parthians. And when he was set before the emperor Trajan, [that prince] said unto him, \u201cWho art thou, wicked wretch, 1406 who settest 1407 thyself to transgress our commands, and persuadest others to do the same, so that they should miserably perish?\u201d Ignatius replied, \u201cNo one ought to call Theophorus 1408 wicked; for all evil spirits 1409 have departed from the servants of God. But if, because I am an enemy to these [spirits], you call me wicked in respect to them, I quite agree with you; for inasmuch as I have Christ the King of heaven [within me], I destroy all the devices of these [evil spirits].\u201d Trajan answered, \u201cAnd who is Theophorus?\u201d Ignatius replied, \u201cHe who has Christ within his breast.\u201d Trajan said, \u201cDo we not then seem to you to have the gods in our mind, whose assistance we enjoy in fighting against our enemies?\u201d Ignatius answered, \u201cThou art in error when thou callest the d\u00e6mons of the nations gods. For there is but one God, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that are in them; and one Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, whose kingdom may I enjoy.\u201d Trajan said, \u201cDo you mean Him who was crucified under Pontius Pilate?\u201d Ignatius replied, \u201cI mean Him who crucified my sin, with him who was the inventor of it, 1410 and who has condemned [and cast down] all the deceit and malice of the devil under the feet of those who carry Him in their heart.\u201d Trajan said, \u201cDost thou then carry within thee Him that was crucified?\u201d Ignatius replied, \u201cTruly so; for it is written, \u2018I will dwell in them, and walk in p. 130 them.\u2019 \u201d 1411 Then Trajan pronounced sentence as follows: \u201cWe command that Ignatius, who affirms that he carries about within him Him that was crucified, be bound by soldiers, and carried to the great [city] Rome, there to be devoured by the beasts, for the gratification of the people.\u201d When the holy martyr heard this sentence, he cried out with joy, \u201cI thank thee, O Lord, that Thou hast vouchsafed to honour me with a perfect love towards Thee, and hast made me to be bound with iron chains, like 1412 Thy Apostle Paul.\u201d Having spoken thus, he then, with delight, clasped the chains about him; and when he had first prayed for the Church, and commended it with tears to the Lord, he was hurried away by the savage cruelty 1413 of the soldiers, like a distinguished ram 1414 the leader of a goodly flock, that he might be carried to Rome, there to furnish food to the bloodthirsty beasts.\nThe numeral is uncertain. In the old Latin version we find \u201cthe fourth,\u201d which Grabe has corrected into the nineteenth. The choice lies between \u201cninth\u201d and \u201cnineteenth,\u201d i.e., a.d. 107 or a.d. 116.\n129:1404\nLiterally, \u201cwould choose to submit to.\u201d\n129:1405 129:1406 129:1407 129:1408 129:1409 129:1410\nThe Latin version reads, \u201cHim who bore my sin, with its inventor, upon the cross.\u201d\n130:1411 130:1412 130:1413 130:1414\n[Better, \u201clike the noble leader,\u201d etc.; remitting \u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u1f78\u03c2 to the margin, as an ignoble word to English ears.]","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol I: IGNATIUS: Chapter II.\u2014I...","type":"page"}