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| Chapter X.—The reality of Christ’s passion.
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Chapter X.—The reality of Christ’s
passion.
But if, as some that are without God,
that is, the unbelieving, say, that He only seemed to suffer (they
themselves only seeming to exist), then why am I in bonds? Why do I long
to be exposed to796
| 796
Literally, “to fight with.” | the wild beasts? Do I
therefore die in vain?797
| 797
Some read this and the following clause affirmatively, instead of
interrogatively. | Am I not then guilty of falsehood798
| 798 The meaning is, that is they
spoke the truth concerning the phantasmal character of Christ’s
death, then Ignatius was guilty of a practical falsehood in suffering for
what was false. | against [the cross of] the Lord?
But if, as some that are without God,
that is, the unbelieving, say, He became man in appearance [only], that
He did not in reality take unto Him a body, that He died in appearance
[merely], and did not in very deed suffer, then for what reason am I now
in bonds, and long to be exposed to799
| 799 Literally, “to fight with.” | the
wild beasts? In such a case, I die in vain, and am guilty of
falsehood800
| 800 The meaning
is, that is they spoke the truth concerning the phantasmal character of
Christ’s death, then Ignatius was guilty of a practical falsehood
in suffering for what was false. | against the cross of the
Lord. Then also does the prophet in vain declare, “They shall look
on Him whom they have pierced, and mourn over themselves as over one
beloved.”801
These men, therefore,
are not less unbelievers than were those that crucified Him. But as for
me, I do not place my hopes in one who died for me in appearance, but in
reality. For that which is false is quite abhorrent to the truth. Mary then did truly conceive a body which had God
inhabiting it. And God the Word was truly born of the Virgin, having
clothed Himself with a body of like passions with our own. He who forms
all men in the womb, was Himself really in the womb, and made for Himself
a body of the seed of the Virgin, but without any intercourse of man. He
was carried in the womb, even as we are, for the usual period of time;
and was really born, as we also are; and was in reality nourished with
milk, and partook of common meat and drink, even as we do. And when He
had lived among men for thirty years, He was baptized by John, really and
not in appearance; and when He had preached the Gospel three years, and
done signs and wonders, He who was Himself the Judge was judged by the
Jews, falsely so called, and by Pilate the governor; was scourged, was
smitten on the cheek, was spit upon; He wore a crown of thorns and a
purple robe; He was condemned: He was crucified in reality, and not in
appearance, not in imagination, not in deceit. He really died, and was buried, and rose from
the dead, even as He prayed in a certain place, saying, “But do
Thou, O Lord, raise me up again, and I shall recompense them.”802
And the Father, who always hears Him,803
answered and said, “Arise, O God, and
judge the earth; for Thou shall receive all the heathen for Thine
inheritance.”804
The Father, therefore,
who raised Him up, will also raise us up through Him, apart from whom no
one will attain to true life. For says He, “I am the life; he that
believeth in me, even though he die, shall live: and every one that
liveth and believeth in me, even though he die, shall live for
ever.”805
Do ye therefore flee
from these ungodly heresies; for they are the inventions of the devil,
that serpent who was the author of evil, and who by means of the woman
deceived Adam, the father of our race.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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