Chapter XIII.—Concerning the transmission of epistles.
Both you and Ignatius75 wrote to me, that if any one went [from this] into Syria, he
should carry your letter76 with him; which request I will attend to if I find a fitting oppor-
tunity, either personally, or through some other acting for me, that your desire may be ful-
filled. The Epistles of Ignatius written by him77 to us, and all the rest [of his Epistles] which
we have by us, we have sent to you, as you requested. They are subjoined to this Epistle, and
by them ye may be greatly profited; for they treat of faith and patience, and all things that
tend to edification in our Lord. Any78 more certain information you may have obtained
respecting both Ignatius himself, and those that were79 with him, have the goodness to make
known80 to us.
75 Comp. Ep. of Ignatius to Polycarp, chap. viii.
76 Or, “letters.”
77 Reference is here made to the two letters of Ignatius, one to Polycarp himself, and the other to the church
at Smyrna.
78 Henceforth, to the end, we have only the Latin version.
79 The Latin version reads “are,” which has been corrected as above.
80 Polycarp was aware of the death of Ignatius (chap. ix.), but was as yet apparently ignorant of the circum-
stances attending it. [Who can fail to be touched by these affectionate yet entirely calm expressions as to his
martyred friend and brother? Martyrdom was the habitual end of Christ’s soldiers, and Polycarp expected his
own; hence his restrained and temperate words of interest.]
Chapter XIII.—Concerning the transmission of epistles.
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Chapter XIII.—Concerning the transmission of epistles.