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To the Ephesians

St Ignatius of Antioch, Lake, Loeb 1912

Chapter 18

True doctrine

My spirit is devoted¹ to the cross, which is an offence to unbelievers, but to us salvation and eternal life. “Where is the wise? Where is the disputer?” Where is the boasting of those who are called prudent?

For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived by Mary by the dispensation of God, “as well of the seed of David” as of the Holy Spirit: he was born, and was baptized, that by himself submitting² he might purify the water.

Notes

See note on viii. 1, p. 183.
Or perhaps “by his suffering”; but the allusion seems to be to the Baptism, not to the Passion.