| three nights in the heart of the earth."[1] The day of the preparation, then, comprises the passion; the Sabhath embraces the burial; the Lord's day contains the resurrection.
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Chap. 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 to[2] the wild beasts? Do I therefore die in vain?[3] Am I not then guilty of falsehood[4] against [the cross of] the Lord?
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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 to[2] the wild beasts? In such a case, I die in vain, and am guilty of falsehood[4] 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."[5] 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 |
- ↑ Matt. xii. 40.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Literally, "to fight with."
- ↑ Some read this and the following clause affirmatively, instead of interrogatively.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The meaning is, that if 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.
- ↑ Zech. xii. 10.
