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  ALLOW ME TO FALL A PREY TO THE WILD BEASTS
  by Ignatius of Antioch
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Summary: Ignatius of Antioch writes to the churches, expressing his
willingness to suffer and die for God, and encouraging them to allow him
to fulfill his desire.

Topics: "Martyrdom", "Discipleship"
Scripture References: John 12:24, Romans 12:1, Galatians 5:13, Philippians 1:20, 1 Peter 2:16

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DESCRIPTION
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Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes his willingness to die for God and urges
the Churches not to hinder him, desiring to become food for wild beasts
to attain God. He sees himself as the wheat of God, being ground by the
teeth of wild beasts to be the pure bread of God, wishing for the beasts
to become his tomb. Ignatius longs to be a true disciple of Jesus
Christ, seeking to be a sacrifice to God through his suffering and
eventual freedom in Christ, learning not to desire anything worldly
while in bonds for Him.

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CONTENT
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I write to all the Churches, and impress on them all, that I shall
willingly die for God, unless ye hinder me. I beseech of you not to show
an unseasonable good-will towards me. Suffer me to become food for the
wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to
attain to God. I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the
wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God. Rather entice
the wild beasts, that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of
my body; so that when I have fallen asleep [in death], I may not be
found troublesome to any one.

Then shall I be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world shall
not see so much as my body. Entreat the Lord for me, that by these
instruments I may be found a sacrifice to God.

I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were
apostles of Jesus Christ, but I am the very least [of believers]: they
were free, as the servants of God; while I am, even until now, a
servant. But when I suffer, I shall be the freed-man of Jesus Christ,
and shall rise again emancipated in Him. And now, being in bonds for
Him, I learn not to desire anything worldly or vain.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ignatius-of-antioch/allow-me-to-fall-a-prey-to-the-wild-beasts/
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