Epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch

by St. Ignatius of Antioch

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The epistles ascribed to Ignatius have given rise to more controversy than any other documents connected with the primitive Church. As is evident to every reader on the very first glance at these writings, they contain numerous statements which bear on points of ecclesiastical order that have long divided the Christian world; and a strong temptation has thus been felt to allow some amount of prepossession to enter into the discussion of their authenticity or spuriousness. There are, in all, fifteen Epistles which bear the name of Ignatius. These are the following: One to the Virgin Mary, two to the Apostle John, one to Mary of Cassobelæ, one to the Tarsians, one to the Antiochians, one to Hero, a deacon of Antioch, one to the Philippians; one to the Ephesians, one to the Magnesians, one to the Trallians, one to the Romans, one to the Philadelphians, one to the Smyrnæans, and one to Polycarp. It is now the universal opinion of critics, that the first eight of these professedly Ignatian letters are spurious. They bear in themselves indubitable proofs of being the production of a later age than that in which Ignatius lived. Supposing the letters of Ignatius and the account of his martyrdom to be authentic, we learn from them that he voluntarily presented himself before Trajan at Antioch, the seat of his bishopric, when that prince was on his first expedition against the Parthians and Armenians (A.D. 107); and on professing himself a Christian, was condemned to the wild beasts. After a long and dangerous voyage he came to Smyrna, of which Polycarp was bishop, and thence wrote his four Epistles to the Ephesians, the Magnesians, the Trallians, and the Romans. From Smyrna he came to Troas, and tarrying there a few days, he wrote to the Philadelphians, the Smymoeans, and Polycarp. He then came on to Neapolis, and passed through the whole of Macedonia. Finding a ship at Dyrrachium in Epirus about to sail into Italy, he embarked, and crossing the Adriatic, was brought to Rome, where he perished on the 20th of December 107, or, as some think, who deny a twofold expedition of Trajan against the Parthians, on the same day of the year A.D. 116.

Book Summary

This text presents the collected writings attributed to St. Ignatius of Antioch, a prominent early Christian bishop. It is composed of three distinct parts: a critical introduction discussing the history and authenticity of the letters; the seven epistles widely considered authentic; a collection of later, spurious epistles written in his name; and a traditional account of his martyrdom. The central themes woven throughout are the paramount importance of church unity under the bishop, the refutation of early heresies by affirming the true humanity and divinity of Christ, and a profound theology of martyrdom as the ultimate imitation of Christ.

Introduction and the Authentic Epistles

The introductory "FrontMatter" provides a scholarly overview of the complex history of the Ignatian letters. It explains that of the fifteen epistles bearing Ignatius's name, eight are universally rejected as later forgeries. Of the remaining seven, there exist a shorter and a longer Greek version, with the shorter form being accepted by most critics as more genuine. The introduction also details the 19th-century discovery of an even shorter Syriac version of three letters, which further fueled the debate. The seven authentic letters (to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians, Smyrnaeans, and to Polycarp) are primarily concerned with combating heresy and schism. Ignatius repeatedly exhorts the churches to maintain unity by submitting to their local bishop, presbytery, and deacons, famously comparing their harmony to the strings of a harp. He vehemently argues against Docetism—the belief that Christ only appeared to be human and to suffer—insisting on the reality of Christ's incarnation, suffering, and resurrection as the foundation of Christian faith. The Epistle to the Romans is unique in its focus, as Ignatius passionately pleads with the Roman church not to intervene and save him from his impending martyrdom, which he views as the ultimate act of discipleship and the path to attaining true life in God.

The Spurious Epistles

This section contains a collection of letters that are not considered genuine works of Ignatius but were attributed to him in later centuries. These include epistles to communities like the Tarsians and Philippians, to a deacon named Hero, and a legendary correspondence with the Apostle John and the Virgin Mary. These writings expand upon the themes of the authentic letters but often in a more developed and systematic theological manner. They contain more detailed arguments against a wider range of heresies, offer elaborate moral instructions on duties for husbands, wives, masters, and servants, and provide specific rules for church order. The letters to St. John and Mary, in particular, serve to anachronistically bolster Ignatius's authority by fabricating a direct personal connection to the apostolic circle, with Mary being depicted as a source of secret knowledge about Jesus.

The Martyrdom of Ignatius

The final section is a hagiographical account of Ignatius's final journey and death. It narrates his condemnation by the Emperor Trajan in Antioch and his subsequent transport to Rome to be executed in the amphitheater. The account portrays Ignatius as a courageous "soldier of Christ" who joyfully embraces his fate, seeing it as the perfection of his faith. Along his journey, he writes his epistles and encourages the churches. The narrative culminates in his arrival in Rome, where he calms the local Christians who wish to save him, and is thrown to the wild beasts, which quickly devour him as he had wished. The account concludes with his disciples gathering his few remaining relics and being comforted by a vision of Ignatius in glory, confirming his status as a blessed martyr and champion of the faith.