17 October
Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Martyr, c.107
After the Apostles, Ignatius was the second bishop of Antioch in
Syria. His predecessor, of whom little is known, was named Euodius.
Whether he knew any of the Apostles directly is uncertain. Little is
known of his life except for the very end of it. Early in the second
century (perhaps around 107 AD, during the reign of the Emperor
Trajan), he was arrested by the Imperial authorities, condemned to
death, and transported to Rome to die in the arena. By thus dealing
with a leader, the rulers hoped to terrify the rank and file.
Instead, Ignatius took the opportunity to encourage them, speaking
to groups of Christians at every town along the way. When the prison
escort reached the west coast of Asia Minor, it halted before taking
ship, and delegations from several Asian churches were able to visit
Ignatius, to speak with him at length, to assist him with items for
his journey, and to bid him an affectionate farewell and commend him
to the grace of God. In response he wrote seven letters that have
been preserved: five to congregations that had greeted him, en masse
or by delegates (Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Philadelphians,
and Smyrnaeans), one to the congregation that would greet him at his
destination (Romans), and one to Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and
disciple of the Apostle John.
His letters are available in several modern translations.
Perhaps the most accessible is the Penguin Paperback, EARLY
CHRISTIAN WRITINGS, translated by Maxwell Staniforth. The themes
with which he is chiefly concerned are (1) the importance of
maintaining Christian unity in love and sound doctrine (with
warnings against factionalism and against the heresy of Docetism --
the belief that Christ was not fully human and did not have a
material body or really suffer and die), (2) the role of the clergy
as a focus of Christian unity, (3) Christian martyrdom as a glorious
privilege, eagerly to be grasped.
He writes:
I am God's wheat, ground fine by the lion's teeth to be made
purest bread for Christ.
No early pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in
any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the
farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is
the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my
one desire. The time for my birth is close at hand. Forgive
me, my brothers. Do not stand in the way of my birth to real
life; do not wish me stillborn. My desire is to belong to God.
Do not, then, hand me back to the world. do not try to tempt
me with material things. Let me attain pure light. Only on my
arrival there can I be fully a human being. Give me the
privilege of imitating the passion of my God.
back |
October