What are the Letters of Ignatius?

Response

The term “epistle” is essentially a synonym for “letter,” originating from the Greek root word meaning “to send.” The Letters of Ignatius, also known as the Epistles of Ignatius, comprise a series of letters penned by the early church father Ignatius of Antioch.

Ignatius of Antioch (also referred to as Theophorus, which translates to “God-bearer” in Greek) was born around AD 35 and passed away sometime in the second century. Various sources indicate his death as early as AD 107, while others suggest it occurred as late as 135. Ignatius served as the second or possibly the third bishop of Antioch in Syria. He is best recognized for seven letters composed in the Greek language during his journey as a prisoner to Rome, where he anticipated execution. Apart from the details found in the letters, little is known about him. Nevertheless, his widespread recognition among Christians of that era is evident from the warm reception and care he received from fellow believers throughout his travels.

The recipients of Ignatius’s seven letters were congregations situated in Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia, and Smyrna. The concluding letter was addressed to Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, who later compiled and circulated all of Ignatius’s letters as a collection.

The Letters of Ignatius contain admonitions against false doctrines and appeals for harmony. The epistolary style resembles that of Paul, with much of the content reflecting Ignatius’s application of apostolic/Pauline teachings to the circumstances of each church. Furthermore, the letters reveal the early stages of hierarchical structure within the church, surpassing what is outlined in the New Testament, with the role of bishop gaining prominence. In his letter to the Smyrnaean church (where Polycarp served as bishop), Ignatius wrote, “All of you must follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed the Father. Wherever the bishop is present, there should the congregation be, just as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the catholic [universal] church. It is not permissible to act independently of the church.”

The bishop was responsible for either baptizing or holding a love-feast.” Ignatius was the first to use the term Catholic to describe the universal church and the initial writer outside of the New Testament to mention the virgin birth (“Ignatius of Antioch: Earliest Post-New Testament Martyr,” www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/martyrs/ignatius-of-antioch.html, accessed 6/28/02). His letters also demonstrate that, from the beginning, the church upheld the belief in the deity of Christ and His resurrection. These teachings were not the product of gradually integrated legends but were part of Christian doctrine from the earliest days.

Apart from the seven letters mentioned earlier, there are several false epistles attributed to Ignatius. Three are solely in Latin: the Letter of Ignatius to St. John, the Epistle of Ignatius to the Virgin Mary, and the Letter from the Virgin to Ignatius. Six additional forgeries are present in certain Greek versions. These include letters to Mary of Cassobola, to the Tarsians, to the Philippians, to the Antiochenes, and to Hero. Each of the seven authentic letters has both a shorter and a longer version, but only the shorter versions are deemed genuine.