Ancient Christian Wisdom
I’ve just recently finished writing an essay for my Ancient History subject at uni, on Ignatius of Antioch. Here’s a quick intro to Ignatius:
Ignatius was a very early Christian bishop of the church in Antioch, Syria. By “very early” I’m talking around 100 AD! We learn about Ignatius through a number of letters he wrote to churches in the area of Asia minor (modern day Turkey). These letters were sent while he was under arrest and being transported to Rome, most likely to be executed. Although facing almost certain death, instead of seeking a way out, Ignatius actually sends a letter ahead of himself, asking the Christians in Rome to allow his sacrifice for Christ.
Grant me nothing more than to be poured out as an offering to God. (Ignatius, Romans 2:2)
While studying Ignatius’ letters I came across an amazing piece of theology that I thought I’d share. This isn’t anything new but was just a nice way of explaining why Jesus is so important. Here’s two quotes from Ignatius:
There is only one physician, who is both flesh and spirit, born and unborn, God in man, true life in death, both from Mary and from God, first subject to suffering and then beyond it, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Ignatius, Ephesians 7:2)
A bit of context: Ignatius is troubled by some docetic beliefs that are threatening the churches he writes to. Docetism is a belief that Jesus only appeared to be human, so Ignatius is combating this by affirming Jesus’ humanity.
Those who belong to the flesh cannot do spiritual things, nor can those who are spiritual do fleshly things, just as faith cannot do the things of unfaithfulness, nor unfaithfulness the things of faith. Moreover, even those things that you do according to the flesh are in fact spiritual, for you do everything in Jesus Christ.
(Ignatius, Ephesians 8:2)
It took me a little while for this to sink in so I’ll give you an explanation. What Ignatius is saying is that people of this world cannot do spiritual things, and vise versa.
Question: So how can we then have any hope of being united with God?
Answer: It is only through Jesus Christ, “who is both flesh and spirit”, who can bring us into a relationship with God!
This is nothing new, but is something that really struck me because of the way Ignatius described it. It’s especially interesting when it comes from a church bishop who is only some decades after Jesus himself!
If your interested, the essay I wrote is on the opponents of Ignatius. I also highly recommend reading his letters yourself!
Translations are from “The Apostolic Fathers” (Michael W. Holmes, 3rd ed.)
I’m a bit confused about who Ignatius is. I thought Paul wrote Ephesians and Romans..
Help me out.
Ok i just did a little research (Wikipedia). Did Ignatius write seceral letters of encouragement to various places, including Rome and Ephesus, but they weren’t included in the NT?
Yea, that’s right. His letters arn’t canonical because he’s just a bishop and wasn’t an apostle like Paul was. So it’s best to treat his letters like any modern day sermon, subject to criticism. He writes to some of the same places as Paul does but he’s writing roughly say 50 years later.