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ishop of Antioch in the opening decades of the second century, Ignatius was arrested and sent under guard to Rome for execution. En route, he stopped at Smyrna where he penned letters to the churches at Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, and Rome, and then again at Troas whence he wrote to the congregations at Philadelphia and Smyrna as well as to his friend Polycarp. In these seven epistles, one encounters a man whose thought is deeply centered on Christ: "As for me, my charter is Jesus Christ, the inviolable charter is his cross and his death and his resurrection, and faith through him." Against any tendencies to de- or undervalue the full deity or humanity of Christ, he asserts that Christ is both unborn and born, both capable of suffering and impassable. He teaches that in order to save humanity from the despotism of the prince of this world, God sent the prophets to prepare it for Christ, who is the fulfillment of their prophesies and expectations. This can sometimes go beyond the view that Judaism was an important but antiquated stage in preparation for the Christian church to actively anti-Jewish sentiments such as that it is "monstrous to talk of Jesus Christ and to practice Judaism." Ignatius develops a type of Christ mysticism, an imitation of Christ, that is practiced by conforming oneself not only to Christ's teaching but more so to his passion and death (making martyrdom the perfect imitation of Christ). And not only does Christ inhabit the souls of believers so that they may properly be called bearers of God or of Christ, but they are one with him as well, thus breaking any individualism and linking all the faithful together by divine union. To emphasize the latter point further, Ignatius holds that the imitation of Christ can occur only in the worshipping Church, where all are obedient to their bishop, who is Christ's representative, the high priest of the liturgy, and who, by his teaching, is a necessary bulwark against any error or heresy.
Notes prepared by Kevin Dodd, PhD
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Chap. V. The Duties of Husbands and Wives
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Flee evil arts; but all the more discourse in public regarding them. Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit. In like manner also, exhort my brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as the Lord the Church. If any one can continue in a state of purity, to the honour of Him who is Lord of the flesh, let him so remain without boasting. If he begins to boast, he is undone; and if he reckon himself greater than the bishop, he is ruined. But it becomes both men and women who marry, to form their union with the approval of the bishop, that their marriage may be according to God, and not after their own lust. Let all things be done to the honour of God.
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