The Letters (Popular Patristics, 49)

An otherwise unknown second-century Christian, Ignatius was taken from Antioch to Rome in an imperial triumph, to be executed in the arena. He saw this triumphal proession as Christ s, as he went to a conquering death. As Christ s death brought about reconciliation between Jew and Gentile, Ignatius hoped that his death, united with Christ s, would bring about reconciliation within and among the churches to which he wrote. Two centuries later, when the Arian controversy further divided the Antiochene church, an unknown writer took on the persona of Ignatius to appeal for peace. As today the church is more than ever divided, Fr Stewart presents a fresh English version of both Ignatius and his imitator, with the Greek of Ignatius, and concise introductions to the letters. The most recent research on Ignatius is accessibly presented, and the first English version of the imitation Ignatius is here made available to students, to clergy, and to the people of God. Table of Contents Foreword 9 On Ignatius of Antioch 11 Ignatius Letter to the Ephesians 25 Ignatius Letter to the Magnesians 41 Ignatius Letter to the Trallians 53 Ignatius Letter to the Romans 63 Ignatius Letter to the Philadelphians 75 Ignatius Letter to the Smyrneans 85 Ignatius Letter to Polycarp 97 On Pseudo-Ignatius 107 Correspondence of Pseudo-Ignatius and Mary of Cassosbola 131 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Trallians 137 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Magnesians 147 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Tarsians 157 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Philippians 163 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Philadelphians 173 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Smyrneans 183 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Polycarp 191 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Antiochenes 195 Ps-Ignatius Letter to Hero 203 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Ephesians 209 Ps-Ignatius Letter to the Romans 223 Appendix 1: Other Antiochene material relating to Ignatius 229 Appendix 2: The additional Latin letters of the Long Recension 251 Further Reading 255