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Ignatius of Antioch

??CE-2ND century

  • His death is contested. Eusebius lists it as 108CE.
  • Richard Pervo dates his death to 140CE. He argues "Eusebius may have had an ideological interest in dating church leaders as early as possible, and asserting a continuous succession between the original apostles of Jesus and the leaders of the church in his day." His reason for the later date is because Ignatius quoted a work of the Gnostic Ptolemy, who became active only in the 130s.
  • Ignatius could be Peregrinus Proteus as written about by Lucian of Samosata. Who died during the Olympic games of 165CE.
  • The oldest surviving manuscripts contain 6 or 7 "original" epistles are from the 11TH century and it contains several of the pseudepigraphical letters.
  • John Calvin of the Calvinism movement (1509CE-1564CE) called the epistles "rubbish published under Ignatius' name."
  • William Dool Killen (1806CE-1902CE) published an essay in 1886 doubting the authenticity of the epistles attributed to Ignatius, labeling them as "entirely spurious."
  • Otto Zwierlein (1939CE-Present) supports the thesis of a forgery written around 170CE.
  • Ignatius pushed for a "monarchical episcopate" which was the standard by the time of Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 180CE).
  • Irenaeus (125CE-202CE) quotes a passage almost verbatim from the Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans but he doesn't cite Ignatius, which differs from his habit of giving proper attestation.
  • In the single surviving work of Polycarp. Chapter 9 treats Ignatius as dead. However, Chapter 13 treats him as alive.
  • Eusebius (an admitted liar) is the earliest source for the martyrdom taking place during the reign of Trajan.
  • Jerome (~342-345CE-420CE) is the first to mention lions.
  • John Chrysostom (347CE-407CE) is the first to say it took place at the Colosseum.
  • These details were not mentioned by Philo of Cilicia or Rheus Agathopus, who are claimed to be eyewitnesses and together, composed the Martyrium Ignatii. However, their authorship is in doubt and scholars who believe it is authentic often believe that it has been largely interpolated.
  • Dr. M. David Litwa provides evidence and arguments for dating Ignatius nearer to the mid-2ND century in his YouTube video: Ignatius of Antioch: Questioning the Traditional Date

Strange route to prison

  • He was taken from Antioch, in the province of Syria, to Asia Minor.
  • He was then taken to Smyrna, via a route that bypassed the cities of Magnesia, Tralles, and Ephesus, but passed through Philadelphia.
  • He was brought to Troas, where he boarded a ship bound for Neapolis in Macedonia.
  • He passed through the city of Philippi.
  • He was taken to Rome.

Ancient Antioch was near the Mediterranean Sea. The cheapest, fastest, and most direct route would have been by sea to Rome.

While being transferred, the soldiers allowed the chained Ignatius to meet with entire congregations of Christians. Numerous visitors and messengers were allowed to meet with him individually. Using these messengers, Ignatius sent six letters to nearby churches, and one to Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna.

Not only are the route and treatment odd, Stevan Davies points out "If Ignatius was in some way a donation by the Imperial Governor of Syria to the games at Rome, a single prisoner seems a rather miserly gift."

Similarities between
Ignatius and Peregrinus Proteus

  • Fascinated with martyrdom.
  • Christian background.
  • Gathered followers.
  • Utilized similar titles for their followers.
  • Imprisonment by Romans.
  • While imprisoned; Christians from all over Asia Minor came to visit them and brought them gifts.
  • While imprisoned; They sent letters as "Testamonies" to several Greek cities shortly before their deaths.