2.28. Ignatius

Third bishop of Antioch arrested in the reign of Emperor Trajan (A.D. 98-117). Taken by Roman soldiers to Smyrna, he was welcomed by Bishop Polycarp and received visitors from the churches at Ephesus, Magnesia, and Tralles. Ignatius wrote to two of the cities addressed by Paul (Ephesus, Rome) and to three of the cities among the seven churches of Revelation Rev. 2:1+-Rev. 3:1+ (Ephesus, Philadelphia, Smyrna). His letters cite both OT passages and the writings of Paul. Ignatius was a staunch opponent of Judaism’s emphasis upon earning favor with God through works and opposed Docetism. Ignatius was martyred in Rome (c. A.D. 108).¹

---

Notes

¹ Edwin M. Yamauchi, “Ignatius of Antioch,” in John D. Woodbridge, ed., Great Leaders of the Christian Church (Chicago, IL: Houghton Mifflin, 1993), 35-38.