Smyrnaeans is one of seven epistles attributed to Ignatius that are generally accepted as authentic. In 5th century, this collection was enlarged by spurious letters.[1]
It is clear that Smyrnaeans was written soon before the martyrdom of Ignatius, but it is uncertain when precisely this martyrdom occurred. Tradition places the martyrdom of Ignatius in the reign of Trajan, who was emperor of Rome from 98 to 117 AD. While many scholars accept the traditional dating of Ignatius' martyrdom under Trajan, others have argued for a somewhat later date. Richard Pervo dated Ignatius' death to 135-140 AD,[2] and BritishclassicistTimothy Barnes has argued for a date some time in the 140s AD.[3]
The epistle mentions the resurrection of Jesus: "Now, he suffered all these things for our sake, that we might be saved. And he truly suffered, even as he truly raised himself up; not as certain unbelievers say, that he suffered in semblance, they themselves only existing in semblance" (2:1a). The term translated "semblance" is the Greek word "dokein" (δοκεῖν, "to seem"). This word is that from which the heresy of docetism (the heresy that the body of Jesus was merely a projected illusion) got its name. The primary purpose of the letter to the Smyrnaeans is to counter those who make the claims of docetism.
To counter the teaching of the docetists, who claimed that Jesus did not come in the flesh, Ignatius wrote the first 7 sections demonstrating the real incarnation of Jesus, thus saying about the Eucharist: "They [the docetists] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes" (7:1).
The letter is also the earliest recorded evidence of the use of the term "Catholic Church.” Saint Ignatius, who wrote some 900 years before the Great Schism, uses the term "Catholic" to mean the "Universal Church" (as the term “Catholic” comes from the Greek katholikos, meaning “universal”).
^"CHURCH FATHERS: Spurious Epistles (Ignatius of Antioch)". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
^Pervo, Richard I.The Making of Paul: Constructions of the Apostle in Early Christianity. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. pp. 134–135. ISBN978-0-8006-9659-7.
^Barnes, Timothy D. (December 2008), "The Date of Ignatius", The Expository Times, 120 (3): 119–130
External linksedit
Greek text of the Letter to the Smyrnaeans
Works related to Epistle to the Smyrnaeans at Wikisource
Online text
April 08, 2024
epistle, ignatius, smyrnaeans, often, simply, called, smyrnaeans, epistle, from, circa, attributed, ignatius, antioch, second, century, bishop, antioch, addressed, early, christians, smyrna, contents, composition, content, also, references, external, linkscomp. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans often simply called Smyrnaeans is an epistle from circa 110 A D attributed to Ignatius of Antioch a second century bishop of Antioch addressed to the Early Christians in Smyrna Contents 1 Composition 2 Content 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksComposition editSee also Ignatius of Antioch Epistles Smyrnaeans is one of seven epistles attributed to Ignatius that are generally accepted as authentic In 5th century this collection was enlarged by spurious letters 1 It is clear that Smyrnaeans was written soon before the martyrdom of Ignatius but it is uncertain when precisely this martyrdom occurred Tradition places the martyrdom of Ignatius in the reign of Trajan who was emperor of Rome from 98 to 117 AD While many scholars accept the traditional dating of Ignatius martyrdom under Trajan others have argued for a somewhat later date Richard Pervo dated Ignatius death to 135 140 AD 2 and British classicist Timothy Barnes has argued for a date some time in the 140s AD 3 Content editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed June 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message The epistle mentions the resurrection of Jesus Now he suffered all these things for our sake that we might be saved And he truly suffered even as he truly raised himself up not as certain unbelievers say that he suffered in semblance they themselves only existing in semblance 2 1a The term translated semblance is the Greek word dokein dokeῖn to seem This word is that from which the heresy of docetism the heresy that the body of Jesus was merely a projected illusion got its name The primary purpose of the letter to the Smyrnaeans is to counter those who make the claims of docetism To counter the teaching of the docetists who claimed that Jesus did not come in the flesh Ignatius wrote the first 7 sections demonstrating the real incarnation of Jesus thus saying about the Eucharist They the docetists abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ which suffered for our sins and which the Father of His goodness raised up again They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes 7 1 The letter is also the earliest recorded evidence of the use of the term Catholic Church Saint Ignatius who wrote some 900 years before the Great Schism uses the term Catholic to mean the Universal Church as the term Catholic comes from the Greek katholikos meaning universal See also edit nbsp Christianity portal nbsp Catholicism portalChristianity in the 1st century Christianity in the 2nd century Early centers of Christianity Early Christianity History of early Christianity List of Patriarchs of AntiochReferences edit CHURCH FATHERS Spurious Epistles Ignatius of Antioch www newadvent org Retrieved 2020 09 19 Pervo Richard I The Making of Paul Constructions of the Apostle in Early Christianity Minneapolis MN Fortress Press pp 134 135 ISBN 978 0 8006 9659 7 Barnes Timothy D December 2008 The Date of Ignatius The Expository Times 120 3 119 130External links editGreek text of the Letter to the Smyrnaeans nbsp Works related to Epistle to the Smyrnaeans at Wikisource Online text Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans amp oldid 1211662110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
