Number 52

Today marks the 52^nd one of these posts. That’s every week for a year, in sickness and health, for better or worse. Most weeks it’s pretty easy to find a topic. Other weeks, I’m up against my self-imposed deadline of “sometime Wednesday.” By a stroke of good fortune, or by the grace of God, depending on your world view, the topic for this week’s blog just sort of presented itself. Wednesday the 10^th of October is the feast day of one of the earliest Christian theologians: Ignatius of Antioch. Fitting, don’t you think, for a blog called Theological Musings?

Ignatius was bishop in Antioch, Syria around the year 50 AD and died in Rome somewhere between 98 and 117 A, depending on whose report you believe. One interesting legend about him was that he was one of the children Jesus picked up as described in Mark 9:35. Another, more credible story, is that his good friend and mentor Polycarp, another early martyr, knew John the Evangelist. Since we think John’s Gospel was written around 90 to 100 AD, this is very possible. His major writings are letters that address the nature and structure of the Church (ecclesiology), the sacraments, and the role of bishops. These letters were written after he was taken captive and was on the way to Rome to be martyred. They are apparently written hurriedly showing no particular plan and some inattention to good grammar.

Ignatius was the first bishop to present the idea that there should be a single bishop in each city or diocese and that his work should be supported by presbyters (priests or elders) and deacons. Earlier writings by others give the impression of more than one bishop per congregation. Ignatius’ idea became the model of the Christian Church until the Protestant Reformation attacked the idea of bishops even being necessary.

Ignatius was one of the first bishops to have taught the deity of Christ. “There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passible and then impassible, even Jesus Christ our Lord.” This idea was the stuff of several of the first Church Councils which spanned hundreds of years.

Here is a quick summary of his other ideas, largely new for his time:

• His view of the Eucharist was that it was the “medicine of immortality.” He believed it was the    “flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins.” 

• He desired martyrdom, and discouraging those who sought to rescue him, because he believed with salvation came an end to the fear of death.

• He argued in support of replacing the Jewish Sabbath with the Christian Lord’s Day in the face of some Christians who were still trying to incorporate Judaism into Christianity.

• He was very probably the first to apply the Greek word katholikos, meaning “universal” or  “complete” to describe the Church. He wrote, “Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful to baptize or give communion without the consent of the bishop. On the other hand, whatever has his approval is pleasing to God. Thus, whatever is done will be safe and valid.” Some suggest he wasn’t the first to use the word “catholic” but was simply using something he’d heard used. The evidence is skimpy, however.

So there you have it; an early theologian who helped set the pattern followed for centuries. Any chance my musings will do that? None. But, it’s still fun to write them.

Peace, Jerry