Remembering Great Moments in Christian History

Remembering

Great Moments in Christian History

Ignatius, the third bishop of the church at Antioch, was arrested early in the second century. He was ordered to Rome to face execution for being a Christian.

On the way, he was able to visit a number of Christians. He wrote several letters that we have today. Eusebius, the father of church history, recorded that Ignatius was “brought through Asia under the strictest guard, strengthening the Christian community by speech and encouragement in every city where he stayed. He warned them in particular to be on guard against the heresies that were then first beginning to spring up” (Paul L. Maier, trans., Kregel, 1999, 123).

Ignatius had a lot to say about those who called themselves Christians yet doubted the reality of Christ. He pointed out that they stayed away from the Lord’s Supper because they doubted that in it was given the very body of Christ which suffered for sins and was raised from the dead by God the Father.

At the time of Ignatius’ arrest, there were Christians in positions of influence even with the Roman government. They could have pulled strings for him, to have his sentence commuted. However, he urged them not to do that.

Ignatius compared the soldiers guarding him to ten leopards. He said he was chained to them. “Their shameful deeds increase my discipleship,” he wrote, “but that does not justify me.” Then he looked ahead to the literal wild beasts that he knew were waiting in Rome. He continued, “May I benefit from those wild beasts that are ready for me, and I pray that they are prompt . . . May I envy nothing seen or unseen in gaining Jesus Christ. Let fire and cross, struggles with beasts, tearing bones apart, mangling of limbs, crushing of my whole body, and tortures of the Devil come upon me, if only I may attain to Jesus Christ” (Maier, tr., 123-124).

Ignatius was not being morbid. He was not bent on some quest for personal immortality. As he saw it, he could no more refuse to undergo martyrdom than the church could refuse to receive the Lord’s Supper. He was going to be united, bodily, with the Christ Who had died for him and rose again. Remember.

The Rev. Ken Schurb (Ph.D., History, Ohio State) is Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Moberly.  These features can be heard on KTCM, 97.3 FM at 7:00 on Wednesday mornings.