Ignatius of Antioch

A Gentile Christian and rumored to be Peter's second successor in Syrian Antioch, he wrote seven letters that are extant, but various recensions exist in that. The letters of medium length are generally considered to be authentic. I. composed these letters on a journey to Rome to stand trial. Along the way various bishops asked for letters, and I. oblige six of these with an additional letter being sent along to Rome, this last of which asked the congregation there not to inhibit his martyrdom. His martyrdom is attested by Polycarp, Origen, and Eusebius. Though there is no certainty about the date of his birth or death, there is little doubt he was near in time to the Apostles.

Drobner identifies three main areas of his thought that had effect over time. 1) I. warned against a form of docetism by making clear the assertion that the incarnation, death, resurrection, and presence in the Eucharist of Christ are not appearance but substantial reality. 2) He affirmed the unity of God, which played into later Trinitarian theology. Additionally, he argued that the church hierarchy of bishops, presbyters, and deacons ought to follow the pattern of the hierarchy in the Trinity, with harmony as the main goal. 3) The yearning for martyrdom was especially important to I., in imitation of Christ. I's letters quickly disseminated throughout the Mediterranean world and were known by other early church fathers.