It is beyond doubt that Ignatius speaks of the Roman church in ways he simply does not speak of any church. Most significantly, he speaks of her as one who teaches, confirms, instructs, and enjoins other churches, and as one not only deserving of, but indeed gifted with, unique honors and graces both from God, and the other churches. Ignatius thus serves as one of the earliest witnesses to the primacy of the Roman church.
Read MoreIn short, this Ignatian epistle, like the others, shows that he had a high view of Church authority; he considers obedience to a hierarchical structure of bishops, priests, and deacons to be obedience to Christ; he believes that this obedience is an inherent part of eucharistic communion; and that he believed obedience to these ministers provided strong protection against falling into heresy.
Read MoreIn short, in this epistle, like the others, Ignatius of Antioch, a man who knew and was discipled by some of the Apostles himself, and barely 75 years after the death and Resurrection of Christ, took the authority of the Church very seriously, and took the tri-partite structure of Bishop, priests, and deacons for granted within the Catholic Church.
Read MoreIn short, in this one epistle to the Ephesians, we see Ignatius of Antioch articulate the basics of fundamentally Catholic ideas of hierarchical authority, Church unity, eucharistic communion, and the authority of Scripture alongside living apostolic tradition.
Read MoreHow one of the earliest Church Fathers who knew the Apostles, and wrote some letters barely 75 years after Christ’s death, changed my life forever.
Read MoreThere has never been a “small ‘c’” catholic church. Only a “Big ‘C’” Catholic Church. The Church Fathers prove it.
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