St Ignatius of Antioch - statement before his death

[ebdesroches]

St Ignatius of Antioch died in around the year 104. He lived far before the Catholic church was defined after the great schism in 1054.

Christianity, " he wrote, lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred . For my part, I am writing to all the churches and assuring them that I am truly in earnest about dying for God - if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way. I must implore you to do me no such untimely kindness; pray leave me to be a meal for the beasts, for it is they who can provide my way to God. I am his wheat, ground fine by the lions' teeth to be made purest bread for Christ

longings have been crucified; in me there is left no spark of desire for mundane things, but only a murmur of living water that whispers within me, Come to the Father . " 16 Ignatius embraced death, but not because he despised life. He embraced it because he recognized the existence, even while living in this age, of a life more abundant than that of this age

(He was owned by God)

 

[Runningman]

St Ignatius of Antioch died in around the year 104. He lived far before the Catholic church was defined after the great schism in 1054.

Christianity, " he wrote, lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred . For my part, I am writing to all the churches and assuring them that I am truly in earnest about dying for God - if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way. I must implore you to do me no such untimely kindness; pray leave me to be a meal for the beasts, for it is they who can provide my way to God. I am his wheat, ground fine by the lions' teeth to be made purest bread for Christ

longings have been crucified; in me there is left no spark of desire for mundane things, but only a murmur of living water that whispers within me, Come to the Father . " 16 Ignatius embraced death, but not because he despised life. He embraced it because he recognized the existence, even while living in this age, of a life more abundant than that of this age

(He was owned by God)

Curious that while in a Roman prison he would say this to his church, “…if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way.” Which only adds to my speculation that it was his local church itself that had turned him over to authorities, likely on false charges. The tone and content of this passage read a bit like a jab to me. He’s basically saying, “I win because I get to go be with God soon” and he likely got the final word in.

Just how I see it anyway.

 

[ebdesroches]

Curious that while in a Roman prison he would say this to his church, “…if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way.” Which only adds to my speculation that it was his local church itself that had turned him over to authorities, likely on false charges. The tone and content of this passage read a bit like a jab to me. He’s basically saying, “I win because I get to go be with God soon” and he likely got the final word in.

Just how I see it anyway.

Look at what confidence he had. He knew where he was going.

He is a another hero for me! An example to be followed.

For me even speaking up for Him is painful sometimes. I do even though its embarassing. I guess it is painful because I know the hearers won't accept it and usually alone in that opinion (for example that we should be Holy, we should have a clear conscience, ...).

I was told in a men's church meeting, 'Oh having a clear conscience is a Catholic idea!' No its a Biblical idea.

 

[Runningman]

Look at what confidence he had. He knew where he was going.

He is a another hero for me! An example to be followed.

For me even speaking up for Him is painful sometimes. I do even though its embarassing. I guess it is painful because I know the hearers won't accept it and usually alone in that opinion (for example that we should be Holy, we should have a clear conscience, ...).

I was told in a men's church meeting, 'Oh having a clear conscience is a Catholic idea!' No its a Biblical idea.

I definitely agree. Ignatius of Antioch is among my favorite early church writers. As you pointed out, he was not Catholic. He was just a Christian man we great faith and I’ve agreed with most of what I read by him so far.

And he wrote some pretty interesting things:

“I fear your kindness, which may harm me. You may be able to achieve what you plan. If you remain silent about me, I shall become a word of God. But if you allow yourselves to be swayed by the love in which you hold my flesh, I shall again be no more than a human voice.”

 

[ResidentAlien]

St Ignatius of Antioch died in around the year 104. He lived far before the Catholic church was defined after the great schism in 1054.

Christianity, " he wrote, lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred . For my part, I am writing to all the churches and assuring them that I am truly in earnest about dying for God - if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way. I must implore you to do me no such untimely kindness; pray leave me to be a meal for the beasts, for it is they who can provide my way to God. I am his wheat, ground fine by the lions' teeth to be made purest bread for Christ

longings have been crucified; in me there is left no spark of desire for mundane things, but only a murmur of living water that whispers within me, Come to the Father . " 16 Ignatius embraced death, but not because he despised life. He embraced it because he recognized the existence, even while living in this age, of a life more abundant than that of this age

(He was owned by God)

Sounds a little melodramatic.

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

St Ignatius of Antioch died in around the year 104. He lived far before the Catholic church was defined after the great schism in 1054.

Christianity, " he wrote, lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred . For my part, I am writing to all the churches and assuring them that I am truly in earnest about dying for God - if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way. I must implore you to do me no such untimely kindness; pray leave me to be a meal for the beasts, for it is they who can provide my way to God. I am his wheat, ground fine by the lions' teeth to be made purest bread for Christ

longings have been crucified; in me there is left no spark of desire for mundane things, but only a murmur of living water that whispers within me, Come to the Father . " 16 Ignatius embraced death, but not because he despised life. He embraced it because he recognized the existence, even while living in this age, of a life more abundant than that of this age

(He was owned by God)

Beautiful. A Martyr for Christ who loved the Lord God with his whole heart; to him surely applies the Promise of Christ Himself in Rev 2:10: "10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the Crown of Life." St. Ignatius, being a disciple of St. John the Apostle, would have known these words and taken them to heart. He trusted Christ as his Savior and gave his life for love of Him and fear of no one. A good example to us all.

God Bless.

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

Also, the reason he said "if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way" is not because he suspected any of betraying him but because, out of misguided love for him, they may want to save him from death and martyrdom, and thus the Heavenly Crown of Life that he knew Martyrs inherit in the Kingdom of God. That's why he wrote like that to them, but otherwise they loved him very much, and he also loved them in Christ, and that is clear and evident in his letters.

After the Apostle's Creed, St. Ignatius of Antioch is the first to mention the Catholic Church: "See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church."

Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm

 

[Lynx]

Paul expressed the same sentiment. (Roughly paraphrased) "If it was only for my sake I'd rather be outta here and in Heaven. But for your sakes it's better than I stay here for now, so I can teach you."

 

[Mission21]

"Go Forth and Set the World on Fire"..
---
- Quote from Ignatius.

 

[Eli1]

What a wonderful post.
Thank you for sharing !