Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians (often abbreviated Magnesians or Ign. Mag.) is an epistle attributed to Ignatius of Antioch, a second-century bishop of Antioch, and addressed to the church in Magnesia on the Maeander. It claims to have been written during Ignatius' transport from Antioch to his execution in Rome.^[1]

Composition

See also: Ignatius of Antioch § Epistles

Magnesians is one of seven epistles attributed to Ignatius that are generally accepted as authentic. In 5th century, this collection was enlarged by spurious letters.^[2]

It is clear that Magnesians was written soon before the martyrdom of Ignatius, but it is uncertain when precisely this martyrdom occurred. Tradition places the martyrdom of Ignatius in the reign of Trajan, who was emperor of Rome from 98 to 117 AD. While many scholars accept the traditional dating of Ignatius' martyrdom under Trajan, others have argued for a somewhat later date. Richard Pervo dated Ignatius' death to 135-140 AD,^[3] and British classicist Timothy Barnes has argued for a date some time in the 140s AD.^[4]

Background

The Magnesian and Trallian churches had sent their bishops, Polybius of Trallis and Damas, in company with two presbyters from Magnesia to meet Ignatius who was being held at the nearby port of Smyrna on his way to execution in Rome, and Ignatius writes his letter to thank the Magnesian church.^[5]

Content

The epistle calls for unity and submission in the church.^[6] Ignatius also cautions against "false doctrines." In particular, he attacks those Jewish Christians who continued to observe the Law of the Torah:

Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace.

— Ign. Mag. Chapter 8

He also advocates the idea that Christians should observe the Lord's Day every Sunday, rather than the Jewish Sabbath on Saturdays:

If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death... how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? (emphasis added)

— Ign. Mag. Chapter 9

References

1. H. Burn-Murdoch, Church, Continuity and Unity (Cambridge University Press, 2014) p. 120
2. "Spurious Epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch" at NewAdvent.org
3. Pervo, Richard I. The Making of Paul: Constructions of the Apostle in Early Christianity. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-0-8006-9659-7.
4. Barnes, Timothy D. (December 2008), "The Date of Ignatius", The Expository Times, 120 (3): 119–130, doi:10.1177/0014524608098730, S2CID 170585027
5. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 1.
6. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 3-5, 6-7