The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Summary

The Epistle to the Philadelphians was written c. 107–110 AD by St. Ignatius from Troas, after he had passed through Philadelphia in Asia Minor. Its urgent concern is unity against schism: the faithful are to gather around the one bishop, the one altar, and the one Eucharist, and to shun those who would divide the Church or drag it back into Judaizing.

Historical Context

During his brief stay in Philadelphia, Ignatius had evidently encountered division and the pull of Judaizing teachers. Writing back from Troas, he recalls crying out among them “with a loud voice, the voice of God: Give heed to the bishop, and to the presbytery and deacons.” He commends their deacon Philo and others who ministered to him, and warns against any who set themselves apart from the bishop’s assembly.

Theological Significance

  • One Bishop, One Altar, One Eucharist: Ignatius gives the classic rule of Eucharistic unity: “Take heed, then, to have but one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup … one altar, as there is one bishop.” Orthodox ecclesiology still locates the Church’s oneness in the single Eucharistic assembly around its bishop.

  • Schism as the Great Danger: He warns that “if any man follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Division from the bishop’s Eucharist is, for Ignatius, division from Christ Himself.

  • Christ over the Archives: Confronted by those who would trust only what is written “in the archives” (the Old Testament), Ignatius answers that for him the “archives” are Jesus Christ—His cross, death, and resurrection. Scripture is read through the living Christ handed down in the Church, the seed of what would become Holy Tradition.

  • The Gospel as Fulfilment: He honours the prophets, “but the Gospel is the perfection of immortality”—the Old Covenant is good, yet finds its completion in the coming of the Bridegroom.

  1. 0. Greeting
  2. 1. Praise of the bishop
  3. 2. Maintain union with the bishop
  4. 3. Avoid schismatics
  5. 4. Have but one Eucharist, etc.
  6. 5. Pray for me
  7. 6. Do not accept Judaism
  8. 7. I have exhorted you to unity
  9. 8. The same continued
  10. 9. The Old Testament is good: the New Testament is better
  11. 10. Congratulate the Antiochans on the close of the persecution
  12. 11. Thanks and salutation

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia, in Asia, which has obtained mercy, and is established in the harmony of God, and rejoices unceasingly in the passion of our Lord, and is filled with all mercy through his resurrection; which I salute in the blood of Jesus Christ, who is our eternal and enduring joy, especially if (men) are in unity with the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons, who have been appointed according to the mind of Jesus Christ, whom He has established in security, after His own will, and by His Holy Spirit.