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Christ, but as directly connected with the Father, Who, to him, is the Creator, and in the
ultimate analysis, salvation relates to Him, the Father, Whom he describes as the "Father
of the world", an unscriptural expression and quite contrary to John 1: 11, 12.
Only the redeemed can claim God and say "Abba", "my Father". Salvation, according
to this writer, can only be had by obeying God, keeping humble, and doing His will.
When we bear in mind that all this was written within some 40 years of the good deposit
of Truth being made known through the Apostle Paul, we can surely see how quickly the
fundamental Truths were lost.
No.2.
The Epistles of Ignatius.
pp. 143 - 146
Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, lived early in the second century. He was condemned to
death and taken to Rome to be thrown to the lions in the Coliseum. As he passed through
Asia, he was met by groups of Christians at Philadelphia and Smyrna, and the churches
of Tralles, Magnesia and Ephesus sent delegations to greet him at Smyrna. To all these
churches he sent letters of acknowledgment, urging them to avoid heresy and stand by
their bishops. There are seven letters in all, which have had a chequered history, having
been reduced in Syriac to three greatly abbreviated ones, and, on the other hand, in Greek
and Latin having been increased by the addition of six or more spurious letters.
Eusebius, the historian, in 326A.D., gives the list of seven epistles, and these, it is
generally agreed, are the original collection. Eusebius tells us that Ignatius was martyred
in the Coliseum in 107-108A.D., though modern scholarship gives 110-117A.D., as more
likely to be the true date.
Examining these writings from the standpoint of the truth as revealed in the Pauline
epistles, what do we find? First of all, there is no doubt that Ignatius whole-heartedly
believed the Deity of Christ:
". . . . . God became incarnate, true life in death, sprung from Mary and from God . . .
Jesus Christ our Lord" (Eph.7:2).
"For our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived by Mary by divine dispensation, of the line
of David, and of the Holy Spirit . . . . ." (Eph.18:2-3).
"I extol Jesus Christ, the God Who has given you such wisdom" (Smyrna1:1).
"For our God, Jesus Christ, is more plainly visible now that He is in the Father" (Rom.3:3).
In one passage, he uses the striking phrase "the blood of God" (Eph.1:1) and for him,
God can only be known through Jesus Christ:
"Jesus Christ will show you that I am telling the truth when I say this. He is the
unerring mouth by which the Father has spoken truly" (Rom.8:2).
". . . . . that the disobedient may be convinced that there is one God Who has
manifested Himself through Jesus Christ, His Son" (Mag.8:2).