How do Unitarians respond to quotations from Ignatius of Antioch that seem to show Ignatius believes Jesus is God?
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Ignatius of Antioch is one of the Apostolic Church Fathers - one of 4 from whom we have significant writings (along with Pope Clement I, Polycarp of Smyrna, and Papias of Hierapolis).
Of the 4, the case for understanding Jesus as God amongst the Apostolic Church Fathers seems strongest with Ignatius (with the others, it seems weak, relying almost solely on a single textual variant in Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians, see here ). Ignatius' Letter to the Ephesians seems the strongest in this of his writings. Consider the greeting
> "The source of your unity and election is genuine suffering which you
> undergo by the will of the Father and of Jesus Christ, our God."
or section 7
> "There is only one physician — of flesh yet spiritual, born yet
> unbegotten, God incarnate"
or section 18
> "For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived by Mary"
or section 19
> "for God was revealing himself as a man"
How do Unitarians understand Ignatius' views - did he assert that Jesus was Almighty God, a god, or neither? Secondly, do Unitarians think his views are representative of the early Church?
Asked by Only True God
(6984 rep)
Jun 5, 2021, 04:47 PM
Last activity: Aug 14, 2022, 07:58 AM
Last activity: Aug 14, 2022, 07:58 AM