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| Year of Faith - Icon, Crete |
COMMENT:
The very popular Letter of St. Ignattius of
Antioch gives me the idea of a compulsive writer. It is even more compulsive in
the ‘distraction’ to his pending martyrdom.
How explain compulsion of writing by unlikely so
many authors?
I should be asking, ‘how explain this Blog
writing?’ Does it serve a therapy or a hobby or any other purpose?
The interest comes to the fore, as e.g., today’s
connection to know more on the Seven Letters of Ignatius.
Donald
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The Letters of Ignatius of Antioch
The Letters of
Ignatius of Antioch
7. To Polycarp
The significance of these seven letters lies in
their being intimate, familiar, and popular. They do not, in the first
instance, reveal a set of ideas though they are not lacking in thoughtfulness.
Rather they reveal a man. So much of early Christian literature is impersonal
that it is refreshing to stumble upon letters reminiscent of the frank and
personal note of Paul’s correspondence.
The conditions under which Ignatius’ letters
were written did not make for careful reflection. They are the letters of a
prisoner on his way to martyrdom. Their religious character is popular rather
than deep. Their style is compressed and turbulent, reflecting the brusque and
impetuous nature of their author (Trall., ch. 4), as well as the irritation of
a captive subjected to brutality (Rom. 5:1). Their metaphors change with
alarming abruptness, and are often more striking than apt (Eph., ch. 9). Their
grammar is not free from carelessness. Yet for these very reasons they have a
peculiar value. They disclose a real person, expressing himself in the moment
of crisis, and so making clear the ruling passions of his life.
Our knowledge of Ignatius is confined almost
entirely to these letters.
