apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

SPURIOUS AND INTERPOLATED EPISTLES. 263
problem has been complicated by new discoveries. Not only have
shorter recensions of the Ignatian Epistles come to light, but the Apostolic
Constitutions also have been discovered in a briefer form. Such
a form of the first six books of the Constitutions in Syriac was published
in 1854 by Lagarde [DidascaUa Apostolorutn Syriace), and with
the help of the larger document he re-translated them into Greek
(Bunsen's Anal. Afttenic. 11. p. 35 sq).
As in the case of the Ignatian
Epistles, so here also it is a question of dispute whether the Greek is an
enlargement from the short form represented by the Syriac, as maintained
by Lagarde {Rel. Jur. Eccl. Graec. pp. iv, Zahn Ivi), (/. v. A.
p. 145 sq), and others, or whether on the other hand the Syriac is an
abridgment of the longer form extant in the Greek, which is the opinion
of Bickell {Geschichte des Kirchenrechts i.
p. 148 sq) and others. For
reasons however which will appear hereafter, we may Avaive this question,
and address ourselves to the investigation whether the Ignatian
writer is indebted to the author of the Constitutions or conversely, or
whether (according to Ussher's theory) the two are the work of one hand.
The result of such an investigation is to estabHsh the priority of the
Apostolic Constitutions. In one passage {Trail. 7) the Ignatian writer
accidentally betrays the source of his obligations. He enjoins reverence
for the bishop 'according as the blessed Apostles ordained (01 fx-aKapioL
SLerdiavTo aTroo-roXot) for you'. The reference is to Apost. Const, ii. 20
(see below, iii. p. 155). If indeed this allusion had stood alone, we
might have felt doubtful about the correctness of the inference. But
there is no lack of passages showing on which side the indebtedness
lies. Thus in Apost. Const, ii. i it is stated that Josias began his
righteous reign when he was eight years old; but in Magn. 3, which
partly copies the language of Apost. Const, ii. i, he is apparently represented
as only eight years old when he extirpated the idolatries, and in
Mar. Ign. 4 accordingly he is
spoken of as 'hardly able to speak' and
as 'still lisping with his tongue' at this time, though the Biblical
chronology makes him twenty years old. The Ignatian writer has been
misled by the passage in the Constitutions and has not referred to his
Bible to correct his misapprehension (see in. p. 143). So again in
Magn. 4 the false Ignatius, after mentioning Absalom, states that
Abeddadan lost his head for a like reason. The statement is inexplicable
in itself; but turning to Apost. Const, vi. 2, we find that the
tersuchungc'u ii. i. p. 241 sq (1884). For sher's opinion as to maintain that the
reasons why I am unable to accept his two works issued from the same school,
results, see below, p. 265, note 2.
if not from one and the same hand '
(Ig-
'
Bunsen also so far acquiesces in Us- natius v. Antiochien etc. p. 206).