apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

THE CURETONIAN LETTERS. 285
some length (p. 249 sq). Thirdly, he collects together with great assiduity
the passages in earlier critics (before the discovery of the Syriac
letters) in which objections were raised against the genuineness of the
Ignatian Epistles, as an argument in his favour, failing to see that, if
valid, they would tell equally against the Curetonian letters as against
the Vossian. If a larger number of these affect the Vossian letters
than the Curetonian, the ratio is
only proportionate to the greater
length of the former so that the
; previous history of the controversy
does not really afford any presumption in favour of the Curetonian
letters as against the Vossian.
So much for his method. His results will be canvassed and (as I
venture to believe) refuted in the following pages. In the earlier
stages of the controversy indeed, it seemed as if they were in a fair
way to obtain general acceptance. A large number of influential
names, especially in Germany, was enlisted in their favour. This was
not unnatural. The Ignatian letters had long lain under the suspicion
of interpolation ;
and here was a sudden discovery which appeared to
confirm this opinion. Hence it was taken up with avidity, as offering
the desired solution of the Ignatian question. The extreme partisanship
of Cureton and Bunsen indeed would repel some minds ;
but the
more moderate advocacy of Lipsius, whose first treatise is the ablest
work on this side, commended itself by its impartiality and did much
to strengthen the cause. But the tide has altogether turned within
the last few years. The phenomena of the Armenian version and of
the Syriac fragments, which, though emphasized by Petermann (1849),
Denzinger (1849), and Merx (1861), were slurred over by the advocates
of the Curetonian letters in the first instance, have at length
asserted their imj ortance as a main factor in the settlement of the
question. Zahn's work Ignatms von Antiochieti (1873) — quite the
most important contribution to the solution of the Ignatian question
which has appeared since Cureton's discovery — dealt a fatal blow at the
claims of the Curetonian letters. Since the appearance of this work,
no serious champion has come forward to do battle for them. Lipsius
{Uebcr den Ur sprung des Christennamens p. 7, 1873; Zeitschr. fiir
wissensch. Theol. xvii. p. 209 sq, 1874 Jenaer Literatnrzeitung
;
13 Januar 1877, p. 22) has recanted his former opinion and finds
himself no longer able to maintain the priority of the Curetonian
letters'. He states that he had misgivings even while his second
^
The author oi Supernatural Religion Feb. 1875, p. 340) from the language of
(l. p. xxvi sq, ed. 6) takes me to task Lipsius that ' having at one time mainbecause
I inferred {Contemporary Review, tained the priority and genuineness of the