apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

342 EPISTLES OF S. IGNATIUS.
taken from the Long Recension. With these we are not concerned. The
fact is
only mentioned here as illustrating the deliberate confusion with
which Daille has been charged above (p. 331, note). Of the rest the
most important
is the description of Jesus Christ in Magn. 8, as God's
'
Eternal Word, not having proceeded from silence.' Though
this expression
does not directly contradict the Valentinian doctrine, as will
be shown hereafter, yet it contradicts closely allied views, and might
not unnaturally, though not necessarily, have been quoted by Irenasus
against his opponents. But, as Ignatius wrote the passage, both the
epithet and the negative were absent, so that the expression runs ' His
Word having proceeded from silence.' Such language would certainly
have been shunned by Irengeus, as approaching dangerously near to
the very views which he was combating, and might even have led
him to avoid directly quoting the doctrinal teaching of the Ignatian
letters.
Asia Minor and Gaul were closely related both politically and ecclesiastically,
as mother and daughter. Irengeus had been educated in the
one country, and had migrated to the other. His testimony therefore
represents both regions. But we have also independent evidence alike
from Asia Minor and from Gaul during his life-time.
The Letter of the Smyrn^eans, giving the account of the Martyrdom
of Polycarp (a.d. 155 or 156), shows an acquaintance with the
Ignatian Epistles. The coincidences in the two passages quoted above
(p. 137) cannot be accidental. On the latter no stress can be laid, as
it occurs in a portion of the document which may be a later addition ;
but the former remains unassailable. Besides these there are other resemblances
not unimportant. Thus § 2
'They that were condemned
to the wild beasts endured dreadful tortures (KoXao-ets)...
for the devil
(o 8ta/oXo9) devised many things against them,' may be compared with
Rom. 5
'
Let evil tortures of the devil (KoAao-ets toS Sta/dA.ou) attack me,
etc.'; and § 6 'that he might make perfect his own lot (tov tStov KXrjpov
'
dirapTLarj) with Philad. 5 Your prayer shall make me perfect (aTrapTto-et)
'
unto God that I may obtain the lot {kX^pw) wherein I found mercy.'
So also the expression in § 7 OeoTrpeirrj Trpea/SvTTiv reminds us of Smyrn.
12 ^coTTpcTres TTpeo-^vrepiov. Again the account of Polycarp's moral attitude
§ 7 TO eva-TaOh corresponds with Ignatius' charge to this same
person Po/yc. 4 evardOei, and the description of his final achievement
§ 1 7 eWec^avoj/AeVov tov t^s d