apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

THE GENUINENESS. 365
Moreover the geographical position of these three cities explains
other incidents in the narrative. We find that Ephesus sent to Smyrna
its bishop Onesimus with four other delegates {Ephcs. i, 2), and that
Magnesia was represented by its bishop Damas and three others {Magn.
2), while Tralles despatched only a single representative, the bishop
PolybiuH {Trail, i).
The number of the delegates thus decreases with
the distance of the places from Smyrna, the order of proximity being
Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles. These several arrangements would be
dictated by convenience (comp. Philad. 10, Polyc. 8, for similar cases).
But the facts are ascertained from the three several letters ; they are not
put into juxtaposition by the author nor is there
; any indication of the
relative positions of the three places.
The personal relations also in these epistles yield results not less
striking than the geographical notices. It is very rarely that a forger in
these ancient times has undertaken a fiction of such magnitude and
variety without falling
into the most violent anachronisms and contradictions.
Not only
is there nothing of this kind in our Ignatian
letters, but all the incidental and allusive notices agree in a striking
way ; and, so far as we are able to apply this test to them, they are in
entire harmony with the external conditions of time and place.
The martyr has passed through Philadelphia and Sardis in the
manner indicated, and so he arrives at Smyrna. Here he receives
delegacies from Ephesus, Magnesia, and Tralles ;
and in recognition
of this welcome he writes letters to these three churches. In addition
he writes also to Rome, apprising the Roman Christians that he is on
his way and may be expected shortly.
Of the Ephesian delegacy five persons are mentioned by name
{Ephes. 2), including the bishop Onesimus, who is referred to more
than once in the letter to the Ephesians {Ephes. i, 5, 6)'.
Of two
others likewise, Burrhus and Crocus, he has something to say.
Crocus
is commended as having refreshed him greatly. Accordingly, writing
to the Romans from Smyrna, he especially mentions among the
Ephesians who were with him, and whom he used as his amanuenses.
Crocus ' that name beloved by me.' Probably he was dictating to
(63 miles) is given to me by Prof. Ramsay Ignatius is the Onesimus of S. Paul, and
as an approximate estimate, the railway accordingly finds an anachronism in these
being much longer. epistles. He seems to have overlooked
^
The name Onesimus was not un- the Onesimus of Melito, whose existence
common in the ranks of society from shows the frequency of the name and
which the Christians were chiefly re- therefore the futility of his argument
cruited ;
see below, 11. p. 32. Daille respecting the Ignatian Onesimus.
(p. 316) assumes that the Onesimus of