apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

IGNATIUS THE MARTYR.
3I
'AvTioxeto. eV/cXr/o-ta TrapeSwKey), whence this custom spread likewise
throughout all the churches'. This story is repeated also by later
writers, more especially Syrian; e.g. by Solomon of Bassora (Cureton
C. I. pp. 22 1, 251), by Gregory Barhebrteus {Pafr. Ant. 3, i. p. 42,
ed. Abbeloos et Lamy, Assem. Bibl. Or. ii." p. 399), by Nicephorus
Callistus {H. E. xiii. 8), and by Amr of Tirhani (Assem. Bibl. Orient.
II. p. 397). A tradition which appears so late does not deserve consideration,
as containing any element of historical fact ;
but it is a
matter of some little interest to speculate on its origin. It seems then
to be founded partly on the boast of Ignatius (Trail. 5) that he 'could
comprehend heavenly things, yea the arrays of the angels and the musterings
of the principalities,' and partly on his directions (not however
intended in this literal sense) to one and another church {Ej'hes. 4,
Rom. 2), that they should ' form themselves into a chorus ' and chant
to the Father through Jesus Christ. Antiphonal singing indeed did not
need to be suggested by a heavenly vision. It existed already among
the heathen in the arrangements of the Greek chorus. It
was practised
with much elaboration of detail in the psalmody of the Jevv's, as appears
from the account which is
given of the Egyptian Therapeutes'. Its
introduction into the Christian Church therefore was a matter of course
almost from the beginning"; and, when we read in Pliny {Epist. x. 97)
that the Christians of Bithynia sang hymns to Christ as to a god
(secum invicem), we may reasonably infer that the practice
limits of the Church of
'
'
alternately of antiphonal singing prevailed far beyond the
Antioch even in the time of Ignatius himself ^
The pitchy darkness, v/hich envelopes the life and
work of Ignatius,
is illumined at length by a vivid but transient flash of light. If his
martyrdom had not rescued him from obscurity,
he would have
remained, like his predecessor Euodius, a mere name, and nothing
more. As it is,
he stands out in the momentary light of this event, a
distinct and living personality, a true father of the Church, a teacher and
an example to all time.
It will be shown elsewhere (11. p. 377 sq) that the Martyrologies
of Ignatius cannot be accepted as authentic history. With these the
1
Philo de Vit. Cont. ir (11. p. 485)
^
See Hooker's Works 11. p. 164 sq,
elra (}5ov(n Treiroi-riixivov^ eh tow Qeov Harnack Christl. Geineindegottesdienst p.
vfjLvovi iroWols fierpois Kal fieXeai, rrj /xiv 22 1 sq.
(rvi>rjxovuT€s, TTj 8e avnipuivoLS apfio-
^ Theodoret, ZT. ^. ii.
24 (19), ascribes
viaL% imxeipoi'oiJ.ovPTes Kai iiropxov/jLevoi, this mode of singing to Flavianus and
Kal eirtdeid^ovTes Tore fxh to. Trpocrodia, Diodorus in the reign of Constantius.
Tore 5^ TO. ardaLiua, ffTpo(f)ds re ras tu But see the note of Valois on Socr. 1. c.
Xpei'a Kcd avricTTpo^ovs Trototy/cfcot k.t.X.