The Ignatian Epistles Entirely Spurious | Page 6

Professor Harnack, whilst
admitting the weight of much of the evidence adduced in these volumes,
scornfully refuses to acknowledge its relevancy. "Above all," says he,
"Lucian should be struck out. I confess I cannot imagine how writers
go on citing Lucian as a witness for the Epistles." [12:1] There is,
however, an old adage, "Any port in a storm:" and before the close of
this discussion it may perhaps be found that Lucian is as good a
harbour of refuge as can be furnished for the credit of the Ignatian
Epistles in the whole of the second century.
It is obvious that, even according to his own account of the history of
his present work, Dr. Lightfoot has not entered on its preparation under
circumstances likely to result in a safe and unprejudiced verdict. "I
never once doubted," says he in the preface, [13:1] "that we possessed
in one form or another the genuine letters of Ignatius." This is, however,
the very first point to be proved; and the bishop has been labouring
throughout to make good a foregone conclusion. No wonder that the
result should be unsatisfactory. If he has built on a false foundation,
nothing else could be expected. There is not, we are satisfied, a particle
of solid evidence to show that Ignatius of Antioch left behind him any
writings whatever. This may be deemed a very bold statement, but it is
deliberately advanced. I hope, in a subsequent chapter, to demonstrate
that it is not made without due consideration.

CHAPTER II.
THE TESTIMONY OF POLYCARP TO THE IGNATIAN EPISTLES
EXAMINED.
The Bishop of Durham affirms, in a passage already quoted, that "no
Christian writings of the second century, and very few writings of
antiquity, whether Christian or pagan, are so _well authenticated_" as
the Epistles attributed to Ignatius. This assuredly is an astounding

announcement, made deliberately by a distinguished author, whose
attention, for nearly thirty years, has been directed to the subject. The
letter of Polycarp to the Philippians is a writing of the second century,
and it is by far the most important witness in support of the Ignatian
letters; but we must infer, from the words just quoted, that it is not "so
well authenticated" as they are. It is difficult to understand by what
process of logic his Lordship has arrived at this conclusion. In an
ordinary court of law, the witness who deposes to character is expected
to stand on at least as high a moral platform in public estimation as the
individual in whose favour he bears testimony; but if the letter of
Polycarp is not "so well authenticated" as these Ignatian letters, how
can it be brought forward to establish their reputation? Nor is this the
only perplexing circumstance connected with this discussion. There
was a time when, according to his own statement in the present work,
Dr. Lightfoot "accepted the Curetonian letters as representing the
genuine Ignatius;" [15:1] and, of course, when he regarded as forgeries
the four others which he now acknowledges. In the volumes before us,
as if to make compensation for the unfavourable opinion which he once
cherished, he advances the whole seven of the larger edition to a
position of especial honour. The letter of Polycarp, the works of Justin
Martyr, the treatise of Irenaeus Against Heresies, and other writings of
the second century, have long sustained an honest character; but now
they must all take rank below the Ignatian Epistles. According to the
Bishop of Durham, they are not "so well authenticated."
In his eagerness to exalt the credit of these Ignatian letters, Dr.
Lightfoot, in his present publication, has obviously expressed himself
most incautiously. In point of fact, the letter of Polycarp, as a genuine
production of the second century, occupies an incomparably higher
position than the Ignatian Epistles. The internal evidence in its favour is
most satisfactory. It is exactly such a piece of correspondence as we
might expect from a pious and sensible Christian minister, well
acquainted with the Scriptures, and living on the confines of the
apostolic age. It has, besides, all the external confirmation we could
desire. Irenaeus, who was personally well known to the author, and
who has left behind him the treatise Against Heresies already
mentioned, speaks therein of this letter in terms of high approval.

"There is," says he, "a very sufficient Epistle of Polycarp written to the
Philippians, from which those who desire it, and who care for their own
salvation, can learn both the character of his faith and the message of
the truth." [16:1] Could such a voucher as this be produced for the
Epistles ascribed to Ignatius, and were the external evidence equally
satisfactory, it would be absurd to doubt their genuineness. But whilst
the internal evidence testifies against them, they are not