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Bishop of Antioch Jesus – God and Man The Journey Toward Understanding Part Three: Behold the Man What are some of the ways Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the humanity of Christ in Chapter 9 of Epistle to the Trallians (pp38-41 in Nichols, For Us and For Our Salvation)? I. Ignatius of Antioch (d110s) A. Biography Bishop of Antioch Martyred c110 under Emperor Trajan B. Ignatius of Antioch’s Defense of the Incarnation 1. Ignatius of Antioch Against Docetism “Mary then did truly conceive a body which had God inhabiting it. And God the Word was truly born of the Virgin, having clothed Himself with a body of like passions with our own. He who forms all men in the womb, was Himself really in the womb, and made for Himself a body of the seed of the virgin, but without any intercourse of man. He was carried in the womb, even as we are, for the usual period of time; and was really born, as we also are; and was in reality nourished with milk, and partook of common meat and drink, even as we do. And when He had lived among men for thirty years, He was baptized by John, really and not in appearance; and when He had preached the Gospel three years, and done signs and wonders, He who was Himself the Judge was judged by the Jews, falsely so called, and by Pilate the governor; was scourged, was smitten on the cheek, was spit upon; He wore a crown of thorns and a purple robe; He was condemned; He was crucified in reality, and not in appearance, not in imagination, not in deceit. He really died, and was buried, and rose from the dead, …” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, Ch 10) • John 1:1 • John 1:14 1 14 In the beginning was the The Word became flesh Word, and the Word was with and made his dwelling among God, and the Word was God. us.” “[Christ was] truly begotten of God and of the Virgin…” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, Ch 9) “The Word … did dwell in flesh…” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrneans, Ch 2) 2. Ignatius of Antioch’s Defense of the Biblical Description of Christ’s Work If Christ is to be the Savior the Bible describes him to be, he must be fully human a. Defense of the Reality of Christ’s Sufferings “[They claim] He became a man iiinn aappppeeaarraannccee, that He did not in reality take unto Him a body, that He died iiinn aappppeeaarraannccee, and did not in very deed suffer.” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, Ch 10) “…certain unbelievers maintain, that He only seemed to suffer, .” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrneans, Ch 2) “… you must pray to God for them, if by any means they may be brought to repentance…” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrneans, Ch 4) “…if, as some that are without God, that is, the unbelieving, say, that He only seemed to suffer (they themselves only seeming to exist), then why am I in bonds?” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, Ch 10) “But as for me, I do not place my hopes in one who died for me in appearance, but in reality.” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, Ch 10) b. Defense of the Reality of Christ’s Resurrection “…He suffered truly … He truly rose again.” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrneans, Ch 2) • Luke 24:37 37 “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” • John 20:27 27“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” “…even as after the same manner His Father will so raise up us who believe in Him by Christ Jesus, apart from whom we do not possess the true life.” (Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, Ch 9) II. Irenaeus of Lyons (c115-c202) A. Biography • Born c115 near Smyrna, in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) John Polycarp Irenaeus Hippolytus • c150, sent to Gaul (modern France) as presbyter (elder); settled in Lugdunum (modern Lyons) • 170s, heresies seep into Gaul from Rome; Irenaeus sent to Rome to address the situation • 177, Emperor Marcus Aurelius began severe persecution of Christians in Gaul (Irenaeus was still in Rome) • 180s, Irenaeus returns to find majority Marcus of church martyred; made Bishop of Aurelius Lyons until martyrdom in 202 B. Irenaeus vs. Gnosticism Adversus Haereses Irenaeus’ magnum opus! Against Heresies A 5-volume critical examination of Gnosticism! 1. Irenaeus on Gnostic Claims to Authority Gnostics claimed to have “secret teaching” from John. Then why wouldn’t Irenaeus have been aware of this through Polycarp, John’s own disciple??? 2. Irenaeus on Gnostic Teachings on Creation Gnostics believed God could have no contact with God physical matter… … So God sent fort emanations Proarche Monotes Henotes from himself to do his dirty work for him Physical Matter Irenaeus Mocks, as long as we are “inventing” characters in our creation story, why not a gourd, or a cucumber? 3. Irenaeus on Gnostic Teachings on Christ and Redemption Gnostics believed the body is a “prison” from which the spirit must escape. Christ is a spiritual messenger, sent to show us the way out. a. Irenaeus’ View of Christ “[If the Apostles heard the heresies we have today,] they would at once stop their ears and flee as far off as possible, not enduring even to listen to the blasphemous address.” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, III.4) “Irenaeus is saying in the strongest language possible that the teachings of the Docetists and the Gnostics are diametrically opposed to the teachings of the Bible.” (Stephen J. Nichols, For Us and For Our Salvation, 31-32) “[The apostles proclaimed] the one Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was enfleshed [incarnated] for our Salvation.” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, I) b. Irenaeus’ View of Redemption Recapitulation Christ is a new source for humanity • Rom 5:12, 15-19 12[S]in entered the world through one man, an death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned . 15…[I]f the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Adam Our first representative or “federal head” Jesus Our new representative or “federal head” “[In Christ,] God recapitulated in Himself the ancient formation of man [Adam] that he might kill sin, deprive death of its power, and vivify man…” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, III.17.7) .
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