The letter to Smyrnaeans written by Ignatius is very important, because it mentions the Holy catholic church and Eucharist for the firs time, Clergy system. I read it both in Greek and in English thoroughly and reached the conclusion that it is 100% forgery by a pseudonym Ignatius! Because it is 100% opposite to the Bible teachings in all issues like the followings:
1) It distinguish between Episkope ( Overseer, Bishop) and Presbytero( Elders), while Bible teaches both are the same as we read Acts 20:17 Elders 20:28 Overseers( Episkope) and many more verses. Paul wrote letters to Timothy ( 1Tim 3:1-7) and Titus (1:5-9) meaning both Episkope and Presbyro are the same.
2) Use Singular for Episkope above multiple elders but Philippians 1:1 says Plural Episkope in a singular church. Paul and Sila preached Gospel and established the church each town, then appointed plural elders ( No pastor, No Bishop, No priest, No minister) in a single church (Acts 14:23). Even in the Heaven of the Revelation, 24 Elders are the supreme and Apostle John called one of them < Lord> ( 7:13-14) and tried to bow down to him, then the Elder said to John < Don’t do that because I am a fellow servant with you (Rev 19:10). So, Elders are the highest leaders in the church and they are called Episkope (Overseers) as well. But Catholics invented a new office by translating Episkope as Bishop and placed Bishop above Elder, which is the Clergy system called Nicolaitans hated by Jesus (Rev 2:6, 15)
3) It teaches Episkopes are above Elders, but Apostle Peter was an elder( 1 Peter 5:1) and Apostle John was Elder too( 2 John 1, 3John 1). In that case which Episkope ( Bishop) was above John or Peter? Ignatius is said to be a Bishop in Antioch. Then Ignatius and Polycarp were in the level of Bishops, while Peter and John were Elders, lower than the class of Ignatius and Polycarp? NONESENSE!
4) Jesus taught < Wherever 2-3 gather together in the name of Jesus, He will be there ( Mt 18:20) That is the fundamental truth of the church, but the Letter says < wherever the Bishop appears, let the people gather together> This is replacing Jesus with Bishop, the clergy system which is unbiblical as all Born Again Believers are the priests offering the Blood of Jesus by believing and remembering it, to God. So, the Letter oppose to the Bible
5) Letter says only the Bishop can baptize the people, but Philip was a deacon but he baptized Ethiopian Eunuch ( Acts 8:35-39).
6) It uses Flesh instead of Body, word Eucharist without explanation, which means such terminology were known to the church people after they were well established and understood, after some centuries later.
7) It emphasizes Bishop's authority too much without mentioning his duty of humbleness and meekness as Peter mentioned in 1 Peter 5:2-3.
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
8) The existing copies are dating back only to 11 century and only 3-4 manuscripts survive, which are too few to prove the veracity of them, While New Testament Bible has 5,366 manuscripts, some dating back to 2nd century, many by 5-6 century, Vatican Codex around 350AD. Matthew has over 1000 manuscripts, Mark 620, John 910, Acts 800, which are enough to verify the veracity of the manuscripts. Latin manuscripts are 9,200. Moreover, many families of the manuscripts are different and various!
On the other hand, the letters of Ignatius have so much, way, way too poor for supporting and surviving manuscripts. And they date back only to 11th century after the Catholic system such as Holy Catholic, Eucharist, Bishop has been well established.
So, the conclusion is that the letter to Smyrnaeans by Ignatius was doctored in 11th century by Pseudonym Ignatius, based on a few fragments of the genuine Letter of Ignatius to Smyrnaeans dating back to fifth century, and it has no value for the word Catholic Church and Eucharist, and Bishop-Elder clergy system.
Catholic Church was started by Cornelius and the apostates in October 251AD- after the death of emperor Decius in June 251AD at the battle of Abritus Moesia( Bulgria) near Danube- in opposition to Novatian and the faithful Christians who refused the idol worship to Jupiter god forced by Decius.
Thereafter they invented such word as Eucharist instead of Kuriakon Deipne (Lord’s Supper- 1 Cor 11:20)
How come, such big changes happened during 11 years between 96AD and 107AD? 1) Volcano among the Roman Empire 2) Earthquakes among the churches 3) Nuke Bombs among the Christians during, after death of John in 99AD before Ignatius was taken captive in 107AD ?
Eliyahu
1) It distinguish between Episkope ( Overseer, Bishop) and Presbytero( Elders), while Bible teaches both are the same as we read Acts 20:17 Elders 20:28 Overseers( Episkope) and many more verses. Paul wrote letters to Timothy ( 1Tim 3:1-7) and Titus (1:5-9) meaning both Episkope and Presbyro are the same.
2) Use Singular for Episkope above multiple elders but Philippians 1:1 says Plural Episkope in a singular church. Paul and Sila preached Gospel and established the church each town, then appointed plural elders ( No pastor, No Bishop, No priest, No minister) in a single church (Acts 14:23). Even in the Heaven of the Revelation, 24 Elders are the supreme and Apostle John called one of them < Lord> ( 7:13-14) and tried to bow down to him, then the Elder said to John < Don’t do that because I am a fellow servant with you (Rev 19:10). So, Elders are the highest leaders in the church and they are called Episkope (Overseers) as well. But Catholics invented a new office by translating Episkope as Bishop and placed Bishop above Elder, which is the Clergy system called Nicolaitans hated by Jesus (Rev 2:6, 15)
3) It teaches Episkopes are above Elders, but Apostle Peter was an elder( 1 Peter 5:1) and Apostle John was Elder too( 2 John 1, 3John 1). In that case which Episkope ( Bishop) was above John or Peter? Ignatius is said to be a Bishop in Antioch. Then Ignatius and Polycarp were in the level of Bishops, while Peter and John were Elders, lower than the class of Ignatius and Polycarp? NONESENSE!
4) Jesus taught < Wherever 2-3 gather together in the name of Jesus, He will be there ( Mt 18:20) That is the fundamental truth of the church, but the Letter says < wherever the Bishop appears, let the people gather together> This is replacing Jesus with Bishop, the clergy system which is unbiblical as all Born Again Believers are the priests offering the Blood of Jesus by believing and remembering it, to God. So, the Letter oppose to the Bible
5) Letter says only the Bishop can baptize the people, but Philip was a deacon but he baptized Ethiopian Eunuch ( Acts 8:35-39).
6) It uses Flesh instead of Body, word Eucharist without explanation, which means such terminology were known to the church people after they were well established and understood, after some centuries later.
7) It emphasizes Bishop's authority too much without mentioning his duty of humbleness and meekness as Peter mentioned in 1 Peter 5:2-3.
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
8) The existing copies are dating back only to 11 century and only 3-4 manuscripts survive, which are too few to prove the veracity of them, While New Testament Bible has 5,366 manuscripts, some dating back to 2nd century, many by 5-6 century, Vatican Codex around 350AD. Matthew has over 1000 manuscripts, Mark 620, John 910, Acts 800, which are enough to verify the veracity of the manuscripts. Latin manuscripts are 9,200. Moreover, many families of the manuscripts are different and various!
On the other hand, the letters of Ignatius have so much, way, way too poor for supporting and surviving manuscripts. And they date back only to 11th century after the Catholic system such as Holy Catholic, Eucharist, Bishop has been well established.
So, the conclusion is that the letter to Smyrnaeans by Ignatius was doctored in 11th century by Pseudonym Ignatius, based on a few fragments of the genuine Letter of Ignatius to Smyrnaeans dating back to fifth century, and it has no value for the word Catholic Church and Eucharist, and Bishop-Elder clergy system.
Catholic Church was started by Cornelius and the apostates in October 251AD- after the death of emperor Decius in June 251AD at the battle of Abritus Moesia( Bulgria) near Danube- in opposition to Novatian and the faithful Christians who refused the idol worship to Jupiter god forced by Decius.
Thereafter they invented such word as Eucharist instead of Kuriakon Deipne (Lord’s Supper- 1 Cor 11:20)
How come, such big changes happened during 11 years between 96AD and 107AD? 1) Volcano among the Roman Empire 2) Earthquakes among the churches 3) Nuke Bombs among the Christians during, after death of John in 99AD before Ignatius was taken captive in 107AD ?
Eliyahu