How do Unitarians respond to quotations from Ignatius of Antioch that seem to show Ignatius believes Jesus is God?
Upvote:-1
The Church of Christ always responds using references, as we do not believe in giving our own personal interpretations about things, so I hope the moderators will indulge me this time.
How do Unitarians understand Ignatius' views - did he assert that Jesus was Almighty God, a god, or neither?
The Church of Christ recognizes Ignatius as the originator of the idea that Jesus is God, based on historical accounts. This was after the New Testament writers passed away.
| Sys. Theology, p. 305 |
|---|
| "The earliest time known at which Jesus was deified was, after the New Testament writers, in the letters of Ignatius, at the beginning of the second century.”" (Systematic Theology by Strong, Augustus Hopkins, D.D., LL. D., Philadelphia: The Judson Press, © 1907.) |
Secondly, do Unitarians think his views are representative of the early Church?
Historical accounts tell us that he was alone in his view among his immediate peers, with the earliest Church Fathers, Ignatius excluded, viewing Christ as the revealer of the knowledge of God, rather than God Himself.
| Hist. of the Chris. Ch., p. 37 |
|---|
| "Common Christianity … moved in a much simpler range of thought. … it conceived of Him primarily as the divine revealer of the knowledge of the true God, and the proclaimer of a “new law” of simple, lofty, and strenuous morality. This is the attitude of the so-called “Apostolic Fathers,” with the exception of Ignatius, … They include Clement of Rome (c. 93-97); Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110-117); Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 110-117); Hermas of Rome (c. 100-140);" (A History of the Christian Church, 3rd Edition by Walker, Williston. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons © 1970.) |
It is not surprising that after the New Testament writers had passed away, that the doctrine about Christ would then be changed. We need only consult the Bible as to why.
The Apostle Paul tells us that after his "departure," those among the Church's overseers would rise up and speak perverse things to draw the disciples away.
| Acts 20:28-30 |
|---|
| 28Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood. 29For I know this, that after I have departed, fierce wolves will attack you, which will not spare the flock. 30Also from among yourselves, men shall arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. (Holy Bible from the Ancient Eastern Text: George M. Lamsa’s Translation from the Aramaic of the Peshitta. Philadelphia USA: A.J. Holman Co., 1968.) |
This "departure" refers to his death.
| II Tim. 4:6 |
|---|
| 6From henceforth I am ready to die, and the time of my departure is at hand. (Holy Bible from the Ancient Eastern Text: George M. Lamsa’s Translation from the Aramaic of the Peshitta. Philadelphia USA: A.J. Holman Co., 1968.) |
Among the things that the brethren were in danger of blindly accepting was the teaching about another Jesus, different from the one preached by the Apostles.
| II Cor. 11:3-4 |
|---|
| 3But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! (Holy Bible: New King James Version. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.) |
The Apostles taught that Jesus was in the form of God, the image of God, but never God Himself―that distinction always went to the Father alone. (To those who disagree, feel free to contradict this in questions of your own.)
No, rather, as we know, the Apostles taught that Jesus is a man.
| I Tim. 2:5 |
|---|
| 5For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (Holy Bible: New King James Version. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.) |
As God proclaimed to the Prince of Tyre, He does not allow one to be both man and God.
| Ezek. 28:2 |
|---|
| 2"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,' Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god (Holy Bible: New King James Version. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.) |
To the Church of Christ, Ignatius, who taught that Jesus is both man and God, is the fulfillment of what the Apostles forewarned.
Upvote:3
I suppose I’m a Unitarian2 as I'm not a Trinitarian or a Binitarian. The Bible1 is the standard by which all other texts should be measured. So who cares what Ignatius said if it conflicts with clear, unambiguous and consistent bible teaching?
We are warned about false teachers, it should come as no surprise that they masquerade as teachers of truth. For reasons known only to God, many are unable to determine one from the other, and just go along with their preachers - some who seem to have the audacity to replace God’s word with their own. 1Tim 6:3 comes to mind -
3If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4he is conceited and understands nothing…
The construct below (and the others also noted) is a fabrication that plainly ignores and defies Scripture.
"There is only one physician — of flesh yet spiritual, born yet unbegotten, God incarnate.”
Scripture mentions no incarnation. There is a manifestation of God, IN the person of Jesus, the logos made flesh, the Immanuel3. He is NOT ‘spiritual’ until his resurrection. But these revelations are not concerned with declaring Jesus as God, but His representative, image, form and son. These are the facts we are given.
being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit 1 Pet 3:18
and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us 1 John 1:2
Footnotes:
1 When we are aware of Bible alterations that suggest a Trinitarian/Binitarian bias, then one is more able to see clearly the inspired word God has provided - which is perfectly sufficient for our needs.
2 Label used for the purposes of comparison only - not as a denominational reference!
3 Why ‘Immanuel’ doesn’t make Jesus God.
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