The soteriology of Ignatius of Antioch

• Main Author: Wilkens, Thomas Gene
• Published: University of Aberdeen 1968
• Subjects: 270.092
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.566832

Ignatius was a capable theologian who combined creativity with conservatism. The thesis first investigates his Antiochian environment - including physical, cultural and religious factors - at some length. It next traces his Judaeo-Christian heritage, but only with the imprecision which his own letters permit. It then examines the matter of his relationship with the mystery religions and with gnosticism, finding little to support either hypothesis. As a final preliminary, it focuses upon a few theological schemata which characterize the letters: union and unity, and faith and love. However, soteriology is the key to Ignatius' theology. The thesis studies his conceptions of Jesus Christ, the Saviour, as the enactor of God's salvation-plan. It then turns to his notions of the faith-response to the Christ-event. Next, the means of the Saviour's presence are analyzed. The topics discussed - community worship, baptism, eucharist, community order - are fraught with difficult historical and theological problems. What emerges from the letters is an ecclesiology consistent with Ignatius' christology. Finally, the thesis outlines the meaning of salvation in the letters. Salvation has moral implications, and Ignatius had several ethical perspectives from which he viewed practical Christian life. Salvation also has eschatological and, at times, martyrological overtones: the way and destination of martyr and non-martyr alike are delineated.