Ignatius on the bishop and the Church
“Where the bishop is present, there let the multitude be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic Church.”
Plain English
Ignatius is warning churches against breakaway teachers and unauthorized gatherings. For him, unity around the bishop protects the visible unity of the local church.
Why it matters
It is one of the earliest uses of "catholic Church" and a major witness to early episcopal order.
About Ignatius
Ignatius turned the road to execution into seven letters the church never forgot. As he was being taken to Rome under Trajan, he wrote to churches about Christ's real flesh, the Eucharist, martyrdom, unity, and the bishop as the visible centre of a local church. He is the first writer to use 'Catholic' as a description of the universal church. If later Christians argue about bishops, sacraments, unity, or martyrdom, Ignatius is already in the room.
- Lifespan
- c. 35 – c. 108
- Era
- Apostolic Father
- See
- Antioch
- Region
- Syria
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