Quote in context
Ignatius on becoming Christ's bread
Ignatius of Antioch · Letter to the Romans 4.1
“I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ.”
Plain English
Ignatius writes while being taken to Rome for execution. He imagines his martyrdom as a final offering that unites him to Christ.
Why it matters
The line shows how early Christians could read suffering through the Eucharist and the passion of Christ.
Who said it
Ignatius of Antioch
c. 35 – c. 108 · Syria
Ignatius wrote seven letters on his way to be eaten by lions in Rome. Read them and the second-century church stops being abstract. He warns against early heretics, defends the bodily resurrection, and is the first writer to describe a single bishop leading a city's church — the model that became universal. He also coined 'Catholic' (katholike, universal) as a description of the church. Everything you'll later argue about with Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants traces some root through him.
Book of the day
The Apostolic Fathers
Clement of RomeA reading pick tied to today's figure, quote, era, or event. Best first collection for Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, the Didache, Barnabas, Hermas, and Papias in one place.
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