I am God's wheat and shall be ground by the teeth of wild animals.

Treasures of Our Faith with Deacon Richard Vehige

Today, October 17, as our church celebrates the Memorial of Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr, we are encouraged to read and reflect on a passage from the second letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians (4:7—5:8), entitled “The power of Christ is made manifest in our sufferings”. Our treasure, which follows, is from a letter to the Romans by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop.

Saint Ignatius was a successor of Saint Peter as the bishop of Antioch. Condemned to death by being thrown to wild animals, he was brought to Rome for execution and was martyred there under the emperor Trajan in 107. On the journey to Rome he wrote seven letters to different churches. In these he discussed Christ, the structure of the Church, and the Christian life in a manner at once wise and learned. At Antioch, this day was observed in his memory as early as the fourth century.

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans was written soon before the martyrdom of Ignatius. His letter contains Ignatius’ most detailed explanation of his views on martyrdom Following his arrest in Syria, Ignatius traveled through many cities on his way to Rome for execution. While the other Ignatian epistles are addressed to communities with whom Ignatius had already had contact, “To the Romans” addresses Roman Christians prior to his arrival in Rome. The epistle may have been intended to allow Roman Christians to prepare for Ignatius’ arrival, especially because it includes the specific day and month it was written.

The Second Letter to the Corinthians is the most personal of all of Paul’s extant writings, and it reveals much about his character. In it he deals with one or more crises that have arisen in the Corinthian church. The confrontation with these problems caused him to reflect deeply on his relationship with the community and to speak about it frankly. One moment he is venting his feelings of frustration and uncertainty, the next he is pouring out his relief and affection. The importance of the issues at stake between them calls forth from him an enormous effort of personal persuasion, as well as doctrinal considerations that are of great value for us. Paul’s ability to produce profound theological foundations for what may at first sight appear to be rather commonplace circumstances is perhaps nowhere better exemplified than in Second Corinthians. The emotional tone of the letter, its lack of order, and our ignorance of some of its background do not make it easy to follow, but it amply repays the effort required of the reader.