Chapter 5

THE FORGERY OF THE IGNATIAN EPISTLES.

We have no positive historical information as to the origin of the Ignatian Epistles--First saw the light in the early part of the third century--Such forgeries then common--What was then thought by many as to pious frauds--Callistus of Rome probably concerned in the fabrication of the Ignatian Epistles--His remarkable history--The Epistle to the Romans first forged--It embodies the credentials of the rest--Montanism stimulated the desire for martyrdom--The prevalence of this mania early in the third century--The Ignatian Epistles present it in its most outrageous form--The Epistle to the Romans must have been very popular at Rome--Doubtful whether Ignatius was martyred at Rome--The Ignatian Epistles intended to advance the claims of Prelacy--Well fitted to do so at the time of their appearance--The account of Callistus given by Hippolytus--The Ignatian letters point to Callistus as their author--Cannot have been written in the beginning of the second century--Their doctrine that of the Papacy.

APPENDIX

I.--Letter of Dr. Cureton.

II.--The Ignatian Epistle to the Romans.

ENDNOTES

THE IGNATIAN EPISTLES ENTIRELY SPURIOUS.