CHAPTER II.

THE TESTIMONY OF POLYCARP TO THE IGNATIAN EPISTLES EXAMINED.

Dr. Lightfoot makes a most unguarded statement as to the Ignatian Epistles--The letter of Polycarp better authenticated--The date assigned for the martyrdom of Ignatius--The date of Polycarp's Epistle--Written in the reign of Marcus Aurelius--Not written in the reign of Trajan--The Epistle of Polycarp has no reference to Ignatius of Antioch--It refers to another Ignatius of another age and country--It was written at a time of persecution--The postscript to the letter of Polycarp quite misunderstood--What is meant by letters being carried to Syria--Psyria and Syria, two islands in the Aegaean Sea--The errors of transcribers of the postscript--The true meaning of the postscript--What has led to the mistake as to the claims of the Ignatian Epistles--The continued popularity of these Epistles among High Churchmen.