Greek · Letter to the Ephesians
The longest of Ignatius' letters, thanking the Ephesian delegation and urging unity under the bishop. It refers to Paul's mention of the Ephesians 'in every letter' (12.2).
Dating
Dated with Ignatius' journey and martyrdom under Trajan (Eusebius' Chronicle implies c. 107/108). Most scholars accept c. 105-115 for the seven letters of the middle recension; a minority date them to the 120s-140s or regard them as pseudonymous. Written at Smyrna, per the letter itself.Books it uses
14.2 'the tree is made manifest by its fruit' (Matt 12:33); proverbial.
18.1 'Where is the wise man? where the disputer?' (1 Cor 1:20) in a cross/stumbling-block context (1 Cor 1:18–23); 16.1 echoes 1 Cor 6:9–10. Foster: 1 Corinthians is the one Pauline letter Ignatius certainly knew.
12.2: Paul 'in all his Epistles makes mention of you'. Refers to a Pauline letter collection and probably to Ephesians itself.
Quotations
Ye are initiated into the mysteries of the Gospel with Paul, the holy, the martyred, the deservedly most happy, at whose feet may I be found, when I shall attain to God; who in all his Epistles makes mention of you in Christ Jesus.
Ign. Eph. 12.2Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (shorter Greek recension) · Source (opens in a new tab)
Ignatius (c. 110) knows Paul wrote several letters ('all his Epistles'), implying access to a collection.
which is a stumbling-block to those that do not believe, but to us salvation and life eternal. “Where is the wise man? where the disputer?” Where is the boasting of those who are styled prudent?
Ign. Eph. 18.1Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (shorter Greek recension) · Source (opens in a new tab)
Reuse of 1 Cor 1:18–20; Gregory & Tuckett (Foster) count 1 Corinthians as the one Pauline letter Ignatius certainly knew.
1 Corinthians 1:18–20 BSB
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Corinthians 1:23 BSB
23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,