Greek · Letter to the Romans
A letter asking the Roman Christians not to intervene to prevent his martyrdom. It contrasts his authority with that of Peter and Paul (4.3).
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. It is the only letter whose date he gives (24 August, year not stated).Read the full text(opens in a new tab)ANF vol. 1 (1885), tr. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, from CCEL, public domain
Books it uses
7.2–3 'living water', 'bread of God... the flesh of Jesus Christ' (John 4:10; 6:33, 51–54). Johannine idiom without verbal quotation.
5.1 'I am not thereby justified' (1 Cor 4:4); 9.2 'one born out of due time', 'the very last' (1 Cor 15:8–9).
Quotations
I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles; I am but a condemned man: they were free, while I am, even until now, a servant.
Ign. Rom. 4.3Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (shorter Greek recension) · Source (opens in a new tab)
Apostolic authority is reserved to the apostles; Ignatius distinguishes his own letters from theirs.