Ignatius
35-107 A.D.
Bishop of Antioch, where disciples were first called Chris-
tians in Acts 11. Ignatius was a native Syrian and a contem-
porary of John the Apostle and Polycarp. He was the first man
to use the term "catholic," but he never used it in any let-
ter as referring to anything more than the body of born-again
believers who were in Christ by the Holy Spirit. At no time
does he suggest that such a term applies to anything Roman,
or connected with Rome. Nor does he ever connect it with any-
one who thinks that water baptism is a part of salvation.
The attitude of Ignatius was, "I would rather die for
Christ than rule the whole earth. Leave me to the beasts,
that I may by them be a partaker of God. Welcome, nails and
cross! Welcome, broken bones, bruised body! Welcome, all
diabolic torture, if I may but obtain the Lord Jesus Christ!"
Ignatius was thrown to the lions and eaten alive in
107 A.D.
ARTIST'S NOTE: The colors and composition are self-explana-
tory. The expression of the lion is in deliberate contrast to
Ignatius, who has been given a look of perfect peace and
relaxation.
Ruckman '66

---

Christian Biographies