One bishop with his presbyters and deacons

Treasures of Our Faith with Deacon Richard Vehige

On Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the beginning of the letter of the apostle Paul to Timothy (5:3-25) entitled “Concerning widows and elders”. Our treasure, which follows, is from a letter to the Philadelphians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr.

Saint Ignatius was a successor of Saint Peter as the bishop of Antioch. Condemned to death by being thrown to wild animals, he was brought to Rome for execution and was martyred there under the emperor Trajan in 107. On the journey to Rome he wrote seven letters to different churches. In these he discussed Christ, the structure of the Church, and the Christian life in a manner at once wise and learned. At Antioch, this day was observed in his memory as early as the fourth century.

Saint Ignatius of Antioch’s letter to the Philadelphians is certainly one of seven epistles attributed to him that are generally accepted as authentic. It is clear that Philadelphians was written soon before his martyrdom. Ignatius warns the Philadelphians not to start any schisms within their church, but to stay unified and obey the bishops and presbyters. He also warns them not to listen to Jewish Christians who were advocating that Christians ought to observe the Torah.

The First Letter of Paul to Timothy insists on the need to shun unorthodox teachings and dangerous speculations and reiterates the qualities expected of bishops and deacons. Paul encouraged Timothy and offered strength to help him carry on after Paul’s impending death. Paul was aware that his time was short, and he desired to see Timothy, whom Paul figuratively called “my dearly beloved son”.