2020-05-08

Gospel According to Ignatius

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

by Neil Godfrey

I should have included a column for the gospel according to Ignatius in my earlier post on the Gospel according to the Ascension of Isaiah. Better late than never:

Ascension of Isaiah 3:13-18 9:5, 13-17 11:2-22	Ignatius Smyrneans 1-2 Trallians 9:1-2 Ephesians 19:1-3	Gospel of Peter	Infancy Gospel of James (Prot- evangelium of James)	Justin FA=First Apology DT=Dial with Trypho
			Elisabeth mother of John the Baptist hid in a mountain to protect him from Herod 22:3	Elisabeth mother of John the Baptist DT84
No angel appears to Mary to explain to her why she is pregnant			Gabriel’s announcement to Mary; “Be it according to thy word” 11:2; 12:2	Gabriel’s announcement to Mary; “Be it according to thy word” DT100
Isaiah is told in his heavenly ascent that he will be called Jesus and Christ 9:5, 13			Angel to virgin: …call his name Jesus for he shall save from sins 11:3	Angel to virgin: …call his name Jesus for he shall save from sins FA33
“Born” of virgin Mary — but Jesus suddenly appears in front of Mary and she is no longer pregnant — no actual birth is described 11:13	“Truly” born from a virginSmyr 1-2Son of MaryTrall 9:1-2		Born of virgin Mary 19:3	Born of virgin DT23,63,66,71,84,85
He will be appear like and be thought to be a man 9:13	“Truly” flesh			No human generation DT32, 43 FA51 Not descended from men, seed not from humans DT63, 68
Mary was of family of “David the Prophet” 11:2	Jesus was “truly” from family of David “according to flesh” Smyr 1-2		Mary was of family of David 10:1	Mary was of house of David DT76
Joseph, a carpenter, was also of family of “righteous David” 11:2
Joseph “came into his lot” and Mary was “espoused” to him. 11:3			Joseph was chosen by lot to marry Mary 9:1; 19:1
Joseph wanted to put Mary away, but an angel appeared to him and changed his mind. Kept it a secret from everyone. 11:3-4			Joseph wanted to put Mary away; a dream changed this 14:1-2	Joseph wanted to put Mary away; a dream changed this DT78
			Census from Augustus 17:1	Census under Quirinius/Cyrenius FA34
			Joseph left home — no reference to Nazareth — for Bethlehem 17:1-2	Joseph left home in Nazareth to enrol in Bethlehem, since he was of the tribe of Judah in that region DT78
In Asc. Isa. Mary is “born” in a house			Joseph found a cave for Mary; set his sons to protect her while he went to search Bethlehem for a midwife 18:1	No lodging room at Bethlehem So found a cave near village there DT78
After two months, still a virgin, and with both Joseph and Mary alone in Joseph’s house in Bethlehem, Mary was astonished to suddenly saw a small babe in front of her, and she was still a virgin with her womb restored as before. 11:7-9			Herod learns Christ is to be born in Bethlehem 21:2	Jesus born at Bethlehem FA34
Joseph could not understand Mary’s astonishment until his eyes “were opened” and then he, too, saw the child. A voice came to them both, “Tell this vision to no one.” 11:10-11
But people nonetheless heard that a child had been born. But they were all confused with different accounts of what had happened: “they were all blinded respecting Him and they all knew regarding Him, though they knew not whence He was.” 11:12-14
			To hide the child from Herod Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes and put him in an ox manger 22:2	Jesus placed in manger DT78
			Star told Magi that a king had been born in Judea 21:2	Star told Magi that a king had been born in Judea DT78
			Magi are from the East 21:1	Magi in/from Arabia DT78
			Magi came to worship Jesus 21:2	Magi come to worship him at his birth
			Magi first see Herod 21:2	Magi first see Herod
			The wise men and high priests tell Herod Christ is to be born in Bethlehem 21:2	Herod learns from elders Christ to be born in Bethlehem
			Magi present him with gold, frank, myrrh 21:3	Magi present him with gold, frank, myrrh DT78
			Not to go through Judea, Herod tricked 21:4	Warned in dream not to return to Herod DT78
			Herod plotted to kill him 22:1	Herod plotted to kill him DT102
			Herod killing all children, including seeking John the Baptist 22-23	With Jesus in Egypt Herod massacred children in Bethlehem born at same time DT103 – Jeremiah’s prophecy
				Rama = Arabia- thus fulfilled prophecy to take power of Damascus and spoils of Samaria – releasing power of demon over Magi at his birth DT78
Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Nazareth in Galilee. . . . 11:15				Joseph in Egypt till another vision told him to return to Judea DT78
All of this happened unknown to all the heavens, princes and gods of this world. 11:16	Mary’s virginity and child-bearing were hidden from the Ruler of the Age Eph19:1-3
In Nazareth he “sucked the breast as a babe as is customary in order that he might not be recognized.” 11:17	Jesus ate and drank Trall 9:1-2			Jesus escaped notice of others till adult FA35
	Baptized by John Smyr 1-2			John heralded Jesus; Jesus entered Jordan and fire blazed around
Once an adult he performed miracles in the land of Israel and Jerusalem. 11:18				Jesus came to Jews, healed the maimed, deaf, lame from birth, blind, raised the dead DT69, FA48,31
He taught twelve disciples 3:13
The demonic power saw him performing signs and envied him so stirred up the children of Israel against him. . . not knowing who he was. 11:19				Seized and crucified on Passover DT111
The children of Israel delivered him to the king 11:19				Arrested at night at Mt Olives by those sent by Pharisees and Scribes DT103
		Herod and Jews use Pilate to cover their plot 8(28-30), 11(47-49)		Pilate, Herod, Jews, Roman soldiers conspired against Christ FA40
		Herod and his judges and Jews sentenced him to crucifixion 1(1-2)		Jewish synagogue sentenced him to crucifixion DT104
		Herod responsible for crucifixion; pierced by Jews, synagogue of wicked, under Pilate 1-7(1-25)		Herod responsible for crucifixion; pierced by Jews, synagogue of wicked, under Pilate DT32,85,104 FA13
Persecuted and tortured by children of Israel 3:13	Truly persecuted in the days of Pilate and Herod Smyr 1-2	Scourged 3(9)		Scourged DT89
	Truly nailed in the flesh Smyr 1-2	Jews pierce their king 1-7(1-25)		Jews pierce their king DT14,32,64,97,98,104,118, FA13
the day before the sabbath 3:13 crucified him on a tree in Jerusalem 11 He descended to the angel of Sheol 11:19	Truly crucified Trall 9:1-2			Crucified on tree DT15
The Twelve who were with him were offended because of him 11:14		After crucified, all acquaintances and disciples denied him and forsook him and dispersed 7(26)		After crucified, all acquaintances and disciples denied him and forsook him and dispersed FA50 DT53
		Those who crucified him shook head, distorted lips, twisted noses to each other, mocking his claim: “He was the Son of God….!” 3(9)		Those who crucified him shook head, distorted lips, twisted noses to each other, mocking his claim: “He was the Son of God….!” DT101
		On cross: “My power” in place of “My God” 5(19)		On cross: “Oh my God why have you forsaken me” DT99
		On cross till buried at evening 2(5) 5(15) 6(22-23)		On cross till buried at evening DT97 104
		nails pierced hands 6(21)		Nails pierced hands and feet DT97,104
		Garments parted/lots 4(12)		Garments parted/lots DT 97, 104
A watch was placed on his sepulchre 11:14		Soldiers kept watch over sepulchre 9(35)
				Christ’s reign begins with his death DT 73, FA 41
After the third day he rose again 11:21	Truly raised from the dead Trall 9:1-2			Resurrected Sunday first day of week DT 41
Gabriel and Michael descend and open the sepulchre and escort the Beloved sitting on their shoulders 3:16-17		Two men descend from heaven, roll back the stone, and supporting Jesus bring him out of the tomb. 36-40
He remained some days 11:21				On resurrection Sunday taught his disciples weekly church meetings, the eucharist, Sunday prayers, readings, handouts for poor FA 65-67 cf. DT 51
				Christ gave believers bread & cup — These were to remind he had been flesh DT70
He sent out the Twelve Apostles 11:22 who taught all nations of the cross, the resurrection and ascension. 3:18				The apostles went out from Jerusalem to preach about him FA39, 49
Ascended to heaven — his glory recognized by heavenly powers 11:22	He was made known to heavenly powers by a great star brighter than sun and moon Eph19:1-3 (Christ’s reign begins from this moment)			Ascended to heaven FA51, 46

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Ascension of Isaiah

Ignatius

Gospel of Peter

Infancy Gospel of James (Prot- evangelium of James)

Justin

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