„Von Syrien bis Rom kämpfe ich mit wilden Tieren ...“ (IgnRom 5,1). Die ignatianischen Briefe als literarische Fiktion aufs Neue verteidigt

Abstract

The Corpus Ignatianum is a collection of seven letters attributed to Ignatius, bishop of Antiochia in Syria in the early 2nd century. The authenticity of the seven letters has been and still is highly disputed. Since the 16th century, the letters have been considered to be pseudepigraphic and fictitious, mostly because of theological reasons. Many scholars have argued that the letters are forgeries that serve to support the introduction of the monarchial episcopacy in Christian communities. Recently, however, most scholars defend the letters as authentic writings of the bishop and martyr Ignatius. The study of the form of the letters, especially their opening and closing, and observations on the composition of the collection raises doubt that the Corpus Ignatianum could be a random collection of letters written by Ignatius who was sentenced ad bestias and on the way to be executed in Rome. A closer examina­tion of the situation of Ignatius as described in the letters is needed as well as a more detailed analysis of the Corpus Ignatianum as a carefully composed letter collection. The letters of Ignatius, therefore, should be discussed in the context of ancient and early Christian pseudepigraphic letter writing and epistolography.