MOUSEION - Memorial University of Newfoundland

BOOK REVIEWS/COMPTES RENDUS 2°9
[seemingly arbitrary collections of second- and third-century Christian
writings] can enlighten us concerning the character of early Christianity.
its external appeal and inner dynamics. its rich and significant diversity.
and its developing understandings of its own self-identity. social
distinctiveness. theology. ethical norms. and liturgical practices"
(13-14). A Select Bibliography of both primary and secondary sources is
appended.
Ehrman's Introductions to the individual texts are no less informative.
Each one includes an overview of the particular work (or in the
case of Ignatius' Letters. collection of works). a survey of the manuscript
tradition. a list of abbreviations used in the apparatus. and a select
bibliography of secondary sources. In addition. he presents the
views of contemporary scholars on such questions as the author; the
date and/or the place of composition; the occasion. the recipient. the
purpose. and/or the historical significance of the work; and the integrity
of the text.
His Introduction to Ignatius' Letters is a prime example. for he raises
several interesting and challenging questions. The first concerns the
nature of the heresy or group of heresies that Ignatius was targeting in
his Letters. Was he concerned solely with Judaizing Gnostics? Or with
both Judaizers and Docetists? Or with Judaizers. Docetists. and a third
group who opposed Ignatius' notion of monepiscopacy? Or with several
Gnostic groups that appear only at a later period. a view which
necessitates the redating of the letters to the latter half of the second
century? He also queries the situation that Ignatius was leaving behind
in Antioch: Was the Church being persecuted from without or torn
apart from within. and if the latter. was the issue right belief or leadership
in the Church? A third question concerns the reason for Ignatius'
removal to Rome. Was he under arrest for his Christian activities in
Antioch and being sent to Rome to stand trial because he was a Roman
citizen? Was he being sent to Rome because the chief administrator in
Antioch at that time did not have imperium? Or was he being sent to
Rome as a gift by the Syrian governor. a criminal donated for the Roman
games? Ehrman also includes in this Introduction a discussion of
the three recensions of Ignatius' Letters-the "long." the "middle," and
the "short"-recounting the discovery and the chequered scholarly history
of each and pointing to the "middle" recension. comprising the
seven letters mentioned by Eusebius in their noninterpolated form. as
the one generally regarded as original.
Ehrman states in his Preface that he has tried to "make the translation
both readable and closely tied to the Greek text." He has kept" the
strong patriarchal biases of the texts, which form part of their histodcal
interest and significance." and he has attempted "to reflect the occa-