Why is the Letter of Ignatius to Smyrnaeans a Forgery?

[하토브.]

Why is the Letter of Ignatius to Smyrnaeans a Forgery?

Chapter 8. Let nothing be done without the bishop

See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.

·        Chapter 9. Honour the bishop

·        Moreover, it is in accordance with reason that we should return to soberness [of conduct], and, while yet we have opportunity, exercise repentance towards God. It is well to reverence both God and the bishop. He who honours the bishop has been honoured by God; he who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop, does [in reality] serve the devil. Let all things, then, abound to you through grace, for you are worthy. You have refreshed me in all things, and Jesus Christ [shall refresh] you. You have loved me when absent as well as when present. May God recompense you, for whose sake, while you endure all things, you shall attain unto Him.

What are the problems?

Some translations divide the letter into 3 chapters others into 14 short chapters, which don’t matter very much. What are the problems with the letter?

(1)   Letter places Bishop ( επισκοπη) as a singular leader in the church, then places the presbytery as the plural, multiple leaders under Bishop, then plural Deacons.

Or it is pre-supposed on the church organizations, leaderships, and diocese that each church has elders or priests and the bishop governs the diocese which has several churches with the priests and elders. This kind of clergy system cannot be found in the Bible but it can be found in the modern day or in medieval Catholic church diocese.

(2)                Bible teaches us that both Elders and Episkope are the same.

Elders are Episkopes.( Acts 20:17 and 20: 28, Titus 1:5 and 1:7) But the Letter describes multiple elders under a single Bishop ( Episkope). This is a huge change if we consider the time gap between 96AD when John finished the last book, Revelation and 107AD when Ignatius might have written the Letter was only 11 years, only 9 years after Apostle John died.

(3) Apostle Paul called Elders the Overseers!

He sent a messenger to the church of Ephesus, on his way from Greece to Jerusalem (Acts 20:17) and called the Elders of the church in Ephesus, neither pastors, nor bishops, nor priests, nor ministers. Then he said “” 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers( Episkopes), to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”” ( v 28)

Namely Paul says here Elders are the Episkopes (Overseers)

(4) Wherever Paul and Sila ordained Elders in the church,

neither pastor, nor bishops, nor priests, nor ministers.

Acts 14

23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

(5) Paul and Timothy sent a letter to the church in Philippi:

Phil 1

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Paul addressed to Overseers, Deacons, Saints.

Where were Elders? They were the same as Overseers (Episkope)

Please note KJV and many other translations render the same Episkope to Bishops and/or Overseers. But the original word is the same επισκοη Episkope.

(6) Paul teaches in 1 Tim 3 that

Overseers should have the same qualifications as he mentions for the elders in Titus 1:5-9, which means Elders are the same as Episkope (Overseers). When the Bible talks about the status and the title, it calls the leader Elder, but for the functions and role, it calls the same leader Episkope, Overseer.  

Moreover, in Titus 1:5-9,

 Paul says he left Timothy for appointing Elders, then in verse 7, the qualification of the Overseer (Episkope) should be the same as 1 Tim 3:1-7. Again, in this passage, Paul explained Elders=Episkope=Overseers interchangeably.

(7) Apostle Peter says he is one of the elders ( 1 Peter 5:1).

If a bishop was above the elders, who was the bishop above Peter? But Peter himself says Jesus is the Head Shepard.

1 Peter 5

5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

(8) Apostle John introduce himself as an Elder

2 john 1

1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

3 john 1

1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

Who was the Bishop above John? Was Ignatius a Bishop of the region over the Elder John of Ephesus? No, that was later system developed several centuries later.

(9) James 5:14

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

James( Jacob) teaches us to call for the Elders of the church if anyone is sick. Why doesn’t he ask us to call <Pastor> or < Bishop> or < Priest> or < Pope> or <Cardinal>? There were no office or title like them!

(10) Jerusalem Conference- Acts 15

There was a conference in Jerusalem as Paul and Barnabas preaching encountered a certain dispute. There gathered Apostles and Elders, and Brethren. Apostles were the people who had seen the Lord Jesus in person such as 11 disciples, Mark, and so on. There was no Bishop, no Pastor, no Priest, no Pope mentioned. ( 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23,16:4, 21:18)

Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Acts 21

18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

(11) Revelation 5

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

12 times of Elders in Revelation ( 4:4, 4:10, 5:5, 5:6, 5:8, 5:11, 5:14, 7:11, 7:13, 11:16, 14:3, 19:4). No Bishop, No Pastor, No Priest, No Pope, No Cardinal, are mentioned.

There is no office title called Pastor in the Bible.

Ephesians 4

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Poimen translated into Pastor by most translations should have been rendered to Shepherd which is a kind of Gifts or Talents given by the Holy Spirit, not the office of the church because there were only 2 offices in the church of the Bible, Elder and Deacon. Elder was called Overseer also, for the functioning and role.

(12) Phil 1:1 to Overseers and to Deacons.

Phil 1

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Where were the Elders? They were the Episkope translated into Bishops!

Please note multiple, plural Bishops in a single church of Philippi!

Please note Paul calls the living Believers born again by the Holy Spirit the Saints! Which is different concept of Catholics! This is confirmed again by Romans 1:7, Rom 15:26, 1 Cor 1:2, 2 Cor 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, and many more.

(13) Letter “” It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize “”

Philip was a deacon but he baptized the Eunuch of Ethiopia Why did Ignatius changed the practice suddenly? Because he was not the genuine Ignatius but a pseudonym Ignatius in 11 century!

Acts 8

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

There is no restriction on baptizing! as long as both the person to baptize and the person to be baptized were born again by the Holy Spirit!

(14) Letter “ Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also”

Bible says : 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ( Mt 18:20)

This is a simple and fundamental principle of the church building, but the letter says the Bishop is important for the building and gathering of the church.

(15) Letter “ Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop.””

This contradicts the Word of God. Where is such a dictatorship of Bishop in the Bible?

1 Peter 5: 3<<< 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.>>>>

(16) Letter shows the extreme dictatorship of the Bishop

 in the church ruling over the lay people.

But the Bible teaching is that everyone in the Lord is equal.

Mt 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Elders and Deacons are the brothers in the Lord who are working as the elders and the deacons.

But the Letter emphasize the obedience to the Bishops so much as the heathen clergy system.

(17) Church Principle : Mt 18:20

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Church doesn’t require any buildings or Bishops or Popes, but it requires the Born Again Christians and Lord Jesus Christ. But the Letter says:
Wherever the Bishop appears, let the crowd be gathered.

Let nothing be done without the bishop

Even if the Bishop is sick, the church should continue to gather in the name of Jesus and pursue the guidance by the Lord Jesus. Bishop is not essential for church gathering!

(18) Word Catholic : Cata Hole in Acts 9:31

Letter suddenly mentions Holy Catholic which was never mentioned or explained before by any apostles or by any Didache. It was only 8 years after Apostle John died and 11 years after John wrote the last book of NT Bible, Revelation.

How come the word Catholic appear suddenly without explanation?

Catholics say that the word came from Cata Hole in Acts 9:31 and means the universal.

9:31  Αἱ μὲν οὖν ἐκκλησίαι καθ᾽ ὅλης τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας εἶχον εἰρήνην οἰκοδομουμέναι καὶ πορευομέναι τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐπληθύνοντο

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

This shows that the churches were established on many regions by the Jewish leaders, on Judea, Galilee, Samaria successfully. Even Baptist Churches were established around the world. Is Baptist church Catholic?

So, this verse doesn’t use the Cata-Hole( Abbreviation by liason: καθ᾽ ὅλης , Catholic) for the universal concept or the type of the church, but the regional expansion to many places.

Such word for the church name Catholic was never used by any apostles before. So, it came only after the schism between Novatians and Cornelius along with the apostates called Lasi in 251AD after the death of emperor Decius who forced Christians to betray their Lord and worship Jupiter. So, the word Catholic became popular after the Schism of Donatists in 311AD who requested the apostates to get the rebaptism again as Novatians demanded the Apostates to repent and rebaptism.

So, the word Catholic didn’t exist before 250AD but the apostates and Cornelius followers started to invent such word < Catholic> retrospectively backward to 33AD, though nobody of the first church used it at all.

This is why I am convinced the Letter was forged many centuries later by the Pseudonym Ignatius.

(19) Word < Flesh> < Eucharist>

Letter use the word < flesh > instead of Body used in 1 Cor 11:24, 27

Letter mentions Eucharist for the first time after the first church:

Eucharist    κυριακὸν δεῖπνον Flesh in chapter 7 and 8 of the letter use the words :

the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ,

This is not the style or manner of the First Church because Bible uses < Lord’s Supper> in 1 Cor 11:20 and Body of Christ in verse 24, 27, and Luke 22:19.

Lord’s Supper was used in 1 Cor 11:20 as κυριακὸν δεῖπνον

Eucharist could have come from εὐχαριστήσας Eucharistesas in 1 Cor 11:24 but it is a verb for giving thanks.

These words of Eucharist and Flesh have been used after the Catholic Mass and Transubstantiation theory were established by the Catholics.

This is why we doubt the veracity of the letter and believe it couldn’t be written in the beginning of the second century.

(20) Veracity of the Extant Manuscripts

So far it is known that only a handful number of copies of the Letter exist in Greek, Latin, Syriac,

·        Codex Mediceus-Laurentianus (Codex Laur. Plut. LVII. 7): Housed in the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana in Florence, this 11th-century Greek

·        The Latin Versions: In medieval times, the letters were translated into Latin. A crucial 11th-century Latin manuscript, Codex Colbertinus, is housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France

·        Papyrus Fragments: A fragmentary 5th-century Greek text (Berlin Papyrus, Codex 10581) preserves sections of Smyrnaeans. [1]

·        Secondary Recensions: Expanded, interpolated versions (the "Longer Recensions") were created in the 4th century to reflect later theological agendas. Ironically, these survive in earlier manuscripts—such as the 9th/10th-century Greek Codex Parisinus Graecus 1451 and the 10th-century Latin Codex Casinensis 106 at Monte Cassino—but are deemed secondary by textual critics.

We possess no pure manuscript of the original corpus, for in the fourth century the letters were interpolated and six additional ones added (Mary of Cassobola to Ignatius; Ignatius to Mary, to the Tarsians, Philippians, Antiochenes, and to Hero, deacon of Antioch). The aim of these forgeries was to gain for a diluted form of Arianism the authority of a primitive martyr. Finally, in the Middle Ages—perhaps around the twelfth century, which saw a new development of the cult of the Virgin—a correspondence between Ignatius and Mary, as well as two letters of Ignatius to John, was fabricated in the West.

The greater part of the extant manuscripts contains the seven interpolated letters along with five or six of the spurious ones, 82some of the Latin versions adding the medieval forgeries.

https://www.ccel.org/ccel/richardson/fathers.vi.ii.ii.html

1)     The surviving extant manuscripts are only a few, less than 10. While Bible manuscripts are thousands. NT Greek 5,366, Latin 9,200, OT Masora 990

Matthew over 1,000, Mark 620, John 920, Acts 800, and so on.

Comparison to verify the veracity is impossible

2)     Even the extant copies date back to eleventh century, some fragments back to Fifth century after the Catholic system was established

3)     No reliable ECF quoted the contents of it.

4)     The contents contradict the NT epistle teachings about the leadership and principle of gathering, the terminology of Catholic, Eucharist, Flesh, Bishop, Presbytery, etc.

5)     It was found with the letters between Ignatius and Mary, in order to promote Virgin Cult.

6)     It seems that the Letter was order-made by a Pseudonym Ignatius

We can safely conclude that this Letter is a Forgery to promote the Catholicism.

Don’t be deceived by the fake letters using the pseudonym names of the ECF’s

Eliyahu EJ

July 28, 2026