The sacrificial shepherd: the effects of crisis on early Christian pastoralism and ecclesiology as seen in Ignatius of Antioch

Abstract

At the beginning of the second century C.E., Christian churches exhibited varied and diverse ecclesiologies. Out of this diversity comes the voice of Ignatius of Antioch, whose seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor promote a single ecclesiology—the monepiscopacy. The language used by Ignatius is strong enough to warrant an investigation into why he was so adamant about his particular vision for ecclesiology. Using the social theory of pastoral power, as presented by the twentieth-century French philosopher and social theorist, Michel Foucault, this study seeks to delineate the motivations behind Ignatius’s call to the monepiscopacy. By examining Ignatius as a pasteur—in the Foucauldian sense—not only can his motivations be discovered, but important insight into the early institutionalization of pastoral power can be seen. Chapter One attempts to clarify the significance of this study. There is also a brief investigation into the state of scholarship on Ignatius until present. Much work has been done by scholars regarding Ignatius of Antioch. Examining their work enables this study to explore different territory related to Ignatius and his commitment to the monepiscopacy. Chapter Two begins to set a foundation for understanding pastoral power as both Foucault explained it and traces the ancient biblical roots of pastoral power. Looking at the biblical narrative from a macrocosmic view, a pattern of pastoral calls from God and from earthly leaders is prevalent. In addition, the internalization of the pastoral themes is also examined. The transition of these pastoral themes to the early Christians will also be studied. Chapter Three investigates a major theme in Ignatius’s writing, namely unity. This is done through the lens of the pastoral response to conflict. It is clear in Ignatius’s epistles that there has been significant conflict to which he responds. Unity can be seen as safety in the context of both keeping the church together, but also keeping it safe from outside harm, whether ideological or physical. Chapter Four then examines another force being exerted against Ignatius and his church, namely persecution. Persecution has always been the narrative of the early church. An examination into the nature and scope of this persecution reveals that there was actually more leniency within the Roman Empire than the Christian discourse shows. In light of this, Ignatius’s martyrdom takes on a different light than simply the casualty of rampant persecution. Instead, the martyrdom takes on salvific qualities for his flock. This is symbolized most prevalently in his discourse on the eucharist. Chapter Five summarizes the work of this thesis. It also summarizes the conclusions drawn from the preceding chapters. Also, the limitations of this study are declared. Finally, suggested opportunities for further research based on the findings in this thesis are provided. Particularly vibrant in this investigation is the effect of crisis on early Christian ecclesiology. By responding to the two greatest threats to the early church, namely heresy and persecution, Ignatius’s pastoral instincts become the basis for his call for the monepiscopacy. This will become one of the dominant forms of church governance to this day.