Post-Apostolic Church Fathers: Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna

From Clement of Rome, we learned to promote church unity by honoring God-appointed officebearers. Ignatius and Polycarp were also prominent church leaders after the apostles died. Both were martyred, and through this they teach us to be ready to die for Christ’s sake.  The Men  Ignatius was born around the year 30 AD, and his death is often dated 107 AD. He was bishop of Antioch for many years, and probably had known the apostle John.  At that time Christianity was illegal, and Ignatius was a...