Ignatius of Antioch , also known as Ignatius Theophorus or Ignatius Nurono , was an early Christian writer and bishop of Antioch . En route to Rome, where he met his martyrdom, Ignatius wrote a series of letters. This correspondence now forms a central part of the later collection known as the Apostolic Fathers. His letters also serve as an example of early Christian theology. Important topics they address include ecclesiology, the sacraments, and the role of bishops.
6:6-7, as translated by B. D. Ehrman, The Apostolic Fathers, Loeb Classical Library (2003), p. 303
Epistle to the Smyrnaeans
“I watch over you betimes to protect you from wild beasts in human form.”
4:2
Epistle to the Smyrnaeans
