(Ed. note:In the preceding
article mention is made of Ignatius of Antioch, an early Christian martyr who
often quoted the New Testament in his writings. The story of his death is now
recounted.)

There is no fact in early church
history more sacredly preserved than the martyrdom of Ignatius of Antioch; and
there is no narrative more celebrated than his journey, as a prisoner in
chains, from Antioch to Rome.

According to the general opinion
of historians, the Emperor Trajan, when on his way to the Parthian War in the
year 107 A.D., visited Antioch. From what cause it is difficult to say, but it
appears that the Christians were threatened with persecution by his orders.
Ignatius, therefore, being concerned for the church in Antioch, desired to be
introduced to Trajan’s presence. His great object was to prevent, if possible,
the threatened persecution. With this end in view, he set forth to the Emperor
the true character and condition of the Christians, and offered himself to
suffer in their stead.

This resulted in the condemnation
of Ignatius. He was sentenced by the Emperor to be carried to Rome and thrown
to the wild beasts for the entertainment of the people. He welcomed the severe
sentence, and gladly submitted to be bound, believing it was for his faith in
Christ and as a sacrifice for the saints.

Ignatius was now committed to the
charge of ten soldiers, who appear to have disregarded his age and to have
treated him with great harshness. He had been a bishop of the church of Antioch for nearly forty years, and so must have been an old man. But they hurried
him over a long journey, both by sea and by land, in order to reach Rome before the games were ended. He arrived on the last day of the festival, and was
carried at once to the amphitheater where he suffered according to his sentence
in the sight of the assembled spectators. And thus the weary pilgrim found rest
from the fatigues of his long journey in the blessed repose of the paradise of
God.

It has been asked, Why was
Ignatius taken all the way from Antioch to Rome to suffer martyrdom? The answer
can only be conjecture.

It may have been with the
intention of striking fear into other Christians by the spectacle of one so
eminent and so well-known brought in chains to a dreadful and degrading death. 
But if this was the Emperor’s expectation, he was entirely disappointed. It had
just the opposite effect. The report of his sentence and of his intended route
spread far and wide, and deputations from the surrounding churches were sent to
meet him at convenient points. He was thus cheered and greeted with the warmest
congratulations of his brethren; and they, in return, were delighted to receive
his parting blessing. Many of the saints would thereby be encouraged to brave,
if not to desire, a martyr’s death and a martyr’s crown. Among the number who
met him by the way was Polycarp of Smyrna, who, like Ignatius, had been a
disciple of the Apostle John, and was destined to be a martyr for the gospel.
But besides these personal interviews, he wrote seven letters on this journey
which have been preserved in the providence of God and handed down to us. Great
interest has ever been, and still is, attached to these letters. (See the next
article for some extracts from these letters.)

(From Short Papers on Church
History.)