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Reaction Paper #6:

The Attack on Christianity

Alex Antonio
Religion 373: History of the Early Church
Dr. Elizabeth Todd
March 28, 2021
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For this week’s readings, the passages included were from Bart D. Ehrman’s

After the New Testament Chapter 3: The Attack on Christianity. The story that really

brings forward what the outlook of Christianity was in a negative perspective was The

Letter of Ignatius to the Romans. What this story shows are the views of the Christian

beliefs and how those who disagreed would eventually as a consequence. It seems

very tragic during the early centuries how people who were Christians were outcasted

and eventually killed; these stories go into the background on what happened.

To start off, The Letter of Ignatius was obviously a document that goes on record

as a letter. It was written around 110 CE in Rome and within the letter we know it was

written on August 24 as Ignatius states at the end. It was about how Ignatius is

portrayed as an insider within the community going through his beliefs within the church

and how the people in Rome wanted him gone. This is basically a letter before his death

that gives an inside look at what his mind is going through. He goes through how he will

serve God until the very end even if it kills him. He considers those he has wronged him

to also be considered into the kingdom of God if they choose to follow the ways of the

Lord. Even though those who have done wrong, can redeem themselves through the

teachings of God. The letter goes into detail on what needs to be done and his message

to God before his last moments on Earth. It is stated, “Allow me to be an imitator fo the

suffering of my God. If anyone has him within himself, let him both understand what I

want and sympathize with me, realizing the things that constrain me’” (Ehrman, Bart

After the New Testament: The Letter of Ignatius) This is very tragic as Ignatius states his

fate in the end and is being put into a position due to racism. People in today’s world are

being put into similar positions due to racism and it’s very heartbreaking. In God’s eyes,
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those who do wrong have the chance to reconcile on what they’ve done who have hurt

others. One other thing Ignatius says is, “I believe you uknow about those who have

preceded me from Syria to Rome for the glory of God. Tell them I am near. For they are

all worthy of God and of you. It is fitting for you to refresh them in every way. I am writing

this to you on August 2. Farewell until the end, in the endurance of Jesus Christ.”

(Ehrman, Bart After the New Testament: The Letter of Ignatius)This gives an indication

that those who follow the Lord’s teachings may enter the Kingdom of God. He also hints

that he is near to the end and where he will meet his savior in Heaven.

In the end, it is pointed out in The Letter of Ignatius of his beliefs and what he

had to go through to reach the Kingdom of Heaven. He states what needs to be done in

order to be accepted and is to follow God’s teachings. He had to go through the

suffering of the people of Rome that persecuted him and left his mark in the world. The

community back then had little regard for the teachings of God and needed to make

amends down the line to be viewed as people of Christ.