Apocrypha
Ignatius to the Philadelphians
Apostolic Father
11 chapters · read and listen
Reading note
An apocryphal or pseudepigraphal text — outside the canon of the Western churches, yet widely circulated among ancient Jews and Christians. Published here from a public-domain translation, edited for continuous reading.
Chapters
Dossier
The letter written after a real argument: Ignatius reports that he shouted in the middle of the assembly at Philadelphia, calling for unity, and that some said he only spoke that way because he had been tipped off.
Where this text comes from
Greek, around AD 107-110.
Why it is not in the Bible
Patristic literature, outside any canon.
What you will find
- The assembly episode is the most concrete moment in the whole collection: we get the scene, the accusation and the reply.
- The debate over the archives — whether something counts only if it is in the ancient Scriptures — is an argument about method, rare for the period.
- The closing request that they send a messenger to Antioch, now that the persecution there has ended.
Frequently asked questions
- What did Ignatius mean by the debate over the archives?
- Some at Philadelphia said they would accept only what stood in the ancient writings. Ignatius answers that for him the archives are Jesus Christ — the cross, the death and the resurrection. It is one of the earliest records of that argument.