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one (of considerable length) Epistle of Barnabas. These Epistles are genuine "Letters," and "represent the natural outpouring of personal feeling arising out of personal relations"; but they contain doctrinal statements of the deepest importance, notably emphatic or positive statements bearing on the Godhead of Jesus Christ.[1]
These Epistles[2] were obviously meant by the writers for a far more extended circle of readers than the congregations of Corinth, Philippi, Rome, etc., to whom the Letters were formally addressed.)." This Bishop Lightfoot explains as a reference of Ignatius to the Epistolary form of his communication, that being a usual form adopted by the apostles.]
- ↑ The words which occur in "the address" of the Letters of Ignatius to the Christian congregation in the city of Tralles are remarkable. "The holy Church which is in Tralles of Asia I salute . . . after the manner of the apostle ([Greek: en apostolikô charaktêri
- ↑ Hermas, whose writings are usually classed with the works of the "Apostolic Fathers," does not fall into this category. (a) There is some doubt as to whether Hermas can be rightly considered an "Apostolic Father." (b) His writings are not cast in the Epistolary form, but are purely theological treatises or pamphlets. They are partially examined below (see pp. 178-84) with reference to their date, authorship, and contents generally.
