RELIGION QUESTION?!?

Ignatius is among the first Christians to express a sharp distinction between the practice of the old Jewish traditions and the new Christian faith.

He describes Jesus' death and resurrection as a "mystery" through which the Christian attains hope unto salvation. He speaks of "some men" who deny this. Contextually he is referring to the Jews who follow ancient practices like keeping Sabbath because Ignatius and the other early Christians got a lot of flak from Jews for proclaiming that Jesus is the resurrected Messiah. Ignatius contrasts Sabbath (Saturday, the Jewish rest day) with the Lord's Day (Christian worship on Sunday, the day on which Jesus rose from the dead).

As someone who is interested in religious history, what I find particularly notable about this passage is that Ignatius leaves the Jewish Christians out in the cold. They kept Sabbath AND believed that Jesus rose from the dead. Compare his attitude with Acts 21:20-21, which speaks of Jews who believe in Jesus yet continue to follow their "ancient practices:"

"You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs."

No idea. But there is no reason to suppose that any of his letters are genuine.

The Bible is full of these very strange things... it may be that Ignatius referred to the occult.