Paul M. Nguyen Patristics, A.

Orlando September 18, 2012 On the Theme of Silence in the Letters of Ignatius of Antioch In the extant letters of St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch and martyr of the early church, Ignatius raises the issue of the importance of silence, and its corelative, speech. In addresses both to the lay persons of various churches and to the bishop Polycarp, Ignatius presents both a theology and a morality of silence, which may be followed with great benefit. In his letter to the Ephesians, Ignatius teaches that it is better to keep quiet and be real, than to chatter and be unreal (15:1). He then references the positive corelative found in Jesus: who 'spoke and it was done'; and what he did in silence is worthy of the Father (15:1). Ignatius rounds out the section by stating that the man who has understood well the Word of God in Christ becomes perfect, his speech prompting action and his character shown in his silence (15:2). Ignatius' theology of silence overflows into the human plane and invites us to this discipline of silence and speech. In the letter to the Magnesians, Ignatius joins to his theology of silence an implicit teaching about interior silence. He defines the Son of the Father, Jesus Christ, who is his Word issuing from the silence, and further, who won the complete approval of [the Father] (8:2). This teaching clarifies and motivates the preceding encouragement to not be led astray by wrong views or by outmoded tales (8:1), thus calling the Magnesians to an interior silence in which they do not hear of these views that could lead them astray. Writing to the Trallians, Ignatius again advises an interior silence in the face of heresy. He urges them, Be deaf, then, to any talk that ignores Jesus Christ (9:12). We find something new in the letter to the Romans. Ignatius advises the people not to boast in his willingness to become a martyr. If those of the Roman church would quietly let [him] alone, people will see in [him] God's Word, otherwise, he would become a meaningless noise (2:1). Ignatius then encourages them to sing God's praises as he joins his sacrifice to that of Christ (2:2).

Nguyen 2 In the letter to the Philadelphians, Ignatius applies his morality of silence to the bishop. He advises that, by being silent he can do more than those who chatter, his silence stemming from being in tune with the commandments (1:2). Later, Ignatius again encourages interior silence in the face of false evangelists, advising that the people only listen to those who talk about Jesus Christ (6:1). Applying this to himself, he claims that when he cried out to them, it was God's voice speaking through him (7:1). Once again, his morality is carefully illustrated. To the church in Smyrna, Ignatius rebukes those who would praise his teaching but deny that Christ carried around live flesh, that is, deny Jesus' humanity (5.2). He would rather they be silent than feign faith or piety. And, we can suppose in good faith, considering the corpus of Ignatius' extant writings, that his subsequent silence as to the identities of these unbelievers (5:3) is his withholding final judgment from them, again showing silence to be the higher path. Finally, to Polycarp, the human and interpersonal dimension joins Ignatius' theology and morality of silence. He urges Polycarp: take a personal interest in those you talk to, just as God does (1:3). Here, he uses the theological as the type of the human, cautioning against empty speech. He also recommends that those dedicated to chastity not boast of their sacrifice, lest they be lost (5:2). And finally, he withholds his own speech, not wasting words on what he knows is already understood (7:3). In this, he applies his own notion of taking interest in talking and, based on Polycarp's earnest sincerity (7:3), responds with knowing silence. St. Ignatius thus promotes silence, motivated by the significant silence of God prior to the Incarnation, and introduces what we may today characterize as the virtue of temperance of speech. How forward-looking Ignatius was, in light of today's noisy world, and how much we can learn from these words of ancient wisdom, whose applications extend even to our own time.