Ignatius Doctrines

I always like to read the early church fathers like Clement of Rome, Polycarp and Ignatius and look for Christian doctrines that were clearly taught in the early church that has been passed down through the ages. In the quote below Ignatius clearly teaches the Incarnation (Jesus is God), The Atonement, the Virgin Birth, Substitution, and a couple subtle hints to the doctrine of Election and the Depravity of Man; also notice what side of the Lordship Controversy he would have sided with and not to mention his utter contempt for false believers. Keep in mind this was a student who sat under the Apostle John.

"For some are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, whom ye must flee as ye would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men who can scarcely be cured. There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passible and then impassible, even Jesus Christ our Lord.

But some most worthless persons are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, and hold opinions contrary to the doctrine of Christ, to their own destruction, and that of those who give credit to them, whom you must avoid as ye would wild beasts. For “the righteous man who avoids them is saved for ever; but the destruction of the ungodly is sudden, and a subject of rejoicing.” For “they are dumb dogs, that cannot bark,” raving mad, and biting secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, since they labour under an incurable disease. But our Physician is the only true God, the unbegotten and unapproachable, the Lord of all, the Father and Begetter of the only-begotten Son. We have also as a Physician the Lord our God, Jesus the Christ, the only-begotten Son and Word, before time began, (Or, “before the ages”) but who afterwards became also man, of Mary the virgin. For “the Word was made flesh.” Being incorporeal, He was in the body; being impassible, He was in a passible body; being immortal, He was in a mortal body; being life, He became subject to corruption, that He might free our souls from death and corruption, and heal them, and might restore them to health, when they were diseased with ungodliness and wicked lusts." —Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus)(35 or 50-between 98 and 117)

Excerpt taken from "The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians"