Changes

Many English [[Puritans]] rejected the letters of Ignatius as forgeries from a later era precisely because they believed it impossible for this degree of hierarch­i­cal structure to have existed at such an early period. Many Protestant Reformers denied the apostolic foun­dation of different ranks of Christian ministers and accused the Church of later times of inventing such a hierarchy.<ref>See Presbyterian W. D. Killen (1886) ''The Ignatian Epistles Entirely Spurious''. See also John Calvin, ''Institutes'', 1-3. He repudiates entirely the letters which so completely discredit his own views on ecclesiastical government. In general, Catholic and Anglican scholars are ranged on the side of the letters written to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians, Smyrniots, and to Polycarp; while Presbyterians, as a rule, repudiate everything claiming Ignatian authorship.</ref>

Many English [[Puritans]] rejected the letters of Ignatius as forgeries from a later era precisely because they believed it impossible for this degree of hierarch­i­cal structure to have existed at such an early period. Many Protestant Reformers denied the apostolic foun­dation of different ranks of Christian ministers and accused the Church of later times of inventing such a hierarchy.<ref>See Presbyterian W. D. Killen (1886) ''The Ignatian Epistles Entirely Spurious''. See also John Calvin, ''Institutes'', 1-3. He repudiates entirely the letters which so completely discredit his own views on ecclesiastical government. In general, Catholic and Anglican scholars are ranged on the side of the letters written to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians, Smyrniots, and to Polycarp; while Presbyterians, as a rule, repudiate everything claiming Ignatian authorship.</ref>

—"Letter to the Smyrnaeans" 8:2.<blockquote>"You must all follow the lead of the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed that of the Father; follow the presbytery as you would the Apostles; reverence the deacons as you would God’s commandment. Let no one do anything touching the Church, apart from the bishop. Let that celebration of the Eucharist be considered valid which is held under the bishop or anyone to whom he has committed it. Where the bishop appears, there let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not permitted without authorization from the bishop either to baptize or to hold an agape; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God. Thus everything you do will be proof against danger and valid."</blockquote>

—"Letter to the Smyrnaeans" 8:2.<blockquote>"You must all follow the lead of the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed that of the Father; follow the presbytery as you would the Apostles; reverence the deacons as you would God’s commandment. Let no one do anything touching the Church, apart from the bishop. Let that celebration of the Eucharist be considered valid which is held under the bishop or anyone to whom he has committed it. Where the bishop appears, there let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not permitted without authorization from the bishop either to baptize or to hold an agape; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God. Thus everything you do will be proof against danger and valid."</blockquote>