Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius was bishop of the Church of Antioch in the early 2nd Century. Almost all of what we know about Ignatius comes from the letters he wrote on his way to be executed in Rome. Six of the seven letters were addressed to churches (Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia and Smyrna) and the seventh to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna.

Ignatius believed he possessed the gift of prophecy - but not to the extent of any of the apostles, and his main themes concerned the leadership of the Church (one bishop per area), and the condemnation of Docetist ideas (that Christ only appeared to be a man).

Finally, he was very enthusiastic to become a martyr - to the extent that he begged those in Rome not to intercede on his behalf to prevent his execution, arguing that if they prevent his execution they would be aiding Satan by giving him more chance to tempt him!