Bearing God: The Life and Work of St. Ignatius of Antioch the God-Bearer

by Andrew Stephn Damick

St. Ignatius, first-century Bishop of Antioch, called the “God-bearer,” is one of the earliest witnesses to the truth of Christ and the nature of the Christian life. Tradition tells us that as a small child, Ignatius was singled out by Jesus Himself as an example of the childlike faith all Christians must possess (see Matthew 18:1–4). In Bearing God, Fr. Andrew Damick recounts the life of this great pastor, martyr, and saint, and interprets for the modern reader five major themes in the pastoral letters he wrote: martyrdom, salvation in Christ, the bishop, the unity of the Church, and the Eucharist.

Genres: Religion, Theology, History, Church History, Christianity, Nonfiction, Biography

192 pages, Paperback

Reviews

[Bev Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are three kinds of books in the world. There are those which come into your life and change it irrevocably. Those books leave you gasping on the floor and reeling around trying to get your bearings. They toss out all your mental furniture and move in a whole new set. Then there are the books that let you go on with your life. They change you in ways so quietly as to be overlooked. They snuggle down into your consciousness and work their magic unobtrusively. Perhaps they move a chair from one side of the room to the other, or shift the bed from the west wall to the north. And finally, there are books like Bearing God – The Life and works of St. Ignatius of Antioch, by Andrew Stephen Damick. This book didn’t change my life, and it didn’t snuggle unobtrusively into my consciousness and quietly rearrange the furniture. No. This book took me by the ankles, held me upside down and applied a funhouse mirror to everything I already knew. It forced me to see what I believe in an entirely new and different way. Bearing God threw the living room furniture into the kitchen, and wrestled the entire bedroom suite into the dining room. And it works. It’s a much better arrangement than before.

Bearing God is an examination of St. Ignatius’s epistles to various people and congregations written while on his way to Rome to be martyred. Father Andrew’s very clear love for St. Ignatius enliven the themes in the saint’s letters, and make this martyr a lively person whose zeal for God infuses us today with the dedication and zeal this bearer of God had for his Lord.

What remains with me after reading the book are three things: First, the rock solid conviction that we still hold today – that the Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ, and if that is the case, then we really do eat Jesus’s body and we drink his blood. And if we are what we eat, then we are Christ. And if we are, then, folks, why aren’t we more like Him?

Second is that, through the Eucharist, Christ is in us, in a real and valid way, just as Theophan the Recluse keeps advising us, in his writings on the recitation of the Jesus prayer. He keeps saying we will feel the warmth of Christ in our hearts, and we need to cultivate that during the prayer, but also in living our lives when we aren’t practising stillness. Bearing God reminded me and made me see that we need to recognize and live the fact that God is with us – in our hearts and gut and brain and limbs, and we are him, that partaking of the bread and wine, body and blood, we become the Eucharist and God and must live our lives in that understanding and with the same zeal that St. Ignatius did.

Third was the fact that our church is a reflection of the unity of the Trinity: the heirarchs and layity together form the Church, because it is in the Eucharist that we are most completely the Church, the Body of Christ. We cannot be a church with just the heirarchs, but neither can we be a church if we are just lay. It requires both, for Christ is shown to us in the priests who are the Bishop’s representatives, and it is through them that we experience the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and Blood of Christ. And that experience, that Eucharist isn’t valid without the bishop (or his official representative, the priest). But likewise, the bishop or priest cannot hold a valid liturgy without at least one lay person present. We cannot celebrate it one without the other – it just doesn’t work. Our community is founded, strengthened and confirmed in the common cup. And our identity as a Christian person is also founded, strengthened and confirmed in the common cup.

What all this amounts to is that our identity as individual Christians in the world is centred on the liturgy, the communion with Christ and each other, and of our literally and truly consuming God in that holy act and both recognizing His presence in us and becoming Him to each other and the world. If we don’t understand that, and allow the mystical actions to take place, then we aren’t truly open to God and his mercy and love and saving grace. It’s that simple.

[Aleksandar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A high level overview of one of Christianity's first bishops. St. Ignatius was literally the result of apostolic succession, having had St. John as his teacher, and guide. This is why it's fascinating to compare what St. Ignatius wrote, and believed, with Christianity today. Really, it's only the Orthodox Church that continues to maintain these beliefs, and traditions.

Damick goes into St. Ignatius' martyrdom as well as a whole host of other tangents like the Eucharist. All of this is very well written, and summarized. My only complaint is that I'd have loved to have heard more about what he did, and his life in general. The title of this book contains the words "the life", but apart from his writings, there isn't really a whole lot there. This might be a problem of sources, primary and secondary, but it's still something that's lacking.

Highly recommended to all Christians.

[DúviAurvandil Ericsson e Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always liked St Ignatius of Antioch. St Ignatius has always seemed a very manly saint. His icon traditionally depicts him being crawled over by ravenous lions. His descriptors of the possible tortures he would endure for the sake of Christ are so visceral, war-like, and courageous. I don’t need to repeat much here, but “let fire, the cross, the breaking of bones, the tearing of limbs, the shattering of the body, and all the torments of the devil come upon me – only let me have Jesus Christ” has such a emboldening effect on my soul that I can never imagine myself denying Christ, if only for his saintly prayers.
St Ignatius is also popular among Orthodox (and Catholic) apologists against anti-sacramental and/or anti-hierarchical Christians. He was so close to the Apostles (most likely discipled under the Apostle John himself), and so outspoken on a few key differences we have with such Protestants. He does, after all, say that praying outside of the blessing of the bishop is “praying to demons”, and that the Eucharist is the “medicine of immortality”. He is often one of the first Church Fathers recommended to read to new inquirers to Orthodox Christianity.
So it’s not surprising to see a book on him by the highly estimable Fr Andrew Stephen Damick, one of the more well-known Orthodox pastors in America who emphasizes Christian living, evangelism, correct doctrine, and the reading of good literature. What is also not surprising is that the approach Fr Andrew takes in Bearing God: The Life and Works of St. Ignatius of Antioch is a bit different to the one so often seen in on this saint.
Instead of focusing on the dry and intellectual “proof texts” found in St Ignatius to support Orthodox claims over others, he digs in deeper to the heart of St Ignatius’ pleading with the churches to which he wrote. His chapters include ‘Martyrdom’, ‘Salvation in Christ’, ‘The Bishop’, ‘The Unity of the Church’, and ‘The Eucharist’ – all delving into what these topics have to do about our love for God, our relationships with our brothers and sisters, and how to clothe ourselves more fully with Christ. Mention, of course, is made about how St Ignatius is strong evidence of the ancientness of Orthodox doctrine, but the focus is not convincing antagonists, but rather leading readers to imitate him as he runs to Jesus. It is therefore a book not just of benefit for Orthodox, but for all who look to Christ and want a deeper relationship with Him.
Fr Andrew draws out the pleading St Ignatius has for his fellow Christians to hold fast to God amidst the controversies and persecutions flaring up around them. How he desires for them, not the name only of Christian, but the reality itself. “Not merely be called a Christian, but truly found to be one,” he says. How he begs them to cling to what they have been taught, especially of the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus, so that they may have salvation in Him and enjoy the love of the Trinity. How they should meet often and regularly, partaking of communion, because in this not only are they strengthened, but St Ignatius is himself as well.
In this, Fr Andrew truly shows how manly St Ignatius is. Not manly because he commands his underlings to do as he says, not manly because he talks of gore and violence, not manly because he proves that we’ve been right all this time. No, he is manly because he pleads for his spiritual children to love Christ above everything, he is manly because he desires more than anything, the very best for his children – union with God, he is manly because no greater joy does he have than to be given up as a sacrifice for others, that they may have courage. In short, he is manly because he is a father.
Holy Father Ignatius, pray to God for us!

[Gia Cherpes-See · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bearing God is a well-researched compendium not only about the life and works of St. Ignatius, but also gives invaluable insight into Christian life, faith, and worship of the early Orthodox Church. I must be honest that I was taken aback a little bit when I first started reading this book. It was so unlike many other books of the Church I had been reading, especially since I am not familiar with any work of the author, V. Rev. Andrew Stephen Damick. Reading the introduction is a must, so that you can have a better understanding of the author’s “great affection for this saint.” (pg. 17) and how it’s evident that this book truly a labor of love.

When I was only a few pages into the first chapter, l came to the realization there was much more to this book within its 156 pages; it is not to be taken lightly. As someone born and raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, I did become a bit frustrated while reading it, because at times, his interpretations and analyses appeared to be repetitive and redundant. Nonetheless, I was inspired by Fr. Damick’s evident enthusiasm within his writing to continue. However, after taking a break and then coming back to reread the sections with which I struggled, his message became increasingly clearer. I was not just learning about St. Ignatius and the Orthodox Christian Faith; I was becoming more aware of how complacent I had become in my own participation of the Church! I started noticing more benevolent and gentle nudges as reminders for today’s Orthodox Christians in which Fr. Damick interspersed between facts and discussions.

For example, on pg. 135 the chapter about the theme of the Eucharist, Fr. Damick points out “And if both flesh and spirit are in Christ (referencing the Eucharist, of course), then spiritual life is not just for the spirit but includes the flesh.” And on pg. 136, St. Ignatius is quoted as saying for those visiting him “in every respect refreshed me in flesh and spirit” (Trallians 12:1). It goes on to equate “their love for him connected him in both a fleshly and spiritual way. This says something about our ministry as the Church, not just to a visiting bishop who is about to martyred, but to anyone who comes to us. Are we refreshing them “in both flesh and spirit”? Some people want to do only one or the other. But we need to do both.” Part of my complacency is just that. I might want to only refresh someone in the flesh by giving that person something to eat or somehow making him/her feel comfortable, yet feel embarrassed or uncomfortable at making sure he/she is refreshed in the spirit with the fear of that person possibly thinking I’m a fanatic. However, isn’t that being a good Christian? Aren’t we supposed to be comfortable with the uncomfortable in doing God’s work? Thank Father Damick for waking me up and gently guiding me back on the correct path as an Orthodox Christian!

Full Disclosure: I did receive an advanced copy for my honest review.

[Jolie Boulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bearing God by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick is an inside look on St. Ignatius of Antioch’s life and works. The book shares a synthesis of the main themes that appear throughout St. Ignatius’s letters. The book is beautifully narrated by Fr. Andrew, which makes it easy to listen to and understand.

I appreciated that in the introduction of the book, Fr. Andrew shares how he is personally connected to St. Ignatius and how learning about St. Ignatius was part of what brought him to the Orthodox faith. Hearing this personal account made me more excited to listen to the book because it reminded me that this is not just another historical work or a reminder of how the early church operated, but that these works from the early church must translate into our lives in the way we act as Christians.

A few of the ideas that stood out to me the most in this book are how St. Ignatius viewed martyrdom, the role of the bishop, and the importance of the unity of the church. Hearing about how St. Ignatius was truly desiring martyrdom, even deflecting people who were trying to spare him from this end, was a wake-up call in seeing if I truly desire to suffer with Christ as St. Ignatius did. I also appreciated learning about the importance of the bishop and how in the early church, the bishop was also the local priest. Learning about how St. Ignatius truly sees each person as bearing God was beautiful. Finally, the importance of the unity of the church stood out to me because of Christ’s prayer in John 17.

I wish I read St. Ignatius’s letters before reading this book because I think I would have gotten a lot more out of the book had I read the letters first. I recommend this book to those who want to learn more from one of the earliest church fathers from someone who has a personal connection to the saint!

[Jason Streit · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Ignatius of Antioch has always held a special place in my heart as his writings were part of the reason I became Orthodox. His epistles show the continuity of the Faith from the apostles who taught him down to the parishes of today. Fr. Andrew Damick’s book “Bearing God” serves both as a beautiful introduction to St. Ignatius of Antioch and an illumination of this saints words for our modern age. In his book he focuses on five main themes from St. Ignatius’ epistles - martyrdom, salvation in Christ, the Bishop, the unity of the Church, and the Eucharist.

Weaving together the words of St. Ignatius, the Gospel, and his own research Fr. Damick shows how the from the earliest Christians the Church was episcopal, sacramental, and rooted in the witness of martyrs. He also uses these writings not only to explain what the early church did but how modern Orthodox should be. For instance, he writes that St. Ignatius was worried that some of the churches along his route to Rome might try and stop the Roman’s from killing him which would deprive him of his chance to unite with Christ’s suffering and that Christians today should be that committed to Christ. He also uses St. Ignatius’ refutations of the Docetists (those who said Christ didn’t have a physical body) to explain why having an Orthodox understanding of salvation matters and why we need to avoid modern day heresies.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about St. Ignatius and his teachings. Fr. Damick does an excellent job at helping us understand this Saint in his historical context and showing why he still matters.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough read about one of the early Christian bishop-saints, contemporary of Saint Polycarp, and disciple of John, the beloved disciple of Jesus. Ignatius pulls no punches about Christianity as he was one of the earliest followers in spreading the gospel to the greater world of his time. In essence, you are all in or you are not following Christ. His writings have been preserved on subjects ranging from martyrdom, salvation, the role of bishops, the unity of the church universal, to the power of the Eucharist. In addition, he preached the Incarnation as key to who Christ is---fully God, fully man.

Father Stephen Damick guides the reader through the life and legacy of a little known saint in the western world. I appreciated his insights and his relating the times of Ignatius to ours in order to strengthen our faith and actions for Christ:

"Ignatius is valuable to us as we bear witness to a world that does not know Christ. But he is also valuable to us as we bear witness to the apostolic faith to other Christians who may feel lost in this world, especially those whose churches have changed out from under them, sometimes in ways that make them almost unrecognizable as Christian churches. We can use Ignatius's letters as a witness to the spirit and character of the early Church. And as Christians listen together to his voice, we can discover that same voice in the Orthodox Church of today." (p. 155)

This book has whetted my desire to read even more about the early first century Church. I have so much to learn about the faith I claim to follow.

[Christopher Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

St Ignatius (along with St Irenaeus, but that's another review) was instrumental in my acceptance of the Orthodox Church. Fr Andrew Damick writes a great introduction to the saint's works, giving a chapter to each of the major themes found therein. His writing style is clear and concise, making this a pleasure to read.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on St Ignatius. Challenging to our “modern sensibilities,” but we can learn a great deal about living the Christian life from those who understood that it would cost them everything. And, as the author points out, our current situation is really not all that different from the time of St Ignatius. So this leads to the challenge: how will we live?

[evelina april · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book diving into the origins of the church’s doctrines on the Eucharist, Bishops and Unity in the assembly. Reading this from a Protestant background and lens, this book opened an entirely new perspective for me to learn about St. Ignatius and his impact on the ways and practice of Christianity. It’s very interesting to look at our churches and denominations today and see how these foundations have held up or been misconstrued over time. Reads a little slow but very valuable teachings.

[Evan Mulch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful Book For Those Who Want To Know More Truth About The Church

Every Christian should read this book to understand how Christians are supposed to participate in the Church. I plan on buying a few copies of this book to give as Christmas presents to other Christians.

[Luke Izaak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Fr Andrew.

Such an incredible reminder to see Christianity through the lens it was intended; a true hope and belief in resurrection. Not giving in to the temptations of ease and comfort.
What a challenge his life and message is to us today!

[Ezekiel Carsella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mix of historical bio on St. Ignatius, his letters, and applying them to our modern times. really loved the closing with talking about being in communion and what that truly means. something I have been thinking about a lot recently.

[Jim Vivanco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlighten your mind ~ read this book

Excellent work about the early Christian Church, its doctrines , all presented in the life and death of St. Ignatius.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! Enjoyed learning more about one of the great church fathers. There is so much in contemporary life that makes St Ignatius a saint for our time.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not that this is a bad book. It is good and I gleaned some things from it. I guess I am just not as excited about the topic as the author is. 3.5 stars.

[Daniel Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy light read that gets some of the main points about why Ignatius matters across and some sampling of his key beliefs that stand in contrast to American Christianity.

[Missa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It gave me what i was looking for: insight on the eucharist and reassurance in the bishop. Beautiful writing. I hope Catholics and Orthodox can be reunified soon.

[Brandon Strain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful introduction to Saint Ignatius!! Very easy to understand and give excellent insight to the early church with full context.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read/listened to Bearing God: The Life and Works of St. Ignatius of Antioch twice before writing this review because I needed time to consider all that I had experienced during the first and even second reading. During the first reading, somewhere along the second chapter, I remember calling a friend and telling her I needed to take a break because I felt my entire thoughts about the Orthodox faith being shaken. Not in the way that I didn’t believe the same “facts” --- but the realization that I was not living the Orthodox faith in the way that it was meant to be lived.

Fr. Andrew begins the book with a brief overview of the life of St. Ignatius of Antioch. In this explanation of the life of St. Ignatius, we get to know and understand he was a disciple of John the Apostle and one of the Apostolic Fathers of the Orthodox Church and was ultimately martyred for his faith in the Coliseum at Rome. The subsequent chapters discuss the letters that he wrote to various churches and his contemporary and fellow Bishop, St. Polycarp, while he was on the journey to martyrdom.

The chapters discussing the St. Ignatius’ teachings from his epistles are grouped by subject matter: martyrdom, salvation in Christ, the role of the bishop, the unity of the Church and the Eucharist. These chapters could come off as didactic; however, Fr. Andrew’s approach makes them relatable and practical in living the Orthodox Faith. This book does not add or subtract from the core teachings of the Orthodox Faith in creed or statement of Faith, but it does turn the way we live and practice our faith on its head. We cannot celebrate the Eucharist without the clergy (Bishop) and they cannot celebrate it without us, the lay people of the church. The Orthodox church is truly communal with the Eucharist as its central force. In the Eucharist we partake of the body and blood of Christ and in this partaking, He dwells within us --- and we in Him. We truly do “bear God” and do merely “represent” but as members of the Orthodox Church ARE the Body of Christ in the world.

The Church hierarchy, the Eucharist, and the church being the Body of Christ are not new concepts, but Fr. Andrew uses the teachings of St. Ignatius to spotlight that we simply cannot view the Orthodox faith in an individualized way or simply as a matter of inward belief. Our participation in the Liturgy and the Eucharist makes us one with Christ and each other. And if we are One with Him and each other, then we must live our faith outwardly and differently.

This book is a must read for anyone who really wants to understand how we should live as Orthodox Christians.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:

+ Peter the first bishop of Antioch (and then Rome); then St. Evodius; then St. Ignatius (a disciple of St. John)

+ Ignatius writing at least as early as 107 AD
- First heard the gospel directly from the apostles

+ Desire becomes purified by suffering

+ Sanctuary
- Greek “thysiastirion” = altar, but literally “place of sacrifice” or “place of offering,” from thysia: sacrifice or offering

+ No papal supremacy
- “Subjection to a worldwide bishop in Rome is not found in Ignatius’s writings… There is never any special role given to the Roman bishop or the Roman church, nor even to the Apostle Peter.”


Quotes:

While our bodies change most food into us in a biological way, the Eucharist changes us into Christ in a mystical way.

“Let no one deceive himself: unless a man is within the sanctuary, he lacks the bread of God.” (Ig. to Ephesians 5:2)

For Ignatius, Christian life is not about having a right status with God (as would become an important theme in Reformation theology) but about bearing God within ourselves.

Fearing death, man in bondage tends to do everything he can to make his own life comfortable and secure, even at the expense of others.

Our culture has so indoctrinated us with the idea that we should obey no one but our own desires, that anything else constitutes oppression.

[Kade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the subtitle starting with the words "The Life and Works," I expected this to be more in the vein of a "lives of saints" type genre. It's not, but is rather a discussion of themes in St. Ignatius' letters, written while en route to Rome to be martyred for Christ at the Colosseum. Although have have read those letters multiple times, I still enjoyed this book and noticed things I hadn't previously. Recommended for those who already know who St. Ignatius is, and want an introduction to what he taught in his letters.