Philip James
Well-Known Member
Really? On what do you base that assertion?
Rather, perhaps they understood it as the fulfillment of this:
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Certainly Ignatius of Anticoch who learned these things directly from the apostles and was made bishop of the Church in Antioch understood it this way.
'They abstain
from eucharist (thanksgiving) and prayer, because they
allow not that the eucharist is the flesh of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, which flesh suffered for our
sins, and which the Father of His goodness raised up.' (Letter to the Smyrneans)
And Ignatius is commended by Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna:
'The letters of Ignatius which were sent to us by him, and others as
many as we had by us, we send unto you, according as ye gave charge;
the which are subjoined to this letter; from which ye will be able to
gain great advantage. For they comprise faith and endurance and every
kind of edification, which pertaineth unto our Lord. ' (to the Philipians)
And of course Smyrna is commended by our Lord:
To the angel of the church in Smyrna, write this: " 'The first and the last, who once died but came to life, says this:
"I know your tribulation and poverty, but you are rich.
Peace!
