Charles Bobertz: Social Ethics and the Developing Doctrine of Incarnation: The Gospel of Mark to Ignatius of Antioch

This paper will explore the early development of the connection between the incarnational understanding of Eucharistic ritual as the body of Christ and the practice of social ethics in the early Christian churches. Centered on a consideration of Mark 6:30-52, the feeding of the 5000 and the walking upon the water, and Ignatius’ Letter to the Smyrneans 6:2-8:2, this paper will consider the relationship between the incarnational understanding of the Eucharist and the development of social practices such as care for the widow, the orphan and the oppressed in the early churches. In addition the paper will consider how Ignatius ties this understanding of the incarnation in the Eucharist to the hierarchical cultic pattern of the assembly (bishops, presbyters and deacons) he so fiercely advocates.