J Ryan Davidson: Ignatius to Polycarp: Psychagogy, Pastoral Care and A Manual of Care

Tucked within the Apostolic Fathers corpus are the letters of Ignatius, including the letter of Ignatius to Polycarp. This early second century work reveals, among other things, the collegial instruction from one bishop to another regarding the care of souls. Within these instructions is a general pastoral care thrust, including the encouragement to guide the souls of those under one's charge. While authorship and authenticity of the work is often in question, the content of the letter still allows for a view towards understanding pastoral theology within the period, and therefore a useful component of historical research. This short communication will provide a brief overview of the pastoral care elements found in the letter, and a specific argument related to the psychagogical content of the letter. Surveying the current secondary source material followed by providing connection points to this particular primary epistolary source, the communication will argue that Ignatius was concerned with psychagogical themes and much like Gregory's manual of pastoral care which would come a few centuries later, provides a brief summary into the guidance of souls which one bishop within early Christianity considered as important.