THE Christianity of Ignatius is essentially churchly. In his correspondence, as in the letters of Paul, ecclesia has a twofold reference. On the one hand, it signifies the local Christian community. Hence he sometimes speaks of "churches,"' meaning the congregations in the various cities. On the other hand, Ignatius uses it of the body of Christians throughout the world, the universal church, which is present wherever Jesus Christ is present.2 This second meaning is of great importance since his predominant thought is the unity of God's people who, throughout the world and through the ages, are bound together in an inseparable relationship with the divine. So deeply conscious is Ignatius of this idea, that the word EVory becomes almost a synonym for the church, which is "God's Unity."3 This is a concept which has practical implications for the order and conduct of the local congregation and for the Christian life of prayer and fellowship whereby the bonds between the various churches are strengthened. To enlarge upon this leading theme of the unity of the church Ignatius introduces a variety of metaphors taken from music,4 building,5 planting,6 and the human body.7 He describes the church as a harmonious choir, singing in unison and taking its key from God.8 Now it is a building raised up to the heights by Christ and constructed by the machinery of faith and love;9 now it is a body of which all Christians are members and whose head is Christ.'0 Or, again, the cross is a tree whose branches