Ignatius to Smyrnaeans 3:2
Λάβετε ψηλαφήσατέ με καὶ ἴδετε ὅτι οὐκ εἰμὶ δαιμόνιον ἀσώματον
“Lay hold, handle Me, and see
that I am not an incorporeal spirit..”
ψηλαφήσατέ
με καὶ ἴδετε, ὅτι πνεῦμα
(Lk. 24:39 NA28)
Agreement: Although
Ignatius paraphrases the event in his own words he clearly anchors the account
in the Gospel of Luke. The narrative framework and key elements demonstrate
that Luke’s Gospel is the source being recalled.
Disagreement: A striking
variation appears at the conclusion of the passage when compared with Luke.
Luke employs the standard term πνεῦμα meaning spirit whereas Ignatius reshapes
the imagery by using the phrase δαιμόνιον ἀσώματον meaning a ghostly or
incorporeal evil spirit.
There is no manuscript evidence
to support this wording in the Lukan text. Rather Ignatius appears to be
interpreting and expanding upon the disciples initial reaction within his
paraphrase of the scene. This creative reexpression reflects theological explanation
rather than textual dependence. (Stephen Boyce, “The
Use of Scripture in Early Christian Writings: A Textual Analysis of 1 Clement,
Polycarp, the Didache, and Ignatius” [PhD Dissertation; Louisiana Baptist
University and Seminary, 2021], 176-77)
On the significance of this interpretation of Luke 24:39 for Latter-day Saints, see:
Lynn Wilder vs. Latter-day Saint (and Biblical) Theology on Divine Embodiment
