personal deacon to Bishop Onesimus. Burrhus is described as a representative and confidant of
the Bishop, a fellow servant blessed in all things, a trusted companion. 10 The deacon here
resembles what will later define the diaconate, a man of the Word, service and charity. Ignatius
will use this affectionate tone regularly, continually referring to deacons as those entrusted with
the diaconoi of Jesus Christ. Ignatius, it is evident, expected the deacon to conform his life to
Christ, to imitate the life of Christ through service to the Church. In fact, Ignatius will regularly
compare the role of bishop to God and that of the deacon to Jesus Christ. This reference seems to
infer that deacons are to do anything the Church requires. It offers more evidence that the deacon
had a sacramental role as well as a service role. 11 As further evidence, in his letter to the
Philadelphians, Ignatius will reinforce this idea of the diaconate as an office of the hierarchy of
Christ’s Church: “You are my abiding and unshakable joy. You will always be so, if you
continue united with your bishop and with his presbyters and deacons, all appointed in
accordance with the mind of Christ. Chosen by his own will, Christ has confirmed them in the
power that the Spirit gives.” 12 The deacon as is the case of the Apostle, is chosen by Christ. Saint
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and a disciple of the Apostle John, will echo this sentiment in his
letter to the Philippians, “we ought to walk worthy of His commandment and glory. In like
manner should the deacons be blameless before the face of His righteousness, as being the
servants of God and Christ, and not of men.” 13 Deacons are to have a service role for sure,
10
Ibid, 10
Cf, Exparza, The Diaconate: A Challenge from the Past, 15.
12
Ignatius of Antioch. “Letter to the Philadelphians,” Translated by Alexander Roberts and James
Donaldson. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland
Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin
Knight. Accessed June 19, 2018. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0106.htm.
13
Polycarp of Smyrna, “Letter to the Philippians,” Translated by Alexander Roberts and James
Donaldson. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland
Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin
Knight. Accessed June 19, 2018. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0106.htm.
11
10