of Psyria was distant from Smyrna only a few hours' sail; and as
it was perhaps the residence of some of his co-religionists,
Polycarp might soon require to repair to it in the discharge of
his ecclesiastical duties. He could then take along with him, so
far, the letters intended for Philippi. Or if by Syria we here
understand the little island anciently so called, near the centre
of the Cyclades, the explanation is equally satisfactory. The
letter of Polycarp was written, not as Dr. Lightfoot contends, in
A.D. 107 but, as we have seen, about A.D. 161, when, as the whole
strain of the Epistle indicates, he was far advanced in life.
There is reason to believe that about this very juncture he was
contemplating a journey to Rome, that he might have a personal
conference with its chief pastor, Anicetus. His appearance in the
seat of Empire on that occasion created a great sensation, and
seems to have produced very important results. If he now went
there, any one who looks at the map may see that he must pass
Syria on the way. He could thus take the opportunity of leaving
there any letters for Philippi of which he might be the bearer.
At a subsequent stage of our discussion, this visit of Polycarp
to Rome must again occupy our attention.

The facts brought under the notice of the reader in this chapter
may help him to understand how it has happened that so many have
been befooled by the claims of these Ignatian Epistles. A mistake
as to two of the names mentioned in the letter of Polycarp,
created, as will subsequently appear, by the crafty contrivance of
a manufacturer of spurious documents, has led to a vast amount of
blundering and misapprehension. Ignatius, a man of Philippi, has
been supposed to be Ignatius, the pastor of Antioch; and Syria,
the eastern province of the Roman Empire, has been confounded with