Spirituality and church order for Ignatius

In chapter 5 Ignatius outlines the traditional biblical theme of a way of death and a way of life. What is significant is the spirituality of the way of life. It is having the character of the Father impressed on us by the Son, as we learn to die in the Son's passion.

Chapters 6 and 7 continue with the issue of church order and the authority of the bishop. What is significant is the way that the unity of the church under a bishop is grounded in the relationship of Christ with the Father. Just as the Son did not do anything without the Father, so those in the church should not do anything without the bishop.