Out of the twenty authorities referred
to, Dr. Lightfoot objects to six as contradictory or not confirming
what he states to be the purpose of the note. He seems to consider that
a reservation for the possibility of a genuine substratum which cannot
be defined invalidates my reference. I maintain, however, that it does
not. It is quite possible to consider that the authenticity of the
extant letters cannot be established without denying that there may
have been some original nucleus upon which these actual documents may
have been based. I will analyse the six references.
_Bleek._--Dr. Lightfoot says: "Of these Bleek (already cited in a
previous note) expresses no definite opinion."
Dr. Lightfoot omits to mention that I do not refer to Bleek
directly, but by "Cf." merely request consideration of his opinions.
I have already partly stated Bleek's view. After pointing out some
difficulties, he says generally: "It comes to this, that the origin
of the Ignatian Epistles themselves is still very doubtful." He
refuses to make use of a passage because it is only found in the
Long Recension, and another which occurs in the Shorter Recension he
does not consider evidence, because, first, he says, "The
authenticity of this Recension also is by no means certain," and,
next, the Cureton Epistles discredit the others.
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