Martyrdom, Sacrificial Libation, and the Eucharist of Ignatius Antioch

Frederick G. Klawiter argues that in Ignatius’ eucharist, a wine libation symbolized the pouring out of Jesus’ blood in his sacrificial death. By drinking from the libation cup in the eucharist/agape meal, Christians sought unity of agape with one another and the crucified, risen Jesus—while anticipating the possibility of martyrdom. After showing that sacramental realism exists in neither Ignatius nor in John 6:51b-58, Frederick G. Klawiter argues that Ignatius’ eucharist contained a sacrificial wine libation (poured into a dish on the altar), symbolizing the pouring out of Jesus’ blood in his sacrificial death. Then, by drinking from the libation cup in the eucharist/agape meal, Christians sought unity of agape with one another and the crucified, risen Jesus—while anticipating the possibility of martyrdom.