Ignatius and Bishops
The writings of Ignatius have long been used by Catholics to uphold the regional office of Bishops over multiple cities. Ignatius wrote after the death of the last Apostle.
His writings actually disprove the Catholic practice but can be used to show changes being made.
Ignatius was writing from Smyrna to several cities before his death. His writings describe the current government of the churches, as he was supporting it.
Bishop
Presbyters
Deacons
Writing letters to the churches would introduce his ideas even if it was not fully implemented yet. The congregations might read his letters and think they missed a distinction in the offices. The apostles were passed and not alive to correct him.
This of course was unbiblical because the letter to Titus uses Bishop(episcopos) and elder (presbyteros) as the same office. The words presbyteros ond Bishops are used together in Acts 20:17 and Acts 20:28. All Elders were Bishops.
Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders (Presbyteros) in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Tit 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Tit 1:7 For a bishop (episcopos) must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Tit 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
So that Titus was to appoint multiple bishops/presbyters in each city.
This is upheld by Thayer's Greek Lexicon below.
Ignatius upholds this formula in some of his letters.
The epistle to Philadelphia he writes
And if ye are willing, it is not beyond your power to do this, for the sake35 of God; as also the nearest Churches have sent, in some cases bishops, and in others presbyters and deacons.
Notice: close cities had their own Bishops in his description. Thus the term Bishop at the time of Ignatius and in his mind was a local church office, not a regional office. It had not fully evolved yet.
Since he was writing from Smyrna he very clearly says there were multiple Churches in and around the city, each having at least one bishop it appears. Sending Bishops did not specify the number per congregation,only that there was at least one per church.
Epistle to the trallians
I salute you from Smyrna, together with the Churches of God which are with me, who have refreshed me in all things, both in the flesh and in the spirit.
It is evident from Ignatius that the churches had not yet grown into a Catholic formula, but had slightly moved away from the New Testament government. They had begun to separate the office of Bishop and Presbyter (elder).
Ignatius would say Polycarp was Bishop of the Smyrnans even though they had multiple congregations, breaking with the Phillippean form of church govt. revealed in the Phillippean letter from Paul.
Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Phillippi did not have a singular Bishop over city wide or area congregations, but had a plurality of Bishops.
His letters show a change in office designation locally, but not Catholicism.
The question is, was he sincerely wrong, or was he employing trickery to insinuate a new church office.
Again Thayer says Bishop and Presbyter was used interchangeably among Christians.
G4245
πρεσβύτερος
presbuteros
Thayer Definition:
1) elder, of age
1a) the elder of two people
1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior
1b1) forefathers
2) a term of rank or office
2a) among the Jews
2a1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
2a2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: comparative of presbus (elderly)
Citing in TDNT: 6:651, 931