Pseudo-Ignatius of Antioch is the name given by modern scholars to the unknown author or compiler who created a set of forged Christian letters in the fourth century CE. This anonymous figure wrote under the name of Ignatius of Antioch, an early second-century bishop and martyr. The forger’s work is known as the “Long Recension,” a collection of thirteen letters. It includes the seven genuine letters of the historical Ignatius, which were heavily edited and expanded with new material, plus six additional letters that are entirely invented.

The identity of the forger is completely unknown. According to modern scholars, the work was likely created to address fourth-century theological debates, particularly to argue against Arianism and to promote the pro-Nicene view of Christ’s divinity. By putting these later doctrinal arguments into the mouth of an esteemed early Christian figure, the forger sought to give them greater authority. Some academics suggest a connection to Syrian Christian circles or the Apollinarian controversies of the time, but these details remain uncertain.

The significance of the Pseudo-Ignatian letters lies in their historical influence. For over a thousand years, from the late fourth century until the 1600s, this expanded version was the only form of Ignatius’s writings known to the church and was accepted as authentic. It was widely quoted by medieval theologians. Its exposure as a later forgery was a major achievement of modern textual criticism. Today, the collection is studied as a key example of pseudepigraphy—the practice of writing under a false, revered name—and provides insight into how fourth-century Christians reshaped earlier traditions to support their contemporary theological and institutional needs.