The Epistle of Polycarp is usually made a sort of preface to those of Ignatius. Yet he was born later, and lived to a much later period. They seem to have been friends from the days of their common pupilage under St. John; and there is nothing improbable in the conjecture of Usher, that he was the “angel of the church in Smyrna,” to whom the Master says, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
His pupil, Irenaeus, gives us one of the very few portraits of an apostolic man to be found in antiquity: “I could describe the very place in which the blessed Polycarp sat and taught; his going out and coming in; the whole tenor of his life; his personal appearance; how he would speak of the conversations he had held with John and with others who had seen the Lord, the words he heard from their mouths.”
Polycarp had been a Christian since he was a child, but the Romans didn’t get around to killing him until he was in his eighties. Whatever the reason for the delay, it is still the first recorded martyrdom in post-New Testament church history.
In his later years, he tried to settle disputes about the date to celebrate Easter. He debated this amicably with Pope Cletus, the successor to Pope Clement. Polycarp claimed that the best day to do so was on Passover. Cletus argued for a Sunday.
In Rome Polycarp also confronted one of the church’s most troublesome heretics, the Gnostic Marcion, calling him “the first born of Satan.” Polycarp was also responsible for converting many from Gnosticism.
I have greatly rejoiced with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, because you have followed the example of true love, as displayed by God, and have accompanied those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord; and because the strong root of your faith, spoken of in days long gone by, endures even until now, and brings forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have written to your brothers about the martyrs and especially about the blessed Polycarp, who put an end to the persecution, having as it were set a seal upon it by his martyrdom.
Note: Under the Emperor Hadrian the persecution of Christians abated for a while, until the Emperor Marcus Aurelius came to power in A.D.161.
In the stadium in Smyrna, Saint Germanicus a young fellow Christian of Polycarp’s, fought bravely with a wild beast. When the proconsul urged him to take pity upon his age, he provoked the beast, being desirous to escape an impious world. Upon this the multitude marvelling at the nobility of mind displayed by the devout and courageous race of Christians cried: “Away with the atheists, let Polycarp be sought out!”
Note: The early Christians were called atheists because they did not believe in the Roman Gods.
At this time the 86-year-old Polycarp was staying outside the city in a farm. Τhere while he was praying he had a vision. The pillow under his head seemed to be on fire. Upon his turning to those with him, he said to them prophetically: “I must be burned alive.”
These things, brethren, I write to you concerning righteousness, not because I take anything upon myself, but because you have invited me to do so. For neither I, nor anyone else can achieve the wisdom of the blessed and glorified Paul.
When Polycarp’s pursuers were close, he left for another dwelling. When they didn’t find him, they took two youths from his household and tortured them until they confessed. When his pursuers finally found Polycarp, they marveled at his age and constancy, saying: “Was so much effort made to capture such a venerable man?” Then he ordered that something to eat and drink should be set before them, while he besought them to allow him an hour to pray without disturbance. Then the officer and justice of the peace, named Herod, escorted him to the stadium.
The love of money is the root of all evils. teach your wives to walk in the faith, and in love and purity, tenderly loving their own husbands, and loving all others in all chastity; and to train up their children in the knowledge and fear of God. Teach the widows to be discreet as respects the faith of the Lord, praying continually for all, being far from all slandering, evil-speaking, false-witnessing, love of money, and every kind of evil; knowing that they are the altar of God, and that nothing is hid from Him, neither reasonings, nor reflections, nor any one of the secret things of the heart.
As soon as he had ceased praying, they set him on an ass, and conducted him into the city. And the officer and justice of the peace, named Herod, met him, and took him up into his chariot, and seated Polycarp beside him, and tried to persuade him, saying, “What harm is there in saying, Lord Caesar, and in sacrificing, with the other ceremonies, and so make sure of safety?” But he refused. So they spoke bitter words against him, and threw him violently out of the chariot, so that he dislocated his leg. But as if suffering nothing, he went eagerly forward, and was conducted to the stadium, where the tumult was so great, that there was no possibility of being heard.
Let priests be merciful to all, bringing back those that wander, visiting all the sick, and not neglecting the widow, the orphan, or the poor,.
Note: The Docetists, early heretics, believed that Christ did not have a real or natural body during his life on earth, but only an apparent or phantom one.
He was filled with confidence and joy. The Proconsul was astonished and had the herald proclaim , “Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian.” The whole multitude of both heathens and Jews cried out with uncontrollable fury, and in a loud voice, “This is father of the Christians, and the overthrower of our gods. He should be burnt alive.”
The multitude immediately gathered wood and fagots out of the shops and baths; and when the funeral pile was ready, Polycarp, laying aside all his garments, and loosing his girdle, sought also to take off his sandals, inasmuch as every one of the faithful was always eager who should first touch his skin. For, on account of his holy life, he was, even before his martyrdom, adorned with every kind of good.
But when they were about also to fix him with nails, he said, “Leave me as I am; for He that giveth me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to remain without moving in the pile.”
Jesus Christ endured all things for us, that we might live in Him. Let us then be imitators of His patience.
I exhort you all, therefore, to exercise all patience, such as you have seen in the case of the blessed Ignatius, and in Paul himself, and the rest of the apostles. For they loved not this present world, but Him who died for us.
When he had finished his prayer, they kindled the fire. And as the flame blazed forth a great miracle took place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, encompassed as by a circle the body of the martyr. And he appeared within not like flesh, which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace. Moreover, we perceived such a sweet odour , as if frankincense or some such precious spices had been smoking there.
I am greatly grieved for Valens, who was once a priest among you, because he so little understands the place that was given him in the Church. I exhort you, therefore, that you abstain from covetousness, and that you be chaste and truthful. May the Lord grant him and his wife true repentance! Be moderate in this matter, and “do not count such as enemies,” but call them back as suffering and straying members, that you may save your whole body. For by so acting you shall edify yourselves.
Note: The sin of Valens, the Philippian, was likely a denial of the faith in order to avoid loss of money.
When those wicked men saw his body could not be consumed by the fire, they commanded an executioner to pierce him through with a dagger. And there came forth a dove, and a great quantity of blood, so that the fire was extinguished; and all the people wondered that there should be such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect, of whom this most admirable Polycarp was one, having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church in Smyrna.
It is declared in the Scriptures, “Be ye angry, and sin not,” and, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” May God build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot among His saints.
Pray for kings, and potentates, and princes, and for those that persecute and hate you, and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest to all.
Dear Philippians, Ignatius wrote to me, that if any one went to Antioch in Syria, he should carry my letters with him. In turn you may be greatly profited by his letters; for they treat of faith and patience, and all that tends to edification in our Lord.
These things I have written to you by Crescens, who has acted blamelessly among us, and I believe also among you. Moreover, you will hold his sister in esteem when she comes to you. Be ye safe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with you all. Amen.