The third and forth writings in volume one of the ten volume set go together – Polycarp’s Epistle to the Philippians and The Martyrdom
of Polycarp.
The 2nd century Bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp (whose
name does not refer to many fishes) is a rather famous and revered
figure within Christianity. He’s one of
the few figures recognized as a saint by Catholics, Orthodox and
Protestants. Some believe it probable
that he actually knew the Apostle John.
The only surviving text from Polycarp’s pen is his letter to
the Philippians, written at their request – though, he demurs, nothing he could
write would compare to the letter they have already received from the apostle
Paul which, if they would carefully study,
they would find to be the means of building them up in the faith “which
is the mother of us all.”[i]
The letter is filled with exhortations to holy living and
demonstrates a remarkable knowledge of those books that would shortly become
the New Testament. Polycarp’s Epistle to the Philippians may be the one of the few texts among the Apostolic
Fathers to reference or allude to the canonical epistle Jude.
In stark contrast to the Christianity seen in much of
contemporary America, Polycarp salutes the recipients of his letter as those “who
were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of the saints, and which are indeed
the diadems of the true elect of Go and our Lord.”[ii] When did we (Christians) begin to expect that
because we’re believers in and followers of God everything in our lives should
be sunshiny and wonderful? Polycarp
praises the readers of his letter for the way they have imitated their savior
by enduring suffering and persecution.
And these aren’t just pious words from good bishop Polycarp, he would,
himself, die a martyrs death.
In a very personal section of the letter, Polycarp expresses
his sorrow for Valens and his wife. Valens
had been a leader among the congregation but had stumbled in his faith. “I am greatly grieved for Valens, who was
once a presbyter among you, because he so little understands the place that was
given him.”[iii] Apparently Valens had let his covetousness
corrupt his leadership. Polycarp prays
that God will grant him “true repentance” and also encourages the
church “to be moderate in regard to
this matter, and ‘do not count such as enemies,’ but call them back as
suffering and straying members, that ye may save your whole body. For by so acting ye shall edify yourselves.”
They weren’t to cut him out and cut him off with hostility. They weren’t to “shoot their own wounded.” This is a remarkable kind of love for the community.
They weren’t to cut him out and cut him off with hostility. They weren’t to “shoot their own wounded.” This is a remarkable kind of love for the community.
Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the
example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the
brotherhood, and being attached to one another, joined together in the truth,
exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your intercourse with one another and
despising no one.”[iv]
The author of the Epistle Concerning the Martyrdom of
Polycarp is unknown to us; it is addressed simply from “the Church of God
which sojourns at Smyrna ” (where Polycarp had
been the bishop) to “the Church
of God
The letter claims to be an eyewitness account of the arrest,
trial and execution of Polycarp - though some have challenged its
authenticity. While some might be
interested in the extraordinary and perhaps supernatural circumstances of his
martyrdom, what I find interesting is the way the story of his death is
structured to parallel the passion of Jesus.
When he heard that he was being summoned before the proconsul as an “atheist”[v] Polycarp wasn’t alarmed. He was quite ready to remain in the city and to face the consequences. But others convinced him that he should flee from the city. So allowed himself to be taken into hiding in a house in the surrounding countryside where he spent his time praying for the churches throughout the world. While he was praying there he had a vision of his imminent death.
When he heard that he was being summoned before the proconsul as an “atheist”[v] Polycarp wasn’t alarmed. He was quite ready to remain in the city and to face the consequences. But others convinced him that he should flee from the city. So allowed himself to be taken into hiding in a house in the surrounding countryside where he spent his time praying for the churches throughout the world. While he was praying there he had a vision of his imminent death.
Polycarp’s hideout was revealed to his pursuers by a servant
who was tortured – he was betrayed. His
pursuers came with horsemen and a variety of weapons to arrest the aged
bishop. And like the company that came
to arrest Jesus in the garden, they were armed “as if going out against a
robber.”[vi] But instead of resisting them, Polycarp asked
that a meal be prepared for them and he prayed, at length, for his captors.
They forced him back to the city (at one point throwing him
from the moving chariot and dislocating his leg[vii])
where he was taken into the stadium and
brought face to face with the proconsul who repeatedly encouraged and
commanded him to “Swear by the
fortune of Caesar; repeat and say ‘Away with the Atheists’.” [viii] The proconsul promised to release the old man
if he would only reproach Christ.
Polycarp’s response is famous throughout Christendom:
Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?
Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?
This infuriated the proconsul and the gathered crowd, and
Polycarp was condemned to death. A pyre
was built up beneath him to burn him at the stake. When his executioners came to nail him in
place to prevent him from escaping the flames he said to them, “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.”[ix]
So instead of nailing him in place, they simply bound him with ropes.
And there, bound by ropes to his funeral pyre, in the face
of those who condemned him and a jeering crowd, Polycarp prayed his final
prayer.
O Lord God Almighty, the Father of thy beloved and
blessed son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of Thee, the
God of angels and powers, and of every creature and of the whole race of the
righteous who live before thee, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast counted me
worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of
Thy martyrs, the cup of thy Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both
of soul and body, through the Holy Ghost.
Among whom may I be accepted this day before Thee as a fat and
acceptable sacrifice, according as Thou, the ever-faithful God, has
fore-ordained, has revealed beforehand to me, and now hast fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise Thee for all things,
I bless Thee, I glorify Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee, and
the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.[x]
And after he had said his final amen, the executioners lit
the funeral pyre. The flames roared up
around him, but instead of burning him, they arched up and around him, leaving
him golden brown like bread in a bakery and those around could smell a “sweet
odor, as if frankincense or some such precious spices had been smoking there.”[xi]
When the proconsul saw that the flames weren’t killing him,
he ordered that he executioners should stab Polycarp with a dagger. And so they pierced him in the side –
whereupon a copious amount of blood poured forth and extinguished the flames.
This, then, is the account of the blessed Polycarp, who,
being the twelfth that was martyred in Smyrna…yet occupies a place of his own
in the memory of all men, insomuch that he is everywhere spoken of by the
heathen themselves. He was not merely an
illustrious teacher, but also a pre-eminent martyr, whose martyrdom all desire
to imitate, as having been altogether consistent with the Gospel of Christ.”[xii]
Here is one who "faithful unto death", one who
received the"crown of life."[xiii]
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