Saint Polycarp of Smyrna

8/7/2019 Saint Polycarp of Smyrna

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By: Michal Gomulka


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Polycarp was bornaround 69 A.D. Thedates of his birthare still unsure and69 comes as theclosest one becausehe had to be alive

while John theApostle lived


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The rumor is that Polycarp was the studentof John the Apostle who was sent to theIsland of Patmos because of the Word andwas killed under Dominitian in 91 A.D. During

his stay at Patmos John wrote the Book ofRevelation which mentions the church atSmyrna whose second bishop or elder wasPolycarp.


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He is recognized as a Saint by the RomanCatholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicanand the Lutheranwhy not the Baptist? Hmm?Depends what we mean by the word Saint

right??? ;)

He is one of the three chief Apostolic fathers

He was a friend of Clement of Rome, Papias

and Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius of Antioch mentions Polycarp in his

letter to the Ephesians and Magnesians


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It is reported that before his death Polycarpvisited his fellow Bishop in Rome by the nameof Anicetus.

They had an interesting conversation aboutthe Christian Passover when it wassupposed to be celebrated. Polycarp was forthe 14th day of Nisan according to the Jewishcalendar. But again Colossians 2:16 saysotherwise that we should not quarrel aboutthings like that.


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We have two surviving accounts of which oneis a letter personally written by Polycarp tothe Philippians. The other is the Martyrdom ofPolycarp written by the Church of Smyrna to

the Churches of Pontus.

Martyrdom of Polycarp is considered as theearliest account of Christian Martyrdom to berecorded.

The dates about Polycarps death aredisputed, 155, 156, 166, 167?


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The author of this presentation finds itinventible that he must bring forth theevidence that would tell us more about theman thus the next portion of the

presentation will focus particularly on the twoaccounts that we have about Polycarp:Martyrdom of Polycarp and The Letter ofPolycarp to the Philippians.


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This epistle was written by the church ofSmyrna, yet what can we tell about thecondition of the Church of Smyrna from theScriptures?


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And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last,who died and came to life. 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you arerich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are asynagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil isabout to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you

will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Hewho has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one whoconquers will not be hurt by the second death.'


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Introduction Mercy, peace and love from God the Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied toyou.


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Away with Atheists; let Polycarp be soughtout

When Polycarp heard that he was to besought out by the Roman authorities; hecontinued to do what he did: pray for all menand churches, he would retreat often to ahouse in the country.

Three days before his execution he had aprophetic vision: I must be burnt alive!


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Two of Polycarps servants were seized by theRomans and inquired about the presentlocation of Polycarp through torture duringwhich one confessed where he is staying


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During supper time the servant led theRoman authorities to the country housewhere Polycarp was staying at. They camewith weapons against him as if he were some

kind of a robber. They found an old man prayingPolycarp

offered them food and drink. Many marveledat his age and his godliness, some even

begun to repent that they came against suchan old manPolycarp said: Gods will bedone


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He was brought into the city during the greatSabbath (Passover). Irenarch Herod accompaniedby his father Nicetes came both riding in achariot.

They took Polycarp into the chariot and said tohim: What harm is it to say the Caesar is Lordand offer a sacrifice to him? To which heresponded: I will not do as you advise me to.

While getting out of the chariot he dislocated hisleg but that did not stop him from walkingtoward the stadium.


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Now while he was entering the stadium avoice from heaven came to him: Be strongand courageous, show yourself a manPolycarp.

Upon being asked by the proconsul to revileChrist and spare his old age he said: Eightysix years have I served my Lord and he neverdid me any injury, how then can I blasphememy King and my Savior?


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Polycarp was again asked by the Proconsul toswear by the fortune of Caesar but he refusedand said: I am a Christian and if you wish tohear an account of what I believe set up a day

for such a conversation.


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Proconsul said: I have wild beasts at hand towhich Polycarp responded: Bring them out!For I do not have a custom to repent of thatwhich is good in order to adopt that which is

evil Then the proconsul said: I have fire prepared

for you to which Polycarp responded: Thisfire burns only for an hour but there is a fire

that will burn you for eternity which isprepared for the ungodly, bring this fire ofyours!


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While he stood there he was filled with joyand grace, many Jews were screaming at him:This is the father of Asia, the teacher of theAtheists, these Christians, who teaches many

not to worship or sacrifice to the gods.


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Jews eagerly helped the rest to gather thewood for the burning of Polycarp and set it inthe middle of the stadium

Polycarp was asked to take everything offincluding his sandals and be burned naked asa mark of shame

When they were about to nail his hands so

that he would not move he refused and saidthat the One whom he serves will give himstrength to endure the pain


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While at the stake he begun to pray


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When the fire begun to burn it surroundedPolycarp like an arch that protected him like ashield where he was free to walk about in it!


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When being pierced in the side out of it camea dove and a great quantity of blood so thefire was extinguished.


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Christians were refused to take the body ofPolycarp and it was ordered by the Proconsulto burn the dead man to ashes!

The epistle was ordered to be read to all thebrethren and transmitted


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When you read this particular epistle onething right away that you can notice is thatPolycarp when cut bleeds Holy Scripture

In this section I want to place specific versesfrom the epistle that I found to be of heavyimportance


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as became you, those who were bound in chains,the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeedthe diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord

For neither I, nor any other such one, cancome up to the wisdom of the blessed and glorified

Paul. He, when among you, accurately andsteadfastly taught the word of truth in the presence ofthose who were then alive. And when absent

from you, he wrote you a letter, which, if you carefullystudy, you will find to be the means of

building you up in that faith which has been given you,and which, being followed by hope, and

preceded by love towards God, and Christ, and ourneighbor, is the mother of us all


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In like manner, let the young men also beblameless in all things, being especiallycareful to preserve purity, and keepingthemselves in, as with a bridle, from every

kind of evil. For it is well that they should becut off from the lusts that are in the world,since every lust warreth against the spirit;and neither fornicators, nor effeminate, norabusers of themselves with mankind, shallinherit the kingdom of God, nor those who dothings inconsistent and unbecoming.


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Let us then serve Him in fear, and with allreverence, even as He Himself hascommanded us, and as the apostles whopreached the Gospel unto us, and the

prophets who proclaimed beforehand thecoming of the Lord [have alike taught us].

Wherefore, forsaking the vanity of many, andtheir false doctrines, let us return to the wordwhich has been handed down to us from thebeginning


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I exhort you all, therefore, to yield obedience tothe word of righteousness, and to exercise allpatience, such as ye have seen [set] before your

eyes, not only in the case of the blessed Ignatius,and Zosimus, and Rufus, but also in others among

yourselves, and in Paul himself, and the rest ofthe apostles. [This do] in the assurance that allthese have not run in vain, but in faith and

righteousness, and that they are [now] in their dueplace in the presence of the Lord, with whom

also they suffered. For they loved not this presentworld, but Him who died for us, and for oursakes was raised again by God from the dead.


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Do we not know that the saints shall judge theworld?as Paul teaches. But I have neither seen nor heard of any such thing

among you, in the midst of whom the blessed Paullaboured, and who are commended401 in thebeginning of his Epistle. For he boasts of you in allthose Churches which alone then knew the Lord; butwe [of Smyrna] had not yet known Him. I am deeplygrieved, therefore, brethren, for him (Valens) and hiswife; to whom may the Lord grant true repentance!And be ye then moderate in regard to this matter,

and do not count such as enemies,402 but callthem back as suffering and straying members, thatye may save your whole body. For by so acting yeshall edify yourselves


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For I trust that ye are well versed in theSacred Scriptures, and that nothing is hidfrom you; but to me this privilege is not yetgranted. It is declared then in these

Scriptures, Be ye angry, and sin not, and,Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.Happy is he who remembers this, which Ibelieve to be the case with you


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Saint Polycarp of Smyrna

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