0:1 The Church of God which sojourneth at Smyrna
to the Church of God which sojourneth in Philomelium and to all the brotherhoods
of the holy and universal Church sojourning in every place;
0:2 mercy and peace and love from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be
multiplied.
1:1 We write unto you, brethren, an account of what befel those that suffered
martyrdom and especially the blessed Polycarp, who stayed the persecution,
having as it were set his seal upon it by his martyrdom.
1:2 For nearly all the foregoing events came to pass that the Lord might show us
once more an example of martyrdom which is conformable to the Gospel.
1:3 For he lingered that he might be delivered up, even as the Lord did, to the
end that we too might be imitators of him, {not looking} only {to that which
concerneth ourselves, but also to that which concerneth our neighbours.}
1:4 For it is the office of true and stedfast love, not only to desire that
oneself be saved, but all the brethren also.
2:1 Blessed therefore and noble are all the martyrdoms which have taken place
according to the will of God (for it behoveth us to be very scrupulous and to
assign to God the power over all things).
2:2 For who could fail to admire their nobleness and patient endurance and
loyalty to the Master?
2:3 seeing that when they were so torn by lashes that the mechanism of their
flesh was visible even as far as the inward veins and arteries, they endured
patiently, so that the very bystanders had pity and wept;
2:4 while they themselves reached such a pitch of bravery that none of them
uttered a cry or a groan, thus showing to us all that at that hour the martyrs
of Christ being tortured were absent from the flesh, or rather that the Lord was
standing by and conversing with them.
2:5 And giving heed unto the grace of Christ they despised the tortures of this
world, purchasing at the cost of one hour a release from eternal punishment.
2:6 And they found the fire of their inhuman torturers cold:
2:7 for they set before their eyes the escape from the eternal fire which is
never quenched;
2:8 while with the eyes of their heart they gazed upon the good things which are
reserved for those that endure patiently, things {which neither ear hath heard
nor eye hath seen, neither have they entered into the heart of man,} but were
shown by the Lord to them, for they were no longer men but angels already.
2:9 And in like manner also those that were condemned to the wild beasts endured
fearful punishments, being made to lie on sharp shells and buffeted with other
forms of manifold tortures, that the devil might, if possible, by the
persistence of the punishment bring them to a denial;
2:10 for he tried many wiles against them.
3:1 But thanks be to God;
3:2 for He verily prevailed against all.
3:3 For the right noble Germanicus encouraged their timorousness through the
constancy which was in him;
3:4 and he fought with the wild beasts in a signal way.
3:5 For when the proconsul wished to prevail upon him and bade him have pity on
his youth, he used violence and dragged the wild beast towards him, desiring the
more speedily to obtain a release from their unrighteous and lawless life.
3:6 So after this all the multitude, marvelling at the bravery of the
God-beloved and God-fearing people of the Christians, raised a cry, 'Away with
the atheists;
3:7 let search be made for Polycarp.'
4:1 But one man, Quintus by name, a Phrygian newly arrived from Phrygia, when he
saw the wild beasts, turned coward.
4:2 He it was who had forced himself and some others to come forward of their
own free will.
4:3 This man the proconsul by much entreaty persuaded to swear the oath and to
offer incense.
4:4 For this cause therefore, brethren, we praise not those who deliver
themselves up, since the Gospel doth not so teach us.
5:1 Now the glorious Polycarp at the first, when he heard it, so far from being
dismayed, was desirous of remaining in town;
5:2 but the greater part persuaded him to withdraw.
5:3 So he withdrew to a farm not far distant from the city;
5:4 and there he stayed with a few companions, doing nothing else night and day
but praying for all men and for the churches throughout the world;
5:5 for this was his constant habit.
5:6 And while praying he falleth into a trance three days before his
apprehension;
5:7 and he saw his pillow burning with fire.
5:8 And he turned and said unto those that were with him:
5:9 'It must needs be that I shall be burned alive.'
6:1 And as those that were in search of him persisted, he departed to another
farm;
6:2 and forthwith they that were in search of him came up;
6:3 and not finding him, they seized two slave lads, one of whom confessed under
torture;
6:4 for it was impossible for him to lie concealed, seeing that the very persons
who betrayed him were people of his own household.
6:5 And the captain of the police, who chanced to have the very name, being
called Herod, was eager to bring him into the stadium that he himself might
fulfil his appointed lot, being made a partaker with Christ, while they--his
betrayers--underwent the punishment of Judas himself.
7:1 So taking the lad with them, on the Friday about the supper hour, the
gendarmes and horsemen went forth with their accustomed arms, hastening {as
against a robber.}
7:2 And coming up in a body late in the evening, they found the man himself in
bed in an upper chamber in a certain cottage;
7:3 and though he might have departed thence to another place, he would not,
saying, {The will of God be done.}
7:4 So when he heard that they were come, he went down and conversed with them
the bystanders marvelling at his age and his constancy, and wondering how there
should be so much eagerness for the apprehension of an old man like him.
7:5 Thereupon forthwith he gave orders that a table should be spread for them to
eat and drink at that hour, as much as they desired.
7:6 And he persuaded them to grant him an hour that he might pray unmolested;
7:7 and on their consenting, he stood up and prayed, being so full of the grace
of God, that for two hours he could not hold his peace, and those that heard
were amazed, and many repented that they had come against such a venerable old
man.
8:1 But when at length he brought his prayer to an end, after remembering all
who at any time had come in his way, small and great, high and low, and all the
universal Church throughout the world, the hour of departure being come, they
seated him, on an ass and brought him into the city, it being a high sabbath.
8:2 And he was met by Herod the captain of police and his father Nicetes, who
also removed him to their carriage and tried to prevail upon him, seating
themselves by his side and saying, 'Why what harm is there in saying, Caesar is
Lord, and offering incense', with more to this effect, 'and saving thyself?'
8:3 But he at first gave them no answer.
8:4 When however they persisted, he said, 'I am not going to do what ye counsel
me.'
8:5 Then they, failing to persuade him, uttered threatening words and made him
dismount with speed, so that he bruised his shin, as he got down from the
carriage.
8:6 And without even turning round, he went on his way promptly and with speed,
as if nothing had happened to him, being taken to the stadium;
8:7 there being such a tumult in the stadium that no man's voice could be so
much as heard.
9:1 But as Polycarp entered into the stadium, a voice came to him from heaven;
9:2 'Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.'
9:3 And no one saw the speaker, but those of our people who were present heard
the voice.
9:4 And at length, when he was brought up, there was a great tumult, for they
heard that Polycarp had been apprehended.
9:5 When then he was brought before him, the proconsul enquired whether he were
the man.
9:6 And on his confessing that he was, he tried to persuade him to a denial
saying, 'Have respect to thine age,' and other things in accordance therewith,
as it is their wont to say;
9:7 'Swear by the genius of Caesar;
9:8 repent and say, Away with the atheists.'
9:9 Then Polycarp with solemn countenance looked upon the whole multitude of
lawless heathen that were in the stadium, and waved his hand to them;
9:10 and groaning and looking up to heaven he said, 'Away with the atheists.'
9:11 But when the magistrate pressed him hard and said, 'Swear the oath, and I
will release thee;
9:12 revile the Christ,' Polycarp said, 'Fourscore and six years have I been His
servant, and He hath done me no wrong.
9:13 How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?'
10:1 But on his persisting again and saying, 'Swear by the genius of Caesar,' he
answered, 'If thou supposest vainly that I will swear by the genius of Caesar,
as thou sayest, and feignest that thou art ignorant who I am, hear thou plainly,
I am a Christian.
10:2 But if thou wouldest learn the doctrine of Christianity, assign a day and
give me a hearing.'
10:3 The proconsul said;
10:4 'Prevail upon the people.'
10:5 But Polycarp said;
10:6 'As for thyself, I should have held thee worthy of discourse;
10:7 for we have been taught to render, as is meet, to princes and authorities
appointed by God such honour as does us no harm;
10:8 but as for these, I do not hold them worthy, that I should defend myself
before them.'
11:1 Whereupon the proconsul said;
11:2 'I have wild beasts here and I will throw thee to them, except thou
repent.'
11:3 But he said, 'Call for them:
11:4 for the repentance from better to worse is a change not permitted to us;
11:5 but it is a noble thing to change from untowardness to righteousness.'
11:6 Then he said to him again, 'I will cause thee to be consumed by fire, if
thou despisest the wild beasts, unless thou repent.'
11:7 But Polycarp said;
11:8 'Thou threatenest that fire which burneth for a season and after a little
while is quenched for thou art ignorant of the fire of the future judgment and
eternal punishment, which is reserved for the ungodly.
11:9 But why delayest thou Come, do what thou wilt.'
12:1 Saying these things and more besides, he was inspired with courage and joy,
and his countenance was filled with grace, so that not only did it not drop in
dismay at the things which were said to him, but on the contrary the proconsul
was astounded and sent his own herald to proclaim three times in the midst of
the stadium, Polycarp hath confessed himself to be a Christian.'
12:2 When this was proclaimed by the herald, the whole multitude both of
Gentiles and of Jews who dwelt in Smyrna cried out with ungovernable wrath and
with a loud shout, 'This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians,
the puller down of our gods, who teacheth numbers not to sacrifice nor worship.'
12:3 Saying these things, they shouted aloud and asked the Asiarch Philip to let
a lion loose upon Polycarp.
12:4 But he said that it was not lawful for him, since he had brought the sports
to a close.
12:5 Then they thought fit to shout out with one accord that Polycarp should be
burned alive.
12:6 For it must needs be that the matter of the vision should be fulfilled,
which was shown him concerning his pillow, when he saw it on fire while praying,
and turning round he said prophetically to the faithful who were with him, 'I
must needs be burned alive.'
13:1 These things then happened with so great speed, quicker than words could
tell, the crowds forthwith collecting from the workshops and baths timber and
faggots, and the Jews more especially assisting in this with zeal, as is their
wont.
13:2 But when the pile was made ready, divesting himself of all his upper
garments and loosing his girdle, he endeavoured also to take off his shoes,
though not in the habit of doing this before, because all the faithful at all
times vied eagerly who should soonest touch his flesh.
13:3 For he had been treated with all honour for his holy life even before his
gray hairs came.
13:4 Forthwith then the instruments that were prepared for the pile were placed
about him;
13:5 and as they were going likewise to nail him to the stake, he said;
13:6 'Leave me as I am;
13:7 for He that hath granted me to endure the fire will grant me also to remain
at the pile unmoved, even without the security which ye seek from the nails.'
14:1 So they did not nail him, but tied him.
14:2 Then he, placing his hands behind him and being bound to the stake, like a
noble ram out of a great flock for an offering, a burnt sacrifice made ready and
acceptable to God, looking up to heaven said;
14:3 'O Lord God Almighty, the Father of Thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus
Christ, through whom we have received the knowledge of Thee, the God of angels
and powers and of all creation and of the whole race of the righteous, who live
in Thy presence;
14:4 I bless Thee for that Thou hast granted me this day and hour, that I might
receive a portion amongst the number of martyrs in the cup of [Thy] Christ unto
resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and of body, in the incorruptibility
of the Holy Spirit.
14:5 May I be received among these in Thy presence this day, as a rich and
acceptable sacrifice, as Thou didst prepare and reveal it beforehand, and hast
accomplished it, Thou that art the faithful and true God.
14:6 For this cause, yea and for all things, I praise Thee, I bless Thee, I
glorify Thee, through the eternal and heavenly High-priest, Jesus Christ, Thy
beloved Son, through whom with Him and the Holy Spirit be glory both now [and
ever] and for the ages to come. Amen.'
15:1 When he had offered up the Amen and finished his prayer, the firemen
lighted the fire.
15:2 And, a mighty flame flashing forth, we to whom it was given to see, saw a
marvel, yea and we were preserved that we might relate to the rest what
happened.
15:3 The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel
filled by the wind, made a wall round about the body of the martyr;
15:4 and it was there in the midst, not like flesh burning, but like [a loaf in
the oven or like] gold and silver refined in a furnace.
15:5 For we perceived such a fragrant smell, as if it were the wafted odour of
frankincense or some other precious spice.
16:1 So at length the lawless men, seeing that his body could not be consumed by
the fire, ordered an executioner to go up to him and stab him with a dagger.
16:2 And when he had done this, there came forth [a dove and] a quantity of
blood, so that it extinguished the fire;
16:3 and all the multitude marvelled that there should be so great a difference
between the unbelievers and the elect.
16:4 In the number of these was this man, the glorious martyr Polycarp, who was
found an apostolic and prophetic teacher in our own time, a bishop of the holy
Church which is in Smyrna.
16:5 For every word which he uttered from his mouth was accomplished and will be
accomplished.
17:1 But the jealous and envious Evil One, the adversary of the family of the
righteous, having seen the greatness of his martyrdom and his blameless life
from the beginning, and how he was crowned with the crown of immortality and had
won a reward which none could gainsay, managed that not even his poor body
should be taken away by us, although many desired to do this and to touch his
holy flesh.
17:2 So he put forward Nicetes, the father of Herod and brother of Alce, to
plead with the magistrate not to give up his body, 'lest,' so it was said, 'they
should abandon the crucified one and begin to worship this man'--this being done
at the instigation and urgent entreaty of the Jews, who also watched when we
were about to take it from the fire, not knowing that it will be impossible for
us either to forsake at any time the Christ who suffered for the salvation of
the whole world of those that are saved--suffered though faultless for
sinners--nor to worship any other.
17:3 For Him, being the Son of God, we adore, but the martyrs as disciples and
imitators of the Lord we cherish as they deserve for their matchless affection
towards their own King and Teacher.
17:4 May it be our lot also to be found partakers and fellow- disciples with
them.
18:1 The centurion therefore, seeing the opposition raised on the part of the
Jews, set him in the midst and burnt him after their custom.
18:2 And so we afterwards took up his bones which are more valuable than
precious stones and finer than refined gold, and laid them in a suitable place;
18:3 where the Lord will permit us to gather ourselves together, as we are able,
in gladness and joy, and to celebrate the birth- day of his martyrdom for the
commemoration of those that have already fought in the contest, and for the
training and preparation of those that shall do so hereafter.
19:1 So it befel the blessed Polycarp, who having with those from Philadelphia
suffered martyrdom in Smyrna--twelve in all--is especially remembered more than
the others by all men, so that he is talked of even by the heathen in every
place:
19:2 for he showed himself not only a notable teacher, but also a distinguished
martyr, whose martyrdom all desire to imitate, seeing that it was after the
pattern of the Gospel of Christ.
19:3 Having by his endurance overcome the unrighteous ruler in the conflict and
so received the crown of immortality, he rejoiceth in company with the Apostles
and all righteous men, and glorifieth the Almighty God and Father, and blesseth
our Lord Jesus Christ, the saviour of our souls and helmsman of our bodies and
shepherd of the universal Church which is throughout the world.
20:1 Ye indeed required that the things which happened should be shown unto you
at greater length:
20:2 but we for the present have certified you as it were in a summary through
our brother Marcianus.
20:3 When then ye have informed yourselves of these things, send the letter
about likewise to the brethren which are farther off, that they also may glorify
the Lord, who maketh election from His own servants.
20:4 Now unto Him that is able to bring us all by His grace and bounty unto His
eternal kingdom, through His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, be glory, honour,
power, and greatness for ever.
20:5 Salute all the saints.
20:6 They that are with us salute you, and Euarestus, who wrote the letter, with
his whole house.
21:1 Now the blessed Polycarp was martyred on the second day of the first part
of the month Xanthicus, on the seventh before the kalends of March, on a great
sabbath, at the eighth hour.
21:2 He was apprehended by Herodes, when Philip of Tralles was high-priest, in
the proconsulship of Statius Quadratus, but in the reign of the Eternal King
Jesus Christ.
21:3 To whom be the glory, honour, greatness, and eternal throne, from
generation to generation. Amen.
22:1 (1) We bid you God speed, brethren, while ye walk by the word of Jesus
Christ which is according to the Gospel;
22:2 with whom be glory to God for the salvation of His holy elect;
22:3 even as the blessed Polycarp suffered martyrdom, in whose footsteps may it
be our lot to be found in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
22:4 (2) This account Gaius copied from the papers of Irenaeus, a disciple of
Polycarp.
22:5 The same also lived with Irenaeus.
22:6 (3) And I Socrates wrote it down in Corinth from the copy of Gaius.
22:7 Grace be with all men.
22:8 (4) And I Pionius again wrote it down from the aforementioned copy, having
searched it out (for the blessed Polycarp showed me in a revelation, as I will
declare in the sequel), gathering it together when it was now well nigh worn out
by age, that the Lord Jesus Christ may gather me also with His elect into His
heavenly kingdom;
22:9 to whom be the glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Amen.
22:11 [The three preceding paragraphs are as read in the Moscow MS.]
22:12 (2) This account Gaius copied from the papers of Irenaeus.
22:13 The same lived with Irenaeus who had been a disciple of the holy Polycarp.
22:14 For this Irenaeus, being in Rome at the time of the martyrdom of the
bishop Polycarp, instructed many;
22:15 and many most excellent and orthodox treatises by him are in circulation.
22:16 In these he makes mention of Polycarp, saying that he was taught by him.
22:17 And he ably refuted every heresy, and handed down the catholic rule of the
Church just as he had received it from the saint.
22:18 He mentions this fact also, that when Marcion, after whom the Marcionites
are called, met the holy Polycarp on one occasion, and said 'Recognize us,
Polycarp,' he said in reply to Marcion, 'Yes indeed, I recognize the firstborn
of Satan.'
22:19 The following statement also is made in the writings of Irenaeus, that on
the very day and hour when Polycarp was martyred in Smyrna Irenaeus being in the
city of the Romans heard a voice as of a trumpet saying, 'Polycarp is martyred.'
22:20 (3) From these papers of Irenaeus then, as has been stated already, Gaius
made a copy, and from the copy of Gaius Isocrates made another in Corinth.
22:21 (4) And I Pionius again wrote it down from the copy of Isocrates, having
searched for it in obedience to a revelation of the holy Polycarp, gathering it
together, when it was well nigh worn out by age, that the Lord Jesus Christ may
gather me also with His elect into His heavenly kingdom;
22:22a to whom be the glory with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit for
ever and ever. Amen.