Bishop Polycarp was instructed by the apostles, and was brought into contact with many who had seen Christ. Though he was the greatly respected bishop of Smyrna, he was martyred by the Romans, and his death was influential, even among the pagans. Through an incredible persecution, Polycarp refused to deny his faith in Christ to save his own life.
The Influence of apostolic teaching in forming Polycarp’s faith
Following the apostles of Jesus Christ, there were three chief Apostolic Fathers that followed in their footsteps. Polycarp was one of these, which also included Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, according to Jerome.
Both Irenaeus, who had been a student of Polycarp, and Tertullian say that Polycarp had been a disciple of the apostle John. He was also a companion of Papias, who was another hearer of the apostle John, and correspondent with Ignatius.
In Irenaeus’ letter to Florinus, a fellow student of Polycarp, he relates how and when he became a Christian:
I could tell you the place where the blessed Polycarp sat to preach the Word of God. It is yet present to my mind with what gravity he everywhere came in and went out; what was the sanctity of his deportment, the majesty of his countenance; and what were his holy exhortations to the people. I seem to hear him now relate how he conversed with John and many others who had seen Jesus Christ, the words he had heard from their mouths.
Irenaeus, From Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI (1997). “St. Polycarp”. My first Book of Saints. Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate – Quality Catholic Publications. pp. 58-59. ISBN 971-91595-4-5.
Polycarp’s influence in defending Christian orthodoxy
Although there is little written about Polycarp’s life, we can learn quite a bit about his importance in the early growth of the church through Irenaeus’s writings. Polycarp also wrote a cover letter to accompany the writings of Ignatius that he sent to the church at Philippi, at their request. In Martyrdom of Polycarp, the church of Smyrna recounts details surrounding Polycarp’s martyrdom as it shows how a martyr should conduct himself.
At this time in church history, heresies of various sorts were being promoted and began dividing the Christian church. Polycarp lived during the latter part of the first century and early part of the second century. This was well before Athanasius had published his list of canonical books of the New Testament in 367. So, Polycarp’s personal association with the apostle John served as an important link between apostolic teaching and second and third generation Christians.
Thus, one of his roles was to authenticate orthodox teaching through his connection with the apostle John. He was able to condemn the false teachings of the heretical teachers by giving the genuine tradition of old apostolic doctrine. As an example, Irenaeus states that on a trip to Rome, Polycarp’s testimony converted many disciples of the heretics, Marcion and Valentinus.
The remarkable story of Polycarp’s martyrdom
Introduction
Between A.D. 138 and A.D. 161, Antoninus Pius reigned as the Roman Emperor. He was one of the most amiable monarchs that ever reigned, and he halted the persecutions against the Christians. But the fourth persecution of Christians began in 162, under the reign of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. The cruelties used in this persecution were such that many of the spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at the fearlessness of the sufferers.1Fox, John, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, ISBN 9-781985-432680, page 6. This was the wave of persecution under which Polycarp was martyred.
The following is an abbreviated and slightly edited account of Polycarp’s martyrdom, as given by eye witness testimony and recounted in Martyrdom of Polycarp.2https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/polycarp/
Polycarp’s vision
When Polycarp heard that the Proconsul had persuaded other professing Christians to take the oath and sacrifice to venerate the Emperor, the formidable Polycarp was not in the least upset. He was happy to stay in the city, but eventually he was persuaded to leave. He went to friends in the nearby country, where as usual he spent the whole time, day and night, in prayer for all people and for the churches throughout the world. Three days before he was arrested, while he was praying, he had a vision of the pillow under his head in flames. He said prophetically to those who were with him, ” I will be burnt alive.”
The arrest
The police and horsemen came with the young man at suppertime on the Friday with their usual weapons, as if coming out against a robber. That evening, they found him lying down in the upper room of a cottage. He could have escaped but he refused saying, “God’s will be done.”
When he heard that they had come, he went down and spoke with them. They were amazed at his age and steadfastness, and some of them said. “Why did we go to so much trouble to capture a man like this?” Immediately he called for food and drink for them, and asked for an hour to pray uninterrupted. They agreed, and he stood and prayed, so full of the grace of God, that he could not stop for two hours. The men were astounded and many of them regretted coming to arrest such a godly and venerable an old man.
When he finished praying… they put him on a donkey, and took him into the city…
Polycarp refuses to deny Jesus
As Polycarp was being taken into the arena, a voice came to him from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp and play the man!” No one saw who had spoken, but our brothers who were there heard the voice. When the crowd heard that Polycarp had been captured, there was an uproar. The Proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On hearing that he was, he tried to persuade him to apostatize, saying, “Have respect for your old age, swear by the fortune of Caesar. Repent, and say, ‘Down with the Atheists!’” Polycarp looked grimly at the wicked heathen multitude in the stadium, and gesturing towards them, he said, “Down with the Atheists!” “Swear,” urged the Proconsul, “reproach Christ, and I will set you free.” “86 years have I have served him,” Polycarp declared, “and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
More attempts to make him submit. “I have wild animals here,” the Proconsul said. “I will throw you to them if you do not repent.” “Call them,” Polycarp replied. “It is unthinkable for me to repent from what is good to turn to what is evil. I will be glad though to be changed from evil to righteousness.” “If you despise the animals, I will have you burned.” “You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want.”
The Fire is prepared
It was all done in the time it takes to tell. The crowd collected wood and bundles of sticks from the shops and public baths. The Jews , as usual, were keen to help. When the pile was ready, Polycarp took off his outer clothes, undid his belt, and tried to take off his sandals – something he was not used to, as the faithful always raced to do it for him, each wanting to be the one to touch his skin – this is how good his life was. But when they went to fix him with nails, he said, “Leave me as I am, for he that gives me strength to endure the fire, will enable me not to struggle, without the help of your nails.”
Polycarp prays
So they simply bound him with his hands behind him like a distinguished ram chosen from a great flock for sacrifice. Ready to be an acceptable burnt-offering to God, he looked up to heaven, and prayed.
O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels, powers and every creature, and of all the righteous who live before you, I give you thanks that you count me worthy to be numbered among your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ and the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and body, through the immortality of the Holy Spirit. May I be received this day as an acceptable sacrifice, as you, the true God, have predestined, revealed to me, and now fulfilled. I praise you for all these things, I bless you and glorify you, along with the everlasting Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. To you, with him, through the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and forever. Amen.
Martyrdom of Polycarp
A miracle
Then the fire was lit, and the flame blazed furiously. We who were privileged to witness it saw a great miracle, and this is why we have been preserved, to tell the story. The fire shaped itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, and formed a circle around the body of the martyr. Inside it, he looked not like flesh that is burnt, but like bread that is baked, or gold and silver glowing in a furnace. And we smelt a sweet scent, like frankincense or some such precious spices.
The death of Polycarp
Eventually, when those wicked men saw that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they commanded an executioner to pierce him with a dagger. When he did this, such a great quantity of blood flowed that the fire was extinguished. The crowd were amazed at the difference between the unbelievers and the elect – of whom the great Polycarp was surely one, having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church in Smyrna. For every word he spoke either has been or shall be accomplished.
Reflections on Polycarp’s faithfulness to Jesus Christ
God confirmed His will in advance.
God may graciously signal His will to the martyr in advance to prepare him for what is to come. Polycarp knew he would be giving his life as a burnt sacrifice by his vision of the pillow in flames.
The act of martyrdom should not be voluntarily received.
Martyrdom should be an involuntary act, but not one which is personally resisted by the martyr. Polycarp left the city to stay with friends so he would not be readily apprehended. However, he was not willing to flee his friends home to save his own life. For he knew his fate was ultimately in God’s hands.
A martyr’s faith may be tested to be shown as genuine.
Martyrs may be tempted to deny or compromise their faith to avoid being put to death. However, the faith of those who persevere displays the sure conviction of their hope in God that honors Him. The Proconsul gave Polycarp every seemingly easy way to escape his death sentence. But Polycarp knew that doing so would only blaspheme His King and Savior. It would prove His faith to be weak and meaningless.
God may display His ultimate power over the manner of death.
God may bring glory to Himself through martyrdom by the unusual way in which the execution is carried out. When the fire was lit to burn Polycarp alive, God arranged the fire to encircle him, without burning him. The executioner had to plunge his spear into Polycarp to kill him, because the fire wouldn’t do it. But the flames would be extinguished by Polycarp’s own blood.
Faithful martyrs set a good example for others to follow.
By valuing their faith more than their lives, martyrs prove that nothing is more important to them than Jesus Christ. Polycarp’s martyrdom set a great example of the loyalty to Christ required from those who would face the same fate.
The goal of our faith
Only Jesus Christ can save us. But placing our faith in Jesus Christ alone is the means by which we are brought into union with Him. However, this faith is not something we can muster up for ourselves, it is a gift from God Himself. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). This faith requires that we abandon all hope in ourselves to win favor with God. We become convinced that God provides the only remedy for our estrangement from Him.
When we despair over our sin, we can then see the beauty of what God has done for us. God may then prompt us to cry out to Him for His mercy and believe in His promise of salvation. In repentance, we turn our lives over to Christ, who we now will follow as our Savior and Lord.
Visit my blog, How to Begin Your Life Over Again, to better understand God’s plan for you. And for crystal clear YouTube presentations of the gospel, click here. May God reveal the truth of His Word to you as you seek His peace.
References
- 1Fox, John, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, ISBN 9-781985-432680, page 6.
- 2https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/polycarp/
