Polycarp Early Life
Based upon information related to certain ancient records, it appears that Polycarp was born around 52 A.D. His name is Greek, hence he is believed to have been a Gentile.
From the records of history, we know that Polycarp lived, and later was martyred, in Asia Minor. This area, at the time, was basically an area dominated by Greeks and Greek speakers. Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna (today known as Izmir), a city on the west coast of Turkey. The letters to the "seven churches in Asia" at the beginning of the book of Revelation include a letter to the church in Smyrna, identifying it as a church undergoing persecution.
When a young Christian named IRENAEUS who later became Bishop of Lyons in what is now France, first encountered the elderly Polycarp teaching in the metropolis of Smyrna, he was captivated. We have Irenaeus's brief memoir of Polycarp; a letter to Polycarp from Ignatius of Antioch, written around 115 AD when Ignatius was passing through Turkey, being sent in chains to Rome to be put to death; a letter from Polycarp to the church at Philippi, written at the same time; and an account of the arrest, trial, conviction, and martyrdom of Polycarp, written after his death by one or more members of his congregation.
It’s not hard to understand why. According to Irenaeus, Bishop Polycarp was one of the few living disciples of the apostle John, who was the “beloved disciple” of Jesus himself. The Apostle John is believed to have lived as late as 100/102 A.D. Polycarp preached what he had learned directly from eyewitnesses of Jesus. His connection with Christ’s first apostles served as a bridge between the first generation of believers and those who followed, including Irenaeus, who would live to be a prominent church father in his own right. Polycarp became the bishop/pastor of Smyrna from apostolic anointing. He led the Churches of God, in at least the Asia Minor area, for decades in the second century.
Polycarp led the church in Smyrna with wisdom and authority, having been appointed to leadership by men who had seen and heard the Lord. He was frequently called on to settle disputes or correct false teaching. Even the other leaders of the early church valued his insight. When Polycarp visited Rome, the bishop there deferred to him regarding when to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, as a sign of honor and respect.
Polycarp Fought Against Romans Heretic Doctrines
Around 155 A.D., Polycarp went to Rome to fight against various heresies that were there. Although the Church of Rome and Eastern Orthodox consider him to be a saint, as this article will help prove, he held doctrines much more consistent with those of the Continuing Church of God who believe in Apostolic doctrines. Polycarp was not a traditional Greco-Roman leader, but a Church of God leader. Heeding John’s warnings against false teachers, Polycarp faithfully defended the apostles’ teaching against early heretics, including one Marcion, who held that the God of the Old Testament and the Father of Jesus were separate entities. Polycarp could be fiery, particularly when faced with such dangerous errors. In their only face-to-face meeting, Marcion asked, “Do you know me?”
“I know you, you firstborn of Satan!” Polycarp replied.
Furthermore, Polycarp himself wrote that “many” (which likely included many in Rome and others with affiliation) were following vain/false forms of Christianity:
“For whosoever does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is antichrist,” and whosoever does not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is antichrist,” and whosoever does not confess the testimony of the cross, is of the devil; and whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts, and says that there is neither a resurrection nor a judgment, he is the first-born of Satan. Wherefore, forsaking the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning. (Polycarp. Letter to the Philippians, Chapter VII).
Polycarp wanted Christians to forsake the vanity of many who claimed to be Christians, but really were accepting allegory and tradition above the word of God. The vanity of many' was also related to the 'mystery of lawlessness' that the Apostle Paul warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2:7, but apostates like Simon Magus and Marcion of Pontus promoted.
Notice the following:
"Polycarp in his letter To the Philippians . . . invites his recipients to abandon the vanity of the multitude and their false doctrines (τάς ψευδιδασκαλίας), to return to the word that was transmitted from the beginning …" (Monroy MS. The Church of Smyrna: History and Theology of a Primitive Christian Community. Peter Lang edition, 2015)
Like the Apostles. Polycarp apparently felt that the true church would be a “little flock” (Luke 12:32) or “remnant” (Romans 9:27; 11:5) since he warned about “the vanity of many.” Thus, it should be of little surprise that the true church would be small throughout history. By warning about “the vanity of many,” Polycarp was admonishing the Church of God to be separate. And a distance, a separation, occurred throughout history. Both Polycrates of Ephesus and Serapion of Antioch were witnesses to this separation into the third century.
Sadly, most of "the many"(Orthodox Churches) who claim that Polycarp was a saint of their faith do not have the same teachings or practices that Polycarp did. Nor will they keep "the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning" (cf. Jude 3).
It should also be noted that according to E. Duffy, a statement in Eusebius explains: Instead of indicating any real superiority of the Church of Rome, Polycrates’ letter clearly supports the view that the Church of God in Asia Minor towards the end of the 2nd century considered the Bible, and not Rome, as authoritative.
Although the Church of Rome wishes to act like they had 'full communion' with Polycarp, and they call him a saint, they endorsed a policy from Emperor Theodosius (late fourth century) of killing people continued to keep Passover on the fourteenth as Polycarp did.
The region of Asia Minor kept itself separate from the main groups in Rome and the Alexandria until they were taken over in the mid-late third century (Eusebius. The History of the Church, Book VII, Chapter V, Verse I, p. 147). Polycarp most definitely was NOT in 'full communion' with Rome and his 'apostolic successors' were not either. If so, Polycrates would not have been in able to respond like he did, and with the backing of the other bishops in Asia Minor (his response is shown later in this paper).
Where did the idea of the Holy Spirit being one hypostasis of a trinity come from?
It did not come from Polycarp. It actually came from the famous heretic Valentinus in the early to mid 2nd century (note that Valentinus is considered to be a heretic by Catholics, Orthodox, Protestant, and Church of God adherents).
Here is what it is recorded that a one-time 4th century Catholic bishop named Marcellus of Ancyra wrote about Valentinus' writings, which appears to be discussing perhaps the earliest citation about the Holy Spirit extant (other than scriptural references or references that make no specific claims):
"Now with the heresy of the Ariomaniacs, which has corrupted the Church of God...These then teach three hypostases, just as Valentinus the heresiarch first invented in the book entitled by him 'On the Three Natures'. For he was the first to invent three hypostases and three persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and he is discovered to have filched this from Hermes and Plato (Source: Logan A. Marcellus of Ancyra (Pseudo-Anthimus), 'On the Holy Church': Text, Translation and Commentary. Verses 8-9. Journal of Theological Studies, NS, Volume 51, Pt. 1, April 2000, p.95)."
How Polycarp Was Killed
Eventually the crowd took up the refrain, “Away with the atheists! Go find Polycarp!”
Eyewitness accounts from this time highlight the public brutality of the persecution. Believers were lashed until their muscles were laid bare, forced to lie down on shards of shells, and thrown into arenas to be devoured by wild animals in front of the townspeople. There are striking examples of early martyrs welcoming these sufferings in the name of Christ. One Germanicus even embraced the wild beast and pulled it toward himself to meet death as quickly as possible. But not all withstood the brutal torture. A man named Quintus, who had come forward of his own free will rather than wait to be arrested, when confronted with the beasts of prey, renounced Jesus and took the oath of fidelity to the emperor.
Though some bystanders wept with pity for the persecuted Christians, these spectacles of death and drama in the arena also served to sharpen the people’s taste for Christian blood. Eventually the crowd took up the refrain, “Away with the atheists! Go find Polycarp!” (“Atheist” was a popular term for Christians, who in denying the Roman divinities in favor of a God who could not be seen, were thought of as atheists.)
Polycarp was undismayed by the growing public demand for his death. Rather than flee, the old bishop even resolved to remain in the city, where they could easily find him. His companions eventually convinced him to retreat to a farm outside of town, where the threat to his life was less immediate. There he spent his time in prayer, interceding for members of the church throughout the world.
Three days before his arrest, Polycarp fell into a deep trance. On regaining consciousness, he declared that he had received a vision. He had seen his pillow bursting into flame around his head. Polycarp had no question what the vision meant. Turning to his companions, he said, “I am going to be burned alive.”
Polycarp prayed so earnestly that one hour became two, and several of the soldiers regretted their role in his arrest.
Not long after, the Roman authorities captured two slaves. One of them broke down under torture and revealed the location of the farm where Polycarp was staying. When soldiers arrived on horseback to seize him, Polycarp refused to run. Instead, he offered his captors hospitality and food, requesting only that he be allowed an hour for prayer. When they agreed, Polycarp prayed so earnestly that one hour became two, and several of the soldiers regretted their role in the arrest of such a venerable old man.
They then put Polycarp on a donkey and led him back into the city. Upon arrival, his captors ushered him into the carriage of a man named Herod, the captain of the local troops. Herod tried to convince Polycarp to save himself. “Why, what harm is there in saying, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ and offering incense?” When Polycarp refused the very suggestion of renouncing Christ, the official grew threatening and forced him out of the carriage so roughly that he injured his shin.
Without even turning, Polycarp marched on quickly as they escorted him to the stadium, where a deafening roar arose from the throngs of spectators. As he entered, his Christian companions heard a voice from above say, “Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.” He was brought before the proconsul, who urged him to deny his faith and bow before the emperor: “Swear by the spirit of Caesar! Repent, and say, ‘Away with the atheists!’”
Turning with a grim look toward the crowd calling for his death, Polycarp gestured at them. “Away with the atheists,” he said dryly.
Undeterred, the proconsul pressed him further to deny Christ. Polycarp declared, “Eighty-six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?”
“We are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil.”
Once more the proconsul urged Polycarp to swear by Caesar. This time Polycarp replied, “Since you pretend not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness: I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn more about Christianity, I will be happy to make an appointment.”
Furious, the proconsul said, “Don’t you know I have wild beasts waiting? I’ll throw you to them unless you repent.”
Polycarp answered, “Bring them on, then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil.”
Next the proconsul threatened to burn him alive. To this Polycarp replied, “You threaten me with fire which burns for a little while and is soon extinguished. You do not know the coming fire of judgment and eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly. What are you waiting for? Do what you wish.”
The fire formed a circle around him, but his body did not burn.
The proconsul sent his herald out into the arena to announce that Polycarp had confessed to being a Christian. At this, the assembled crowd seethed with uncontrolled fury and called for Polycarp to be burned alive. Quickly, they assembled a pyre, gathering wood from workshops and the public baths. Polycarp removed his clothes and tried to take off his shoes, though his advanced age made it difficult. His guards prepared to nail him to the stake, but he told them calmly, “Leave me as I am, for the one who gives me strength to endure the fire will also give me strength to remain at the stake unmoved without being secured by nails.” They bound his hands behind him. Polycarp offered a psalm of praise and thanksgiving to God:
"Lord God Almighty, Father of your blessed and beloved
child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of
you, God of angels and hosts and all creation, and of the whole
race of the upright who live in your presence: I bless you
that you have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to be
numbered among the martyrs and share in the cup of Christ, for
resurrection to eternal life, for soul and body in the
incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be
accepted before you today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice,
just as you, the faithful and true God, have prepared and
foreshown and brought about. For this reason and for all things
I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal
heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through
whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for
the ages to come. Amen."
His captors ignited the wood.
According to observers, as the flames grew, they did not consume Polycarp as expected. The fire formed a circle around him, but his body did not burn. Since the fire did not have its intended effect on Polycarp’s body, an executioner was ordered to stab him to death with a dagger. His blood extinguished the flames.
Observers that day were shocked by the contrast between Polycarp’s martyrdom and the deaths of non-Christians they had witnessed. They beheld the same faithful discipleship in Polycarp’s death that had characterized his life: a humble acceptance of God’s will; praise of God in the most extreme trial; and a joyful, unwavering commitment to Christ even when faced with death.
Polycarp’s was among the first recorded Christian martyrdoms. His steadfast obedience to Christ was a powerful testimony, an inspiration not only to the church he pastored so faithfully in Smyrna, but to Christians throughout the centuries.
SOURCES CREDIT: from COGwriter, Plough Publishing House, Biographical Sketches.
TWTT MEDIA
Wow, what a testimony.
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