The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Today's episode is the martyrdom of Polycarp. This text introduces a new genre of Christian literature: martyrology. Most of the early church fathers and apostles, except John, were killed because of their faith. The stories of their deaths demonstrate the danger faced by early Christians in converting. They also show the high value they placed on emulating Christ’s earthly life.

Here, we find an account of Polycarp’s execution at the hands of the Romans. It is difficult not to feel somewhat of a visceral reaction to the story, and to be humbled of the strength and faith of this man. Indeed, Arthur Cleveland Coxe, the editor of the volume of texts I have been using, expressed the same sentiment in 1886 when he penned his introduction to Polycarp’s martyrdom. He wrote:

“It is evidence of the strength of Christ perfected in human weakness; and thus it affords us an assurance of grace equal to our day in every time of need. When I see in it, however, an example of what a noble army of martyrs, women and children included, suffered in those days “for the testimony of Jesus,” and in order to hand down the knowledge of the Gospel to these boastful ages of our own, I confess myself edified by what I read, chiefly because I am humbled and abashed in comparing what a Christian used to be, with what a Christian is, in our times, even at his best estate.

With this in mind, I hope you are similarly encouraged and convicted by the faith demonstrated by Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and disciple of John the Apostle.

If you would like to read more of the writings of the Early Christian Fathers, please visit ccel.org to view the full collection.