Polycarp, A True Peaceful Protester

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J.J.

Numerous times on the pages of Scripture we are encouraged to imitate and to follow the example of those Christians who have went before us. This is why the Church celebrates and commemorates the lives of those saints gone before us on days and festivals throughout the year.

This week the Church celebrates two of those days. On February 24, we celebrate the life and ministry of St. Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace Judas following Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:16-25).

Today’s focus, however, will be on the life of Polycarp, a bishop of the church in Smyrna and a martyr for the faith, whose life we commemorate on February 23. 

Early Life

Polycarp was born in the second century, probably of well-to-do parents. Despite his affluent upbringing, his writings show that he remained generally uneducated, using simple Greek and Latin. The historian, Eusebius, tells us that “Polycarp was a disciple of St. John, and bishop of the church of Smyrna.” (Church History, Book IV, XIV) Despite lacking the flair of St. Paul, Polycarp was purported to have had a gentle spirit and demeanor, and appeared to be a beloved bishop of the congregation in Smyrna who had and would face severe persecution and hardship (Revelation 2:8-11). That hardship would come in the form of the gnostic heretics, Marcion and Valentinus, who believed that the God of the New Testament was not the same God as that of the Old Testament. Polycarp was said to have met Marcion on a trip to Rome, and when Marcion asked if Polycarp knew him,  Polycarp replied: “I know the firstborn of the devil.” (Jerome, De Vir Ill., XVII) Needless to say, despite his gentle disposition, when it came to the defense of the Gospel, Polycarp was not known to have held his tongue.

Writings

Very few of Polycarp’s many letters and writings are extent today. The only credible text in existence is his Letter to the Philippians. Echoing the attitude of joy and encouragement that the Apostle Paul conveyed in his letter to the same congregation, Polycarp encourages them (and us) to life a life of Christian patience:

“I encourage you, therefore, to show obedience to the word of righteousness, and to exercise much patience, just as you have seen set before your eyes, not only in the lives of Ignatius, and Zosimus, and Rufus, but also in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself, and the rest of the apostles. Do this with the assurance that these men have not run in vain, but in faith and righteousness, and that they are now in their due place in the presence of the Lord, with whom they also suffered. For they did not love this present world, but Him who died for us, and for our sakes was raised again by God from the dead.” (Epistle to the Philippians, IX)

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Death

In a world hostile to anything counter-cultural, Christianity was seen as an atheist religion (because it refused to acknowledge the divinity of the so-called “gods” of the pagan religions). As such, Polycarp––being brash and outspoken––would be labeled a heretic and sentenced to death. In the famous work, “The Martyrdom of Polycarp,” written by his own disciple, Irenaeus, we hear of the amazing and gruesome death he endured.

Facing death by fire, Polycarp exhibited strong faith in his Savior. Normally a person condemned to death by fire was nailed to the post. When the soldiers came to nail him, Polycarp responded:

“Leave me as I am; for He that gives me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to remain without moving in the pile.” (Martyrdom of Polycarp, XII)

At his death, as legend and the account has it, the fire did not consume his body. In fact, rather than the smell of burning flesh, it smelled of baking bread.

Commemoration

Christians today can learn much Polycarp and his life and death. Faithfulness to the Word of God, boldness when asked to speak boldly, and a life of gentleness and compassion are qualities of a Christian life. Additionally, some comfort can be found in the fact that even 2000 years ago, a Christian like Polycarp suffered for his faith. And the Lord, who is faithful and gracious, kept them safe in death by giving them the crown of life. This same assurance is for you and for me, too––whether we die a martyr’s death or the Lord takes us from this life in our latter years.

O God, the maker of heaven and earth, you gave your venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Savior, and steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, following his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

S.D.G.