Intro: Polycarp’s martyrdom on this date around AD 156 deeply impressed the nascent Church and can not be glossed over. Polycarp was a link between the time of the Apostles and post-apostolic era. He was martyred when he was 86 years of age by being burned,and when the flames did not hurt him, he was stabbed in the heart. Eyewitness accounts said the smell was of baking bread. His name means, “much fruit”. Below is a short bio from The Apostolic Fathers edited by Jack Sparks of the Eastern Orthodox Church:
“Take the oath and I will let you go,” said the proconsul. “Revile Christ.”
“I have served Him eighty-six years,” replied Polycarp, “and in no way has He dealt unjustly with me; so how can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
Thus the aged and much revered bishop spoke, in full knowledge of the outcome. His martyrdom was sealed. His life had stretched from the days of the apostles till the middle of the second century, and on a February day in about 156 he moved on with honor to the church enrolled in heaven.
We first meet Polycarp as the relatively young bishop of Smyrna when the aging Ignatius of Antioch was on his way to martyrdom. It was in Smyrna that Ignatius made that famous rest stop on his final journey, and Polycarp was the only individual on record to whom the great martyr ever addressed a personal letter. In the years that followed, Polycarp gathered Ignatius’ letters and passed them on to others.
Irenaeus, who was bishop of Lyons in the latter half of the second century, tells us that Polycarp was a disciple of the apostle John and indeed knew others who had seen the Lord in the flesh. The witness of Irenaeus is important because he apparently grew up in Smyrna. What he says of Polycarp indicates that the bishop of Smyrna was most concerned about the preservation of the orthodox faith. One incident he reports demonstrates the severity of Polycarp’s attitude toward heresies and heretics. Polycarp, says Irenaeus, once met the heretic Marcion on the streets. “Do you recognize me?” asked Marcion. “Indeed,” replied Polycarp, “I recognize you as the firstborn of Satan!” (Adv. haer 3:3,4).
Though Irenaeus hints at several letters by Polycarp, only one has come down to us. That letter is to the church at Philippi and reflects the same concern for truth and orthodoxy we have already mentioned. His letter is filled with, indeed almost made up of, quotes from the Gospels, Acts, and Epistles of the New Testament, as well as the letters of Clement and Ignatius. Some critics have sneered at Polycarp because he is so uncreative and offers no new theological insight. We can be glad he was the way he was. Through Polycarp we have not only a link with the earliest days of Christianity, but a faithful transmission of apostolic doctrine as well. No, he was not creative. He was a loyal disciple of Christ and the apostles.
Near the end of his life Polycarp made a visit to Rome to discuss with Bishop Anicetus a number of church matters, apparently including the date of Easter. The Eastern churches were still celebrating Easter on the exact date of Jewish Passover, while Rome was using a specified Sunday each year. Neither agreed to change, but their fellowship was not disturbed. Before he left Rome, Polycarp, at the invitation of Anicetus, led in the celebration of the Eucharist. The two men parted in full agreement to leave their respective traditions as they were.
Last of all we have an eyewitness account of the martyrdom of Polycarp. Perhaps by request, the church at Smyrna prepared a full account, to be sent to the church at Philomelium and other places. This clear and simple testimony of the martyrdom of an aged saint should bring tears to the eyes of any believer. Some have questioned the record because of the miraculous account of the means of his death. But there is great danger in rejecting a miracle on the grounds that “such things just don’t happen.” Some have done so and thus have rejected the miracles of the Scriptures.
Polycarp’s last prayer is characteristic of the man and a clear testimony of his faith. He concluded with, “I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly high priest Jesus Christ your beloved Son through whom to you with Him and the Holy Spirit be glory now and forever. Amen.”
Below is a selection from The Martyrdom of Polycarp. Please note that the first Christians were accused of “atheism” because they would not sacrifice to the false god of Caesar, and so they were considered as not believing and thus imperiling the ‘divine’ order of the Empire and the Emperor.
“…the police captain, Herod, and his father, Nicetes, met (Polycarp); they transferred him to their carriage and sitting down beside him tried to persuade him, saying: “Why, what is wrong with saying, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ and sacrificing, and so forth, and thus being saved?” At first he did not answer them, but when they persisted, he said: “I am not going to do what you advise me.” Since they had failed to persuade him, they uttered threats and hurriedly pulled him off so that as he was descending from the carriage he scraped his shin. And without turning around, he walked along briskly as though he had suffered no injury. As he was led into the stadium with the uproar so great that it [the announcement of Polycarp’s apprehension] was not heard by many….
Now a voice from heaven came to Polycarp as he was entering the stadium: “Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man!” (Josh. 1:6,7,9.) No one saw the speaker, but many of ours heard the voice. And then as he was brought forward, there was a great uproar now that they heard that Polycarp had been apprehended. So when he was brought forward the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp; and when he admitted it, he tried to persuade him to deny, saying: “Respect your age” and all the other things they usually say: “Swear by the Genius of Caesar, change your mind, say, ‘Away with the atheists.’ ” Polycarp looked sternly at the whole crowd of lawless heathen in the stadium, indicating them with a wave of the hand, groaned and looked up to heaven, and said: “Away with the atheists!” When the proconsul persevered and said: “Take the oath and I will let you go; revile Christ,” Polycarp replied: “I have served him eighty-six years and in no way has he dealt unjustly with me; so how can I blaspheme my king who saved me?”
Since he persisted and said: “Swear by Caesar’s Genius,” he answered: “If you vainly expect that I will swear by Caesar’s Genius, as you suggest, and pretend to be ignorant who I am, listen (to what I say) openly: I am a Christian. If you want to learn the teaching of Christianity, name the day and hear (about it).” The proconsul said: “Persuade the people.” Polycarp replied: “To you indeed I have considered myself accountable; for we have been taught to render fit honor to rulers and authorities appointed by God in so far as it is not injurious to us [cf. Rom. 13:1,7;1 Pet. 2:13ff]; as for these, I do not consider myself bound to make my defense before them.”
Comment: Note that what the Christians were asked to do, burn a little incense to Caesar and swear by him is really a ‘small thing’, as it was pitched toward the Church. As the proconsul said, what is wrong with saying, Caesar is Lord? Indeed! It might seem such a small thing to “go with the flow”, do what others are doing which seems so much fun and the like. But it’s not a ‘small thing’ and Polycarp knew what it meant: denying Jesus Christ who saved him.
I like Fr. Sparks’ comment that Polycarp’s one letter shows he was not creative. He quoted the Bible. No, he was not creative. He was a loyal disciple of Christ and the apostles.” I took a course in seminary, “Creative Ministry”. We make ministry ‘creative’? No, the Lord does. He re-creates us through His Ministry of Word and Sacraments through His called pastors and bishops. Polycarp was not creative: he was faithful. He was a faithful servant of Jesus. Satis est. That is enough and Christ will fill us by His grace for us sinners.
Concordia and Koinonia 