Introductory note to the epistle of polycarp to the philippians. Polycarp to the philippians early christian writings. Polycarp is said to have known the apostle john, and to have been instructed by him in the christian faith. Polycarps faith and teachings, as well as other epistles. Polycarp s letter to the philippians often simply called to the philippians composed around 110 to 140 ad 1 is described by irenaeus as follows. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians by polycarp. Polycarps letter to the philippians is no exception. Polycarp uses expressions such as as paul teaches to quote several passages which are today found in different books of the new testament and the apocrypha, including romans, 1 and 2 corinthians, galatians, ephesians, philippians, 2 thessalonians, 1 and 2 timothy, 1 peter, and 1 clement. Polycarp was a noted and respected bishop of smyrna, one of only two churches not admonished by jesus in the seven letters found in revelation 2 and 3.
The saint concludes in telling the philippians that he is sending copies of st. Pray also for kings and powers and princes and for them that persecute and hate you and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest among all men, that ye may be perfect in him. Epistle of polycarp to the philippians page 1 introductory note. Letter from the church of smyrna to the church at philomelion in phrygia from kirsopp lake, the apostolic fathers, vol. Polycarps faith and teachings, as well as other epistles now lost.
Pdf purity and danger in polycarps epistle to the philippians. Polycarp to the philippians bunkertown church of the brethren. Polycarp, and the elders with him, to the church of god sojourning at philippi. T he epistle of polycarp to the philippians1 polycarp, and the presbyters2 with him, to the church of god sojourning at philippi. We shall not, however, probably be far wrong if we fix it about the middle of the second century. To polycarp is one of seven epistles attributed to ignatius that are generally accepted as authentic. Polycarp is recognized as a saint in both the roman catholic and eastern orthodox churches. Polycarp tells us that faith is the mother of us all, with hope following in her train, and love of god and christ and our neighbor leading the way.
In 5th century, this collection was enlarged by spurious letters. Polycarp, in which he addressed him as bishop of the church of smyrna. Jan 05, 2010 text of polycarp s letter to the philippians is no exception. Polycarpus smyrnaeus epistula ad philippenses the epistle of. A note those who identify marcion as the false teacher against whom polycarp writes in his letter to the philippians continue to face difficult problems. Polycarp was an old man, at least 86 see part 10, and probably the last surviving person to have known an apostle, having been a disciple of st. Saint polycarp of smyrna martyred in his 87th year, ca. It is clear that to polycarp was written soon before the martyrdom of ignatius, but it is uncertain when precisely this martyrdom occurred.
He is familiar of pauls epistles to the philippians and asks the philippians for letters and such if they have them. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians commonly abbreviated pol. Mercy and peace be multiplied to you from god almighty and from the lord jesus the king, our savior. So, paul was very important to polycarp, particularly from his writings. The letter to the philippians penned by polycarp of smyrna is sometimes dismissed as an example of a prooftexting moralism, indicative of the postapostolic churchs fall from the heights of pauline christianity. Mercy to you and peace from god the allpowerful and jesus christ our savior be multiplied. It was written during ignatius transport from antioch to. Polycarpdisciple of the apostle john history of the. Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another, joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians, greek, latin. This letter is steeped in the language of the new testament, and many phrases echo the words of the new testament text. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians annotated kindle edition by polycarp. There is also a forceful epistle written by polycarp to the philippians, from which those. Polycarp of smyrna, letter to the philippians michael.
Polycarp truly lived according to the following words from his only extant work, his epistle to the philippians. Polycarp and the presbyters with him, to the church of god, the one temporarily residing in philippi. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians epistle of polycarp to the philippians page 2 polycarp, and the presbyters with him, to the church of god sojourning at philippi. Polycarp was a respected bishop of smyrna who knew the apostle. Polycarp resided in asia minor as bishop of smyrna and sent an epistle to the philippians c. Polycarp, in his turn, was known to irenaeus, who later became bishop of lyons in. Justin the martyr is useful in proving the eucharist.
There is extant an epistle of polycarp written to the philippians, most satisfactory, from which those that have a mind to do so may learn the character of his faith, etc. Read on its own terms, this complex exhortatory letter reveals a vigorous, pastorally sensitive effort to integrate both behavioural and theological aspects of righteousness. Polycarp, and the presbyters2 with him, to the church of god sojourning at philippi. Historically, he formed a link between the apostolic and patristic ages. Among these is the fact that polycarp does not bother to name his enemy, and we still do not have the necessary irrefutable evidence to do it for him. In addition, im unclear what manuscript sources were used in the polycarp martyrdom edition. But he who raised him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do his will. Letter to the philippians work by polycarp britannica. A modern translation of the epistle of polycarp to the philippians, written before a. Yet polycarps position in leading the fight against apostasy is highly ambiguous.
Polycarps epistle to the philippians and the martyrdom of polycarp. Near the conclusion of his letter to the philippians 11. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians youtube. Polycarps letter to the philippians often simply called to the philippians composed around 110 to 140 ad 1 is described by irenaeus as follows. This article seeks to move beyond traditional interpretations of polycarps epistle to the philippians as formulated primarily as a response to the threat of heresy. He died a martyr when he was stabbed after an attempt to burn him at the stake failed. But anyway this is a cheap and slim and useful book.
There was also a letter written about his martyrdom by the smyrnaeans which gives some insight. Polycarp s epistle to the philippians and the martyrdom of polycarp. Polycarp, therefore, stood solidly in the apostolic tradition of the church, being a faithful deliverer of the teachings he had received. Polycarps letter to the philippians anglican church arnhem and. Even polycarps letter to the philippians isnt a standalone document. There appears to be some prefatory narrative parts concerning polycarp breaking his leg which i do not recognise from the howell edition, and i wonder where they came from. By his major writing, the letter to the philippians, and by. Project muse purity and danger in polycarps epistle to.
Youre the firstborn of satan irenaeus, against heresies iii. Read on its own terms, this complex exhortatory letter reveals a vigorous, pastorally sensitive effort to integrate both. There is also a forceful epistle written by polycarp to the philippians, from which those who wish to do so, and are anxious about their salvation, can learn the character of his faith, and the. According to eusebius, irenaeus said that polycarp wrote several epistles euseb. This is a modern translation of the epistle of polycarp to the philippians, the same church that paul wrote to almost a century earlier. Polycarp to the philippians the authenticity of the following epistle can on no fair grounds be questioned. Polycarp s faith and teachings, as well as other epistles now lost. Epistle of polycarp to the philippians page 1 introductory. To the philippians chapter 1 originally chapter 14 polykarpos and the elders together with him to the assembly of god, to the assembly sojourning at philippoi. Quoting this, polycarp adds, whosoever does not confess the testimony of the cross is of the devil. One interesting feature of the letter is that the writer is very conscious of how polycarps death followed the. Polycarp, and the presbyters338 with him, to the church of god sojourning at philippi. Epistle of polycarp encyclopedia of the bible bible.
Introductory note to the epistle of polycarp to the. I have read where it is said that possibly polycarp was getting the elements of what we know as the new testament in order. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians conciliar post. Polycarp s epistle to the philippians, in which he believes one can derive the character of st. Jan 09, 2020 he is familiar of pauls epistles to the philippians and asks the philippians for letters and such if they have them. Now polycarp himself never met paul, but he knew pauls writings, quoted them often, and later himself wrote a letter to the church at philippi, as paul himself had written the book of philippians in our new testament. The writings of early christianity known collectively as the apostolic fathers continue to fascinate me, and the text of polycarps letter to the. Polycarpdisciple of the apostle john history of the early. Ignatius of antiochs epistles with the messenger and even divulges the name of the scribe who wrote the letter, a man named crescens, who will pay the philippian christians a visit with his sister. It is widely believed to be a composite of material written at two different times see unity, in the first half of the second century. Pdf polycarps epistle to the philippians and the martyrdom. Polycarp, and the presbyters with him, to the church of god sojourning at philippi. The martyrdom of polycarp letter from the church of smyrna to the church at philomelion in phrygia from kirsopp lake, the apostolic fathers, vol.
It is abundantly established by external testimony, and is also supported by the internal evidence. Clement, ignatius, and polycarp church of jesus christ. Polycarp, in his turn, was known to irenaeus, who later became bishop of lyons in what. Harrison proposed the thesis that this was not a single epistle, but rather two that had been joined together. Epistle of polycarp to the philippians reflections on. Let a mans mind be wholly bent on these, and he has fulfilled all the demands of holiness. Polycarps introduction to the epistle to the philippians.
This was one reason he was greatly revered as a teacher and church leader. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians greeting. This passage is embodied by eusebius in his ecclesiastical history iv. Polycarp epistle to the philippians bible translations. Mercy to you, and peace from god almighty, and from the lord jesus christ, our saviour, be multiplied. Saint polycarp, bishop of smyrna and holy martyr, to the philippians. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians bible study tools. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jan 02, 2020 unfortunately, the only extant writing by polycarp is his letter to the philippians, but he is mentioned in other documents including the martyrdom of polycarp and a few papers written by irenaeus. Mercy to you, and peace from god almighty, and from the lord jesus christ.
Unfortunately, the only extant writing by polycarp is his letter to the philippians, but he is mentioned in other documents including the martyrdom of polycarp and a few papers written by irenaeus. A verse by verse examination of the apostle pauls epistle of joy to the beloved philippian church. Its always seemed unusual to me that irenaeus, from whom we know the most about this man of god and martyr, wrote such a huge work as against heresies. Irenaeus makes it clear that both polycarp and john were quite short with heretics. Polycarps epistle to the philippians contains a lot of information about what he believed and taught note. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the epistle of polycarp to the philippians annotated. Polycarps epistle to the philippians, in which he believes one can derive the character of st. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians greeting polycarp, and the presbyters with him, to the church of god sojourning at philippi. Both irenaeus and tertullian recorded that polycarp was a disciple of the apostle john. As with my earlier translation of the didache,1 i have consulted existing translations lake, lightfoot, holmes. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians annotated. Polycarp and the philippians given the proof text approach of many catholic apologists today, using the writings of the apostolic and church fathers against protestants, only certain fathers are read. He is a very important figure in the early church era, as his letter to the philippians is one of the earliest surviving writings. The epistle of ignatius to polycarp often abbreviated ign.
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