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At that time Polycarp, a disciple of the apostles, was a man of
eminence in Asia, having been entrusted with the episcopate of the
church of Smyrna by those who had seen and heard the Lord. And at
the same time Papias, bishop of the parish of Hierapolis, became
well known, as did also Ignatius, who was chosen bishop of Antioch,
second in succession to Peter, and whose fame is still celebrated by a
great many.
Report says that he was sent from Syria to Rome, and became food for
wild beasts on account of his testimony to Christ. And as he made the
journey through Asia under the strictest military surveillance, he
fortified the parishes in the various cities where he stopped by oral
homilies and exhortations, and warned them above all to be especially
on their guard against the heresies that were then beginning to
prevail, and exhorted them to hold fast to the tradition of the
apostles. Moreover, he thought it necessary to attest that tradition
in writing, and to give it a fixed form for the sake of greater
security. So when he came to Smyrna, where Polycarp was, he wrote
an epistle to the church of Ephesus, in which he mentions Onesimus,
its pastor; and another to the church of Magnesia, situated upon the
Maeander, in which he makes mention again of a bishop Damas; and
finally one to the church of Tralles, whose bishop, he states, was
at that time Polybius. In addition to these he wrote also to the
church of Rome, entreating them not to secure his release from
martyrdom, and thus rob him of his earnest hope. In confirmation of
what has been said it is proper to quote briefly from this epistle. He
writes as follows: "From Syria even unto Rome I fight with wild
beasts, by land and by sea, by night and by day, being bound amidst
ten leopards? that is, a company of soldiers who only become worse
when they are well treated. In the midst of their wrongdoings,
however, I am more fully learning discipleship, but I am not thereby
justified. May I have joy of the beasts that are prepared for me;
and I pray that I may find them ready; I will even coax them to
devour me quickly that they may not treat me as they have some whom they
have refused to touch through fear. And if they are unwilling, I
will compel them. Forgive me. I know what is expedient for me. Now
do I begin to be a disciple. May naught of things visible and things
invisible envy me; that I may attain unto Jesus Christ. Let fire
and cross and attacks of wild beasts, let wrenching of bones, cutting
of limbs, crushing of the whole body, tortures of the devil, let all
these come upon me if only I may attain unto Jesus Christ." These
things he wrote from the above-mentioned city to the churches referred
to. And when he had left Smyrna he wrote again from Troas to the
Philadelphians and to the church of Smyrna; and particularly to
Polycarp, who presided over the latter church. And since he knew him
well as an apostolic man, he commended to him, like a true and good
shepherd, the flock at Antioch, and besought him to care diligently
for it. And the same man, writing to the Smyrnaeans, used the
following words concerning Christ, taken I know not whence: "But
I know and believe that he was in the flesh after the resurrection.
And when he came to Peter and his companions he said to them, Take,
handle me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit. And
immediately they touched him and believed." Irenaeus also knew of his
martyrdom and mentions his epistles in the following words: "As one
of our people said, when he was condemned to the beasts on account of
his testimony unto God, I am God's wheat, and by the teeth of wild
beasts am I ground, that I may be found pure bread." Polycarp also
mentions these letters in the epistle to the Philippians which is
ascribed to him. His words are as follows: "I exhort all of you,
therefore, to be obedient and to practice all patience such as ye saw
with your own eyes not only in the blessed Ignatius and Rufus and
Zosimus, but also in others from among yourselves as well as in Paul
himself and the rest of the apostles; being persuaded that all these
ran not in vain, but in faith and righteousness, and that they are
gone to their rightful place beside the Lord, with whom also they
suffered. For they loved not the present world, but him that died for
our sakes and was raised by God for us." And afterwards he adds:
"You have written to me, both you and Ignatius, that if any one go
to Syria he may carry with him the letters from you. And this I will
do if I have a suitable opportunity, either I myself or one whom I
send to be an ambassador for you also. The epistles of Ignatius which
were sent to us by him and the others which we had with us we sent to
you as you gave charge. They are appended to this epistle, and from
them you will be able to derive great advantage. For they comprise
faith and patience, and every kind of edification that pertaineth to
our Lord." So much concerning Ignatius. But he was succeeded by
Heros in the episcopate of the church of Antioch.
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