This past week, Christians around the world remembered one of the great martyrs -- Polycarp of Smyrna (70–155 AD).
He was one of the earliest leaders of the church, having been a disciple of the Apostle John (as in the writer of "the Gospel of John, 1,2,3 John and Revelation" -- that John).
Polycarp is a celebrated figure in the history of Christianity. He is one of few men we have detailed accounts of that lived as connections to both the biblical apostles and the age of the early church fathers. Several ancient sources document the contributions of Polycarp to Christianity, including his letters written to the church at Philippi, in which he encourages the members to remain strong in their faith and to flee from materialism.
He also instructed the members in the proper handling of finances that was beginning to become a problem in the church. Polycarp was recognized as one of the early combatants of Christian heresies, specifically the teachings of Marcion, an influential heretic who tried to create a "new brand" of Christianity by redefining God and rejecting Old Testament teachings. Polycarp is a much needed voice today as well, in that he fought for the Old Testament. Marcion wanted to scrap the Jewish ideas and the entire OT, including the laws of Moses and the writings of the prophets. His entire point was that if we are a New Testament community, why keep the Old?
Polycarp argued that if we erase the OT, the New Testament loses its power and significance. Much of the New Testament was, after all, written by those who studied the Old and held the OT as inspired words from God. Many OT passages were even quoted by NT authors. Even Jesus used the Old Testament to combat the Pharisees and Sadducees. There was still a very important place for those books in the life of the church. To throw out those sacred words is to remove revelation from God to man.
"May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Son of God, and our everlasting High Priest, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity."
Polycarp, who was not only a direct disciple of the apostle John but was also ordained bishop of Smyrna by him and was respected as the chief church leader of all Asia, where he saw and had as teachers some of the apostles and of those who had seen the Lord. One moment he is recognized for is that, on account of certain questions concerning the day of the Passover, he traveled to Rome where he led back to the faith many of the believers who had been deceived through the persuasion of Marcion and Valentinus.
Polycarp's greatest contribution to Christianity may be his martyred death. His martyrdom stands as one of the most well documented events of antiquity. The emperors of Rome had unleashed bitter attacks against the Christians during this period, and members of the early church recorded many of the persecutions and deaths. Polycarp was arrested by Roman officials being charged with the crime of being a Christian -- a member of a politically dangerous cult whose rapid growth needed to be stopped.
When the officials came to arrest Polycarp, they came with their usual weapons, as if coming out against a robber. They found him lying down in the upper room of a cottage. When he heard that they had come, he went down and he spoke gently with them. The men stood amazed at his age and steadfastness, and some of them said. “Why did we go to so much trouble to capture a man like this? He's old, he's peaceful, how is he a criminal?” Polycarp asked his host for food and drink for them for they had traveled a while, and asked them to eat, but rather than joining them for one last feast he requested for an hour to pray uninterrupted. They agreed, and he stood and prayed, so full of the grace of God, that he could not stop for two hours. The men did not grow impatient but were instead astounded and they regretted coming to arrest such a godly and venerable old man.
When he finished praying… they put him on a donkey, and took him into the city.
Amidst an angry mob, the Roman proconsul took pity on such a gentle old man and urged Polycarp to proclaim, "Caesar is Lord". If only Polycarp would make this declaration and offer a small pinch of incense to Caesar's statue he would escape torture and death.
The story goes like this,
As Polycarp was being taken into the arena, a voice came to him from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp and play the man!” No one saw who had spoken, but our brothers who were there heard the voice. When the crowd heard that Polycarp had been captured, there was an uproar. The Proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On hearing that he was, he tried to persuade him to apostatize, saying, “Have respect for your old age, swear by the fortune of Caesar. Repent, and say, ‘Down with the Atheists!’”
(Many Christians were considered atheists because they did not believe in the Roman or Greek gods)
Polycarp looked grimly at the wicked heathen multitude in the stadium, and gesturing towards them, he said, “Down with you, the Atheists!”
“Swear,” urged the Proconsul, “reproach Christ, and I will set you free.”
“86 years have I have served him,” Polycarp declared, “and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior!?”
“I have wild animals here,” the Proconsul said. “I will throw you to them if you do not repent.”
“Call them,” Polycarp replied. “It is unthinkable for me to repent from what is good to turn to what is evil. I will be glad though to be changed from evil to righteousness.”
“If you despise the animals, I will have you burned.” retorted the Proconsul.
“You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want.”
It was all done in the time it takes to tell. The crowd collected wood and bundles of sticks from the shops and public baths. The Jews , as usual, were keen to help. When the pile was ready, Polycarp took off his outer clothes, undid his belt, and tried to take off his sandals – something he was not used to, as the faithful always raced to do it for him, each wanting to be the one to touch his skin – this is how good his life was. But when they went to fix him with nails, he said, “Leave me as I am, for he that gives me strength to endure the fire, will enable me not to struggle, without the help of your nails.”
So they simply bound him with his hands behind him like a distinguished ram chosen from a great flock for sacrifice.
Ready to be an acceptable burnt-offering to God, he looked up to heaven, and said,
“O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels, powers and every creature, and of all the righteous who live before you, I give you thanks that you count me worthy to be numbered among your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ and the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and body, through the immortality of the Holy Spirit. May I be received this day as an acceptable sacrifice, as you, the true God, have predestined, revealed to me, and now fulfilled. I praise you for all these things, I bless you and glorify you, along with the everlasting Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. To you, with him, through the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
Polycarp was sentenced to death by fire, but the flames miraculously stood like a wall around him and he was not burned. The executioner then stabbed him in the heart, which issued such an abundance of blood that the fire was quenched.
Polycarp's martyrdom is historical reality. He died for one reason - his unyielding faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Polycarp, like many other Christians to this day, was only able to die for Christ because he lived for Christ. His life was radically transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit -- the desires, worries, pains and fears of this world no longer bound him. Polycarp's life and death provides an inspirational example for all Christians. He gave his earthly life for Christ, and in the midst of his sacrifice, he gained eternal life.
Some quotes from Polycarp's letter to the Philippians:
"Gird up your loins and serve God in fear and truth,forsaking the vain and empty talking and the error of the many."
"For if any one be inwardly possessed of
these graces, he has fulfilled the command of righteousness, since he that has
love is far from all sin."
"We should forsake the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the Word which has been handed down to us from the beginning; 'watching unto prayer,' and persevering in fasting; beseeching in our supplications the all-seeing God 'not to lead us into temptation,' as the Lord has said: 'The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.'"
"When you
can do good, defer it not!"
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Nathan Bryant
Christ's Kingdom is bigger than our causes.
Christ's Kingdom is bigger than our boundaries.
Follow him on Twitter: Follow @nathanpbryant
Nathan's Website
Follow him on Twitter: Follow @nathanpbryant
Nathan's Website
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