« List of Experts Mounts Against CBS Memos | Main | A Likely Source for CBS Bush Guard Memos? »

Polycarp's Faithfulness

Some time ago I heard a message on the book of Revelation that beautifully connected the letters to individuals known in history. Revelation 2 contains a letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna:

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:8)

According to Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Polycarp, martyred in A.D. 168, eighty-six years after his conversion, was bishop, and probably "the angel of the Church in Smyrna" meant here. The allusions to persecutions and faithfulness unto death accord with this view.

Here is what history records about his death:

In 155, Polycarp, the aged bishop of Smyrna, was summoned before the proconsul and charged with being a Christian. "Swear," the magistrate urged him in an effort to make him affirm his loyalty and so bring about his release, "Curse Christ." "Eighty and six years", Polycarp replied, "have I served him, and he has done me no wrong; how then can i blaspheme my king who has saved me?" "I have wild beasts", the proconsul threatened; "if you don't repent I will have you thrown to them." Polycarp responded, "Send for them." In despair at the bishop's obduracy the magistrate told him, "if you don't despise the wild beasts I will order that you be burned alive." "You threaten the fire", Polycarp told him, "that burns for an hour and in a little while will be quenched; but you are unaware of the fire of the judgement to come, and the fire of eternal punishment which is kept for the ungodly." Under pressure from the clamour of the mob, the proconsul gave orders for Polycarp to be burned to death. Twenty-two years further on, many Christians, some of them migrants from Asia, died in the arena in Lyons France fighting wild beasts in the public games. (from A New History of Christianity)

I also found an account of Polycarp's death in Sketches of Church History:

A stake was then set up, and a pile of wood was collected around it. Polycarp walked to the place with a calm and cheerful look, and, as the executioners were going to fasten him to the stake with iron cramps, he begged them to spare themselves the trouble. "He who gives me the strength to bear the flames," he said. "will enable me to remain steady." He was therefore only tied to the stake with cords, and as he stood thus bound, he uttered a thanksgiving for being allowed to suffer after the pattern of his Lord and Savior. When his prayer was ended, the wood was set on fire, but we are told that the flames swept round him, looking like the sail of a ship swollen by the wind, while he remained unhurt in the midst of them. One of the executioners, seeing this, plunged a sword into the martyr’s breast, and the blood rushed forth in such a stream that it put out the fire. But the persecutors, who were resolved that the Christians should not have their bishop’s body, lighted the wood again, and burnt the corpse, so that only a few of the bones remained; and these the Christians gathered out, and gave them an honorable burial."

Polycarp lived the Word of God which he received. He suffered, he was cast into prison and was tested. Polycarp did not fear and was faithful until death.

Posted by tim at September 12, 2004 5:58 PM

Articles Related to Church: