Description:
Polycarp of Smyrna stands among the most important Christian voices of the generation immediately following the apostles. His surviving writings preserve both the practical concerns of the early churches and the testimony of a man who remained faithful to Christ even in the face of death.
This volume brings together two essential works associated with Polycarp:
The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
A pastoral letter concerned with faith, righteous conduct, endurance, church leadership, repentance, purity, and freedom from the love of money. Polycarp writes as a man still living close to the apostolic generation, referring to Paul, Ignatius, and other early Christian leaders.
The Martyrdom of Polycarp
One of the earliest surviving Christian martyrdom accounts outside the New Testament. It records Polycarp's arrest, trial, confession of Christ, execution, and the care taken by the early Christians to distinguish the honor given to martyrs from the worship owed to Christ alone.
This edition presents both works in clear modern English while seeking to preserve the meaning and character of the ancient text. Traditional chapter and verse divisions have been retained for reference, and concise editorial notes address important translation choices, difficult Greek terms, significant textual variants, and places where older English translations may obscure the original sense.
For readers interested in the Apostolic Fathers, early Christianity, the generation after the apostles, or the history of Christian martyrdom, these writings offer a direct window into the faith and life of the early Church.