around 69 A.D. The dates of his birth are still unsure and 69 comes as the closest one because he had to be alive while John the Apostle lived The “rumor” is that Polycarp was the student of John the Apostle who was sent to the Island of Patmos because “of the Word” and was killed under Dominitian in 91 A.D. During his stay at Patmos John wrote the Book of Revelation which mentions the church at Smyrna whose second bishop or elder was Polycarp. He is recognized as a Saint by the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and the Lutheran…why not the Baptist? Hmm? Depends what we mean by the word Saint right??? ;) He is one of the three chief Apostolic fathers He was a friend of Clement of Rome, Papias and Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius of Antioch mentions Polycarp in his letter to the Ephesians and Magnesians Irenaeus was Polycarp’s most famous pupil In his letter to Florinus Irenaeus states when as a bran new Christian he heard Polycarp preach for the first time in Lower Asia. Irenaeus states often of Polycarp that he became a Christian first hand by the preaching of the Apostles themselves, was consecrated as a bishop and would often converse with those who had seen Jesus. He also emphasizes the great age of Polycarp, the dude was old if he talked to those who saw Jesus. It is reported that before his death Polycarp visited his fellow Bishop in Rome by the name of Anicetus. They had an interesting conversation about the “Christian Passover” when it was supposed to be celebrated. Polycarp was for the 14th day of Nisan according to the Jewish calendar. But again Colossians 2:16 says otherwise that we should not quarrel about things like that. We have two surviving accounts of which one is a letter personally written by Polycarp to the Philippians. The other is the Martyrdom of Polycarp written by the Church of Smyrna to the Churches of Pontus. Martyrdom of Polycarp is considered as the earliest account of Christian Martyrdom to be recorded. The dates about Polycarp’s death are disputed, 155, 156, 166, 167? The author of this presentation finds it inventible that he must bring forth the “evidence” that would tell us more about “the man” thus the next portion of the presentation will focus particularly on the two accounts that we have about Polycarp: Martyrdom of Polycarp and The Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians. This epistle was written by the church of Smyrna, yet what can we tell about the condition of the Church of Smyrna from the Scriptures? And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.' Introduction… Mercy, peace and love from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied to you. “Away with Atheists; let Polycarp be sought out” When Polycarp heard that he was to be sought out by the Roman authorities; he continued to do what he did: pray for all men and churches, he would retreat often to a house in the country. Three days before his execution he had a prophetic vision: “I must be burnt alive!” Two of Polycarp’s servants were seized by the Romans and inquired about the present location of Polycarp through torture during which one confessed where he is staying During supper time the servant led the Roman authorities to the country house where Polycarp was staying at. They came with weapons against him as if he were some kind of a robber. They found an old man praying…Polycarp offered them food and drink. Many marveled at his age and his godliness, some even begun to repent that they came against such an old man…Polycarp said: “God’s will be done” He was brought into the city during the great Sabbath (Passover). Irenarch Herod accompanied by his father Nicetes came both riding in a chariot. They took Polycarp into the chariot and said to him: “What harm is it to say the Caesar is Lord and offer a sacrifice to him?” To which he responded: “I will not do as you advise me to.” While getting out of the chariot he dislocated his leg but that did not stop him from walking toward the stadium. Now while he was entering the stadium a voice from heaven came to him: “Be strong and courageous, show yourself a man Polycarp. Upon being asked by the proconsul to revile Christ and spare his old age he said: “Eighty six years have I served my Lord and he never did me any injury, how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” Polycarp was again asked by the Proconsul to swear by the fortune of Caesar but he refused and said: “I am a Christian and if you wish to hear an account of what I believe set up a day for such a conversation.” Proconsul said: “I have wild beasts at hand” to which Polycarp responded: “Bring them out! For I do not have a custom to repent of that which is good in order to adopt that which is evil” Then the proconsul said: “I have fire prepared for you” to which Polycarp responded: “This fire burns only for an hour but there is a fire that will burn you for eternity which is prepared for the ungodly, bring this fire of yours!” While he stood there he was filled with joy and grace, many Jews were screaming at him: “This is the father of Asia, the teacher of the Atheists, these Christians, who teaches many not to worship or sacrifice to the gods.” Jews eagerly helped the rest to gather the wood for the burning of Polycarp and set it in the middle of the stadium Polycarp was asked to take everything off including his sandals and be burned naked as a mark of shame When they were about to nail his hands so that he would not move he refused and said that the One whom he serves will give him strength to endure the pain While at the stake he begun to pray… When the fire begun to burn it surrounded Polycarp like an arch that protected him like a shield where he was free to walk about in it! When being pierced in the side out of it came a dove and a great quantity of blood so the fire was extinguished. Christians were refused to take the body of Polycarp and it was ordered by the Proconsul to burn the dead man to ashes! The epistle was ordered to be read to all the brethren and transmitted When you read this particular epistle one thing right away that you can notice is that “Polycarp when cut bleeds Holy Scripture” In this section I want to place specific verses from the epistle that I found to be of heavy importance… “…as became you, those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord…” For neither I, nor any other such one, can come up to the wisdom of the blessed and glorified Paul. He, when among you, accurately and steadfastly taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive. And when absent from you, he wrote you a letter, which, if you carefully study, you will find to be the means of building you up in that faith which has been given you, and which, being followed by hope, and preceded by love towards God, and Christ, and our neighbor, “is the mother of us all…” “In like manner, let the young men also be blameless in all things, being especially careful to preserve purity, and keeping themselves in, as with a bridle, from every kind of evil. For it is well that they should be cut off from the lusts that are in the world, since “every lust warreth against the spirit; and “neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom of God, nor those who do things inconsistent and unbecoming.” “Let us then serve Him in fear, and with all reverence, even as He Himself has commanded us, and as the apostles who preached the Gospel unto us, and the prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Lord [have alike taught us].” “Wherefore, forsaking the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning” “I exhort you all, therefore, to yield obedience to the word of righteousness, and to exercise all patience, such as ye have seen [set] before your eyes, not only in the case of the blessed Ignatius, and Zosimus, and Rufus, but also in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself, and the rest of the apostles. [This do] in the assurance that all these have not run in vain, but in faith and righteousness, and that they are [now] in their due place in the presence of the Lord, with whom also they suffered. For they loved not this present world, but Him who died for us, and for our sakes was raised again by God from the dead.” Do we not know that the saints shall judge the world?”as Paul teaches. “But I have neither seen nor heard of any such thing among you, in the midst of whom the blessed Paul laboured, and who are commended401 in the beginning of his Epistle. For he boasts of you in all those Churches which alone then knew the Lord; but we [of Smyrna] had not yet known Him. I am deeply grieved, therefore, brethren, for him (Valens) and his wife; to whom may the Lord grant true repentance! And be ye then moderate in regard to this matter, and “do not count such as enemies,”402 but call them back as suffering and straying members, that ye may save your whole body. For by so acting ye shall edify yourselves” “For I trust that ye are well versed in the Sacred Scriptures, and that nothing is hid from you; but to me this privilege is not yet granted. It is declared then in these Scriptures, “Be ye angry, and sin not,” and, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Happy is he who remembers this, which I believe to be the case with you”
Is Jesus of Nazareth the Predicted Messiah?: A Historical-Evidential Approach to Specific Old Testament Messianic Prophecies and Their New Testament Fulfillments