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Polycarp
The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
[337] The title of this Epistle in most of the mss. is, “The Epistle of St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, and holy martyr, to the Philippians.”
[338] Or, “Polycarp, and those who with him are presbyters.”
Chapter I.—Praise of the Philippians.
[339] Literally, “ye have received the patterns of true love.”
[341] Acts ii. 24. Literally, “having loosed the pains of Hades.”
Chapter II.—An exhortation to virtue.
[344] Comp.1 Pet. i. 13; Eph. vi. 14.
[347] Comp. 1 Pet. iii. 22; Phil. ii. 10.
[348] Comp. Acts xvii. 31.
[349] Or, “who do not obey him.”
[350] Comp 1 Cor. vi. 14; 2 Cor. iv. 14; Rom. viii. 11.
[353] Matt. vi. 12, 14; Luke vi. 37.
[355] Matt. vii. 2; Luke vi. 38.
[356] Matt. v. 3, 10; Luke vi. 20.
Chapter III.—Expressions of personal unworthiness.
[357] Comp. 2 Pet. iii. 15.
[358] The form is plural, but one Epistle is probably meant. [So, even in English, “letters” may be classically used for a single letter, as we say “by these presents.” But even we might speak of St. Paul as having written his Epistles to us; so the Epistles to Thessalonica and Corinth might more naturally still be referred to here].
[359] Comp. Gal. iv. 26.
Chapter IV.—Various exhortations.
[362] Comp.Eph. vi. 11.
[363] Comp. 1 Thess. v. 17.
[364] Some here read, “altars.”
Chapter V.—The duties of deacons, youths, and virgins.
[366] Some read, “God in Christ.”
[367] Comp. 1 Tim. iii. 8.
[368] Comp. Matt. xx. 28.
[369] Πολιτευσώμεθα, referring to the whole conduct; comp. Phil. i. 27.
[371] Some read, ἀνακύπτεσθαι, “to emerge from.” [So Chevallier, but not Wake nor Jacobson. See the note of latter, ad loc.]
Chapter VI.—The duties of presbyters and others.
[374] Rom. xii. 17; 2 Cor. viii. 31.
[376] Rom. xiv. 10-12; 2 Cor. v. 10.
Chapter VII.—Avoid the Docetæ, and persevere in fasting and prayer.
[378] Literally, “the martyrdom of the cross,” which some render, “His suffering on the cross.”
[379] [The original, perhaps, of Eusebius (Hist. iv. cap. 14). It became a common-place expression in the Church.]
[382] Matt. vi. 13; Matt. xxvi. 41.
[383] Matt. xxvi. 41; Mark xiv. 38.
Chapter VIII.—Persevere in hope and patience.
[386] Comp. 1 John iv. 9.
[387] Comp.Acts v. 41; 1 Pet. iv. 16.
[388] Some read, “we glorify Him.”
[389] Comp. 1 Pet. ii. 21.
Chapter IX.—Patience inculcated.
[390] Comp. Phil. ii. 16; Gal. ii. 2.
Chapter X.—Exhortation to the practice of virtue.
[391] This and the two following chapters are preserved only in a Latin version. [See Jacobson, ad loc.]
[392] Comp. 1 Pet. ii. 17.
[393] Tobit iv. 10, Tobit xii. 9.
[394] Comp. 1 Pet. v. 5.
Chapter XI.—Expression of grief on account of Valens.
[397] Some think that incontinence on the part of the Valens and his wife is referred to. [For many reasons I am glad the translators have preferred the reading πλεονεξίας. The next word, chaste, sufficiently rebukes the example of Valens. For once I venture not to coincide with Jacobson’s comment.]
[399] Some think that incontinence on the part of the Valens and his wife is referred to. [For many reasons I am glad the translators have preferred the reading πλεονεξίας. The next word, chaste, sufficiently rebukes the example of Valens. For once I venture not to coincide with Jacobson’s comment.]
[401] Some read, “named;” comp. Phil. i. 5.
[403] Comp. 1 Cor. xii. 26.
Chapter XII.—Exhortation to various graces.
[404] This passage is very obscure. Some render it as follows: “But at present it is not granted unto me to practise that which is written, Be ye angry,” etc.
[407] Some read, “believes.”
[409] Comp.1 Tim. ii. 2.
Chapter XIII.—Concerning the transmission of epistles.
[411] Comp. Ep. of Ignatius to Polycarp, chap. viii.
[412] Or, “letters.”
[413] Reference is here made to the two letters of Ignatius, one to Polycarp himself, and the other to the church at Smyrna.
[414] Henceforth, to the end, we have only the Latin version.
[415] The Latin version reads “are,” which has been corrected as above.
[416] Polycarp was aware of the death of Ignatius (chap. ix.), but was as yet apparently ignorant of the circumstances attending it. [Who can fail to be touched by these affectionate yet entirely calm expressions as to his martyred friend and brother? Martyrdom was the habitual end of Christ’s soldiers, and Polycarp expected his own; hence his restrained and temperate words of interest.]
[417] Some read, “in this present Epistle.”
[418] Others read, “and in favour with all yours.”
Introductory Note to the Epistle Concerning the Martyrdom of Polycarp
[419] See an ingenious conjecture in Bishop Wordsworth’s Hippolytus and the Church of Rome, p. 318, C.
The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp
[420] Some read, “Philadelphia,” but on inferior authority. Philomelium was a city of Phrygia.
[421] The word in the original is ποροικίαις, from which the English “parishes” is derived.
Chapter II.—The wonderful constancy of the martyrs.
[422] Literally, “who are more pious.”
[423] The account now returns to the illustration of the statement made in the first sentence.
Chapter III.—The constancy of Germanicus. The death of Polycarp is demanded.
[425] Or, “illustriously.”
[426] Or, “said to him.”
[427] Literally, “the nobleness of the God-loving and God-fearing race of Christians.”
Chapter IV.—Quintus the apostate.
[428] Comp. Matt. x. 23.
Chapter VI.—Polycarp is betrayed by a servant.
[429] It was the duty of the Irenarch to apprehend all seditious troublers of the public peace.
[430] Some think that those magistrates bore this name that were elected by lot.
Chapter VII.—Polycarp is found by his pursuers.
[431] That is, on Friday.
[432] Comp.Matt. xxvi. 55.
[433] Or, “in.”
[434] Some read “the Lord”
[435] Comp. Matt. vi. 10;Acts xxi. 14.
[436] Or, “diligence.”
[437] Jacobson reads, “and [marvelling] that they had used so great diligence to capture,” etc.
[438] Or, “be silent.”
Chapter VIII.—Polycarp is brought into the city.
[439] Jacobson deems these words an interpolation.
[440] Or, “Cæsar is Lord,” all the mss. having κύριος instead of κύριε, as usually printed.
[441] Or, “terrible.”
[442] Or, “cast him down” simply, the following words being, as above, an interpolation.
[443] Or, “sprained his ankle.”
[444] Or, “not turning back.”
Chapter IX.—Polycarp refuses to revile Christ.
[445] Referring the words to the heathen, and not to the Christians, as was desired.
Chapter X.—Polycarp confesses himself a Christian.
[446] Or, “an account of Christianity.”
[447] Comp. Rom. xiii. 1-7; Tit. iii. 1.
[448] Or, “of my making any defence to them.”
Chapter XI.—No threats have any effect on Polycarp.
[449] Literally, “repentance from things better to things worse is a change impossible to us.”
[450] That is, to leave this world for a better.
Chapter XII.—Polycarp is sentenced to be burned.
[451] Some read, “ungodliness,” but the above seems preferable.
[452] The Asiarchs were those who superintended all arrangements connected with the games in the several provinces.
[453] Literally, “the baiting of dogs.”
Chapter XIII.—The funeral pile is erected.
[454] Literally, “good behaviour.”
[455] Some think this implies that Polycarp’s skin was believed to possess a miraculous efficacy.
Chapter XIV.—The prayer of Polycarp.
[456] Comp. Matt. xx. 22,Matt. xxvi. 39; Mark x. 38.
[457] Literally, “in a fat,” etc., [or, “in a rich”].
[458] Literally, “the not false and true God.”
[459] Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., iv. 15) has preserved a great portion of this Martyrium, but in a text considerably differing from that we have followed. Here, instead of “and,” he has “in the Holy Ghost.”
Chapter XV.—Polycarp is not injured by the fire.
[460] Literally, “a great flame shining forth.”
[461] Literally, “breathing.”
Chapter XVI.—Polycarp is pierced by a dagger.
[462] Eusebius omits all mention of the dove, and many have thought the text to be here corrupt. It has been proposed to read ἐπ’ ἀριστερᾷ, “on the left hand side,” instead of περιστερά, “a dove.”
Chapter XVII.—The Christians are refused Polycarp’s body.
[463] Literally, “greatness.”
[464] The Greek, literally translated, is, “and to have fellowship with his holy flesh.”
[465] This clause is omitted by Eusebius: it was probably interpolated by some transcriber, who had in his mind 1 Pet. iii. 18.
[466] Literally, “unsurpassable.”
[467] Literally, “fellow-partakers.”
Chapter XVIII.—The body of Polycarp is burned.
[468] Or, “him.”
[469] Or, “more tried.”
[470] Literally, “the birth-day.”
[471] Literally, “been athletes.”
Chapter XIX.—Praise of the martyr Polycarp.
[472] Literally, “is alone remembered.”
[473] Several additions are here made. One ms. has, “and the all-holy and life-giving Spirit;” while the old Latin version reads, “and the Holy Spirit, by whom we know all things.”
Chapter XX.—This epistle is to be transmitted to the brethren.
[474] Literally, “having learned these things.”
[475] Literally, “gift.”
Chapter XXI.—The date of the martyrdom.
[476] The translation is here very doubtful. Wake renders the words μηνὸς ἱσταμένου, “of the present month.”
[477] Great obscurity hangs over the chronology here indicated. According to Usher, the Smyrnæans began the month Xanthicus on the 25th of March. But the seventh day before the Kalends of May is the 25th of April. Some, therefore, read ᾽Απριλλίων instead of Μαίων. The great Sabbath is that before the passover. The “eighth hour” may correspond either to our 8 or 2 p.m.
[478] Called before (chap. xii.) Asiarch.
[479] Literally, “according as.”
[480] What follows is, of course, no part of the original Epistle.
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