# To Polycarp 1.2

- Author: [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/ignatius-of-antioch/)
- Work: [To Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/) (*Ad Polycarpum*)
- Date: ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:268; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 172–277 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Also in: PG 5:720a–720b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/1/2/

Summary: Ignatius urges Polycarp to care for his whole church, keep it united, and bear with everyone in love.

## Greek text

παρακαλῶ σε ἐν χάριτι ᾗ ἐνδέδυσαι, προσθεῖναι τῷ δρόμῳ σου καὶ πάντας παρακαλεῖν, ἵνα σώζωνται. ἐκδίκει σου τὸν τόπον ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιμελείᾳ σαρκικῇ τε καὶ πνευματικῇ. τῆς ἑνώσεως φρόντιζε, ἧς οὐδὲν ἄμεινον, πάντας βάσταζε, ὡς καὶ σὲ ὁ κύριος· πάντων ἀνέχου ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ὥσπερ καὶ ποιεῖς.

## English translation (Claude)

I urge you, by the grace with which you are clothed, to press on in your course and to urge all people to be saved. Do justice to your office with all diligence, both of the flesh and of the spirit. Take thought for unity, than which nothing is better. Bear all people, as the Lord also bears you; put up with all in love, as indeed you do.

## Scripture references

- Eph 4:2: allusion, medium confidence
- Gal 6:2: echo, low confidence

## Translation notes

- “Do justice to your office” (ἐκδίκει σου τὸν τόπον): literally “vindicate your place”; that is, fill your position as bishop worthily.

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Pol. 1.2 (PG 5:720a–720b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/1/2/).