# To Polycarp 2.1

- 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)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/2/1/

Summary: A bishop must win over difficult people with gentleness, treating each according to need.

## Greek text

Καλοὺς μαθητὰς ἐὰν φιλῇς, χάρις σοι οὐκ ἔστιν· μᾶλλον τοὺς λοιμοτέρους ἐν πραότητι ὑπότασσε. οὐ πᾶν τραῦμα τῇ αὐτῇ ἐμπλάστρῳ θεραπεύεται. τοὺς παροξυσμοὺς ἐμβροχαῖς παῦε.

## English translation (Claude)

If you love good disciples, it is no credit to you; rather, bring the more troublesome into submission by gentleness. Not every wound is healed by the same plaster. Relieve fits of fever with cold compresses.

## Scripture references

- Luke 6:32: allusion, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- “More troublesome” (λοιμοτέρους): literally “more pestilent.”
- Ignatius uses medical images for pastoral care: plasters for wounds, cold compresses for fevers.
- “Cold compresses” (ἐμβροχαῖς): wet dressings or fomentations; older translations render it more loosely (“gentle applications”).

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Pol. 2.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/2/1/).