# To Polycarp 7.2

- 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 24:274; 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 5:725a–725b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/7/2/

Summary: Ignatius asks Polycarp to call a council and choose a messenger to go to Antioch.

## Greek text

πρέπει, Πολύκαρπε θεομακαριστότατε, συμβούλιον ἀγαγεῖν θεοπρεπέστατον καὶ χειροτονῆσαί τινα, ὃν ἀγαπητὸν λίαν ἔχετε καὶ ἄοκνον, ὃς δυνήσεται θεοδρόμος καλεῖσθαι· τοῦτον καταξιῶσαι, ἵνα πορευθεὶς εἰς Συρίαν δοξάσῃ ὑμῶν τὴν ἄοκνον ἀγάπην εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ·

## English translation (Claude)

It is fitting, most blessed Polycarp, to call together a most godly council and to appoint someone whom you regard as especially dear and tireless, who can be called God's courier; to count him worthy to go to Syria and glorify your tireless love, to the glory of God.

## Translation notes

- “Appoint” (χειροτονῆσαι): literally “elect by raising hands.”
- “God's courier” (θεοδρόμος): a word apparently coined by Ignatius, “God's runner.”

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Pol. 7.2 (PG 5:725a–725b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/7/2/).