# Martyrdom of Polycarp 18.2

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Martyrdom of Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/) (*Martyrium Polycarpi*)
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:336; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 2, LCL 25 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1913), 312–345 (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/mart-pol/18/2/

Summary: The Christians gathered Polycarp's bones and laid them to rest.

## Greek text

οὕτως τε ἡμεῖς ὕστερον ἀνελόμενοι τὰ τιμιώτερα λίθων πολυτελῶν καὶ δοκιμώτερα ὑπὲρ χρυσίον ὀστᾶ αὐτοῦ ἀπεθέμεθα, ὅπου καὶ ἀκόλουθον ἦν.

## English translation (Claude)

And so we afterward took up his bones, more precious than costly stones and more refined than gold, and laid them where it was fitting.

## Scripture references

- 1 Pet 1:7: echo, low confidence

## Translation notes

- This is among the earliest witnesses to Christian care for the remains of martyrs.

## Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 18.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/18/2/).