# Martyrdom of Polycarp

- Author: Anonymous
- Latin title: *Martyrium Polycarpi*
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: 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, from the original text; each passage below gives the model and date
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/
- Passages: 54

## Martyrdom of Polycarp, inscription

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/0/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:312
- Also in: PG 5:1029a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The church at Smyrna greets the church at Philomelium and all churches everywhere.

### Greek text

Ἡ ἐκκλησία τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ παροικοῦσα Σμύρναν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ παροικούσῃ ἐν Φιλομηλίῳ καὶ πάσαις ταῖς κατὰ πάντα τόπον τῆς ἁγίας καὶ καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας παροικίαις· ἔλεος, εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πληθυνθείη.

### English translation (Claude)

The church of God that sojourns at Smyrna, to the church of God that sojourns in Philomelium and to all the congregations of the holy and catholic church sojourning in every place: may mercy, peace, and love from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied.

### Scripture references

- Jude 1:2: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Pet 1:2: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Sojourns” (παροικοῦσα): the church lives in the city as a resident alien lives in a foreign land; “congregations” (παροικίαις) is the noun from the same root, literally “sojournings” (the source of English “parish”).
- “Catholic” (καθολικῆς): “universal, whole.” With Ign. Smyrn. 8.2 this is among the earliest uses of the word for the church.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 0 (PG 5:1029a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/0/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 1.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/1/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:312
- Also in: PG 5:1029a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The church writes about the martyrs and especially Polycarp, whose death ended the persecution and showed what a gospel martyrdom looks like.

### Greek text

Ἐγράψαμεν ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὰ κατὰ τοὺς μαρτυρήσαντας καὶ τὸν μακάριον Πολύκαρπον, ὅστις ὥσπερ ἐπισφραγίσας διὰ τῆς μαρτυρίας αὐτοῦ κατέπαυσεν τὸν διωγμόν. σχεδὸν γὰρ πάντα τὰ προάγοντα ἐγένετο, ἵνα ἡμῖν ὁ κύριος ἄνωθεν ἐπιδείξῃ τὸ κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον μαρτύριον.

### English translation (Claude)

We are writing to you, brothers, about those who were martyred and about the blessed Polycarp, who put an end to the persecution, setting a seal on it, as it were, by his martyrdom. For nearly everything that led up to it happened so that the Lord might show us from above a martyrdom in accordance with the gospel.

### Translation notes

- “We are writing” (ἐγράψαμεν): Greek letters often use the past tense from the reader's point of view (“we have written”).
- “From above” (ἄνωθεν) can also mean “once again”: the Lord showed “once again” a martyrdom like the one in the Gospels.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 1.1 (PG 5:1029a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/1/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 1.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/1/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:312–314
- Also in: PG 5:1029b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Like Jesus, Polycarp waited to be handed over, setting an example of love that seeks others' salvation, not only one's own.

### Greek text

περιέμενεν γάρ, ἵνα παραδοθῇ, ὡς καὶ ὁ κύριος, ἵνα μιμηταὶ καὶ ἡμεῖς αὐτοῦ γενώμεθα, μὴ μόνον σκοποῦντες τὸ καθʼ ἑαυτούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ κατὰ τοὺς πέλας. ἀγάπης γὰρ ἀληθοῦς καὶ βεβαίας ἐστίν, μὴ μόνον ἑαυτὸν θέλειν σώζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφούς.

### English translation (Claude)

For he waited to be handed over, just as the Lord did, so that we too might become imitators of him, “looking not only to what concerns ourselves, but also to what concerns our neighbors.” For it belongs to true and steadfast love to want not only oneself to be saved, but all the brothers as well.

### Scripture references

- Phil 2:4: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Cor 11:1: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Handed over” (παραδοθῇ): the verb the Gospels use of Jesus being betrayed and delivered up; the letter draws many such parallels with the Passion.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 1.2 (PG 5:1029b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/1/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 2.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:314
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: True martyrdoms happen according to God's will, since God rules over all.

### Greek text

Μακάρια μὲν οὖν καὶ γενναῖα τὰ μαρτύρια πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ γεγονότα. δεῖ γὰρ εὐλαβεστέρους ἡμᾶς ὑπάρχοντας τῷ θεῷ τὴν κατὰ πάντων ἐξουσίαν ἀνατιθέναι.

### English translation (Claude)

Blessed and noble, then, are all the martyrdoms that have taken place in accordance with the will of God. For we must be very reverent and ascribe to God the authority over all things.

### Translation notes

- “Very reverent” (εὐλαβεστέρους) is a comparative in Greek; some translate “we who are more reverent” (than others).

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 2.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 2.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:314
- Also in: PG 5:1029b–1032a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The martyrs endured horrible torture without complaint, because the Lord was present with them.

### Greek text

τὸ γὰρ γενναῖον αὐτῶν καὶ ὑπομονητικὸν καὶ φιλοδέσποτον τίς οὐκ ἂν θαυμάσειεν; οἳ μάστιξιν μὲν καταξανθέντες, ὥστε μέχρι τῶν ἔσω φλεβῶν καὶ ἀρτηριῶν τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς οἰκονομίαν θεωρεῖσθαι, ὑπέμειναν, ὡς καὶ τοὺς περιεστῶτας ἐλεεῖν καὶ ὀδύρεσθαι· τοὺς δὲ καὶ εἰς τοσοῦτον γενναιότητος ἐλθεῖν, ὥστε μήτε γρύξαι μήτε στενάξαι τινὰ αὐτῶν, ἐπιδεικνυμένους ἅπασιν ἡμῖν, ὅτι ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ βασανιζόμενοι τῆς σαρκὸς ἀπεδήμουν οἱ γενναιότατοι μάρτυρες τοῦ Χριστοῦ, μᾶλλον δέ, ὅτι παρεστὼς ὁ κύριος ὡμίλει αὐτοῖς.

### English translation (Claude)

For who would not marvel at their nobility, their endurance, and their love for their Master? Some were so torn by whips that the structure of their flesh could be seen down to the veins and arteries within, and yet they endured, so that even the bystanders pitied them and wept. Others reached such a height of nobility that not one of them uttered a murmur or a groan, showing all of us that in that hour, while they were tortured, the most noble martyrs of Christ were absent from the flesh, or rather, that the Lord stood by them and spoke with them.

### Scripture references

- 2 Cor 5:8: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Love for their Master” (φιλοδέσποτον): δεσπότης is the master of a household; here Christ.
- “Were absent from the flesh” (τῆς σαρκὸς ἀπεδήμουν): literally “were away from home, out of the flesh.”

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 2.2 (PG 5:1029b–1032a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 2.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:314–316
- Also in: PG 5:1032a–1032b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Looking to eternal life and the good things God has prepared, the martyrs counted their tortures as nothing.

### Greek text

καὶ προσέχοντες τῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ χάριτι τῶν κοσμικῶν κατεφρόνουν βασάνων, διὰ μιᾶς ὥρας τὴν αἰώνιον ζωὴν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι. καὶ τὸ πῦρ ἦν αὐτοῖς ψυχρὸν τὸ τῶν ἀπηνῶν βασανιστῶν. πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν γὰρ εἶχον φυγεῖν τὸ αἰώνιον καὶ μηδέποτε σβεννύμενον, καὶ τοῖς τῆς καρδίας ὀφθαλμοῖς ἀνέβλεπον τὰ τηρούμενα τοῖς ὑπομείνασιν ἀγαθά, ἃ οὔτε οὖς ἤκουσεν οὔτε ὀφθαλμὸς εἶδεν οὔτε ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ἀνέβη, ἐκείνοις δὲ ὑπεδείκνυτο ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου, οἵπερ μηκέτι ἄνθρωποι, ἀλλʼ ἤδη ἄγγελοι ἦσαν.

### English translation (Claude)

And giving heed to the grace of Christ, they despised the tortures of the world, purchasing eternal life at the cost of a single hour. The fire of their savage torturers was cold to them, for they kept before their eyes escape from the fire that is eternal and never quenched; and with the eyes of the heart they looked up to the good things kept for those who endure, “which neither ear has heard nor eye has seen, nor has it entered into the human heart,” but which were shown by the Lord to them, since they were no longer human beings but already angels.

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 2:9: quotation, high confidence
- Isa 64:4: allusion, medium confidence
- Mark 9:43: echo, low confidence
- Eph 1:18: echo, medium confidence
- Matt 22:30: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The quotation puts “ear” before “eye,” unlike 1 Cor 2:9; the same order occurs in 1 Clem. 34.8.
- “No longer human beings but already angels”: compare Jesus's saying that the resurrected are “like angels” (Matt 22:30).
- “Eternal life”: the text followed here (Lake). Other manuscripts read “eternal punishment” (“buying themselves off from eternal punishment”), which older translations such as the Ante-Nicene Fathers (1885) follow.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 2.3 (PG 5:1032a–1032b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 2.4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/4/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:316
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Those sentenced to the beasts were tortured further to make them deny the faith, for the devil was at work against them.

### Greek text

ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ οἱ εἰς τὰ θηρία κατακριθέντες ὑπέμειναν δεινὰς κολάσεις, κήρυκας ὑποστρωννύμενοι καὶ ἄλλαις ποικίλων βασάνων ἰδέαις κολαζόμενοι, ἵνα, εἰ δυνηθείη, ὁ τύραννος διὰ τῆς ἐπιμόνου κολάσεως εἰς ἄρνησιν αὐτοὺς τρέψῃ. πολλὰ γὰρ ἐμηχανᾶτο κατʼ αὐτῶν ὁ διάβολος.

### English translation (Claude)

Likewise those condemned to the wild beasts endured terrible punishments: they were stretched out on sharp shells and tormented with various other kinds of torture, so that, if he could, the tyrant might turn them to denial through the unrelenting punishment. For the devil devised many things against them.

### Translation notes

- “Sharp shells” (κήρυκας): trumpet shells (whelks), whose points made them an instrument of torture.
- “The tyrant” is probably the devil, named in the next sentence, though the Roman governor may also be in view.
- Older translations (e.g. the Ante-Nicene Fathers, 1885) have “beds full of spikes,” following a different reading.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 2.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/4/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 3.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/3/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:316
- Also in: PG 5:1032c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Germanicus encouraged the others by his courage and chose death rather than accept the proconsul's pity.

### Greek text

Ἀλλὰ χάρις τῷ θεῷ· κατὰ πάντων γὰρ οὐκ ἴσχυσεν. ὁ γὰρ γενναιότατος Γερμανικὸς ἐπερρώννυεν αὐτῶν τὴν δειλίαν διὰ τῆς ἐν αὐτῷ ὑπομονῆς· ὃς καὶ ἐπισήμως ἐθηριομάχησεν. βουλομένου γὰρ τοῦ ἀνθυπάτου πείθειν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγοντος, τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ κατοικτεῖραι, ἑαυτῷ ἐπεσπάσατο τὸ θηρίον προσβιασάμενος, τάχιον τοῦ ἀδίκου καὶ ἀνόμου βίου αὐτῶν ἀπαλλαγῆναι βουλόμενος.

### English translation (Claude)

But thanks be to God, for he did not prevail against them all. For the most noble Germanicus strengthened their fearfulness by his own endurance, and he fought the wild beasts with distinction. When the proconsul wanted to persuade him, telling him to have pity on his youth, he forcibly dragged the beast onto himself, wanting to be released the more quickly from their unjust and lawless life.

### Translation notes

- “Strengthened their fearfulness” (ἐπερρώννυεν αὐτῶν τὴν δειλίαν): literally “their cowardice”; he gave strength to those who were afraid.
- “His youth” (τὴν ἡλικίαν): the word means “time of life”; here probably youth. The same word is used of Polycarp's old age in 9.2.
- “Their unjust and lawless life”: the life of the pagans around them.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 3.1 (PG 5:1032c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/3/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 3.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/3/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:316
- Also in: PG 5:1032c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Stirred by the martyrs' courage, the crowd demanded Polycarp.

### Greek text

ἐκ τούτου οὖν πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος, θαυμάσαν τὴν γενναιότητα τοῦ θεοφιλοῦς καὶ θεοσεβοῦς γένους τῶν Χριστιανῶν, ἐπεβόησεν· Αἶρε τοὺς ἀθέους· ζητείσθω Πολύκαρπος.

### English translation (Claude)

At this the whole crowd, amazed at the nobility of the God-loving and God-fearing race of the Christians, shouted out, “Away with the atheists! Let Polycarp be searched out!”

### Translation notes

- “Atheists” (ἀθέους): Christians refused to worship the gods, so their neighbors called them “godless.”
- “Race” (γένους): the Christians as a distinct people.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 3.2 (PG 5:1032c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/3/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 4.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/4/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:316–318
- Also in: PG 5:1032d (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Quintus, who had volunteered for martyrdom, gave way; so the church does not approve of handing oneself over.

### Greek text

Εἷς δέ, ὀνόματι Κόϊντος, Φρύξ προσφάτως ἐληλυθὼς ἀπὸ τῆς Φρυγίας, ἰδὼν τὰ θηρία ἐδειλίασεν. οὗτος δὲ ἦν ὁ παραβιασάμενος ἑαυτόν τε καί τινας προσελθεῖν ἑκόντας. τοῦτον ὁ ἀνθύπατος πολλὰ ἐκλιπαρήσας ἔπεισεν ὀμόσαι καὶ ἐπιθῦσαι. διὰ τοῦτο οὖν, ἀδελφοί, οὐκ ἐπαινοῦμεν τοὺς προδιδόντας ἑαυτούς, ἐπειδὴ οὐχ οὕτως διδάσκει τὸ εὐαγγέλιον.

### English translation (Claude)

But one man, named Quintus, a Phrygian who had recently come from Phrygia, turned coward when he saw the wild beasts. He was the one who had pushed himself and some others to come forward of their own accord. The proconsul, by much pleading, persuaded him to swear the oath and offer sacrifice. For this reason, therefore, brothers, we do not praise those who hand themselves over, since the gospel does not teach this.

### Scripture references

- Matt 10:23: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Phrygia was later the home of the Montanist movement, known for zeal for martyrdom; some see a warning against it here, but the link is uncertain.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 4.1 (PG 5:1032d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/4/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 5.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/5/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:318
- Also in: PG 5:1033a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp was persuaded to leave the city and spent his time in prayer for all the churches.

### Greek text

Ὁ δὲ θαυμασιώτατος Πολύκαρπος τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἀκούσας οὐκ ἐταράχθη, ἀλλʼ ἐβούλετο κατὰ πόλιν μένειν· οἱ δὲ πλείους ἔπειθον αὐτὸν ὑπεξελθεῖν. καὶ ὑπεξῆλθεν εἰς ἀγρίδιον οὐ μακρὰν ἀπέχον ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως καὶ διέτριβεν μετʼ ὀλίγων, νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν οὐδὲν ἕτερον ποιῶν ἢ προσευχόμενος περὶ πάντων καὶ τῶν κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐκκλησιῶν, ὅπερ ἦν σύνηθες αὐτῷ.

### English translation (Claude)

Now the most wonderful Polycarp, when he first heard, was not disturbed, but wanted to remain in the city; but the majority persuaded him to withdraw. And he withdrew to a small farm not far from the city and stayed there with a few others, doing nothing else night and day but pray for everyone and for the churches throughout the world, as was his custom.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 5.1 (PG 5:1033a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/5/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 5.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/5/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:318
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: In a vision Polycarp saw his pillow on fire and knew he would be burned alive.

### Greek text

καὶ προσευχόμενος ἐν ὀπτασίᾳ γέγονεν πρὸ τριῶν ἡμερῶν τοῦ συλληφθῆναι αὐτόν, καὶ εἶδεν τὸ προσκεφάλαιον αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ πυρὸς κατακαιόμενον· καὶ στραφεὶς εἶπεν πρὸς τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ· Δεῖ με ζῶντα καῆναι.

### English translation (Claude)

And while he was praying he had a vision, three days before he was arrested, and he saw his pillow being burned up by fire. And he turned and said to those who were with him, “I must be burned alive.”

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 5.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/5/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 6.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/6/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:318
- Also in: PG 5:1033a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp moved again, but his pursuers tortured a young slave into revealing where he was.

### Greek text

Καὶ ἐπιμενόντων τῶν ζητούντων αὐτὸν μετέβη εἰς ἕτερον ἀγρίδιον, καὶ εὐθέως ἐπέστησαν οἱ ζητοῦντες αὐτόν· καὶ μὴ εὑρόντες συνελάβοντο παιδάρια δύο, ὧν τὸ ἕτερον βασανιζόμενον ὡμολόγησεν.

### English translation (Claude)

And since those who were searching for him kept on, he moved to another farm, and at once those searching for him arrived. When they did not find him, they seized two young slaves, one of whom confessed under torture.

### Translation notes

- “Young slaves” (παιδάρια): “boys,” often in the sense of young household servants.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 6.1 (PG 5:1033a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/6/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 6.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/6/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:318–320
- Also in: PG 5:1033a–1033b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Betrayed by his own household, Polycarp was sought by an official named Herod, in a story that echoes Christ's Passion.

### Greek text

ἦν γὰρ καὶ ἀδύνατον λαθεῖν αὐτόν, ἐπεὶ καὶ οἱ προδιδόντες αὐτὸν οἰκεῖοι ὑπῆρχον, καὶ ὁ εἰρήναρχος, ὁ κεκληρωμένος τὸ αὐτὸ ὄνομα, Ἡρώδης ἐπιλεγόμενος, ἔσπευδεν εἰς τὸ στάδιον αὐτὸν εἰσαγαγεῖν, ἵνα ἐκεῖνος μὲν τὸν ἴδιον κλῆρον ἀπαρτίσῃ Χριστοῦ κοινωνὸς γενόμενος, οἱ δὲ προδόντες αὐτὸν τὴν αὐτοῦ τοῦ Ἰούδα ὑπόσχοιεν τιμωρίαν.

### English translation (Claude)

For it was impossible for him to remain hidden, since those who betrayed him were members of his own household. And the police captain, who had been allotted the very same name, being called Herod, was in a hurry to bring him into the stadium, so that Polycarp might fulfill his own appointed lot by becoming a sharer with Christ, while those who betrayed him might undergo the punishment of Judas himself.

### Scripture references

- Matt 10:36: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- “Police captain” (εἰρήναρχος): a city official responsible for public order, literally “ruler of the peace.”
- “The very same name”: the same as King Herod in the Gospel account of Jesus's death.
- “Who had been allotted the very same name” (ὁ κεκληρωμένος τὸ αὐτὸ ὄνομα): some older translations take this as a job title (“whose office is that of the Cleronomus”), but the Greek means that he happened to bear the same name as Herod.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 6.2 (PG 5:1033a–1033b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/6/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 7.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/7/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:320
- Also in: PG 5:1033b–1033c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Police came for Polycarp at night; he could have fled but accepted God's will.

### Greek text

Ἔχοντες οὖν τὸ παιδάριον, τῇ παρασκευῇ περὶ δείπνου ὥραν ἐξῆλθον διωγμῖται καὶ ἱππεῖς μετὰ τῶν συνήθων αὐτοῖς ὅπλων ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν τρέχοντες. καὶ ὀψὲ τῆς ὥρας συνεπελθόντες ἐκεῖνον μὲν εὗρον ἐν ὑπερῴῳ κατακείμενον· κἀκεῖθεν δὲ ἠδύνατο εἰς ἕτερον χωρίον ἀπελθεῖν, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἠβουλήθη εἰπών· Τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ γενέσθω.

### English translation (Claude)

So, taking the young slave with them, on the day of Preparation, at about the dinner hour, police and horsemen went out with their usual weapons, as though running out against a bandit. And coming upon him late in the evening, they found him lying down in an upstairs room. Even from there he could have gone away to another place, but he would not, saying, “The will of God be done.”

### Scripture references

- Matt 26:55: allusion, high confidence
- Acts 21:14: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 6:10: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- “The day of Preparation” (παρασκευή): Friday, the day before the Sabbath. The details here (Friday, “as against a bandit,” the upstairs room) echo the Gospel Passion narratives.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 7.1 (PG 5:1033b–1033c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/7/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 7.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/7/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:320
- Also in: PG 5:1033c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp welcomed his captors with a meal and asked for an hour to pray.

### Greek text

ἀκούσας οὖν παρόντας αὐτούς, καταβὰς διελέχθη αὐτοῖς, θαυμαζόντων τῶν παρόντων τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ εὐσταθές, καὶ εἰ τοσαύτη σπουδὴ ἦν τοῦ συλληφθῆναι τοιοῦτον πρεσβύτην ἄνδρα. εὐθέως οὖν αὐτοῖς ἐκέλευσεν παρατεθῆναι φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ, ὅσον ἂν βούλωνται, ἐξῃτήσατο δὲ αὐτούς, ἵνα δῶσιν αὐτῷ ὥραν πρὸς τὸ προσεύξασθαι ἀδεῶς.

### English translation (Claude)

Hearing that they had arrived, he went down and talked with them, while those present marveled at his age and his calm, and that there should be such eagerness to arrest so old a man. So he at once ordered that food and drink be set before them at that hour, as much as they wanted, and he asked them to give him an hour to pray undisturbed.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 7.2 (PG 5:1033c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/7/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 7.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/7/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:320–322
- Also in: PG 5:1033c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp prayed aloud for two hours, and many of his captors regretted coming for him.

### Greek text

τῶν δὲ ἐπιτρεψάντων, σταθεὶς προσηύξατο πλήρης ὢν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ οὕτως ὥστε ἐπὶ δύο ὥρας μὴ δύνασθαι σιγῆσαι καὶ ἐκπλήττεσθαι τοὺς ἀκούοντας, πολλούς τε μετανοεῖν ἐπὶ τῷ ἐληλυθέναι ἐπὶ τοιοῦτον θεοπρεπῆ πρεσβύτην.

### English translation (Claude)

When they allowed it, he stood and prayed, so full of the grace of God that for two hours he could not be silent, and those who heard were astonished, and many regretted that they had come after so godly an old man.

### Translation notes

- “Regretted” (μετανοεῖν): the usual word for “repent”; here it probably means that they were sorry they had come.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 7.3 (PG 5:1033c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/7/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 8.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/8/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:322
- Also in: PG 5:1036a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: After praying for all, Polycarp was taken into the city on a donkey on a “great Sabbath.”

### Greek text

Ἐπεὶ δέ ποτε κατέπαυσεν τὴν προσευχήν, μνημονεύσας ἁπάντων καὶ τῶν πώποτε συμβεβληκότων αὐτῷ, μικρῶν τε καὶ μεγάλων, ἐνδόξων τε καὶ ἀδόξων καὶ πάσης τῆς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας, τῆς ὥρας ἐλθούσης τοῦ ἐξιέναι, ὄνῳ καθίσαντες αὐτὸν ἤγαγον εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ὄντος σαββάτου μεγάλου.

### English translation (Claude)

When at last he had finished his prayer, having remembered all who had ever met him, small and great, well known and unknown, and the whole catholic church throughout the world, and the hour for departure had come, they set him on a donkey and led him into the city. It was a great Sabbath.

### Scripture references

- John 19:31: echo, medium confidence
- Matt 21:7: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “A great Sabbath”: probably a Sabbath that coincided with a festival (compare John 19:31); which festival is meant is disputed.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 8.1 (PG 5:1036a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/8/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 8.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/8/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:322
- Also in: PG 5:1036a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Officials urged Polycarp to call Caesar “Lord” and sacrifice to save himself; he refused.

### Greek text

καὶ ὑπήντα αὐτῷ ὁ εἰρήναρχος Ἡρώδης καὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ Νικήτης, οἳ καὶ μεταθέντες αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν καροῦχαν ἔπειθον παρακαθεζόμενοι καὶ λέγοντες· Τί γὰρ κακόν ἐστιν εἰπεῖν· Κύριος Καῖσαρ, καὶ ἐπιθῦσαι καὶ τὰ τούτοις ἀκόλουθα καὶ διασώζεσθαι; ὁ δὲ τὰ μὲν πρῶτα οὐκ ἀπεκρίνατο αὐτοῖς, ἐπιμενόντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἔφη· Οὐ μέλλω ποιεῖν, ὃ συμβουλεύετέ μοι.

### English translation (Claude)

And the police captain Herod and his father Nicetes met him, moved him into their carriage, and sitting beside him tried to persuade him, saying, “What harm is there in saying ‘Lord Caesar,’ and offering sacrifice, and doing the other things that go with it, and so saving yourself?” At first he did not answer them, but when they kept on, he said, “I am not going to do what you advise me.”

### Translation notes

- “Lord Caesar” (Κύριος Καῖσαρ) can also be read as a statement, “Caesar is Lord.” Either way, Christians reserved the title “Lord” for Christ.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 8.2 (PG 5:1036a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/8/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 8.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/8/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:322
- Also in: PG 5:1036a–1036b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Thrown from the carriage and injured, Polycarp walked calmly into the noisy stadium.

### Greek text

οἱ δὲ ἀποτυχόντες τοῦ πεῖσαι αὐτὸν δεινὰ ῥήματα ἔλεγον αὐτῷ καὶ μετὰ σπουδῆς καθῄρουν αὐτόν, ὡς κατιόντα ἀπὸ τῆς καρούχας ἀποσῦραι τὸ ἀντικνήμιον. καὶ μὴ ἐπιστραφείς, ὡς οὐδὲν πεπονθὼς προθύμως μετὰ σπουδῆς ἐπορεύετο, ἀγόμενος εἰς τὸ στάδιον, θορύβου τηλικούτου ὄντος ἐν τῷ σταδίῳ, ὡς μηδὲ ἀκουσθῆναί τινα δύνασθαι.

### English translation (Claude)

When they failed to persuade him, they said terrible things to him and pulled him down in such haste that, as he was getting down from the carriage, he scraped his shin. Without turning back, as though nothing had happened to him, he walked on eagerly and quickly as he was led into the stadium, where there was such an uproar that no one could even be heard.

### Translation notes

- “Scraped his shin” (ἀποσῦραι τὸ ἀντικνήμιον): literally “tore the skin off his shin.” Some older translations say “dislocated his leg.”

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 8.3 (PG 5:1036a–1036b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/8/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 9.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/9/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:322–324
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: As Polycarp entered the stadium, a voice from heaven told him to be strong.

### Greek text

Τῷ δὲ Πολυκάρπῳ εἰσιόντι εἰς τὸ στάδιον φωνὴ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἐγένετο· Ἴσχυε, Πολύκαρπε, καὶ ἀνδρίζου. καὶ τὸν μὲν εἰπόντα οὐδεὶς εἶδεν, τὴν δὲ φωνὴν τῶν ἡμετέρων οἱ παρόντες ἤκουσαν. καὶ λοιπὸν προσαχθέντος αὐτοῦ, θόρυβος ἦν μέγας ἀκουσάντων, ὅτι Πολύκαρπος συνείληπται.

### English translation (Claude)

As Polycarp was entering the stadium, a voice came from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp, and act like a man.” No one saw the speaker, but those of our people who were present heard the voice. And then, as he was brought forward, there was a great uproar among those who heard that Polycarp had been arrested.

### Scripture references

- Josh 1:6: allusion, high confidence
- Deut 31:6: echo, low confidence
- John 12:28: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Be strong … and act like a man” (ἴσχυε … καὶ ἀνδρίζου): the words of encouragement given to Joshua (Josh 1:6–9; compare Deut 31:6).

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 9.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/9/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 9.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/9/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:324
- Also in: PG 5:1036c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Told to say “Away with the atheists,” Polycarp said it, but of the pagan crowd.

### Greek text

προσαχθέντα οὖν αὐτὸν ἀνηρώτα ὁ ἀνθύπατος, εἰ αὐτὸς εἴη Πολύκαρπος. τοῦ δὲ ὁμολογοῦντος, ἔπειθεν ἀρνεῖσθαι λέγων· Αἰδέσθητί σου τὴν ἡλικίαν, καὶ ἕτερα τούτοις ἀκόλουθα, ὡς ἔθος αὐτοῖς λέγειν· Ὄμοσον τὴν Καίσαρος τύχην, μετανόησον, εἶπον· Αἶρε τοὺς ἀθέους. ὁ δὲ Πολύκαρπος ἐμβριθεῖ τῷ προσώπῳ εἰς πάντα τὸν ὄχλον τὸν ἐν τῷ σταδίῳ ἀνόμων ἐθνῶν ἐμβλέψας καὶ ἐπισείσας αὐτοῖς τὴν χεῖρα, στενάξας τε καὶ ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶπεν· Αἶρε τοὺς ἀθέους.

### English translation (Claude)

So when he was brought forward, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. When he said that he was, the proconsul tried to persuade him to deny, saying, “Have respect for your age,” and other such things as they customarily say: “Swear by the fortune of Caesar; change your mind; say, ‘Away with the atheists!’” But Polycarp, with a solemn face, looked at the whole crowd of lawless Gentiles in the stadium, waved his hand at them, groaned, and looking up to heaven said, “Away with the atheists!”

### Translation notes

- “The fortune of Caesar” (τὴν Καίσαρος τύχην, Latin genius): the guardian spirit of the emperor. Swearing by it was a religious act as well as an oath of loyalty.
- Polycarp turns the crowd's cry against them: the “godless” are the pagans, not the Christians.
- “Change your mind” (μετανόησον): the usual word for “repent”; the proconsul uses it of giving up Christianity (again in 11.1–2).

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 9.2 (PG 5:1036c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/9/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 9.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/9/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:324
- Also in: PG 5:1036c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp refused to curse Christ, whom he had served for eighty-six years.

### Greek text

ἐγκειμένου δὲ τοῦ ἀνθυπάτου καὶ λέγοντος· Ὄμοσον, καὶ ἀπολύω σε, λοιδόρησον τὸν Χριστόν, ἔφη ὁ Πολύκαρπος· Ὀγδοήκοντα καὶ ἓξ ἔτη δουλεύω αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐδέν με ἠδίκησεν· καὶ πῶς δύναμαι βλασφημῆσαι τὸν βασιλέα μου τὸν σώσαντά με;

### English translation (Claude)

When the proconsul pressed him and said, “Swear, and I will release you; curse Christ,” Polycarp said, “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

### Translation notes

- “Eighty-six years” may count from his birth or from his baptism; if from birth, and if he died in 155/156, he was born about AD 70.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 9.3 (PG 5:1036c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/9/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 10.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/10/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:324–326
- Also in: PG 5:1036c–1036d (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp openly declared himself a Christian and offered to explain the faith.

### Greek text

Ἐπιμένοντος δὲ πάλιν αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγοντος· Ὄμοσον τὴν Καίσαρος τύχην, ἀπεκρίνατο· Εἰ κενοδοξεῖς, ἵνα ὀμόσω τὴν Καίσαρος τύχην, ὡς σὺ λέγεις, προσποιεῖ δὲ ἀγνοεῖν με, τίς εἰμι, μετὰ παρρησίας ἄκουε· Χριστιανός εἰμι. εἰ δὲ θέλεις τὸν τοῦ Χριστιανισμοῦ μαθεῖν λόγον, δὸς ἡμέραν καὶ ἄκουσον.

### English translation (Claude)

When he persisted again and said, “Swear by the fortune of Caesar,” Polycarp answered, “If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the fortune of Caesar, as you put it, and you pretend not to know who I am, hear it plainly: I am a Christian. And if you want to learn the teaching of Christianity, give me a day and listen.”

### Translation notes

- “Christianity” (Χριστιανισμοῦ): with the letters of Ignatius, among the earliest uses of the word.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 10.1 (PG 5:1036c–1036d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/10/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 10.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/10/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:326
- Also in: PG 5:1037a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp was willing to explain himself to the governing authority, but not to the mob.

### Greek text

ἔφη ὁ ἀνθύπατος· Πεῖσον τὸν δῆμον. ὁ δὲ Πολύκαρπος εἶπεν· Σὲ μὲν κἂν λόγου ἠξίωσα· δεδιδάγμεθα γὰρ ἀρχαῖς καὶ ἐξουσίαις ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ τεταγμέναις τιμὴν κατὰ τὸ προσῆκον, τὴν μὴ βλάπτουσαν ἡμᾶς, ἀπονέμειν· ἐκείνους δὲ οὐχ ἡγοῦμαι ἀξίους τοῦ ἀπολογεῖσθαι αὐτοῖς.

### English translation (Claude)

The proconsul said, “Persuade the people.” Polycarp said, “You I would have thought worthy of an explanation, for we have been taught to render honor, as is fitting, to rulers and authorities appointed by God, so long as it does us no harm. But as for them, I do not consider them worthy that I should make a defense to them.”

### Scripture references

- Rom 13:1: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Pet 2:13: echo, medium confidence
- Titus 3:1: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “So long as it does us no harm”: honor that does not require denying the faith.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 10.2 (PG 5:1037a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/10/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 11.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/11/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:326
- Also in: PG 5:1037a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Threatened with the beasts, Polycarp said that Christians cannot change from better to worse.

### Greek text

Ὁ δὲ ἀνθύπατος εἶπεν· Θηρία ἔχω, τούτοις σε παραβαλῶ, ἐὰν μὴ μετανοήσῃς. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Κάλει, ἀμετάθετος γὰρ ἡμῖν ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν κρειττόνων ἐπὶ τὰ χείρω μετάνοια· καλὸν δὲ μετατίθεσθαι ἀπὸ τῶν χαλεπῶν ἐπὶ τὰ δίκαια.

### English translation (Claude)

The proconsul said, “I have wild beasts; I will throw you to them unless you change your mind.” He said, “Call them. For a change of mind from better to worse is impossible for us; but it is good to change from what is cruel to what is just.”

### Translation notes

- The proconsul uses the Christian word for repentance (μετανοέω, “change one's mind, repent”), and Polycarp answers him in the same terms.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 11.1 (PG 5:1037a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/11/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 11.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/11/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:326
- Also in: PG 5:1037a–1037b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Threatened with fire, Polycarp contrasted it with the eternal fire of the coming judgment.

### Greek text

ὁ δὲ πάλιν πρὸς αὐτόν· Πυρί σε ποιήσω δαπανηθῆναι, εἰ τῶν θηρίων καταφρονεῖς, ἐὰν μὴ μετανοήσῃς. ὁ δὲ Πολύκαρπος εἶπεν· Πῦρ ἀπειλεῖς τὸ πρὸς ὥραν καιόμενον καὶ μετʼ ὀλίγον σβεννύμενον· ἀγνοεῖς γὰρ τὸ τῆς μελλούσης κρίσεως καὶ αἰωνίου κολάσεως τοῖς ἀσεβέσι τηρούμενον πῦρ. ἀλλὰ τί βραδύνεις; φέρε, ὃ βούλει.

### English translation (Claude)

He said to him again, “I will have you consumed by fire, since you despise the wild beasts, unless you change your mind.” But Polycarp said, “You threaten a fire that burns for an hour and after a little while is put out; for you do not know the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment that is reserved for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Bring what you wish.”

### Scripture references

- Matt 25:41: echo, medium confidence
- Matt 25:46: echo, medium confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 11.2 (PG 5:1037a–1037b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/11/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 12.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/12/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:326–328
- Also in: PG 5:1037b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp remained joyful and calm, and the herald announced his confession to the crowd.

### Greek text

Ταῦτα δὲ καὶ ἕτερα πλείονα λέγων θάρσους καὶ χαρᾶς ἐνεπίμπλατο, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ χάριτος ἐπληροῦτο, ὥστε οὐ μόνον μὴ συμπεσεῖν ταραχθέντα ὑπὸ τῶν λεγομένων πρὸς αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον τὸν ἀνθύπατον ἐκστῆναι, πέμψαι τε τὸν ἑαυτοῦ κήρυκα ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ σταδίου κηρῦξαι τρίς· Πολύκαρπος ὡμολόγησεν ἑαυτὸν Χριστιανὸν εἶναι.

### English translation (Claude)

As he said these and many other things, he was filled with courage and joy, and his face was full of grace, so that not only did he not collapse, troubled by what was said to him, but on the contrary the proconsul was astonished and sent his own herald into the middle of the stadium to proclaim three times, “Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian.”

### Scripture references

- Acts 6:15: echo, low confidence

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 12.1 (PG 5:1037b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/12/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 12.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/12/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:328
- Also in: PG 5:1037b–1037c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The crowd called Polycarp the destroyer of their gods and demanded a lion, but the games were over.

### Greek text

τούτου λεχθέντος ὑπὸ τοῦ κήρυκος, ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος ἐθνῶν τε καὶ Ἰουδαίων τῶν τὴν Σμύρναν κατοικούντων ἀκατασχέτῳ θυμῷ καὶ μεγάλῃ φωνῇ ἐπεβόα· Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τῆς Ἀσίας διδάσκαλος, ὁ πατὴρ τῶν Χριστιανῶν, ὁ τῶν ἡμετέρων θεῶν καθαιρέτης, ὁ πολλοὺς διδάσκων μὴ θύειν μηδὲ προσκυνεῖν. ταῦτα λέγοντες ἐπεβόων καὶ ἠρώτων τὸν Ἀσιάρχην Φίλιππον, ἵνα ἐπαφῇ τῷ Πολυκάρπῳ λέοντα. ὁ δὲ ἔφη, μὴ εἶναι ἐξὸν αὐτῷ, ἐπειδὴ πεπληρώκει τὰ κυνηγέσια.

### English translation (Claude)

When this had been said by the herald, the whole multitude of Gentiles and Jews living in Smyrna cried out with uncontrollable rage and in a loud voice, “This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice or to worship.” Saying this, they shouted and asked the Asiarch Philip to let a lion loose on Polycarp. But he said that he was not permitted to do so, since he had closed the animal hunts.

### Translation notes

- “Asiarch”: a leading official of the province of Asia connected with the imperial cult and the public games; in 21.1 Philip is called high priest.
- The letter's repeated statements about the Jews of Smyrna (12.2; 13.1; 17.2; 18.1) reflect local conflict and are partly shaped by the Gospel Passion narratives; their historical accuracy is debated.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 12.2 (PG 5:1037b–1037c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/12/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 12.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/12/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:328
- Also in: PG 5:1037c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The crowd demanded that Polycarp be burned, fulfilling his earlier vision.

### Greek text

τότε ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐπιβοῆσαι, ὥστε τὸν Πολύκαρπον ζῶντα κατακαῦσαι. ἔδει γὰρ τὸ τῆς φανερωθείσης αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τοῦ προσκεφαλαίου ὀπτασίας πληρωθῆναι, ὅτε ἰδὼν αὐτὸ καιόμενον προσευχόμενος εἶπεν ἐπιστραφεὶς τοῖς σὺν αὐτῷ πιστοῖς προφητικῶς· Δεῖ με ζῶντα καῆναι.

### English translation (Claude)

Then they decided to shout with one accord that Polycarp should be burned alive. For the vision that had been shown to him about the pillow had to be fulfilled, when he saw it burning while he was praying, and turned and said prophetically to the faithful who were with him, “I must be burned alive.”

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 12.3 (PG 5:1037c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/12/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 13.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/13/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:328
- Also in: PG 5:1037d–1040a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The crowd quickly gathered wood for the fire.

### Greek text

Ταῦτα οὖν μετὰ τοσούτου τάχους ἐγένετο, θάττον ἢ ἐλέγετο, τῶν ὄχλων παραχρῆμα συναγόντων ἔκ τε τῶν ἐργαστηρίων καὶ βαλανείων ξύλα καὶ φρύγανα, μάλιστα Ἰουδαίων προθύμως, ὡς ἔθος αὐτοῖς, εἰς ταῦτα ὑπουργούντων.

### English translation (Claude)

These things happened with such speed, faster than it can be told, as the crowds at once gathered wood and brushwood from the workshops and baths, the Jews especially helping eagerly with this, as is their custom.

### Translation notes

- “As is their custom”: a polemical remark; see the note on 12.2.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 13.1 (PG 5:1037d–1040a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/13/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 13.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/13/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:328–330
- Also in: PG 5:1040a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp undressed for the pyre himself; the faithful had always honored him for his holy life.

### Greek text

ὅτε δὲ ἡ πυρκαϊὰ ἡτοιμάσθη, ἀποθέμενος ἑαυτῷ πάντα τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ λύσας τὴν ζώνην ἐπειρᾶτο καὶ ὑπολύειν ἑαυτόν, μὴ πρότερον τοῦτο ποιῶν διὰ τὸ ἀεὶ ἕκαστον τῶν πιστῶν σπουδάζειν, ὅστις τάχιον τοῦ χρωτὸς αὐτοῦ ἅψηται· παντὶ γὰρ καλῷ ἀγαθῆς ἕνεκεν πολιτείας καὶ πρὸ τῆς μαρτυρίας ἐκεκόσμητο.

### English translation (Claude)

When the pyre was ready, he took off all his outer garments himself, loosened his belt, and tried also to take off his shoes, though he had not done this before, because each of the faithful was always eager to be the first to touch his skin; for he had been adorned with every good thing because of his good way of life, even before his martyrdom.

### Translation notes

- “Way of life” (πολιτεία): literally “citizenship,” one's conduct as a member of a community.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 13.2 (PG 5:1040a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/13/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 13.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/13/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:330
- Also in: PG 5:1040a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp asked not to be nailed, trusting God to keep him steady in the fire.

### Greek text

εὐθέως οὖν αὐτῷ περιετίθετο τὰ πρὸς τὴν πυρὰν ἡρμοσμένα ὄργανα. μελλόντων δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ προσηλοῦν, εἶπεν· Ἄφετέ με οὕτως· ὁ γὰρ δοὺς ὑπομεῖναι τὸ πῦρ δώσει χωρὶς τῆς ὑμετέρας ἐκ τῶν ἥλων ἀσφαλείας ἄσκυλτον ἐπιμεῖναι τῇ πυρᾷ.

### English translation (Claude)

At once the fittings prepared for the pyre were placed around him. When they were about to nail him as well, he said, “Leave me as I am. For he who grants me to endure the fire will grant me to remain on the pyre without flinching, even without the security you seek from the nails.”

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 13.3 (PG 5:1040a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/13/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 14.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:330
- Also in: PG 5:1040a–1040b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Bound to the stake like a sacrificial ram, Polycarp began his final prayer to God the Father.

### Greek text

Οἱ δὲ οὐ καθήλωσαν μέν, προσέδησαν δὲ αὐτόν. ὁ δὲ ὀπίσω τὰς χεῖρας ποιήσας καὶ προσδεθείς, ὥσπερ κριὸς ἐπίσημος ἐκ μεγάλου ποιμνίου εἰς προσφοράν, ὁλοκαύτωμα δεκτὸν τῷ θεῷ ἡτοιμασμένον, ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶπεν· Κύριε ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὁ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ καὶ εὐλογητοῦ παιδός σου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πατήρ, διʼ οὗ τὴν περὶ σοῦ ἐπίγνωσιν εἰλήφαμεν, ὁ θεὸς ἀγγέλων καὶ δυνάμεων καὶ πάσης τῆς κτίσεως παντός τε τοῦ γένους τῶν δικαίων, οἳ ζῶσιν ἐνώπιόν σου·

### English translation (Claude)

So they did not nail him, but they tied him. And he, with his hands put behind him and bound, like a choice ram taken from a great flock for an offering, a whole burnt offering prepared and acceptable to God, looked up to heaven and said: “Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Servant Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels and powers and of all creation, and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your presence:

### Scripture references

- Gen 22:13: echo, medium confidence
- Rev 4:8: echo, low confidence
- Acts 4:27: echo, low confidence
- Matt 12:18: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Servant” (παῖς) can also mean “Child.” It is an early title of Jesus in prayer (Acts 4:27, 30; Did. 9.2), recalling the Servant of Isa 42:1 (Matt 12:18).
- “Choice” (ἐπίσημος): “marked out, notable.”

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 14.1 (PG 5:1040a–1040b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 14.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:330–332
- Also in: PG 5:1040b–1040c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp thanked God for the honor of sharing Christ's suffering and prayed to be received as a sacrifice.

### Greek text

εὐλογῶ σε, ὅτι ἠξίωσάς με τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ ὥρας ταύτης, τοῦ λαβεῖν με μέρος ἐν ἀριθμῷ τῶν μαρτύρων ἐν τῷ ποτηρίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ σου εἰς ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς αἰωνίου ψυχῆς τε καὶ σώματος ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ πνεύματος ἁγίου· ἐν οἷς προσδεχθείην ἐνώπιόν σου σήμερον ἐν θυσίᾳ πίονι καὶ προσδεκτῇ, καθὼς προητοίμασας καὶ προεφανέρωσας καὶ ἐπλήρωσας, ὁ ἀψευδὴς καὶ ἀληθινὸς θεός.

### English translation (Claude)

I bless you because you have counted me worthy of this day and hour, to receive a share among the number of the martyrs in the cup of your Christ, for resurrection to eternal life of both soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be received before you today as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as you prepared beforehand, revealed beforehand, and have fulfilled, you the God who does not lie and is true.

### Scripture references

- Mark 10:38: allusion, medium confidence
- Matt 20:22: echo, low confidence
- John 5:29: allusion, medium confidence
- Titus 1:2: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “The cup of your Christ”: the cup of suffering (Mark 10:38–39).
- “Rich” (πίονι): literally “fat,” that is, choice, as in sacrificial language.
- The prayer's form (blessing, remembrance, doxology) resembles early Eucharistic prayers, which has led some to think its wording was shaped by liturgical use.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 14.2 (PG 5:1040b–1040c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 14.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:332
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp ended his prayer with praise to God through Christ, the eternal High Priest.

### Greek text

διὰ τοῦτο καὶ περὶ πάντων σὲ αἰνῶ, σὲ εὐλογῶ, σὲ δοξάζω διὰ τοῦ αἰωνίου καὶ ἐπουρανίου ἀρχιερέως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἀγαπητοῦ σου παιδός, διʼ οὗ σοὶ σὺν αὐτῷ καὶ πνεύματι ἁγίῳ δόξα καὶ νῦν καὶ εἰς τοὺς μέλλοντας αἰῶνας. ἀμήν.

### English translation (Claude)

For this reason, and for all things, I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest Jesus Christ, your beloved Servant, through whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, both now and for the ages to come. Amen.”

### Scripture references

- Heb 4:14: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The closing words give glory to God “with him [Christ] and the Holy Spirit.” Eusebius's quotation of this passage (Hist. eccl. 4.15.35) reads “in the Holy Spirit,” and some scholars think the wording was adjusted in later use.
- “High Priest” (ἀρχιερέως) is in Lake's text; some manuscripts and older translations lack it.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 14.3 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 15.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/15/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:332
- Also in: PG 5:1040c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The fire was lit, and the writers saw a marvel they were spared to report.

### Greek text

Ἀναπέμψαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ τὸ ἀμὴν καὶ πληρώσαντος τὴν εὐχήν, οἱ τοῦ πυρὸς ἄνθρωποι ἐξῆψαν τὸ πῦρ. μεγάλης δὲ ἐκλαμψάσης φλογός, θαῦμα εἴδομεν, οἷς ἰδεῖν ἐδόθη· οἳ καὶ ἐτηρήθημεν εἰς τὸ ἀναγγεῖλαι τοῖς λοιποῖς τὰ γενόμενα.

### English translation (Claude)

When he had offered up the Amen and finished the prayer, the men in charge of the fire lit it. And as a great flame blazed up, we saw a marvel, we to whom it was given to see; and we were preserved in order to report to the rest what happened.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 15.1 (PG 5:1040c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/15/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 15.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/15/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:332
- Also in: PG 5:1040c–1041a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The flames formed an arch around Polycarp without consuming him, and a sweet fragrance filled the air.

### Greek text

τὸ γὰρ πῦρ καμάρας εἶδος ποιῆσαν, ὥσπερ ὀθόνη πλοίου ὑπὸ πνεύματος πληρουμένη, κύκλῳ περιετείχισεν τὸ σῶμα τοῦ μάρτυρος· καὶ ἦν μέσον οὐχ ὡς σὰρξ καιομένη, ἀλλʼ ὡς ἄρτος ὀπτώμενος ἢ ὡς χρυσὸς καὶ ἄργυρος ἐν καμίνῳ πυρούμενος. καὶ γὰρ εὐωδίας τοσαύτης ἀντελαβόμεθα, ὡς λιβανωτοῦ πνέοντος ἢ ἄλλου τινὸς τῶν τιμίων ἀρωμάτων.

### English translation (Claude)

For the fire, taking the shape of a vaulted room, like a ship's sail filled by the wind, made a wall around the body of the martyr; and he was in the middle, not like flesh burning, but like bread baking, or like gold and silver being refined in a furnace. And we caught such a fragrance as of incense rising, or some other precious spice.

### Scripture references

- 1 Pet 1:7: echo, low confidence
- 2 Cor 2:15: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Like bread baking”: some readers see a Eucharistic image; the comparison with refined gold and silver recalls the testing of faith by fire.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 15.2 (PG 5:1040c–1041a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/15/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 16.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/16/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:332–334
- Also in: PG 5:1041a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: An executioner stabbed Polycarp, and so much blood flowed that it put out the fire.

### Greek text

Πέρας γοῦν ἰδόντες οἱ ἄνομοι μὴ δυνάμενον αὐτοῦ τὸ σῶμα ὑπὸ τοῦ πυρὸς δαπανηθῆναι, ἐκέλευσαν προσελθόντα αὐτῷ κομφέκτορα παραβῦσαι ξιφίδιον. καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσαντος, ἐξῆλθεν περιστερὰ καὶ πλῆθος αἵματος, ὥστε κατασβέσαι τὸ πῦρ καὶ θαυμάσαι πάντα τὸν ὄχλον, εἰ τοσαύτη τις διαφορὰ μεταξὺ τῶν τε ἀπίστων καὶ τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν·

### English translation (Claude)

At length, when the lawless saw that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they ordered an executioner to go up to him and plunge a dagger into him. When he had done this, there came out a dove and a great quantity of blood, so that it put out the fire, and the whole crowd marveled that there should be so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect.

### Scripture references

- John 19:34: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- “A dove” (περιστερά) stands in the Greek manuscripts, but Eusebius's quotation (Hist. eccl. 4.15.39) lacks it, and many editors think it a later addition or a corruption of another word.
- “Executioner” (κομφέκτορα, Latin confector): the official who finished off wounded beasts or condemned people in the arena.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 16.1 (PG 5:1041a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/16/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 16.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/16/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:334
- Also in: PG 5:1041a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp was an apostolic and prophetic teacher and the bishop of Smyrna, whose words all came true.

### Greek text

ὧν εἷς καὶ οὗτος γεγόνει ὁ θαυμασιώτατος μάρτυς Πολύκαρπος, ἐν τοῖς καθʼ ἡμᾶς χρόνοις διδάσκαλος ἀποστολικὸς καὶ προφητικὸς γενόμενος, ἐπίσκοπος τῆς ἐν Σμύρνῃ καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας. πᾶν γὰρ ῥῆμα, ὃ ἀφῆκεν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐτελειώθη καὶ τελειωθήσεται.

### English translation (Claude)

Among these elect was this man, the most wonderful martyr Polycarp, who in our own times was an apostolic and prophetic teacher, bishop of the catholic church in Smyrna. For every word that he uttered from his mouth was fulfilled and will be fulfilled.

### Translation notes

- The digital text has a full stop after “his mouth” (αὐτοῦ); the sentence evidently continues, and the translation follows the sense.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 16.2 (PG 5:1041a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/16/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 17.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/17/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:334
- Also in: PG 5:1041b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The devil, envious of Polycarp's victory, tried to keep the Christians from recovering his body.

### Greek text

Ὁ δὲ ἀντίζηλος καὶ βάσκανος καὶ πονηρός, ὁ ἀντικείμενος τῷ γένει τῶν δικαίων, ἰδὼν τό τε μέγεθος αὐτοῦ τῆς μαρτυρίας καὶ τὴν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ἀνεπίληπτον πολιτείαν, ἐστεφανωμένον τε τὸν τῆς ἀφθαρσίας στέφανον καὶ βραβεῖον ἀναντίρρητον ἀπενηνεγμένον, ἐπετήδευσεν, ὡς μηδὲ τὸ σωμάτιον αὐτοῦ ὑφʼ ἡμῶν ληφθῆναι, καίπερ πολλῶν ἐπιθυμούντων τοῦτο ποιῆσαι καὶ κοινωνῆσαι τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ σαρκίῳ.

### English translation (Claude)

But the jealous and envious evil one, the adversary of the race of the righteous, seeing the greatness of his martyrdom and his blameless way of life from the beginning, and that he had been crowned with the crown of incorruptibility and had carried off a prize no one could dispute, saw to it that not even his poor body should be taken away by us, although many desired to do this and to have a share in his holy flesh.

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 9:25: echo, low confidence
- 2 Tim 4:8: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Poor body” (σωμάτιον): a diminutive, suggesting tenderness toward his remains.
- “To have a share” (κοινωνῆσαι): to be in fellowship with him through his remains.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 17.1 (PG 5:1041b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/17/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 17.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/17/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:334–336
- Also in: PG 5:1041b–1041c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Opponents claimed Christians would worship Polycarp instead of Christ, but Christians worship Christ alone.

### Greek text

ὑπέβαλεν γοῦν Νικήτην τὸν τοῦ Ἡρώδου πατέρα, ἀδελφὸν δὲ Ἄλκης, ἐντυχεῖν τῷ ἄρχοντι, ὥστε μὴ δοῦναι αὐτοῦ τὸ σῶμα· μή, φησίν, ἀφέντες τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον τοῦτον ἄρξωνται σέβεσθαι. καὶ ταῦτα εἶπον ὑποβαλλόντων καὶ ἐνισχυόντων τῶν Ἰουδαίων, οἳ καὶ ἐτήρησαν, μελλόντων ἡμῶν ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς αὐτὸν λαμβάνειν· ἀγνοοῦντες, ὅτι οὔτε τὸν Χριστόν ποτε καταλιπεῖν δυνησόμεθα, τὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου τῶν σωζομένων σωτηρίας παθόντα ἄμωμον ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτωλῶν, οὔτε ἕτερόν τινα σέβεσθαι.

### English translation (Claude)

So he prompted Nicetes, the father of Herod and brother of Alce, to petition the governor not to give up his body, “lest,” he said, “they abandon the crucified one and begin to worship this man.” And they said this at the prompting and urging of the Jews, who also kept watch when we were about to take him from the fire. They did not know that we will never be able either to abandon Christ, who suffered for the salvation of the whole world of those who are being saved, the blameless one for sinners, or to worship any other.

### Scripture references

- 1 Pet 3:18: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Alce may be the woman of Smyrna greeted by Ignatius (Ign. Smyrn. 13.2; Ign. Pol. 8.3).
- “The governor” (τῷ ἄρχοντι): the proconsul.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 17.2 (PG 5:1041b–1041c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/17/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 17.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/17/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:336
- Also in: PG 5:1041c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Christians worship Christ as Son of God and love the martyrs as his disciples.

### Greek text

τοῦτον μὲν γὰρ υἱὸν ὄντα τοῦ θεοῦ προσκυνοῦμεν, τοὺς δὲ μάρτυρας ὡς μαθητὰς καὶ μιμητὰς τοῦ κυρίου ἀγαπῶμεν ἀξίως ἕνεκα εὐνοίας ἀνυπερβλήτου τῆς εἰς τὸν ἴδιον βασιλέα καὶ διδάσκαλον· ὧν γένοιτο καὶ ἡμᾶς κοινωνούς τε καὶ συμμαθητὰς γενέσθαι.

### English translation (Claude)

For him, being the Son of God, we worship; but the martyrs, as disciples and imitators of the Lord, we love as they deserve, because of their unsurpassed devotion to their own King and Teacher. May it be granted to us also to become their companions and fellow disciples.

### Translation notes

- The contrast is between “worship” (προσκυνοῦμεν), given to Christ alone, and “love” (ἀγαπῶμεν), given to the martyrs.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 17.3 (PG 5:1041c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/17/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 18.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/18/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:336
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The centurion had Polycarp's body burned.

### Greek text

Ἰδὼν οὖν ὁ κεντυρίων τὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων γενομένην φιλονεικίαν, θεὶς αὐτὸν ἐν μέσῳ, ὡς ἔθος αὐτοῖς, ἔκαυσεν.

### English translation (Claude)

So the centurion, seeing the contentiousness of the Jews, placed the body in the middle, as is their custom, and burned it.

### Translation notes

- “As is their custom” probably refers to the Roman practice of burning the bodies of the condemned.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 18.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/18/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 18.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/18/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:336
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

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/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 18.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/18/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:336
- Also in: PG 5:1044b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The church planned to gather yearly on the anniversary of Polycarp's martyrdom.

### Greek text

ἔνθα ὡς δυνατὸν ἡμῖν συναγομένοις ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει καὶ χαρᾷ παρέξει ὁ κύριος ἐπιτελεῖν τὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου αὐτοῦ ἡμέραν γενέθλιον, εἴς τε τὴν τῶν προηθληκότων μνήμην καὶ τῶν μελλόντων ἄσκησίν τε καὶ ἑτοιμασίαν.

### English translation (Claude)

There, as far as possible, when we gather in gladness and joy, the Lord will grant us to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom, both in memory of those who have already contended and for the training and preparation of those who are yet to do so.

### Translation notes

- “Birthday” (ἡμέραν γενέθλιον): the day of death as birth into heavenly life. This is the earliest known reference to an annual commemoration of a martyr.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 18.3 (PG 5:1044b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/18/3/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 19.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/19/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:336–338
- Also in: PG 5:1044b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp, though one of twelve martyrs, is remembered everywhere as a teacher and model martyr.

### Greek text

Τοιαῦτα τὰ κατὰ τὸν μακάριον Πολύκαρπον, ὃς σὺν τοῖς ἀπὸ Φιλαδελφίας δωδέκατος ἐν Σμύρνῃ μαρτυρήσας, μόνος ὑπὸ πάντων μᾶλλον μνημονεύεται, ὥστε καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ λαλεῖσθαι· οὐ μόνον διδάσκαλος γενόμενος ἐπίσημος, ἀλλὰ καὶ μάρτυς ἔξοχος, οὗ τὸ μαρτύριον πάντες ἐπιθυμοῦσιν μιμεῖσθαι κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον Χριστοῦ γενόμενον.

### English translation (Claude)

Such is the account of the blessed Polycarp, who, though he was the twelfth to be martyred in Smyrna, counting those from Philadelphia, is alone especially remembered by everyone, so that he is spoken of in every place even by the Gentiles. He was not only a notable teacher but also an outstanding martyr, whose martyrdom all desire to imitate, since it took place in accordance with the gospel of Christ.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 19.1 (PG 5:1044b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/19/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 19.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/19/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:338
- Also in: PG 5:1044b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: Polycarp now rejoices with the apostles and praises God and Christ.

### Greek text

διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καταγωνισάμενος τὸν ἄδικον ἄρχοντα καὶ οὕτως τὸν τῆς ἀφθαρσίας στέφανον ἀπολαβών, σὺν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις καὶ πᾶσιν δικαίοις ἀγαλλιώμενος δοξάζει τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα παντοκράτορα καὶ εὐλογεῖ τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν σωτῆρα τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν καὶ κυβερνήτην τῶν σωμάτων ἡμῶν καὶ ποιμένα τῆς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας.

### English translation (Claude)

Having overcome the unjust ruler by his endurance, and so received the crown of incorruptibility, he rejoices with the apostles and all the righteous, and glorifies God the Father Almighty, and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls, the Pilot of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the catholic church throughout the world.

### Scripture references

- 1 Pet 2:25: echo, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- “The unjust ruler” may be the proconsul or the devil.
- “Pilot” (κυβερνήτην): the helmsman of a ship.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 19.2 (PG 5:1044b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/19/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 20.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/20/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:338
- Also in: PG 5:1044b–1044c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The church asks the readers to pass the letter on to other churches.

### Greek text

Ὑμεῖς μὲν οὖν ἠξιώσατε διὰ πλειόνων δηλωθῆναι ὑμῖν τὰ γενόμενα, ἡμεῖς δὲ κατὰ τὸ παρὸν ἐπὶ κεφαλαίῳ μεμηνύκαμεν διὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν Μαρκίωνος. μαθόντες οὖν ταῦτα καὶ τοῖς ἐπέκεινα ἀδελφοῖς τὴν ἐπιστολὴν διαπέμψασθε, ἵνα καὶ ἐκεῖνοι δοξάζωσιν τὸν κύριον τὸν ἐκλογὰς ποιοῦντα ἀπὸ τῶν ἰδίων δούλων.

### English translation (Claude)

You asked that what happened be made known to you more fully, but for the present we have reported it in summary through our brother Marcion. When you have learned these things, send the letter on to the brothers farther away as well, so that they too may glorify the Lord who makes choices from among his own servants.

### Translation notes

- “Marcion” (some manuscripts “Marcianus”): the messenger, not the second-century teacher of the same name.
- The Ante-Nicene Fathers translation (1885) reads “Marcus,” another variant of the name.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 20.1 (PG 5:1044b–1044c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/20/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 20.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/20/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:338–340
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: The letter closes with a doxology and greetings from Evarestus, its writer.

### Greek text

Τῷ δὲ δυναμένῳ πάντας ἡμᾶς εἰσαγαγεῖν ἐν τῇ αὐτοῦ χάριτι καὶ δωρεᾷ εἰς τὴν ἐπουράνιον αὐτοῦ βασιλείαν διὰ τοῦ μονογενοῦς παιδὸς αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δόξα, τιμή, κράτος, μεγαλωσύνη εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. προσαγορεύετε πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους. ὑμᾶς οἱ σὺν ἡμῖν προσαγορεύουσιν καὶ Εὐάρεστος ὁ γράψας πανοικεί.

### English translation (Claude)

To him who is able to bring us all by his grace and gift into his heavenly kingdom, through his only-begotten Servant Jesus Christ, be glory, honor, might, and majesty forever. Greet all the saints. Those with us greet you, and so does Evarestus, who wrote this, with his whole household.

### Scripture references

- Jude 1:24: allusion, medium confidence
- Jude 1:25: allusion, medium confidence
- 2 Tim 4:18: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- “Who wrote this”: Evarestus was probably the scribe who wrote the letter down.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 20.2 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/20/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 21.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/21/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:340
- Also in: PG 5:1044c–1045a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: An appended note gives the date of Polycarp's death (23 February) and the officials of the time.

### Greek text

Μαρτυρεῖ δὲ ὁ μακάριος Πολύκαρπος μηνὸς Ξανθικοῦ δευτέρᾳ ἱσταμένου, πρὸ ἑπτὰ καλανδῶν Μαρτίων, σαββάτῳ μεγάλῳ, ὥρᾳ ὀγδόῃ. συνελήφθη δὲ ὑπὸ Ἡρώδου ἐπὶ ἀρχιερέως Φιλίππου Τραλλιανοῦ, ἀνθυπατεύοντος Στατίου Κοδράτου, βασιλεύοντος δὲ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· ᾧ ἡ δόξα, τιμή, μεγαλωσύνη, θρόνος αἰώνιος ἀπὸ γενεᾶς εἰς γενεάν. ἀμήν.

### English translation (Claude)

The blessed Polycarp was martyred on the second day of the first part of the month Xanthicus, the seventh day before the Kalends of March, on a great Sabbath, at the eighth hour. He was arrested by Herod, when Philip of Tralles was high priest and Statius Quadratus was proconsul, while Jesus Christ was reigning forever; to whom be glory, honor, majesty, and an eternal throne from generation to generation. Amen.

### Translation notes

- “The seventh day before the Kalends of March”: 23 February. The eighth hour is about 2 p.m.
- Chapter 21 is widely thought to be a later addition. The proconsulship of Statius Quadratus is the main evidence for dating the martyrdom to 155/156, though some date it later.
- Some older editions and translations (e.g. the Ante-Nicene Fathers, 1885) read “the Kalends of May” (that is, 25 April); Lake's text reads “March.”

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 21.1 (PG 5:1044c–1045a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/21/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 22.1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/22/1/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:340
- Also in: PG 5:1045a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: A farewell asking that readers follow in Polycarp's footsteps.

### Greek text

Ἐρρῶσθαι ὑμᾶς εὐχόμεθα, ἀδελφοί, στοιχοῦντας τῷ κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον λόγῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθʼ οὗ δόξα τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἁγίῳ πνεύματι, ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ τῇ τῶν ἁγίων ἐκλεκτῶν, καθὼς ἐμαρτύρησεν ὁ μακάριος Πολύκαρπος, οὗ γένοιτο ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πρὸς τὰ ἴχνη εὑρεθῆναι ἡμᾶς.

### English translation (Claude)

We bid you farewell, brothers, as you walk by the word of Jesus Christ that is in accordance with the gospel; with him be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of the holy elect, just as the blessed Polycarp bore witness; may we be found following in his footsteps in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

### Translation notes

- “Bore witness” (ἐμαρτύρησεν): the same verb as “was martyred”; both senses are present.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 22.1 (PG 5:1045a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/22/1/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 22.2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/22/2/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:340–342
- Also in: PG 5:1045a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: A copyist's note on how the text was passed down from Irenaeus.

### Greek text

Ταῦτα μετεγράψατο μὲν Γάϊος ἐκ τῶν Εἰρηναίου, μαθητοῦ τοῦ Πολυκάρπου, ὃς καὶ συνεπολιτεύσατο τῷ Εἰρηναίῳ. ἐγὼ δὲ Σωκράτης ἐν Κορίνθῳ ἐκ τῶν Γαΐου ἀντιγράφων ἔγραψα. ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων.

### English translation (Claude)

Gaius copied these things from the papers of Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp; he had also lived in the same city as Irenaeus. And I, Socrates, wrote them out in Corinth from the copies of Gaius. Grace be with all.

### Translation notes

- 22.2–3 are notes added by later copyists. “The papers of Irenaeus” translates “those of Irenaeus,” meaning his copies or writings.
- “Lived in the same city” (συνεπολιτεύσατο): or “was a fellow citizen with.”

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 22.2 (PG 5:1045a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/22/2/).

## Martyrdom of Polycarp 22.3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/22/3/
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:342
- Also in: PG 5:1045b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26

Summary: A later copyist, Pionius, tells how he recovered the text.

### Greek text

Ἐγὼ δὲ πάλιν Πιόνιος ἐκ τοῦ προγεγραμμένου ἔγραψα ἀναζητήσας αὐτά, κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν φανερώσαντός μοι τοῦ μακαρίου Πολυκάρπου, καθὼς δηλώσω ἐν τῷ καθεξῆς, συναγαγὼν αὐτὰ ἤδη σχεδὸν ἐκ τοῦ χρόνου κεκμηκότα, ἵνα κἀμὲ συναγάγῃ ὁ κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς μετὰ τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν οὐράνιον βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα σὺν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ἁγίῳ πνεύματι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν.

### English translation (Claude)

And I, Pionius, again wrote them out from the copy just mentioned, having searched for them after the blessed Polycarp showed them to me in a revelation, as I will make clear in what follows. I gathered them when they were already almost worn out with age, so that the Lord Jesus Christ may gather me too with his elect into his heavenly kingdom; to whom be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

### Translation notes

- Pionius may be the Smyrnaean martyr of ca. 250, or a later writer using his name; the Life of Polycarp is attributed to him. “What follows” refers to a work not included here.
- One manuscript (Moscow) has a different and longer ending in place of 22.2–3; it is not published here.

### Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 22.3 (PG 5:1045b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/22/3/).