The Martyrdom of Polycarp · §11 · Church of Smyrna

Polycarp rejects the proconsul's threats of beasts and fire

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The proconsul, having failed to make Polycarp swear by Caesar's fortune, now threatens him with wild beasts and then with fire.

The proconsul said, "I have wild beasts. I will throw you to them unless you repent."

Polycarp replied, "Call for them. For us, a change from what is better to what is worse is impossible. But it is good to change from what is harsh to what is just."

The proconsul said to him again, "If you despise the wild beasts, I will have you consumed by fire, unless you repent."

Polycarp answered, "You threaten a fire that burns for an hour and after a little while is quenched. For you do not know the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment that is kept for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Bring whatever you wish."

Greek

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.

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 μετ’ ὀλίγον σβεννύμενον: ἀγνοεῖς γὰρ τὸ τῆς μελλούσης κρίσεως καὶ αἰωνίου κολάσεως τοῖς ἀσεβέσι τηρούμενον πῦρ. ἀλλὰ τί βραδύνεις; φέρε, ὃ βούλει.

About this text

The church of Smyrna tells how its bishop Polycarp and other martyrs died, and holds up his death as a martyrdom that follows the gospel.

The church of Smyrna (fl. c. 156) wrote this letter to the church of God that sojourns at Philomelium and to all communities of the holy and catholic church. It was written to report the martyrdom of Polycarp and other martyrs, and to present Polycarp's death as a model of martyrdom according to the gospel.

The letter reports that recent martyrs endured tortures with remarkable courage. Polycarp, after a vision foretelling his death by fire, was arrested and brought before the proconsul. He refused to swear by Caesar's fortune or revile Christ, confessing himself a Christian and rejecting the proconsul's threats.

The letter quotes Polycarp, the proconsul, the crowd, Herod and Nicetes, a heavenly voice, and a herald. The church collected his bones and resolved to commemorate his martyrdom annually.

New English from the Greek base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from Kirsopp Lake The Apostolic Fathers London William Heinemann Ltd. New York G.P. Putnam's Sons 1917 (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.