The Martyrdom of Polycarp · §3 · Church of Smyrna

Germanicus's courage and the crowd's cry for Polycarp

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The Smyrnaean church is recounting the martyrs' endurance, and now singles out Germanicus, whose bravery in the arena prompts the crowd to demand Polycarp.

But thanks be to God, for the enemy did not prevail against them all. The most noble Germanicus encouraged the others by his endurance, and he fought the wild beasts with distinction. When the proconsul tried to persuade him and told him to have pity on his youth, Germanicus dragged the beast toward himself, forcing it on, because he wanted to be released quickly from their unjust and lawless life.

At this the whole crowd marveled at the nobility of the God-loving and God-fearing race of the Christians, and they shouted, "Away with the atheists! Find Polycarp!"

Greek

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.

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

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.