Methodius of Olympus (d. c. 311) was a bishop in Lycia and a prolific theologian. He wrote this treatise, which now survives only in fragments, probably to encourage Christians facing persecution.
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Contents 2 passages 1 Christ honored martyrdom by his own witness 2 Beginning in human will, completion in God Author Methodius of Olympus (d. c. 311 AD) — A bishop in Lycia who wrote the Banquet, a dialogue in praise of virginity modeled on Plato, and works on free will and the resurrection that answer Origen. Tradition says he died a martyr around 311.
All works by Methodius of Olympus
About this text Fragments of Methodius on martyrdom: a gift of God that crowns human resolve, while every good act is completed by God.
The work reflects a time when Christians could be put to death for their faith. Methodius presents martyrdom as a gift from God that crowns human resolve, while also insisting that the completion of every good action belongs to God.
A reader will meet Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who honored martyrdom by bearing witness to it. The text quotes Philippians 2:6, saying that Christ did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Methodius says that every good action has its beginning in human will, but its completion rests with God. The word "substance" here means the grounding or reality of a good action in human will, not material stuff.
New English from the Greek base text; no published English used as wording.
Printed text used
Translated from Methodius D.G. Nathanael Bonwetsch Methodius J. C. Hinrichs'Sche Buchhandlung Leipzig 1917 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.
Christ honored martyrdom by his own witness §1 Methodius opens his treatise by praising martyrdom, saying that the Lord Jesus Christ himself honored it by bearing witness to it.
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1 For martyrdom is so wonderful and so much-sought-after that the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the Son of God, honored it by bearing witness to it, "not considering being equal with God something to be grasped" (Philippians 2:6 ), so that also with this gift he might crown the man into whom he descended.
Greek · §1 The Greek is on each section page: §1
Beginning in human will, completion in God §2 Methodius is closing the treatise by stating the principle that grounds his argument about martyrdom as a divine gift.
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2 Every good action has its beginning in our will, in which it has its substance, but its completion rests with God.
Greek · §2 The Greek is on each section page: §2
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