Polycarp to the Philippians · §13 · Polycarp of Smyrna

Forwarding letters to Syria and sending Ignatius's letters

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Polycarp is writing to the Philippians about letters: he will forward theirs to Syria when he can, and he has sent them the letters of Ignatius that he had.

You and Ignatius both wrote to me asking that if anyone is going to Syria, he should also carry your letters there. I will do this, if I find a suitable opportunity, either myself or through someone I send to be an ambassador on your behalf as well.

We have sent you the letters of Ignatius that he sent to us, along with all the others we had with us, just as you instructed. They are attached to this letter, and you will be able to gain great benefit from them, for they contain faith, endurance, and every kind of edification that pertains to our Lord. And regarding Ignatius himself and those who are with him, report to us whatever you learn with greater certainty.

Greek

Ἐγράψατέ μοι καὶ ὑμεῖς καὶ Ἰγνάτιος, ἵν᾽, ἐάν τις ἀπέρχηται εἰς Συρίαν, καὶ τὰ παῤ ὑμῶν ἀποκομίσῃ γράμματα: ὅπερ ποιήσω,ἐὰν λάβω καιρὸν εὔθετον, εἴτε ἐγώ, εἴτε ὄν πέμπω πρεσβεύσοντα καὶ περὶ ὑμῶν.

τὰς ἐπιστολὰς Ἰγνατίου τὰς πεμφθείσας ἡμῖν ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἄλλας, ὅσας εἴχομεν παῤ ἡμῖν, ἐπέμψαμεν ὑμῖν, καθὼς ἐνετείλασθε: αἵτινες ὑποτεταγμέναι εἰσὶν τῇ ἐπιστολῇ ταύτῃ, ἐξ ὧν μεγάλα ὠφεληθῆναι δυνήσεσθε. περιέχουσι γὰρ πίστιν καὶ ὑπομονὴν καὶ πᾶσαν οἰκοδομὴν τὴν εἰς τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἀνήκουσαν. Et de ipso Ignatio et de his, qui cum eo sunt, quod certius agnoveritis, significate.

About this text

Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, writes to the church at Philippi on righteousness, on Ignatius and his companions, and on the fall of the elder Valens.

Polycarp of Smyrna (fl. c. 155), bishop of Smyrna, wrote this letter with his fellow elders to the church of God that sojourns at Philippi.

The letter opens by rejoicing that the Philippians welcomed Ignatius and his fellow prisoners and that their faith remains fruitful. Polycarp urges them to serve God in fear and truth, imitate Christ's endurance, and practice righteousness in every station of life: wives, widows, deacons, young men, virgins, and elders. He warns against love of money, false teachings, and those who deny Christ's coming in the flesh or the resurrection and judgment.

He calls the Philippians to follow the examples of Paul, Ignatius, and other martyrs, and to restore gently those who have fallen, especially Valens and his wife. The letter closes with a prayer, a promise to forward their letters to Syria, and a commendation of Crescens.

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

Printed text used

Translated from Polycarp Kirsopp Lake The Apostolic Fathers William Heinemann Harvard University Press London Cambridge, MA 1912 1 (Greek)
Also checked Lake 1912, The Apostolic Fathers I ( scan apostolicfathers01lake, machine-read text djvu.txt excerpt: Polycarp to the Philippians 9-14) (Latin · control witness for the Latin of 10 14 (public domain))
Also checked Lake 1912/1919, The Apostolic Fathers I ( scan TheApostolicFathersV1, machine-read text djvu.txt excerpt: Polycarp to the Philippians 9-14) (Latin · control witness for the Latin of 10 14 (public domain))

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