Against Polycarp [Part One] When is it that a lie is no longer taken to be an untruth but a divinely-inspired 'reorganization' of history? This, my friends, is really one of those 'unanswerable mysteries' as it is difficult to explain or justify the fickle nature of public perception. It's like asking when exactly was Hugh Hefner transformed from being cast as a selfish pornographer who exploits women to being some kind of revered cultural icon?
At one point does a criminal stop being a law breaker and is instead taken to be as a symbol of protest or an agent of social change? The truth only remains inviolable as long as we have faithful guardians safeguarding the facts. It is only in an age of declining values that we start making claims about a 'free market of ideas' taking care of itself. The truth is that there is no second chance at virginity. This is precisely why the standard penalties for dishonesty, unfaithfulness or innovation within a religious tradition are traditionally so harsh. Next Chapter. 100 Reasons to Doubt - Reason #100: Polycarp's silence regarding his mentor, the Apostle John. Clement, Ignatius, and Polycarp: Three Bishops between the Apostles and Apostasy - Ensign Aug. 1976. The end of the apostolic era carries special fascination. Paul compared the apostles to a parade of men “appointed to death,” a spectacle in the world’s theater on their way to execution. (1 Cor. 4:9.)
James, brother of John, was executed in A.D. 44 (Acts 12:2), and James, brother of the Lord, followed in 62. Nero’s persecution then destroyed Peter and Paul in 67. John outlived the rest but was not seen after the “times of Trajan” (A.D. 98 to 117). And things were not to get any better for the Church: predictions of a dark future only deepen in the last books of the New Testament, including the writings of John. What happened after he finished Revelation? To Latter-day Saints, with their understanding of an early Christian apostasy, the Apostolic Fathers have a special interest. To better understand the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, we need to understand the duties of New Testament bishops. But what would happen if there were no John in Asia and no Paul in Corinth? St. Ignatius of Antioch to Polycarp (Lightfoot translation) 'Ignatius of Antioch & Polycarp of Smyrna'
By Matt C. Abbott The following is the Preface and an additional excerpt (minus footnotes) from the book Ignatius of Antioch & Polycarp of Smyrna, authored by Kenneth J. Howell. Many thanks to Coming Home Resources and Brian O'Neel of CatholicWord.com for allowing me to reprint Dr. Preface To the attentive reader of early Christian writings, the names of St. St. Ignatius has endured the vicissitudes of centuries of scholarship. Polycarp, like Ignatius, can boast a long history of study by scholars and general readers of early Christianity. Every student of the early church fathers, like any scholar doing historical research, must necessarily bring certain presuppositions to the study. A commentary should above all else explain the text in terms a modern reader can understand. . — Kenneth J. 17 October 2009, the Memorial of St. Chapter Five The Eucharist in the Theology of Ignatius The theme of unity, so germane to Ignatius's theology, surfaces again in his references to the liturgy.
Polycarp. Imagine being able to sit at the feet of the apostles and hear their stories of life with Jesus from their own lips. Imagine walking with those who had walked with Jesus, seen him, and touched him. That was what Polycarp was able to do as a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist. But being part of the second generation of Church leaders had challenges that the first generation could not teach about. What did you do when those eyewitnesses were gone?
How do you carry on the correct teachings of Jesus? How do you answer new questions that never came up before? With the apostles gone, heresies sprang up pretending to be true teaching, persecution was strong, and controversies arose over how to celebrate liturgy that Jesus never laid down rules for. Polycarp, as a holy man and bishop of Smyrna, found there was only one answer -- to be true to the life of Jesus and imitate that life. On the other hand when faced with Christian disagreements he was all forgiveness and respect. In His Footsteps: Polycarp of Smyrna: The Second Century Heretic Fighter. By COGwriter Who was Polycarp of Smyrna? Why should you know about him? If this faithful Christian leader were alive today, would he support the any of the Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox churches or instead be part of a group like the Continuing Church of God? This article will try to help answer those questions and more. Here is a link to a YouTube video sermon you can watch about him titled Polycarp of Smyrna: Why Christians should know more about him.
Background on Polycarp Based upon information related to when he apparently died and certain ancient records, it appears that Polycarp was born around 52 A.D. Irenaeus of Lyon c. 170 wrote: For when I was a boy, I saw thee in lower Asia with Polycarp...I can describe the very place in which the Blessed Polycarp used to sit when he discoursed ... his personal appearance ... and how he would describe his intercourse with John and with the rest who had seen the Lord, and how he would relate their words (Eusebius. A. The Life and Martyrdom of Polycarp. (Born about 70 A.D. - Martyred about 168 A.D.) Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D. I have an old book in my study that says on its spine "Wake's Epistles. " It was printed in 1710. This book contains some of the history and letters of the post-Apostolic preachers and accounts to their suffering and martyrdom. Polycarp was born abound 70 A.D.
Persecution of Christians was the order of the day when Marcus Aurelius was the Emporer of Rome (161-180). When he was done praying they set him on a donkey and took him into the city to be tried as one who was an adversary of the authorized pagan religion. This made his judges very angry. To be sure, Polycarp stood for the Lord Jesus Christ to the end, despite all the efforts to persuade him to renounce Christ.
It is at this point that Polycarp gives his famous response -- "Eighty and six years have I now served Christ, and he has never done me the least wrong: How then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior? " E-mail: FirstBaptistChurchOC@gmail.com. Polycarp. Polycarp (Greek: Πολύκαρπος, Polýkarpos; AD 69–155) was a 2nd-century Christian bishop of Smyrna.[1] According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him.[2] Polycarp is regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches.
It is recorded by Irenaeus, who heard him speak in his youth, and by Tertullian,[3] that he had been a disciple of John the Apostle.[4][5] Saint Jerome wrote that Polycarp was a disciple of John and that John had ordained him bishop of Smyrna. With Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp is regarded as one of three chief Apostolic Fathers. The sole surviving work attributed to his authorship is his Letter to the Philippians; it is first recorded by Irenaeus of Lyons. Surviving writings and early accounts[edit] Life[edit] Papias[edit] Irenaeus regarded the memory of Polycarp as a link to the apostolic past. Importance[edit] Pionius, Life of Polycarp (1889) from The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, pp.488-506. Pionius, Life of Polycarp (1889) from J.
B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, pp.488-506. [Translated by J. B. 1. 2. 3. One whose name was Bucolus being bishop in Smyrna at that time, there was in those days a certain lady, devout and fearing God, conversant in good works, whose name was Callisto. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.