POLYCARB
Introduction.
Polycarb was
bishop as Smyrna through which Ignatius passed as he was led to Rome for his
victory. Polycarb, the victor of
the Christian faith went to his Lord as he was burned on what is called
"the stake", a pile of wood with a post on which the offering is
fastened.
The proconsul thought to scare him saying that he would throw him to the wild beast if he did not repent, to which Polycarb answered; "Let them come, it is not our custom to turn ourselves from what is good to what is worse."
Since that
therefore did not work for the proconsul, he thought that fire would be worse
and said; "If then you do not fear the wild beasts we will let you be
burned with fire." At which
Polycarb answered;
"You threaten me with fire that burns for but an hour
after which it is quenched, but you do not know that there is a fire that
burns forever which is saved for the ungodly, and so why do you delay, do
whatever pleases you".
And having placed him on the stake with a whole multitude eager to behold the sight, the executioners wished to tie him to the post so he would not walk off of himself as soon as the fire touched him. But he said "Leave it be, for He who gives me strength to endure the fire will also give me the strength to remain unmoved without those nails to fasten me."
TO
INDEX1. Polycarb
and the presbyters that are with me to the church of God at Philippi, mercy to
you and peace from God Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
2.
I rejoice
greatly with you in our Lord Jesus Christ that you received the images of a true
love, and that you held those with them who were in bonds as it also becomes
saints, for such are the crowns of those truly chosen by God and our Lord.
3. And also
that the root of faith which was preached from old remains firm in you and to
bring forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sins suffered himself to
be brought to death
4. Whom God
also raised up spoiling the pains of death in Him, in whom you rejoice with
unspeakable joy and glory, into which many desire to enter.
5. You know
that you are saved by grace and not by works by the will of God through Jesus
Christ, gird therefore up the loins of your mind and serve the Lord with fear
and in truth.
6. Lay all
vain and empty speech aside, for this is the error of many, but believe in Him
who raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead, and gave Him glory and a throne at
His right hand.
7. To Him He
also made subject both what is in heaven and on the earth, who will judge the
living and the dead, and whom every living creature shall worship.
8. And He
that raised Christ from the dead shall also raise us in like manner if we
perform His will and walk according to His commandments, and love those things,
which He loves.
9. Abstain
from all unrighteousness, from improper affections, from love of money, from
evil speaking, false witness, nor rendering evil for evil, nor reviling for
reviling. Nor striking for striking
or cursing for cursing.
10. But
remember what the Lord taught us saying; "Judge not and you shall not be
judged, forgive and you shall be forgiven.
Be merciful and you shall obtain mercy, for with the same measure that
you measure, you will be measured."
11.
And
again; "that the poor are blessed, and they who are persecuted for
righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God."
Chapter 2
1.
It
is not of myself O my brothers that I took this liberty to write to you
concerning righteousness, but you yourselves encouraged me thereto.
2. For
neither myself, nor anyone such as I can measure up to the wisdom of the blessed
and renowned Paul who did all things with exactness when he was with you in
person with those who lived then, and who with soundness taught the word of
truth.
3. And
having departed from you he wrote you a letter, by which, if you will look into
it, you will be able to improve yourselves in the faith, which is the mother of
us all, that was delivered to you.
4. For if
any man has these things he has fulfilled the law of righteousness, for he that
has love is far from all sin.
5. But the
love of money is the root of all evil, knowing therefore that as we brought
nothing into this world so neither will we carry anything out of it.
6. Let us
arm ourselves with the armor of righteousness, and first teach ourselves to walk
according to the commandments of the Lord, and our wives also to walk likewise
according to the faith that is given them in love and in purity.
7.
Loving
their husbands with all sincerity and all others alike with temperance, and to
bring their children up in the instructions and fear of the Lord.
8.
Teach the
widows likewise to be sober in what concerns the faith of the Lord, and to pray
for all men, keeping far from distractions, backbiting, false witness, covetness,
and from all evil.
9. Knowing
that they are the altars of God who sees all blemish, from whom nothing is hid,
who searches out the very reasoning, thoughts, and secrets of our hearts.
10.
Knowing
therefore that God is not to be mocked we ought to walk worthy both of His
command and of His glory.
11.
The
deacons also must be blameless before Him as ministers of God in Christ and not
of men, not false accusers, nor double tongued, nor lovers of money, but
moderate in all things, compassionate, careful, walking according to the truth
of the Lord who was the servant of all.
12.
Whom, if
we please Him in this world, we shall also be partakers of that which is to come
as He promised us that He would raise us from the dead that if we shall walk
worthy of Him we shall also reign together with Him, if we believe.
13.
In like
manner the young men must be blameless in all things, above all taking care of
their purity, and restrain themselves from all evil.
14. For it is
good to abstain from the lust of the world since they war against the spirit,
for neither fornicators, nor carelessness, nor abusers of himself or herself
shall inherit the kingdom of god, nor such as do foolish and unreasonable
things.
15. You must
therefore abstain from these things, and be subject to the priests and deacons
as unto God and Christ.
16.
Admonish
the virgins to walk in a spotless and pure conscience.
And let the elders be compassionate and merciful towards all seeking out
those that are weak and turning them from their errors.
Nor forget the widows the poor and the fatherless, but always provide
what is good both in the sight of God and man.
17.
Abstain
from all wrath and of respect of persons, and of unrighteous judgment, and be
especially free of covetness.
18. Be not so
quick to believe anything against any, nor be severe in judgment knowing that we
are all debtors in the point of sin.
19.
If we
pray to the Lord to forgive us - we ought also to forgive others, for we are all
in the sight of our Lord and God, and we must all stand before the judgment seat
of Christ where everyone shall account of himself.
20. Let us
serve Him in fear therefore, and with all reverence as He has commanded, and as
also the apostles preached the gospel to us, and as the prophets taught
foretelling us His coming.
21.
Be
zealous for what is good, and abstain from offenses and from false brothers, and
from those who bear the name of Christ in hypocrisy, who deceive vain men.
1. For
whosoever does not confess Jesus Christ come in the flesh, he is an antichrist,
and whosoever does not confess His suffering on the cross - is from evil.
2. And
whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own desire and says that there
shall neither be any resurrection nor judgment - he is the firstborn of Satan.
3.
Leave
therefore the vanity of these many and their false doctrines, but let us return
to the word that was delivered to us since the beginning watching to prayer and
enduring fasting (single-mindedness).
4. In prayer
entreat the all seeing God not to lead us into temptation - as the Lord said;
"The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak".
5. Let us
hold steadfastly to Him who is our hope and the earnest of our righteousness.
He Jesus Christ who in His own self bore our sins in His own body on the
tree, who did no sin, neither was any guile found in His mouth.
But He suffered all for us that we might live in Him.
6. Let us
thus imitate His patience, and if we suffer for His name - let us glorify Him,
for this example He gave us in Himself, and thus we have believed.
7. I exhort
all of you that you obey the word of righteousness and exercise patience which
you have seen displayed before you not only in the blessed Ignatius and Zozimus,
and Rufus, but in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself and in the rest
of the apostles.
8. Be
confident of this that these all did not run in vain but in faith, and
righteousness, and have departed to the place that was theirs from the Lord with
whom they also suffered.
9. For they
loved not this present world but Him who died and was raised again by God for
us.
10. Stand in
these things and follow the example of the Lord being firm and unmoved in the
faith, lovers of the brotherhood, lovers of one another, together companions in
the truth, being kind and gentle toward each other despising none.
11.
When it
is in your power to do good defer it not, for love delivers from death, be each
one subject to one another.
12.
Have your
conversation honest among Gentiles that by your good works both you may receive
praise, and the Lord may not be blasphemed because of you.
13. But woe
be to him by whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed, teach therefore sobriety
to all men and exercise yourself therein also.
1.
I
am greatly afflicted for Valens who was once a presbyter among you that he
understood so little of the place that was given him in the church.
2.
I
admonish you therefore that you abstain from covetness and that you be chaste
and true of speech.
3. Keep
yourselves from all evil, for he who cannot govern himself in these things how
will he be able to prescribe them to another?
4. If a man
does not keep himself from covetness he shall be polluted with idolatry and be
judged as were he a Gentile.
5. And which
of us shall be ignorant of the judgment of God? For do we not know that the saints shall judge the world,
even as Paul taught?
6. But I
have not heard nor perceived this of any person among you where the blessed Paul
labored and who are named in the beginning of his letter.
7.
For he
glories of you in all churches, who at that time knew only God, for at that time
we did not know Him Jesus, for which reason my brothers I am greatly sorry both
for him, and for his wife, may God grant them a true repentance.
8. And you
also, be moderate in this not looking upon such as enemies, but call them back
as suffering and erring members that you may save your whole body, for by so
doing you will edify your own selves.
9.
For I
trust that you are well exercised in the holy scriptures, and that nothing is
hid from you, but at present it is not granted me to practice what is written;
"Be angry and sin not." And
again "Let not the sun go down on your wrath".
10.
Blessed
is he who remembers and believes these things which I also trust you do.
11.
God the
Father of our Lord Jesus, who is the everlasting High Priest, the Son of God,
built you in faith and in truth, and in all meekness, and lenience, in patience
and long suffering, in forbearance and love.
12. And may
He grant you a lot and portion among His saints, and us with you, and to all
that are under heaven who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and in His
Father who raised Him from the dead.
13. Pray for
all the saints, pray also for the kings, and all that are in authority, and for
those who persecute you and hate you, the enemies of the cross, that your fruit
may be manifested in all, and that you may be perfect in Christ.
14. Both you
and Ignatius wrote to me that if any went from here to Syria he should bring
your letters with him, and this I will care for as soon as I shall have the
opportunity either by myself or by him whom I shall sent to your account.
15. The
letter of Ignatius which he wrote to you`, together with others of him that have
come to our hand we have sent to you according to your order which are attached
with this letter.
16.
By these
you will greatly profit for they treat faith and patience, and all things that
pertain to building in the Lord Jesus.
17. What you
must know of a certainty of Ignatius and of those that are with him - signify
that to us.
18.
These
things then have I written you by Crescent who by this letter I recommend to
you.
19. For he had his conversation among us without blame, and I trust also with you, and have also regard for his sister when he shall have come to you.
20. Be safe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in favor with all yours. Amen.
