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Anonymous, The Martyrdom of Polycarp
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The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp
Chapter I.—Subject of which we write.
Chapter II.—The wonderful constancy of the martyrs.
Chapter III.—The constancy of Germanicus. The death of Polycarp is demanded.
Chapter IV.—Quintus the apostate.
Chapter V.—The departure and vision of Polycarp.
Chapter VI.—Polycarp is betrayed by a servant.
Chapter VII.—Polycarp is found by his pursuers.
Chapter VIII.—Polycarp is brought into the city.
Chapter IX.—Polycarp refuses to revile Christ.
Chapter X.—Polycarp confesses himself a Christian.
Chapter XI.—No threats have any effect on Polycarp.
Chapter XII.—Polycarp is sentenced to be burned.
Chapter XIII.—The funeral pile is erected.
Chapter XIV.—The prayer of Polycarp.
Chapter XV.—Polycarp is not injured by the fire.
Chapter XVI.—Polycarp is pierced by a dagger.
Chapter XVII.—The Christians are refused Polycarp’s body.
Chapter XVIII.—The body of Polycarp is burned.
Chapter XIX.—Praise of the martyr Polycarp.
Chapter XX.—This epistle is to be transmitted to the brethren.
And when the proconsul yet again pressed him, and said, “Swear by the fortune of Cæsar,” he answered, “Since thou art vainly urgent that, as thou sayest, I should swear by the fortune of Cæsar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn what the doctrines27 Or, “an account of Christianity.” of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and thou shalt hear them.” The proconsul replied, “Persuade the people.” But Polycarp said, “To thee I have thought it right to offer an account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honour (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of God.28 Comp. Rom. xiii. 1–7; Tit. iii. 1. But as for these, I do not deem them worthy of receiving any account from me.”29 Or, “of my making any defence to them.”
X 1. Ἐπιμένοντος δὲ´πάλιν αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγοντος· Ὄμοσον τὴν Καίσαρος τύχην, ἀπεκρίνατο· Εἰ κενοδοξεῖς, ἵνα ὀμόσω τὴν καίσαρος τύχην, ὡς σὺ λέγεις, προσποιεῖ δὲ ἀγνοεῖν με, τίς εἰμι, μετὰ παρρησίας ἄκουε· Χριστιανός εἰμι. εἰ δὲ θέλεις τὸν τοῦ Χριστιανισμοῦ μαθεῖν λόγον, δὸς ἡμέραν καὶ ἄκουσον. 2. ἔφη ὁ ἀνθύπατος· Πεῖσον τὸν δῆμον. ὁ δὲ Πολύκαρπος εἶπεν· Σὲ μὲν κἂν λόγου ἠξίωσα· δεδιδάγμεθα γὰρ ἀρχαῖς καὶ ἐξουσίαις ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ τεταγμέναις τιμὴν κατὰ τό προσῆκον, τὴν μὴ βλάπτουσαν ἡμᾶς, ἀπονέμειν· ἐκείνους δὲ οὐχ ἡγοῦμαι ἀξίους τοῦ ἀπολογεῖσθαι αὐτοῖς.