The Martyrdom of Polycarp, 1

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[1] We write to you, brethren, the story of the¹ martyrs and of the blessed Polycarp, who put an ductlon end to the persecution by his martyrdom as though adding the seal.² For one might almost say that all that had gone before happened in order that the Lord might show to us from above a martyrdom³ in accordance with the Gospel.

[2] For he waited to be betrayed as also the Lord had done, that we too might become his imitators, not thinking of ourselves alone, but also of our neighbours. For it is the mark of true and steadfast love, not to wish that oneself may be saved alone, but all the brethren also.

The Martyrdom of Polycarp. . . 1913.

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Current edition Perseus

The Martydom of St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (English) (The Martydom of Polycarp. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation by Kirsopp Lake. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1913)

Editions (1)

Martyrium Polycarpi First1KGreek (Martyrium Polycarpi. The Apostolic Fathers, Vol. 2. Lake, Kirsopp, editor. London: William Heinemann Ltd.; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1917.) — 1 focus

[1] Ἐγράψαμεν ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὰ κατὰ τοὺς μαρτυρήσαντας καὶ τὸν μακάριον Πολύκαρπον, ὅστις ὥσπερ ἐπισφραγίσας διὰ τῆς μαρτυρίας αὐτοῦ κατέπαυσεν τὸν διωγμόν. σχεδὸν γὰρ πάντα τὰ προάγοντα ἐγένετο, ἵνα ἡμῖν ὁ κύριος ἄνωθεν ἐπιδείξῃ τὸ κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον μαρτύριον.

[2] περιέμενεν γάρ, ἵνα παραδοθῇ, ὡς καὶ ὁ κύριος, ¹ ἵνα μιμηταὶ καὶ ἡμεῖς αὐτοῦ γενώμεθα, μὴ μόνον σκοποῦντες τὸ καθ̓ ἑαυτούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ κατὰ τοὺς πέλας. ἀγάπης γὰρ ἀληθοῦς καὶ βεβαίας ἐστίν, μὴ μόνον ἑαυτὸν θέλειν σώζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφούς.

Notes on the current edition

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

1. Introduction

2. He was the last to suffer and thus might be regarded as being the seal to the witness or testimony ( μαρτύριον) of the Church. It is not clear whether μαρτυρία and μαρτύριον ought to be translated martyrdom or witness: there is an untranslateable play on the words.

3. Or perhaps witness.

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