The Life and Death of Polycarp

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The Life and Death of Polycarp

• Danville church of Christ
• 3-22-09
• Tim Curry
• www.danvillechurchofchrist.org

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Martyrs for the Cause of Christ

• Stephen (Acts 7 2220)
• James, the son of Zebedee (Acts 121-4)
• Antipas (Revelation 212, 13)
• Peter - crucified upside down in Rome. (John
  2119)
• Andrew - crucified on a Transverse (X) cross
• Matthias - stoned, then beheaded
• Thomas - stabbed to death
• Paul beheaded (II Timothy 46-8)
• Phillip - scourged, thrown into Prison, then
  crucified
• John - died a natural death in 98

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Polycarpof Smyrna
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Smyrna

• Port City access to land and sea
• Present-day Izmir, Turkey
• One of the 7 churches of Asia Minor (Rev. 28-11)
• 195 B.C. a temple was built for pagan Roman
  worship
• City became a center for emperor worship
• Later rulers brought insurmountable persecutions
  upon early Christians
• Apostle John in Rev. 210 says be thou faithful
  unto death

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Wave of Persecution

• (65-68 A.D.) Nero laid the blame for Rome's
  burning on the Christians.
• (89-96 A.D.) A later wave came at the hands of
  Domitian
• (108 A.D.) Ignatius of Antioch, thrown to the
  wild beasts in the amphitheatre during the reign
  of Trajan
• Marcus Aurelius, who reigned from 161 to 180
  A.D., desired to restore the ancient religious
  practices, and saw Christians as a hindrance to
  his goal.
• Diocletian in 303 A.D. after he "determined to
  exterminate Christianity and to reinstate the
  ancient system of worship."

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Clement of Rome
Papias of Hierapolis
Ignatius of Antioch
Polycarp of Smyrna
Apostle John died (98 AD)
Crucifixion Of Jesus 33 AD
30 AD
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50
60
70
80
90
100
Ignatius of Antioch (70-115)
Papias of Hierapolis (60-150)
Clement of Rome (30-100)
Polycarp of Smyrna (70-155)
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Irenaeus of Lyons

• Other Apostolic Fathers
• Hermas
• Tatian
• Tertullian
• Origen
• Clement of Alexandria
• Justin Martyr (100-166)
• Cyprian

120 AD
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140
150
200
180
170
190
160
Irenaeus of Lyons (120-200)
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The Life and Death of
Polycarp
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Polycarpof Smyrna
Birth (70 AD)
60 AD
120
130
160
140
70
80
90
100
110
150
Disputed Year of Death of Polycarp (155
or 156 AD)
Polycarp appointed to the Eldership at Smyrna
(approx. 100 AD)
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Polycarp and the Apostle John?

• Association with the Apostle John
• Did he know John?
• Polycarps devoted pupil, Irenaeus, says in his
  writings that Polycarp was a student of Johns
• Add to that, Polycarp and John lived in the same
  time.

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Death of Polycarp
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Interesting Events Leading to His Death

• Three days before he was arrested the Lord
  revealed to him in a dream that he would be
  burned at the stake. When the soldiers came to
  get him, his friends insisted on hiding him.
  Polycarp made it clear that in the future, he
  would not allow himself to be hidden. Soon the
  soldiers discovered where he had been taken. When
  he saw them coming, he went out and greeted them
  warmly and offered them food.
• As they were eating, he requested that he be
  allowed to pray before they took him away. His
  request was granted. For two hours he prayed
  fervently out loud, inasmuch that many of the
  soldiers began to repent, that they were come out
  against so godly an old man.  

http//www.godscare.net/palace/martyrroom1.htm
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Interesting Events Leading to His Death

• One of the judges tried to get him to deny his
  faith by saying, "Reverence thy old ageSwear by
  Casear's Fortune. Repent, and say Take away the
  Wicked." Polycarp, looking with a stern
  countenance upon the whole multitude of wicked
  Gentiles, that was gathered together in the
  Lifts, and shaking his hand at them, looked up to
  Heaven, and groaning said, "Take away the
  Wicked." But the judge was not satisfied with
  this. He said, "Sware, and I will set thee at
  liberty reproach Christ!
• Polycarp replies with this most famous statement
•  

http//www.godscare.net/palace/martyrroom1.htm
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Six and eighty years have I served him, and he
has done me nothing but good and how could I
curse him, my Lord and my Savior! From John Fox,
Foxs Book of Martyrs,
(Philadelphia, PA, 1926)
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Interesting Events Leading to His Death

• The judge continues to urge Polycarp to renounce
  the Lord by saying Caesar is Lord!
• The judge then angrily urges him to, "swear by
  the Genius of Caesar." Polycarp refuses, but
  offered to share his faith in Christ.
• The judge rejected the offer and threatened, "I
  have wild beasts ready, to those I will cast thee
  except thou repent.
• Polycarp responds calmly, "Call for them then
  For we Christians are fixed in our minds not to
  change from good to evil But for me it will be
  good to be changed from Evil, to Good."
• The furious judge said, "Seeing that thou
  dispiseth the Wild Beasts, I will cause thee to
  be devoured by Fire, unless thou shall repent.

http//www.godscare.net/palace/martyrroom1.htm
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Interesting Events Leading to His Death

• Polycarp answered, "Thou threatenest me with Fire
  which burns for an hour, and so is extinguished
  but knowest not the Fire of the Future Judgment
  of that Eternal Punishment which is reserved for
  the Ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth
  what thou wilt!
• They took Polycarp to the stake and were going to
  nail him there. He spoke up and said, "Let me
  alone as I am For he who has given me strength
  to endure the Fire, will also enable me, without
  your securing me by nails, to stand without
  moving in the pile." They merely tied him to the
  stake.
•  

http//www.godscare.net/palace/martyrroom1.htm
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Interesting Events Leading to His Death

• Polycarp answered, "Thou threatenest me with Fire
  which burns for an hour, and so is extinguished
  but knowest not the Fire of the Future Judgment
  of that Eternal Punishment which is reserved for
  the Ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth
  what thou wilt!
• They took Polycarp to the stake and were going to
  nail him there. He spoke up and said, "Let me
  alone as I am For he who has given me strength
  to endure the Fire, will also enable me, without
  your securing me by nails, to stand without
  moving in the pile." They merely tied him to the
  stake.
• Polycarp then prayed his last prayer.
•  

http//www.godscare.net/palace/martyrroom1.htm
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Interesting Events Leading to His Death

• Upon the "AMEN" the executioner lit the fire, but
  something strange happened. The flames arched
  around Polycarp like a sail of a ship filled with
  wind and he would not burn.
• After some time, the command was given to the
  executioner to stab him with a sword, so he did.
• The result was that so much blood flowed from the
  wound that it extinguished the fire.
• The fire was rekindled and Polycarps body was
  burned to ashes.
•  

http//www.godscare.net/palace/martyrroom1.htm
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After His Death

• Historical writings tell us that Polycarps body
  is destroyed and his bones are taken by the
  Christians to an appropriate place where they
  intend the celebrate the birthday of his
  martyrdom
• This is possibly the time when the custom of
  treasuring the relics of the saints began.
•  

Authentication of the Events

• Records of eye-witnesses
• Verbatim from latin literally means
  word-for-word so its likely that the events
  transpired exactly how they did. 

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Faith of our Fathers (Sacred Selections
222) Faith of our Fathers! Living Still, In
spite of dungeon, fire, and sword O how our
hearts beat high with joy, whenever we hear that
glorious word Our fathers, chained in prisons
dark, were still in heart and conscience free
how sweet would be their childrens fate, if
they, like them, could die for thee! Faith of
our fathers! We will love, both friend and foe in
all our strife And preach thee, too, as love
knows how, by kindly words and virtuous
life CHORUS Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death
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Examine the Boldness of the Apostle
John and Polycarp

• Some Historical Quotes
• John was in a bath house when a heretic
  approached. John turned around and ran out of the
  bathhouse and said let us fly away, lest even
  the wolves fall down because the enemy of truth
  is within.
• One time when Polycarp was approached by a
  heretic that asked do you know me, Polycarp
  said I know you and youre the first born of
  Satan! Also in this context, Polycarp also said,
  "I am a Christian!"

Earnestly contend for the faith... (Jude 3)
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Their Legacy

• We are indebted to the example of
  those who died for their convictions.
• Many of them were not Christians as the New
  Testament uses the word.
• The death of Polycarp, the Apostles, and others
  inspired many saints!
• Persecution is still occurring today in various
  parts of the world as people with courage refuse
  to bow down to the edicts of men.

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References

• Websites
• www.churchtimeline.com/apostolic.htm
• www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/7224/Rick/chron1
  .htm
• http//www.godscare.net/palace/martyrroom1.htm
• Books
• Fox, John Foxs Book of Martyrs, (Philadelphia,
  PA, 1926) p. 8
• Lockyer, Herbert. All the Apostles of the Bible.
  Grand Rapids, MI Zondervan Publishing House,
  1972.
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1979.
  p. 210-211
• Movie
• Turkish Delight (DVD) Drive thru History with
  Dave Stotts

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