- Home
- Speakers
- St. Polycarp of Smyrna
- An Exhortation To Virtue
St. Polycarp of Smyrna
St. Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 69–c. 155). Born around 69 AD, likely in Asia Minor, Polycarp was a bishop, martyr, and one of the Apostolic Fathers, pivotal in early Christianity. Tradition holds he was a disciple of the Apostle John, receiving direct instruction in Ephesus. Appointed bishop of Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey), he led with humility, preaching Christ’s divinity and resurrection, countering heresies like Docetism. His epistle, Letter to the Philippians, urged steadfast faith and charity, preserved in early Christian writings. Polycarp mentored figures like Irenaeus and corresponded with Ignatius of Antioch, strengthening church unity. At age 86, during a persecution under Emperor Antoninus Pius, he was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to Roman gods. Bound and burned at the stake in Smyrna’s stadium around 155 AD, he survived the flames, only to be stabbed, his martyrdom recorded in The Martyrdom of Polycarp, one of the earliest such accounts. Unmarried, as a celibate bishop, he left no family but a legacy of courage. Polycarp said, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?”
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
St. Polycarp of Smyrna emphasizes the importance of serving the Lord in fear and truth, forsaking empty talk and error, and believing in Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead and glorified. He reminds believers that all things in heaven and on earth are subject to Jesus, who will come as the Judge of the living and the dead. Polycarp urges the congregation to walk in God's commandments, love what He loved, and avoid unrighteousness and evil, while practicing forgiveness, mercy, and humility as taught by the Lord.
An Exhortation to Virtue
"Wherefore, girding up your loins," "serve the Lord in fear" and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things" in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, falsewitness; "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing," or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God."
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
St. Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 69–c. 155). Born around 69 AD, likely in Asia Minor, Polycarp was a bishop, martyr, and one of the Apostolic Fathers, pivotal in early Christianity. Tradition holds he was a disciple of the Apostle John, receiving direct instruction in Ephesus. Appointed bishop of Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey), he led with humility, preaching Christ’s divinity and resurrection, countering heresies like Docetism. His epistle, Letter to the Philippians, urged steadfast faith and charity, preserved in early Christian writings. Polycarp mentored figures like Irenaeus and corresponded with Ignatius of Antioch, strengthening church unity. At age 86, during a persecution under Emperor Antoninus Pius, he was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to Roman gods. Bound and burned at the stake in Smyrna’s stadium around 155 AD, he survived the flames, only to be stabbed, his martyrdom recorded in The Martyrdom of Polycarp, one of the earliest such accounts. Unmarried, as a celibate bishop, he left no family but a legacy of courage. Polycarp said, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?”