Personal Unworthiness
St. Polycarp emphasizes the importance of righteousness, faith, hope, and love in building a strong Christian community.
St. Polycarp of Smyrna emphasizes the importance of righteousness, highlighting the teachings of the apostle Paul as a source of wisdom and truth. He encourages the listeners to study Paul's letters diligently for spiritual growth and to strengthen their faith, hope, and love for God, Christ, and others. Polycarp explains that possessing love is key to fulfilling the command of righteousness and being free from sin.
Text
These things, brethren, I write to you concerning righteousness, not because I take anything upon myself, but because ye have invited me to do so. For neither I, nor any other such one, can come up to the wisdom" of the blessed and glorified Paul.
He, when among you, accurately and stedfastly taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive.
And when absent from you, he wrote you a letter, which, if you carefully study, you will find to be the means of building you up in that faith which has been given you, and which, being followed by hope, and preceded by love towards God, and Christ, and our neighbour, "is the mother of us all." For if any one be inwardly possessed of these graces, he hath fulfilled the command of righteousness, since he that hath love is far from all sin.
Sermon Outline
- The Invitation to Write
- The speaker's humility
- The speaker's respect for Paul's wisdom
Key Quotes
“He, when among you, accurately and stedfastly taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive.” — St. Polycarp of Smyrna
“For if any one be inwardly possessed of these graces, he hath fulfilled the command of righteousness, since he that hath love is far from all sin.” — St. Polycarp of Smyrna
Application Points
- We should strive to build our faith by studying the teachings of Paul and other respected Christian leaders.
- Love is the key to fulfilling the command of righteousness and living a sin-free life.
- We should prioritize hope and love in our relationships with God, Christ, and our neighbors.