The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

II. Polycarp—Resurrection Is Immortality’s Sole Gateway

Soon after the middle of the second century the series of Apostolic Fathers ends with the venerable POLYCARP (d. A.D. 155), martyred bishop of Smyrna. According to Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Eusebius, he was a disciple of the apostle John and also the teacher of the noted Irenaeus. Under Marcus Antoninus a storm of persecution broke out in Smyrna, which, swelling into a tempest, engulfed Polycarp in the seventh year of the emperor’s reign. His last prayer at the stake, as he was burned for his faith, is recorded by Eusebius. It tells of his unwavering belief in the resurrection of the soul, as well as of the body. CFF1 791.3

Of Polycarp’s personal life little is known. Irenaeus states that he not only was a disciple of John but was acquainted with many who knew Christ. Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna when Ignatius was bishop of Antioch. It was from him that Polycarp had received a letter shortly before he was to suffer death at Rome. And during his brief sojourn in Rome, Polycarp bore witness to the apostolic doctrine, and attempted to stay the encroaching heresies. CFF1 791.4

Of various letters written by Polycarp only one has been preserved—his short Epistle to the Philippians. The church at Philippi was the first of the European churches to be founded, and was greatly beloved by Paul. This epistle is acknowledged by all as authentic, both from external and internal evidence. ³⁷ A major portion of it was incorporated by Eusebius in his Church History. ³⁸ In Jerome’s time Polycarp was publicly read in some of the churches. CFF1 792.1