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Polycarp, overseer of Smyrna and a disciple of John the Apostle, was martyred for his faith in about 155 AD at the age of 86 or 87. His letter to the Philippians is a central and well-attested document among early Christian writings and forms part of what is popularly called the Apostolic Fathers.
Polycarp and the Elders with him to the Assembly of God sojourning in Philippi; mercy and peace from God Almighty and Jesus Christ our Savior be multiplied to you.
I greatly rejoice with you in our Lord Jesus Christ that you have followed the pattern of true love, and have helped on their way, as opportunity was given you, those who were bound in chains, which become the holy ones, and are the diadems of those who have been truly chosen by God and our Lord. I also rejoice that your firmly rooted faith, which was famous in past years, still flourishes and bears fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who endured for our sins, even to the suffering of death, “whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of Hades, in whom, though you did not see Him, you believed in unspeakable and glorified joy”—into which joy many desire to come, knowing that “by grace you are saved, not by works” but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.
“For what reason, girding up your loins, serve God in fear” and truth, putting aside empty vanity and vulgar error, “believing on Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave Him glory,” and a throne on His right hand, “to whom are subject all things in the heavens and earth,” whom all breath serves, who is coming as “the Judge of the living and of the dead,” whose blood God will require from them who disobey Him. Now “He who raised Him” from the dead “will also raise us up” if we do His will, and walk in His commands, and love the things which He loved, refraining from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness, “not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,” or blow for blow, or curse for curse, but remembering what the Lord taught when He said, “Do not judge so that you are not judged, forgive and it will be forgiven to you, be merciful that you may obtain mercy, with what measure you mete, it will be measured to you again,” and “Blessed are the poor, and they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.”
These things, brothers, I write to you concerning righteousness, not at my own instance, but because you first invited me. For neither am I, nor is any other like me, able to follow the wisdom of the blessed and glorious Paul, who when he was among you in the presence of the men of that time accurately and steadfastly taught the word of truth, and also when he was absent wrote letters to you, from the study of which you will be able to build yourselves up into the faith given to you, “which is the mother of us all” when faith follows, and love of God, and Christ, and neighbor goes before. For if one is in this company, he has fulfilled the command of righteousness, for he who has love is far from all sin.
“But the beginning of all evils is the love of money.” Knowing therefore that “we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it,” let us arm ourselves with the armor of righteousness, and let us first of all teach ourselves to walk in the command of the Lord; next teach our wives to remain in the faith given to them, and in love and purity, tenderly loving their husbands in all truth, and loving all others equally in all chastity, and to educate their children in the fear of God. Let us teach the widows to be discreet in the faith of the Lord, praying ceaselessly for all men, being far from all slander, evil speaking, false witness, love of money, and all evil, knowing that they are the altar of God, and that all offerings are tested, and that nothing escapes Him of reasonings or thoughts, or of “the secret things of the heart.”
Knowing then that “God is not mocked,” we should walk worthily of His command and glory. Likewise must the servants be blameless before His righteousness, as the servants of God and Christ and not of man, not slanderers, not double-tongued, not lovers of money, [but] temperate in all things, compassionate, careful, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was the “servant of all.” For if we please Him in this present world, we will receive from Him that which is to come, even as He promised us to raise us from the dead, and that if we are worthy citizens of His community, “we will also reign with Him,” if we have but faith. Likewise also, let the younger men be blameless in all things, caring, above all, for purity, and curbing themselves from all evil; for it is good to be cut off from the lust of the things in the world, because “every lust wars against the Spirit, and neither fornicators, nor the effeminate, nor sodomites will inherit the Kingdom of God,” nor they who do iniquitous things. For what reason it is necessary to refrain from all these things, and to be subject to the elders and servants as to God and Christ. The virgins must walk with a blameless and pure conscience.
And let the elders also be compassionate, merciful to all, bringing back those that have wandered, caring for all the weak, neglecting neither widow, nor orphan, nor poor, but “always providing for that which is good before God and man,” refraining from all wrath, respect of persons, [and] unjust judgment, [and] being far from all love of money, not quickly believing evil of any, not hasty in judgment, knowing that “we all owe the debt of sin.” If then we pray to the Lord to forgive us, we also should forgive, for we stand before the eyes of the Lord and of God, and “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and each must give an account of himself.” So then “let us serve Him with fear and all reverence,” as He Himself commanded us, and as did the apostles, who brought us the good news, and the prophets who foretold the coming of our Lord. Let us be zealous for good, refraining from offense, and from the false brothers, and from those who bear the Name of the Lord in hypocrisy, who deceive empty-minded men.
“For everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is an antichrist”; and whoever does not confess the testimony of the Cross is of the Devil; and whoever perverts the oracles of the Lord for his own lusts, and says that there is neither resurrection nor judgment—this man is the firstborn of Satan. For what reason, leaving the foolishness of the crowd, and their false teaching, let us turn back to the word which was delivered to us in the beginning, “watching to prayer” and persevering in fasting, imploring the all-seeing God in our supplications “to lead us not into temptation,” even as the Lord said, “The spirit is forward, but the flesh weak.”
Let us then persevere unceasingly in our hope, and in the pledge of our righteousness, that is in Christ Jesus, “who bore our sins in His own body on the tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth,” but for our sakes, that we might live in Him, He endured all things. Let us then be imitators of His endurance, and if we suffer for His Name’s sake, let us glorify Him. For this is the example which He gave us in Himself, and this is what we have believed.
Now I implore you all to obey the word of righteousness, and to endure with all the endurance which you also saw before your eyes, not only in the blessed Ignatius, and Zosimus, and Rufus, but also in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself, and in the other apostles; being persuaded that all of these “did not run in vain,” but in faith and righteousness, and that they are with the Lord in the “place which is their due,” with whom they also suffered. For they did not “love this present world” but Him who died on our behalf, and was raised by God for our sakes.
Therefore, stand firm in these things and follow the example of the Lord, “firm and unchangeable in faith, loving the brotherhood, affectionate to one another,” joined together in the truth, preempting one another in the gentleness of the Lord, despising no man. When you can do good, do not defer it, “for kindness sets free from death; let all be subject to one another, having your conversation blameless among the nations,” that you may receive praise “for your good works” and that the Lord not be blasphemed in you. “But woe to him through whom the Name of the Lord is blasphemed.” Therefore, teach sobriety to all and show it forth in your own lives.
I am deeply sorry for Valens, who was once made an elder among you, that he so little understands the place which was given to him. I advise, therefore, that you keep from greed, and be pure and truthful. Keep yourselves from all evil. For how may he who cannot attain self-control in these matters prescribe it on another? If any man does not abstain from greed he will be defiled by idolatry and will be judged as if he were among the nations who “do not know the judgment of God.” Or do we “not know that the holy ones will judge the world?” as Paul teaches. But I have neither perceived nor heard any such thing among you, among whom the blessed Paul labored, who are praised in the beginning of his Letter. For concerning you he boasts in all the assemblies who then alone had known the Lord, for we had not yet known Him. Therefore, brothers, I am deeply sorry for him [(Valens)] and for his wife, and “may the Lord grant them true conversion.” Therefore, be also moderate in this matter yourselves, and “do not regard such men as enemies,” but call them back as fallible and straying members, that you may make whole the body of you all. For in doing this you edify yourselves.
For I am confident that you are well versed in the Writings, and from you nothing is hidden; but to me this is not granted. Only, as it is said in these Writings, “Be angry and do not sin,” and “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” Blessed is the man who remembers this, and I believe that it is so with you. Now may God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the “perpetual Priest” Himself—Jesus Christ, the Son of God—build you up in faith and truth, and in all gentleness, and without wrath, and in patience, and in long-suffering, and endurance, and purity, and may He give you lot and part with His holy ones, and to us with you, and to all under Heaven who will believe in our Lord and God Jesus Christ
and in His “Father who raised Him from the dead.” “Pray for all the holy ones. Pray also for the emperors,” and for potentates, and princes, and for “those who persecute you and hate you,” and for “the enemies of the Cross” that “your fruit may be manifest among all men, that you may be perfected” in Him.
Both you and Ignatius wrote to me that if anyone was going to Syria he should also take your letters. I will do this if I have a convenient opportunity—either myself or the man whom I am sending as a representative for you and me. We send you, as you asked, the letters of Ignatius, which were sent to us by him, and others which we had by us. These are appended to this letter, and you will be able to benefit greatly from them. For they contain faith, patience, and all the edification which pertains to our Lord. Let us know anything further which you have heard about Ignatius himself and those who are with him.
1 I have written this to you by Crescens, whom I commended to you when I was present, and now commend again. For he has behaved blamelessly among us, and I believe that he will do the same with you. His sister will be commended to you when she comes to you. Farewell in the Lord Jesus Christ in grace, with all who are yours. Amen.