Is the Epistle of Polycarp in the Bible?
No. Polycarp's letter and the Martyrdom of Polycarp are early Christian writings from the second century and are not part of any biblical canon.
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Polycarp — Epistle to the Philippians and Martyrdom (Free PDF Study Guide)
A clear introduction to the two documents connected with Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and disciple of the apostle John: his own Epistle to the Philippians, thick with New Testament quotation, and the Martyrdom of Polycarp, an eyewitness letter from the church at Smyrna describing his death by fire around AD 155. This free guide gives the background of both, their most quoted lines, and how they should be read.
An original Bible Sundays study companion. The writings of and about Polycarp are early Christian documents, not Scripture, and are in no Bible. Test all things by the King James Version.
What you get
Polycarp as a living link to the apostle John and to Irenaeus
The Epistle to the Philippians and its dense weave of New Testament quotation
What the letter shows about which apostolic writings Smyrna already possessed
The Martyrdom: 'Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never did me any wrong'
The fire that arched like a sail and the earliest recorded martyr's memorial
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Who was Polycarp?
Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor — one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2 — and, according to Irenaeus, who heard him preach as a boy, a disciple of the apostle John. He therefore stands as the clearest personal link between the apostolic age and the second-century church. He corresponded with Ignatius, travelled to Rome late in life to discuss the date of Easter with Bishop Anicetus, and was burned and stabbed in the stadium at Smyrna in old age.
The Epistle to the Philippians
Written shortly after Ignatius passed through Smyrna, the letter answers a request from Philippi for copies of Ignatius's correspondence and for counsel on a presbyter named Valens who had fallen into greed. It is short, pastoral, and unoriginal by design: Polycarp quotes or echoes Matthew, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Timothy, 1 Peter, and 1 John, weaving apostolic language into almost every paragraph. That habit makes the letter unusually valuable evidence that these writings were already circulating and treated as authoritative in Asia Minor by the early second century.
The Martyrdom of Polycarp
A separate document, written by the church at Smyrna to the church at Philomelium soon after the event, describes his arrest and death. Given a chance to swear by Caesar and revile Christ, the old bishop answered: 'Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never did me any wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?' The account describes the pyre, the flame that bellied out like a sail without consuming him, and the executioner's dagger. It is the earliest surviving Christian martyr account outside the New Testament and the earliest evidence of believers gathering at a martyr's tomb on the anniversary of his death.
How to read these documents
Neither text is Scripture, and the Martyrdom in particular has been embellished in some manuscript traditions. Read them as history and as encouragement: Revelation 2:10 told the church in Smyrna to be faithful unto death, and here is the record of a Smyrnaean bishop who was. Where the documents describe wonders, hold them loosely; where they quote apostolic Scripture, follow the quotation back to the King James text and read it in context.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Polycarp of Smyrna?
Bishop of Smyrna and, according to Irenaeus, a disciple of the apostle John. He was martyred by burning in the stadium at Smyrna around AD 155, at about eighty-six years old.
What did Polycarp say before he died?
Refusing to revile Christ, he said: 'Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never did me any wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?'
When was the Epistle to the Philippians written?
Shortly after Ignatius of Antioch passed through Smyrna on his way to martyrdom, so around AD 107–110, though some scholars argue parts were joined from two letters.
Why is Polycarp's letter important?
It quotes or echoes a large portion of the New Testament, showing that those writings were already circulating and treated as authoritative in Asia Minor within a generation of the apostles.
What is the Martyrdom of Polycarp?
A letter from the church at Smyrna to the church at Philomelium describing his arrest, trial, and death by fire and sword. It is the earliest detailed Christian martyr account outside the New Testament.
Should Christians read Polycarp?
Yes, as history and encouragement rather than as Scripture. His letter is a model of a pastor saturated in the apostolic writings.
Can I share this study guide?
Yes. This Bible Sundays study guide is free to share for any personal, ministry, or educational purpose.
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A formal letter — especially the apostolic letters in the New Testament.
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Every name below appears in the King James Bible. Each page gives the meaning, the verse it appears in, and who carried it in Scripture.
- JoshuaThe LORD is salvation
- JosiahThe LORD heals
- JosiahThe Lord supports; Healed by God
- JoyGreat happiness
- JoyGreat happiness; Delight
- JudahPraise
- JudahPraise; Praised
- JudePraise
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