A reflection on the Martyrdom of Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 65—155 A.D.)

Polycarp was the leader (bishop) of the fledgling Christian church in the city of Smyrna in Asia Minor, and one of the earliest church leaders after the last of the apostles, John, died. We still possess one letter written by him, as well as a contemporary account of his martyrdom for the name of Jesus.

“Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any injury. How then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?”

These were among the final words of the aged bishop of Smyrna as he was called to make the ultimate sacrifice for his owning the name of ‘Christian.’

Far before the Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in Roman Empire, the lot of prominent devotees, such as Polycarp, in this new ‘Christos’ or ‘Christ’ who had lately appeared on the earth — whom Polycarp confessed to be the Son of God — was persecution, torture, even death.

If Polycarp believed this Jesus to be the Son of God, he certainly had it on good authority. He had been personally acquainted with the apostle John, the disciple and ‘son of thunder’ who had leaned on Jesus’ bosom at the Last Supper.

This morning I was reading this in the Psalms of David, and I wonder whether these words were on Polycarp’s lips in his final few days on the earth, when he knew that his death was hand:—

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
Psalm 56:3,4

As his words above show, Polycarp did indeed trust in his Saviour; he was not afraid what mortal men could do to him.

Refusing to recant his faith in Christ, Polycarp was sentenced to be burned alive. They did not nail him to the funeral pile, for he told his executioners that the Saviour would give him strength to remain in the fire. So they merely bound him with rope.

It is said that as he burned in the flames, he appeared not as flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace.

The death of Polycarp is a reminder to us all, that whatsoever afflictions we face in this life, they are but trivial in comparison to the glory which awaits those who confess their King and Saviour.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Note: You can read the letter of Polycarp to the church at Philippi, and the contemporary account of his martyrdom, online in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. I, respectively here and here. The quotation from his lips given above is taken from the account of his martyrdom, chapter IX; I have slightly adapted the quotation into more modern English.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.