Three of my favorite second-century martyrs: Polycarp, Ignatius, Perpetua - The Diigo Meta page

• 11 Oct 13
  

  casey henrichs
  • Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the <!--k39-->time<!--k31--> of his departure having arrived, they set him upon an <!--k37-->ass<!--k31-->, and conducted him into the city, the day being that of the great Sabbath. And the <!--k34-->Irenarch<!--k31--> Herod, accompanied by his father <!--k34-->Nicetes<!--k31--> (both riding in a <!--k35-->chariot<!--k31--> <!--k80=01-0439-->), met him, and taking him up into the chariot, they seated themselves beside him, and endeavoured to persuade him, saying, What harm is there in saying, <!--k39-->Lord<!--k31--> <!--k37-->Cæsar<!--k31-->, <!--k80=01-0440--> and in sacrificing, with the other <!--k37-->ceremonies<!--k31--> observed on such occasions, and so make sure of safety? But he at first gave them no answer; and when they continued to urge him, <!--k88=41--> he said, I shall not do as you advise me. So they, having no hope of persuading him, began to speak bitter <!--k80=01-0441--> words unto him, and cast him with violence out of the chariot, <!--k80=01-0442--> insomuch that, in getting down from the carriage, he <!--k35-->dislocated<!--k31--> his leg <!--k80=01-0443--> [by the fall]. But without being disturbed, <!--k80=01-0444--> and as if suffering nothing, he went eagerly forward with all haste, and was conducted to the stadium, where the tumult was so great, that there was no possibility of being heard.
  • Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from <!--k38-->heaven<!--k31-->, saying, Be strong, and show yourself a man, O Polycarp! No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his <!--k37-->confessing<!--k31--> that he was, [the proconsul] sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, Have respect to your old age, and other similar things, according to their <!--k38-->custom<!--k31-->, [such as], Swear by the fortune of <!--k37-->Cæsar<!--k31-->; <!--k37-->repent<!--k31-->, and say, Away with the <!--k36-->Atheists<!--k31-->. But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to <!--k38-->heaven<!--k31-->, said, Away with the <!--k36-->Atheists<!--k31-->. <!--k80=01-0445--> Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, Swear, and I will set you at liberty, reproach Christ; Polycarp declared, Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my <!--k38-->Saviour<!--k31-->?

  • And when the proconsul yet again pressed him, and said, Swear by the fortune of <!--k37-->Cæsar<!--k31-->, he answered,  

    Since you are vainly urgent that, as you say, I should swear by the fortune of <!--k37-->Cæsar<!--k31-->, and pretend not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn what the <!--k38-->doctrines<!--k31--> <!--k80=01-0446--> of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and you shall hear them.

      

    The proconsul replied, Persuade the people. But Polycarp said,  

    To you I have thought it right to <!--k38-->offer<!--k31--> an account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honour (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and <!--k37-->authorities<!--k31--> which are <!--k38-->ordained<!--k31--> of God. Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1 But as for these, I do not deem them worthy of receiving any account from me.
  • But he answered, Call them then, for we are not accustomed to <!--k37-->repent<!--k31--> of what is <!--k39-->good<!--k31--> in order to adopt that which is evil; <!--k80=01-0449--> and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous.
  • But Polycarp said, You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and after a little is
  • extinguished, but are ignorant of the fire of the coming <!--k38-->judgment<!--k31--> and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why do you tarry? Bring forth what you will.
  • Leave me as I am; for He that gives me strength to endure the fire, <!--k39-->will<!--k31--> also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to remain without moving in the pile.
  • O <!--k39-->Lord<!--k31--> <!--k39-->God<!--k31--> <!--k38-->Almighty<!--k31-->, the Father of your beloved and <!--k38-->blessed<!--k31--> Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of You, the God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the righteous who live before you, I give You thanks that You have counted me, worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of Your martyrs, in the <!--k35-->cup<!--k31--> <!--k80=01-0456--> of your Christ, to the <!--k38-->resurrection<!--k31--> of eternal life, both of soul and body, through the incorruption [<!--k35-->imparted<!--k31-->] by the Holy Ghost. Among whom may I be accepted this day before You as a <!--k35-->fat<!--k31--> <!--k80=01-0457--> and acceptable sacrifice, according as You, the ever-truthful <!--k80=01-0458--> God, have foreordained, have <!--k38-->revealed<!--k31--> beforehand to me, and now have fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise You for all things, I <!--k37-->bless<!--k31--> You, I <!--k37-->glorify<!--k31--> You, along with the everlasting and <!--k38-->heavenly<!--k31--> Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, with whom, to You, and the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.
  • The centurion then, seeing the strife excited by the Jews, placed the body <!--k80=01-0468--> in the midst of the fire, and consumed it. Accordingly, we afterwards took up his bones, as being more precious than the most exquisite jewels, and more <!--k35-->purified<!--k31--> <!--k80=01-0469--> than gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, whither, being gathered together, as opportunity is allowed us, with joy and rejoicing, the <!--k39-->Lord<!--k31--> shall grant us to celebrate the <!--k35-->anniversary<!--k31--> <!--k80=01-0470--> of his martyrdom, both in <!--k38-->memory<!--k31--> of those who have already finished their course, <!--k80=01-0471--> and for the exercising and preparation of those yet to walk in their steps.
  • We wish you, brethren, all happiness, while you walk according to the <!--k38-->doctrine<!--k31--> of the Gospel

  • of Jesus Christ; with whom be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of His holy <!--k37-->elect<!--k31-->, after whose example <!--k80=01-0479--> the <!--k38-->blessed<!--k31--> Polycarp suffered, following in whose steps may we too be found in the <!--k38-->kingdom<!--k31--> of Jesus Christ!

      

    These things <!--k80=01-0480--> <!--k36-->Caius<!--k31--> transcribed from the copy of Irenæus (who was a disciple of Polycarp), having himself been intimate with Irenæus. And I <!--k37-->Socrates<!--k31--> transcribed them at Corinth from the copy of <!--k36-->Caius<!--k31-->. <!--k37-->Grace<!--k31--> be with you all.

      

    And I again, Pionius, wrote them from the previously written copy, having carefully searched into them, and the <!--k38-->blessed<!--k31--> Polycarp having <!--k88=44--> manifested them to me through a <!--k37-->revelation<!--k31-->, even as I shall show in what follows. I have collected these things, when they had almost faded away through the lapse of <!--k39-->time<!--k31-->, that the Lord Jesus Christ may also gather me along with His <!--k37-->elect<!--k31--> into His <!--k38-->heavenly<!--k31--> <!--k38-->kingdom<!--k31-->, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

      <!--fountain3=nogoogle-->

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• 18 Feb 08
  

  Nathan Rein

  Here's what I'm having students read this week, just in case you're wondering what a true tenured radical does.

  christianity del.icio.us_import history post:facebook(clip) post:twitter primary_source religion violence

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