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The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians

CHAPTER 1

He commends the Philippians for their respect to those who suffered for the Gospel, and for their own faith.

1. Polycarp, and the presbyters that are with him, to the church of God which is at Philippi: mercy to you and peace from God Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior be multiplied.

The genuineness of this Epistle has been questioned by some, but implicitly believed by Archbishop Wake, whose translation is the basis for this revision. There is also a translation by Dr. Cave, attached to his life of Polycarp.

The church in Philippi was founded by St. Paul on his second missionary journey, A.D. 50-51 (Acts 16:11- 20), and was the first church in Europe. On his third missionary journey, he made two brief visits to Philippi, about A.D. 57-58 (Acts 20:1, 6).

The Philippian church was noted for its generosity in support of the apostolic ministry (see The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, 1:5, 4:15, 16; Acts 16:15, 40).

2. I rejoiced greatly with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, that you received the images of a true love, and as it was incumbent on you, accompanied those who were in bonds, which are the crowns of such as are truly chosen by God and our Lord, and is befitting to saints.

Ignatius had set sail from Troas to Neapolis on his way, presumably by ship, to Rome. Apparently the Philippian Christians were able to meet with him, for Philippi is only a few miles north of Neapolis.

3. As also that the root of the faith that was preached from ancient times remains firm in you to this day, and brings forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered himself to be brought even to the death for our sins.
4. Whom God has raised up after having loosed the pains of death, whom having not seen, you love; in whom though now you see him not, yet believing you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Compare with: "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." (1 Peter 1:8)

5. Into which many desire to enter, knowing that by grace you are saved, not by works, but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.

Compare with: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)

6. Therefore girding up the loins of your minds and serve the Lord with fear and in truth, laying aside all empty and vain speech, and the error of many, believing in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and has given him glory and a throne at his right hand.

Compare with: "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)

7. To whom all things are made subject, both that are in heaven, and that are in earth; whom every living creature shall worship; who shall come to be the judge of the living and dead; whose blood God shall require of them that believe in him.

Compare with: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)

8. But he who raised up Christ from the dead will also raise up us, if we do his will and walk according to his commandments, and love those things which he loved:

Compare with: "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present [us] with you." (2 Corinthians 4:14)

9. Abstaining from all injustice, inordinate affection, and love of money, from evil speaking, false witness, not giving evil for evil, or railing for railing, or striking for striking, or cursing for cursing.
10. But remembering what the Lord has taught us saying, Judge not, and you will not be judged; forgive and you will be forgiven; be merciful, and you will obtain mercy; for with the same measure that you measure to others, it will be measured to you again.

See Matthew 7:1, and Luke 6:37.

11. And again, Blessed are the poor, and they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

See Matthew 5:3, 10, and Luke 6:20,22,23.

CHAPTER 2

2. He exhorts to faith, hope, and charity; 5. exhorts against covetousness, and commands the duties of husbands, wives, widows, 6. deacons, young men, virgins, and presbyters.

1. These things, my brethren, I did not myself take the liberty to write to you concerning righteousness, but you yourselves before encouraged me to it.
2. For neither can I, nor any other such as I am, come up to the wisdom of the blessed and renowned Paul, who being in person with those then alive, with all exactness and soundness taught concerning truth, and when absent wrote you epistles.
3. Into which if you look, you will be able to edify yourselves in the faith, the mother of us all, that was delivered to you, who followed with hope and were led on by a general love, both towards God and towards Christ, and towards our neighbor.
4. For if any man who has these things has fulfilled the law of righteousness, for he who has charity is far from all sin.
5. But the love of money is the root of all evil. Knowing therefore that as we brought nothing into this world, so neither may we carry any thing out, let us arm ourselves with the armor of righteousness.

Compare with: "For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.... For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:7,10)

The "root of all evil" is better translated "root of all kinds of evil," or the "beginning of all troubles or difficulties."

For "armor of righteousness," see "breastplate of righteousness" in Ephesians 6:14.

6. And teach ourselves first to walk according to the commandments of the Lord, and then your wives to walk likewise according to the faith that is given to them: in charity, in purity, loving their own husbands with all sincerity, and all others alike with all temperance, and to bring up their children in the truth and fear of the Lord.

Compare with: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22 and Colossians 3:18); "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4; see also Colossians 3:21)

7. The widows likewise teach that they be serious as to what concerns the faith of the Lord: praying always for all men, being far from all detraction, evil speaking, false witness, covetousness, and all evil.
8. Knowing that they are of the altars of God, who sees all blemishes and from whom nothing is hid, and who searches out the very reasonings, thoughts, and secrets of our hearts.

The reference is to the destitute devout widows over sixty who were supported by the church and who beautified the church. See 1 Timothy 5:9, 10.

9. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Knowing that God is not mocked, we therefore ought to walk worthy both of his command and of his glory.

Compare with: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:7-9);

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." (Ephesians 4:1); "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10); "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

10. Also the deacons must be blameless before him, as the ministers of God in Christ, and not of men. Not false accusers, not double tongued, not lovers of money, but moderate in all things: compassionate, careful, and walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant of all.

For the qualifications of deacons, see 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

11. Whom if we please in this present world we shall also be made partakers of that which is to come, according as he has promised to us that he will raise us from the dead, and that if we shall walk worthy of him, we shall also reign together with him, if we believe.

Compare with: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Colossians 1:12); "If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us." (2 Timothy 2:12)

12. Likewise the younger men must be unblamable in all things, above all taking care of their purity and to restrain themselves from all evil. For it is good to be separated from the lusts that are in the world because every such lust is at war against the spirit; and neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, will inherit the kingdom of God, nor they who do such things as are foolish and unreasonable.

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, is spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12); "Young men likewise exhort to be soberminded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works..." (Titus 2:6,7); "... I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.... I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you." (I John 2:13,14)

"Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John 2:15,16);

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

In the last quoted verses, "effeminate" is better translated as "catamites," or those submitting to homosexuals, and "abusers of themselves with mankind" as "sodomites," or male homosexuals.

13. Therefore it is necessary for you to abstain from all these things, and be subject to the priests and deacons, as to God and Christ.
14. Admonish virgins to walk in a spotless and pure conscience.
15. And let the presbyters be compassionate and merciful towards all, turning them from their errors, seeking out those that are weak and not forgetting the widows, the fatherless, and the poor, but always providing what is good both in the sight of God and man.

Compare with: "Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." (Isaiah 1:17; see also Jeremiah 22:3); "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27); "Only [they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do." (Galatians 2:10)

16. Abstaining from all wrath, respect of persons, and unrighteous judgment, and especially being free from all covetousness.
17. Not swift to believe anything against anyone, not severe in judgment, knowing that we are all debtors in matter of sin.
18. If therefore we pray to the Lord that he would forgive us, we ought also to forgive others; for we are all in the sight of our Lord and God, and must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and will every one give an account of himself.

Compare with: "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:25; see also Luke 11:4)

"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." (Romans 14:10); "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

19. Let us therefore serve him in fear and with all reverence, as both he himself has commanded, and as the Apostles who have preached the Gospel to us, and the prophets who have foretold the coming of our Lord have taught us.

Compare with: "And how, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul." (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13:4; see also Joshua 4:24); "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth..." (Joshua 24:14); "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13); "Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and [let] him [be] your fear, and [let] him [be] your dread." (Isaiah 8:13)

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28); "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear." (1 Peter 1:17); "Honor all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." (1 Peter 2:17)

20. Being zealous of what is good, abstaining from all offence, and from false brethren and those who bear the name of Christ in hypocrisy to deceive vain men.

Compare with: "But [it is] good to be zealously affected always in [a] good [thing], and not only when I am present with you." (Galatians 4:18)

CHAPTER 3

1. As to faith in our Savior Christ: his nature and sufferings, the resurrection and judgment. 3. He exhorts to prayer 6. and steadfastness in the faith, from the examples of Christ, 7. and Apostles and saints, and exhorts to carefulness in all well- doing.

1. Whoever does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, he is Antichrist; whoever does not confess his suffering upon the cross, he is from the devil.

See 1 John 4:2, 3.

2. And whoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own desires and says that there will neither be any resurrection nor judgment, he is the first-born of Satan.

Compare with: "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ; whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For it the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, you faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)

3. Therefore leaving the vanities and false doctrines of many, let us return to the word that was delivered to us from the beginning, watching in prayer and persevering in fasting.

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." (1 Peter 4:7)

4. With supplication imploring the all-seeing God not to lead us into temptation, as the Lord has said, The spirit is truly willing, but the flesh is weak.

The word "temptation" can be translated "testings" or "trials," but it is hardly a distinction worth mentioning, for that is what temptation is. God does not tempt us, but we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. (James 1:13).

Compare with: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:13; Luke 11:4); "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak." (Matthew 26:41)

5. Let us therefore without ceasing hold steadfastly to him who is our hope and the binding pledge of our righteousness, even Jesus Christ, who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, but suffered all for us that we might live through him.

Compare with: "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.... Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness..." (1 Peter 2:22, 24)

6. Let us therefore imitate his patience; if we suffer for his name, let us glorify him; this example he has given us by himself, and so have we believed.

Compare with: "For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." (1 Peter 2:20, 21)

7. For this reason I exhort all of you that you obey the word of righteousness, and exercise all patience, which you have seen set forth before our eyes, not only in the blessed Ignatius, and Zozimus, and Rufus, but in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself, and the rest of the Apostles.
8. Be confident of this, that all these have not run in vain, but in faith and righteousness, and are gone to the place that was due to them from the Lord with whom they also suffered.

Compare with: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1, 2)

9. For they did not love this present world, but him who died and was raised again by God for us.
10. Stand therefore in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and immutable in the faith, lovers of the brotherhood, lovers of one another, companions together in the truth, being kind and gentle towards each other, yielding to each other in the mildness of the Lord.

When Paul had written the church at Philippi around A.D. 61-63, he had exhorted then to "stand fast in one spirit" (Philippians 1:27) "stand fast in the Lord" (Philippians 4:1).

11. When it is in your power to do good, do not postpone it, for charity delivers from death.

Perhaps a reference to the Apocrypha: "For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life." (Tobit 12:9)

12. Be all of you subject one to another, having your manner of life honest among the Gentiles, so that by your good works, both you yourselves may receive praise, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you. But woe be to him by whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed.

Compare with: "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by [your] good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12); "For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you..." (Romans 2:24); "...that the Word of God be not blasphemed." (Titus 2:5)

13. Therefore teach all men the sobriety in which you also exercise yourselves.

CHAPTER 4

Valens, a presbyter, having fallen into the sin of covetousness; he exhorts them against it.
1. I am greatly afflicted for Valens, who was once a presbyter among you, that he should so little understand the place that was given to him in the church. Therefore I admonish you that you abstain from covetousness, and that you be chaste and true of speech.
2. Keep yourselves from all evil. For he who in these things cannot govern himself, how will he be able to prescribe them to another?

Compare with: "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

3. If a man does not keep himself from covetousness, he will be polluted with idolatry and be judged as if he were a Gentile.
4. But who of you are ignorant of the judgment of God? Do not we know that the saints will judge the world, as Paul teaches?

Compare with: "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?..." (1 Corinthians 6:2)

5. But I have neither perceived nor heard anything of this kind in you, among whom the blessed Paul labored and who are named in the beginning of his Epistle.
6. For he glories of you in all the churches who then only knew God, for we did not then know him. Therefore, my brethren, I am exceedingly sorry both for him and for his wife, to whom may God grant a true repentance.

That is, for Valens and his wife, verse 1.

7. And you also be moderate upon this occasion and not look upon such as enemies, but call them back as suffering and erring members, so that you may save your whole body. By so doing, you will edify yourselves.

The "whole body" here means the church at Philippi, to save it entire.

8. For I trust that you are well exercised in the Holy Scriptures and that nothing is hid from you, but at present it is not granted to me to practice that which is written, Be angry and sin not; and again, Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

Polycarp admits he is so exercised over a priest (the presbyter Valens) falling into sin that he cannot practice the injunction never to go to bed mad, given by Paul: "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." (Ephesians 4:26)

9. Blessed be he that believes and remembers these things, which also I trust you do.
10. Now the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he himself who is our everlasting high-priest, the Son of God, even Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and in truth and in all meekness and mercy, in patience and long-suffering, in forbearance and chastity.
11. And grant to you and us a place and portion among his saints, and to all who are under the heavens, who will believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and in his Father who raised him from the dead.
12. Pray for all the saints; pray also for kings, and all powers and princes in authority, and for those who persecute you, and hate you, and for the enemies of the cross, so that your fruit may be manifest in all, and that you may be perfect in Christ.

Compare with: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1- 3)

13. You wrote to me, both you and also Ignatius, that if anyone went from here into Syria, he should bring your letters with him. I will take care of this as soon as I shall have a convenient opportunity, either by myself, or by him whom I shall send upon your account.
14. The Epistles of Ignatius which he wrote to us, together with what others of his have come to our hands, we have sent to you according to your order, which are appended to this epistle.
15. By which we may be greatly profited, for they treat of faith and patience, and of all things that pertain to edification in the Lord Jesus.
16. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] What you know for certain of Ignatius and those that are with him, indicate to us.
17. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] These things I have written to you by Crescens, whom by this present epistle I have commended to you, and do now again recommend.
18. For he has conducted his manner of life without blame among us and I suppose also with you.
19. You will also have regard to his sister when she will come to you.
20. Be safe in the Lord Jesus Christ. His grace be with all you, and all yours. Amen.

(Polycarp was eventually martyred, burned to death on a pyre, confessing he had served Christ faithfully "for 86 years.")

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