(Originally Written June 2, 2008 in the Journal)
Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna, appointed there by the apostle, St. John.
Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians
He warns the Philippians against the vapid discourses of the vulgar (heresies and the philosophies of the pagans).
A man's mind should always be bent on faith, hope and love of God and Christ, and love of neighbor.
He warns that troubles stem from the love of money. He warns against loose living.
"If we pray to the Lord to forgive us, we ourselves must be forgiving" (Early Christian Writings, 121).
We must not associate with hypocritical Christians.
We must imitate the patience of Christ and if we must suffer than we ought to give glory to God for it.
Keep yourself from even the slightest taint of wrong.
What am I to say Lord? I have been made a fool, a disgrace, There is no love or respect. I am chastised for every action, for every word. The Lord has called me to love a woman who despises me. Turn your eyes upon me in mercy. Lord, my heart is failing. I have no joy in me. Why do you so easily take what I hold most dear? Lord I give it to you willingly, though I choke back these tears. My soul is in utter anguish and my heart aches with such tenacity I know not how to describe it. I see the world mocking me and jeering. There is no comfort, no solace. Even bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh is of no comfort. She causes me such strife and pain.
Where are you Lord? I call out in utter despair and do not hear your voice. I do not feel your warm embrace. My eyes well with tears and stream down my face. I am no man, I am but a lost child. When will you raise me up? How long oh Lord must I suffer? Will you allow the enemy to tear me apart? If so then give me the strength to endure in your Holy name. Make my misery and down fall so public that the whole world will know it that I may be a testimony to you. Lord how do I thank you for this? How do I praise your name when you bring ruin upon me? I offer not lip service, but genuine faith. Praise be to the Lord for He is good. Though we may be afflicted and suffer cruel injustice, we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. None of us Lord is perfect, all deserve a sinner's death. Yet, you in Christ Jesus our Lord and savior made us blameless in your sight. The Lord is truly faithful. Though all mankind forsake me, I will rejoice gladly for the Lord shall never leave me.
She is leaving today Lord. Watch over her and draw her back to you. Do not let her fall into temptations. Do not afflict me any more. Love her as you do and show her mercy and kindness. Circumcise her heart and mind and ears. May she come to see you as I do and better, for I am but beginning to see you. Bless her in all she does and if it is your will restore her to me, for I love her dearly.
The Martyrdom of Polycarp
A young man named Germanicus was martyred at the hands of beasts. He was offered out of this death on account of his youth, but dragged the beast nearer to him to speed to God.
Quintus of Phrygia went voluntarily to the slaughter, but lost heart at the sight of the animals. He recanted and offered incense to the false gods of the Romans. For this reason, and for the fact that it is contrary to the gospel, men ought not offer themselves up spontaneously.
When the men caught Polycarp they were surprised that the death of such an old man was such urgent business. The governor asked Polycarp to renounce Christ, or even just utter "down with the infidels" to be free of punishment. But, Polycarp swept his hand at the heathen crowd and uttered "down with the infidels". The governor then threatened Polycarp with beasts and Polycarp called them up. He threatened Polycarp with fire and still Polycarp showed no fear. He was 86 years old at this time. Polycarp then prayed to God as he was attached to the pyre. The fire was lit, but would not burn high enough to kill Polycarp. Polycarp was then stabbed to death. The blood of Polycarp poured out of his body and put the flames out and the crowd was amazed.
Showing posts with label Polycarp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Polycarp. Show all posts
Monday, June 2, 2008
Brief Notes on Ignatius of Antioch (B)
(Originally Written June 2, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord forgive me of my sins. Do not hold them against me, but forgive me and show mercy on your servant. Today she moved out. Lord be with her and keep her from sin and draw her close to you. Do not destroy us utterly for you have united us. Is the righteous God, the Lord of lords, who is blameless and pure going to rip apart what He has united? Would He that does that which is perfect undo what He has done? Surely not. The Lord is everlasting and unchanging. Yahweh was, is and will be perfect and is the perfecter of all things. May you guard our hearts all evil and wickedness and restore joy and love to this relationship. I will follow you Lord all the days of my life. Deliver my bride to me once again Lord, I beg of you.
Notes on Early Christian Writings
Ignatius' Epistle to The Magnesians
We can only come to the presence of God in Jesus Christ by enduring in Christ all the indignities of this world while yet eluding their clutches.
You ought to obey the bishop, despite his lack of years because he is appointed by God. Do not obey him with mere lip service, but serve him as you serve the Father.
We obey bishops not because they are bishops and seen, but because of the unseen, the Holy Father, whom which knows all our secrets.
"We ought not just to have the name of Christians, but to be so in reality" (Early Christian Writings, 71).
There are two types of coins in circulation. One leads to life, the other leads to death. We must spend what we earn. If you earn the coins of God you will spend them on life; but, if you earn the coins of the world you wills surely spend them on death.
"Unless we are ready and willing to die in conformity with His passion, His life is not in us" (Early Christian Writings, 72).
(Warning against the Judaizing Heresy) The old practice of Judaism show a lack of faith in Jesus Christ. Their prophets were under grace because they were in tune with Christ.
Change from the old, which has grown stale and sour to the new, which is Christ.
Christianity ought not look to Judaism, but Judaism to Christianity.
Be submissive to one another.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Trallians
Ignatius yearns for martyrdom though he is doubtful of his worthiness. He prays for humility.
He warns them to guard against heresy, especially Docetism.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Romans
He encourages the Romans not to interfere with his sentence. "Suffer me to be a libation poured out to God, while there is still an altar ready for me" (Early Christian Writings, 85-86).
Good does not lie in what our eyes can see but in Christ Jesus.
"Christianity lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred" (Early Christian Writings, 86).
Do not have Christ upon your lips with the world in your heart.
Christ is the faithful mouthpiece by which the Father's words of truth find utterance.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Philadelphians
He encourages the Philadelphians to follow their bishop like sheep to guard against heresy.
"Those who wander in outlandish byways of doctrine must forfeit all part in the Lord's passion" (Early Christian Writings, 94). Ignatius places heavy emphasis on doctrine, but also on practicing what that doctrine is. To him, empty words or lip-service is as deadly as the heresy itself.
God does not dwell where there is disunity or bad blood.
Christ is the doorstep to the Father.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Smyraneans
He calls the Church of Smyrna to be unified in Christ: Jews and Gentiles alike.
He warns against Docetic beliefs. He implores them to acknowledge the flesh and blood birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. He claims that if what Christ did was merely an illusion than his own claims must be illusionary as well.
Christ gives us strength.
He urges them to pray for those who have fallen prey to Doceticism so that they can have a better frame of mind to accept Christ Jesus.
Faith and love are everything; they must come before all.
Endure all things for Christ's sake and you will attain to Him in the end.
Ignatius' Epistle to Polycarp
There is no more important task to the bishops than unity.
Spend time in constant prayer, begging for wisdom.
"The heavier the labor, the richer the reward" (Early Christian Writings, 109).
The mark of a champion is to be able to stand in the face of punishment and still come off victorious. It is our duty to accept trails of all kinds if we are to be accepted by the Lord.
The honor God should be the aim in everything you do.
"A Christian, after all is not his own master; he puts his time at God's disposal" (Early Christian Writings, 111).
Lord forgive me of my sins. Do not hold them against me, but forgive me and show mercy on your servant. Today she moved out. Lord be with her and keep her from sin and draw her close to you. Do not destroy us utterly for you have united us. Is the righteous God, the Lord of lords, who is blameless and pure going to rip apart what He has united? Would He that does that which is perfect undo what He has done? Surely not. The Lord is everlasting and unchanging. Yahweh was, is and will be perfect and is the perfecter of all things. May you guard our hearts all evil and wickedness and restore joy and love to this relationship. I will follow you Lord all the days of my life. Deliver my bride to me once again Lord, I beg of you.
Notes on Early Christian Writings
Ignatius' Epistle to The Magnesians
We can only come to the presence of God in Jesus Christ by enduring in Christ all the indignities of this world while yet eluding their clutches.
You ought to obey the bishop, despite his lack of years because he is appointed by God. Do not obey him with mere lip service, but serve him as you serve the Father.
We obey bishops not because they are bishops and seen, but because of the unseen, the Holy Father, whom which knows all our secrets.
"We ought not just to have the name of Christians, but to be so in reality" (Early Christian Writings, 71).
There are two types of coins in circulation. One leads to life, the other leads to death. We must spend what we earn. If you earn the coins of God you will spend them on life; but, if you earn the coins of the world you wills surely spend them on death.
"Unless we are ready and willing to die in conformity with His passion, His life is not in us" (Early Christian Writings, 72).
(Warning against the Judaizing Heresy) The old practice of Judaism show a lack of faith in Jesus Christ. Their prophets were under grace because they were in tune with Christ.
Change from the old, which has grown stale and sour to the new, which is Christ.
Christianity ought not look to Judaism, but Judaism to Christianity.
Be submissive to one another.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Trallians
Ignatius yearns for martyrdom though he is doubtful of his worthiness. He prays for humility.
He warns them to guard against heresy, especially Docetism.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Romans
He encourages the Romans not to interfere with his sentence. "Suffer me to be a libation poured out to God, while there is still an altar ready for me" (Early Christian Writings, 85-86).
Good does not lie in what our eyes can see but in Christ Jesus.
"Christianity lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred" (Early Christian Writings, 86).
Do not have Christ upon your lips with the world in your heart.
Christ is the faithful mouthpiece by which the Father's words of truth find utterance.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Philadelphians
He encourages the Philadelphians to follow their bishop like sheep to guard against heresy.
"Those who wander in outlandish byways of doctrine must forfeit all part in the Lord's passion" (Early Christian Writings, 94). Ignatius places heavy emphasis on doctrine, but also on practicing what that doctrine is. To him, empty words or lip-service is as deadly as the heresy itself.
God does not dwell where there is disunity or bad blood.
Christ is the doorstep to the Father.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Smyraneans
He calls the Church of Smyrna to be unified in Christ: Jews and Gentiles alike.
He warns against Docetic beliefs. He implores them to acknowledge the flesh and blood birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. He claims that if what Christ did was merely an illusion than his own claims must be illusionary as well.
Christ gives us strength.
He urges them to pray for those who have fallen prey to Doceticism so that they can have a better frame of mind to accept Christ Jesus.
Faith and love are everything; they must come before all.
Endure all things for Christ's sake and you will attain to Him in the end.
Ignatius' Epistle to Polycarp
There is no more important task to the bishops than unity.
Spend time in constant prayer, begging for wisdom.
"The heavier the labor, the richer the reward" (Early Christian Writings, 109).
The mark of a champion is to be able to stand in the face of punishment and still come off victorious. It is our duty to accept trails of all kinds if we are to be accepted by the Lord.
The honor God should be the aim in everything you do.
"A Christian, after all is not his own master; he puts his time at God's disposal" (Early Christian Writings, 111).
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Brief Notes on Ignatius of Antioch (A)
(Originally Written June 1, 2008 in the Journal)
Ignatius of Antioch
Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch. He wrote seven letters on the way to his martyrdom in Rome. Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, preserved the letters of Ignatius and spread them through the Church. Ignatius' letter to the Romans was the most widely known letter of his to the early church. The other six were to fight against Jewish heresy and the heresy of Docetism, which denies the trueness of Christ's humanity. Ignatius focuses heavily on martyrdom, drawing from the book of the Maccabees, which was included in the Septuagint. Ignatius has Gnostic tones, but heavily denies the Docetism that is used in Gnostic teaching. Ignatius attacks the Judaizing of Christianity.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Ephesians
Ignatius looks forward to his martyrdom in Rome for "the name and the Hope we all share". He states, "trusting through your prayers to be granted an encounter with the wild beasts at Rome - a boon that will enable me to become a true disciple" (Early Christian Writings, 61).
He tells the Ephesians that because Jesus Christ has granted such glory to them they must in turn give glory to Christ.
He tells them to be sanctified by submitting to their bishop and clergy. He tells them that this submission is not an order because he does not have the authority. He claims his lack of authority is on account of him being a beginner in being a disciple.
We can have no life apart from Christ.
Christ represents the mind of the Father. The bishops represent the mind of Christ. The bishops are sent by God. Our actions to them are actions to God himself.
He warns them to guard against heresy.
Carnal men are incapable of acting spiritually. Likewise, spiritual men are incapable of acting carnally.
We must pray for mankind unceasingly so that repentance can lead them to God.
We can show the unbelieving crowd their error by repaying malice with kindness. They will know our brotherhood by our forbearance.
Corporate faith causes Satan's interference to crumble.
Life begins with faith and ends in love.
We must practice what we profess if we are to instruct others.
The cross offends the unbelievers, but is salvation and eternal life to us.
Ignatius of Antioch
Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch. He wrote seven letters on the way to his martyrdom in Rome. Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, preserved the letters of Ignatius and spread them through the Church. Ignatius' letter to the Romans was the most widely known letter of his to the early church. The other six were to fight against Jewish heresy and the heresy of Docetism, which denies the trueness of Christ's humanity. Ignatius focuses heavily on martyrdom, drawing from the book of the Maccabees, which was included in the Septuagint. Ignatius has Gnostic tones, but heavily denies the Docetism that is used in Gnostic teaching. Ignatius attacks the Judaizing of Christianity.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Ephesians
Ignatius looks forward to his martyrdom in Rome for "the name and the Hope we all share". He states, "trusting through your prayers to be granted an encounter with the wild beasts at Rome - a boon that will enable me to become a true disciple" (Early Christian Writings, 61).
He tells the Ephesians that because Jesus Christ has granted such glory to them they must in turn give glory to Christ.
He tells them to be sanctified by submitting to their bishop and clergy. He tells them that this submission is not an order because he does not have the authority. He claims his lack of authority is on account of him being a beginner in being a disciple.
We can have no life apart from Christ.
Christ represents the mind of the Father. The bishops represent the mind of Christ. The bishops are sent by God. Our actions to them are actions to God himself.
He warns them to guard against heresy.
Carnal men are incapable of acting spiritually. Likewise, spiritual men are incapable of acting carnally.
We must pray for mankind unceasingly so that repentance can lead them to God.
We can show the unbelieving crowd their error by repaying malice with kindness. They will know our brotherhood by our forbearance.
Corporate faith causes Satan's interference to crumble.
Life begins with faith and ends in love.
We must practice what we profess if we are to instruct others.
The cross offends the unbelievers, but is salvation and eternal life to us.
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