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How polycarp (And Others) Show The Early Use Of The New Testament

polycarp is one of the most important people in early church history. He was a disciple of John the Evangelist, and later became the bishop of Smyrna. polycarp was born around 69 A.D. in Smyrna, which is now modern-day Turkey. He grew up during a time when Christians were being persecuted for their beliefs, and he himself became a Christian at a young age. polycarp is regarded as one of the earliest church fathers because he had a significant impact on Christianity as it spread throughout Asia Minor and Europe, and he also played an important role in shaping biblical canon for centuries to come. We don’t know a great deal about his life, apart from t...

Before The Pumpkins: Faith In The Flames

Picture the scene: the year is somewhere around 155–160, polycarp has just been arrested and brought to the city. The crowd roared in the stadium. The smell of sweat and fear mingled with the dust of Smyrna’s arena. And in the centre of it all stood an old man — calm, unflinching, his face marked with years of faith. The Roman proconsul urged him again: “Swear by the fortune of Caesar. Curse Christ, and I will release you.” polycarp looked him in the eye and replied with a defiant response that has echoed down the ages, Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me? Those words hav...

Lent: Day 11 - Ignatius to polycarp

Day Eleven: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to polycarp (full text) Who: Ignatius converted at a young age and later became Bishop of Antioch. A friend of polycarp and fellow disciple of John, there is a long standing tradition that Ignatius was the child that Jesus held in his arms and blessed in Mark 10:13-16 What: A letter addressed personally to polycarp giving him advice and encouragement as a bishop, plus some instructions on marriage to the church, which are reminiscent of Paul’s epistles. Why: Ignatius wrote a series of letters to the churches in Asia Minor whilst en route to Rome to face martyrdom by wild beasts in the Colosseum around 108 AD. Wh...

Man-Made Tradition vs Apostolic Tradition

...pistle-of-polycarp-to-the-philippians.html https://thesacredfaith.co.uk/home/perma/1559484660/article/creedal-christians-the-nicene-creed.html https://thesacredfaith.co.uk/home/perma/1539286980/article/creedal-christians-the-apostles-creed.html How To Read The Bible For All It's Worth | FaithGiant...

Lent: Day 4 - polycarp to the Philippians

...Day Four: Epistle of polycarp to the Philippians (full text) Who: polycarp of Smyrna, who was a direct disciple of the apostle John. We also have some information about polycarp via Irenaeus (who knew polycarp) in his book, Adv. Haer., III.3.4: “But polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna”. What: Lots of exhortations are contained in this letter, and is also referenced by Irenaeus as being for “those who wish to do so, and are anxious about their salvation, can learn the character of his (polycarp's) faith, and the preachin...

Does Easter Have Pagan Origins?

...Much like any major Christian holiday, there are the usual arguments and accusations about how it’s all just pagan festivities with a “Christian mask”. Easter is no different, and usually gets hit the hardest over its so-called “pagan roots”, or in the month or so preceding it, Lent being some “invention of the Catholic Church”. Table of Contents The Lenten Fast The Easter controversy and why we celebrate it when we do Is the Name “Easter” really the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre? Chocolate eggs and bunnies? Concluding Thoughts Further Reading and Sources I like to try and observe Lent, as it is one of the most ancient custom...