The Apostolic Succession

Against the heretics claims to secret knowledge and revelation, Irenaeus points to the public teaching and tradition of the church. Essentially he defends the following sequence:

Jesus--->Apostles--->Bishops

To support his claims he points to:

(1) The apostolic succession in the church of Rome, deriving from Peter and Paul. Of particular significance is our old friend Clement, whom Irenaeus believes to have known the apostles and whose epistle to Corinth he cites.
(2) Polycarp: He is presented as someone who knew the apostles, and who Irenaeus knew personally. Such was Polycarp's authority that on a visit to Rome many "heretics" were converted due to his teaching. [It is from Polycarp that Irenaeus claims to know the story of John fleeing a bath house when the heretic Cerenthius arrived]
(3) The antiquity of the church in Ephesus points to the apostolic tradition.

Ignatius' Christology

An idea of Ignatius' Christology can be gleaned from the following quote coming from the Epistle to Polycarp:

Look for Him who is above all time, eternal and invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes; impalpable and impassible, yet who became passible on our account; and who in every kind of way suffered for our sakes.

Ignatius to Polycarp

In his epistle to Polycarp, Ignatius provides a lengthy list of exhortations to Polycarp concerning Christian leadership. Great emphasis is placed upon the need for the bishop preserving unity, especially by showing love and patience towards the more awkward disciples.

Once again we see in Ignatius a tension concerning how false teachers are to be dealt with. Whilst their heresy is not to be tolerated, they are to be resisted in a loving way, as the bishop himself becomes the one who is wounded and hurt for Christ's sake.

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

So glad I eschewed historical-critical analysis of these ancient sources and was thus able to enjoy this very readable story, which seems to be narrating a historical fact with some legendary embellishments--certainly in the way that obvious links between Polycarp and Christ are established.

Particularly memorable is the report of the dialogue between Polycarp and the proconsul:
“Swear by the fortune of Cæsar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists.” 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 heaven, said, “Away with the Atheists. Referring the words to the heathen, and not to the Christians, as was desired. Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, “Swear, and I will set thee 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 Saviour?”

Equally worthwhile pointing out are

1) Possibly worried by unintended consequences of the story, the author takes great pains, referring to an apostate called Quintus to dissuade his readers from offering themselves up for martyrdom.

2) Although the author claims only to worship Jesus, a certain veneration of Polycarp is evident, including relics of what are claimed to be his bones.

3) For those interested in APEPT team leadership, Polycarp is described as an "apostolic and prophetic teacher"

Polycarp and virtue

In chapter 10 Polycarp urges his readers to practice virtue. This is contrasted to the unfortunate example of a former presbyter Valens, and his wife, who have succumbed to coveoutness. Nonetheless Polycarp grieves for the couple and urges moderation towards them, desiring that his readers "call them back as suffering and straying members, that ye may save your whole body. For by so acting ye shall edify yourselves"

Thus in chapter 12 Polycarp continues to emphasise virtue. One item that I found striking, especially considering his martyrdom, was his plea for them to pray for all, including "those that persecute and hate you"

Finally chapters 13-14 conclude with adminstrative concern for the transmission of this epistle and similar one's written by Ignatius.

Polycarp on false teaching and perseverance

In chapter 7 Polycarp warns his readers against false teachings notably:

1. Denial that Christ came in the flesh
2. Denial that Christ suffered on the cross
3. Denial of the resurrection
4. Denial of the final judgement

The remainder of chapter 7 and 8-9 consists of exhortations to perseverance, with certain people, notably Paul, being presented as examples of those who are now with Christ as they have shared in his sufferings.

Polycarp on Leadership

Chapter 6 is interesting in the way it describes Polycarp's expectations concerning church leaders (presbyters). These involve:

• compassion, mercy and forgiveness
• care for those who have wandered astray, the sick, the poor, the widow and the orphan
• rejection of coveoutness
• respect for other people, avoiding anger or severe judgement
• separation from false teachers.
  

Polycarp and virtue

In chapter 2 Polycarp exhorts his readers towards virtue, once again weaving many NT passages into his text. What is particularly significant is the way in which he sees Christian virtue as part and parcel of Christian life and is thus able to affirm that God will raise us from the dead "if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; “not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing". It is probably anachronistic to read the faith x works dillemma into this text, but it stands as an expression of the classical Christian teaching that without holiness one cannot see the Father.

In Chapter 3 Polycarp is self-depreciating, emphasising that he is nothing compared to "the blessed and glorified Paul."

In chapters 4 and 5 the exhortations continue, once again following NT themes.

Epistle of Polycarp to the Phillipians

My next journey in the Ancient Sources is the Epistle of Polycarp to the Phillipians. It is late, and I have only read chapter 1, but I am struck how, already, New Testament passages flow authoritatively in his prose.