THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SAINT POLYCARP
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SAINT POLYCARP
ONE OF THE EARLY FATHERS OF THE APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Towards the end of the first century, or perhaps even at the beginning of the second century A.D., the apostle John died after years of ministry to the churches of Asia Minor, the region now occupied by modern Turkey. John was the last of the original apostles, but the truths of Christianity did not die with him. His spiritual children continued to stand firm in the faith in Christ as the Son of God that John had heard, seen, and even touched as John tells us in 1 John 1:1-2.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--(NKJV)
One of John's spiritual sons, Polycarp, was born about 69 A.D. He lived in Smyrna and learned much by listening to John. Polycarp became a leader of the church at Smyrna, and in many ways his character reflected that of his teacher.1 He had the The early church was hated by the society and government of the Roman Empire for various reasons, such as the refusal of Christians to sacrifice to the gods. The Empire went through many phases of demanding that the Christians sacrifice which meant denying their faith or be killed. The earliest attacks claimed the lives of many of the apostles.
This term paper is a brief life and times, from around 160 AD, of the martyrdom of Polycarp, the Bishop of the church in Smyrna, a city in Asia Minor (modern Izmir in Turkey) devoted to Roman worship.
1.1 The Name, Polycarp (Greek: Πολύκαρπος, Polýkarpos; AD 69– 155-160's) was a 2nd-century Christian bishop of Smyrna2. St. Polycarp of Smyrna was converted to Christianity by St. John the Evangelist. He was a disciple of the apostles and friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch.
ONE OF THE EARLY FATHERS OF THE APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Towards the end of the first century, or perhaps even at the beginning of the second century A.D., the apostle John died after years of ministry to the churches of Asia Minor, the region now occupied by modern Turkey. John was the last of the original apostles, but the truths of Christianity did not die with him. His spiritual children continued to stand firm in the faith in Christ as the Son of God that John had heard, seen, and even touched as John tells us in 1 John 1:1-2.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--(NKJV)
One of John's spiritual sons, Polycarp, was born about 69 A.D. He lived in Smyrna and learned much by listening to John. Polycarp became a leader of the church at Smyrna, and in many ways his character reflected that of his teacher.1 He had the The early church was hated by the society and government of the Roman Empire for various reasons, such as the refusal of Christians to sacrifice to the gods. The Empire went through many phases of demanding that the Christians sacrifice which meant denying their faith or be killed. The earliest attacks claimed the lives of many of the apostles.
This term paper is a brief life and times, from around 160 AD, of the martyrdom of Polycarp, the Bishop of the church in Smyrna, a city in Asia Minor (modern Izmir in Turkey) devoted to Roman worship.
1.1 The Name, Polycarp (Greek: Πολύκαρπος, Polýkarpos; AD 69– 155-160's) was a 2nd-century Christian bishop of Smyrna2. St. Polycarp of Smyrna was converted to Christianity by St. John the Evangelist. He was a disciple of the apostles and friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch.