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POLYCARP OF SMYRNA
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4
Revelation 1:1-20

Revelation 2:8-11

 

“…be thou faithful unto death,

and I will give thee a crown of life.”

 

POLYCARP OF SMYRNA
 
Polycarp of Smyrna, one of the great Apostolic Fathers, served most of his life as pastor of the church in Smyrna, a city in Asia Minor (modern Izmir, Türkiye) devoted to Roman worship. A personal disciple of the Apostle John, Polycarp was likely the last surviving Christian leader to have known an Apostle firsthand. He was deeply revered as a teacher and shepherd of the early church as a result of this connection.
 
Around AD 155, Polycarp was martyred for his faith. The account of his death, preserved in a letter from eyewitnesses to neighbouring churches, is the earliest record of a martyrdom outside the New Testament. During a time of fierce persecution, Polycarp was betrayed by a servant and arrested. He surrendered calmly, saying, “God’s will be done.” He even offered food to his captors and prayed for himself, the church and his enemies.
 
The test was simple, yet deadly: confess Caesar as Lord or face execution. Polycarp refused, declaring: “Eighty and six years have I served Christ, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who has saved me? You threaten me with fire that burns for an hour and is quenched; but you know not of… the fire of eternal punishment. Bring what you will.” As the flames rose around him, Polycarp prayed: “Lord God, Father of our blessed Saviour, I thank thee that I have been deemed worthy to receive the crown of martyrdom, and that I may die for thee and for thy cause.”
 
By the grace of Christ, Polycarp despised the cruelties of this world, enduring the suffering of a single hour to escape eternal punishment. To him, the fire of his executioners seemed cool when viewed in light of the eternal glory promised to those who endure. He fixed his eyes on the unseen treasures of God: “…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man…” (1 Cor 2:9).
 
THOUGHT: Am I prepared to stand firm in faith, even if persecution should come?
PRAYER: Father, grant me courage to endure whatever dangers may come, and keep my eyes fixed on Christ, my Saviour and King. May I be faithful unto death, that I too may receive the crown of life.

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