The Biblical Concept of Church Authority in the Early Church Fathers: Polycarp of Smyrna
In this post, we will continue our investigation into what the early Church Fathers had to say about the nature of Church authority which derives from Our Lord Himself who invested His own Divine authority in and promised His protection to the Church He established on the Apostles and their successors. So, let us dive right into a quick exploration of Saint Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians.
This work of his is dated to around 130 AD, a fact established mainly because of this saint's interactions with Saint Ignatius of Antioch, whose writings we have studied earlier on this blog. We know from various historical records, especially from the master historian in the early Church Eusebius, that Ignatius, who it seems knew the Apostles, succeeded Evodius as Bishop of Antioch.
Meanwhile, in Smyrna in the modern-day country of Georgia, Polycarp was ordained to be the Bishop of this See by the Apostle John himself who lived longer than the rest of the Apostles. As Eusebius writes in his work on Church History, "At that time Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostles, was a man of eminence in Asia, having been entrusted with the episcopate of the Church of Smyrna by those who had seen and heard the Lord." We also know from Ignatius's letter to Polycarp that the latter was indeed the "Bishop of the Church of the Smyrnæans." Now, having introduced the man himself, let us dive into his famous epistle and listen to his early testimony.
In the fifth chapter of his letter to the Philippians, Polycarp outlines the role and vocation of the deacon, drawing on solid principles like we read in Sacred Scripture:
"Knowing, then, that
Once again, we see in this passage the clerical positions of presbyter and deacon, just as we find in the New Testament writings and in Catholicism today. In the account of Bishop Polycarp's martyrdom written circa 155 AD, we witness in a moving and powerful way this holy man's trust in Christ and devotion to the Church Our Lord founded. The author notes:
"Now, as soon as he [Bishop Polycarp] had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world..."
This short passage helps us to understand that there was one Church established by Our Lord, built on the Apostles who handed on their episcopate by the laying on of hands, also known as the Sacrament of Holy Orders. In both Scripture and the writings of the Fathers, we read about the various churches or dioceses spread throughout the lands, led by the successors of the Apostles, the Bishops, such as the Church at Antioch, the Church at Smyrna, the Church at Ephesus, the Church at Rome, and so on. However, in both Scripture and the Fathers, we also read about the reality of one Church united in faith and practice under the leadership of the successors of the Apostles. This is the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church which has existed since the beginning, throughout the long ages, and still exists today, forever defending the truths of the faith and preaching the full Gospel of Our Lord. Indeed, after Polycarp suffered his heroic martyrdom, the author of the account notes that the martyr had been "an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna."
The account of Polycarp's martyrdom ends with the following personal notes by the author:
"These things Caius transcribed from the copy of Irenæus (who was a disciple of Polycarp), having himself been intimate with Irenæus. And I Socrates transcribed them at Corinth from the copy of Caius. Grace be with you all."
And so, given this great testimony of the holy and faithful Bishop of Jesus Christ, Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, let us grow in the understanding of and appreciation for the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church he lived for and defended with his life. In the near future on this blog, we shall take a look at the life and writings of Saint Irenaeus who was himself a student and disciple of Saint Polycarp.
This work of his is dated to around 130 AD, a fact established mainly because of this saint's interactions with Saint Ignatius of Antioch, whose writings we have studied earlier on this blog. We know from various historical records, especially from the master historian in the early Church Eusebius, that Ignatius, who it seems knew the Apostles, succeeded Evodius as Bishop of Antioch.
Meanwhile, in Smyrna in the modern-day country of Georgia, Polycarp was ordained to be the Bishop of this See by the Apostle John himself who lived longer than the rest of the Apostles. As Eusebius writes in his work on Church History, "At that time Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostles, was a man of eminence in Asia, having been entrusted with the episcopate of the Church of Smyrna by those who had seen and heard the Lord." We also know from Ignatius's letter to Polycarp that the latter was indeed the "Bishop of the Church of the Smyrnæans." Now, having introduced the man himself, let us dive into his famous epistle and listen to his early testimony.
In the fifth chapter of his letter to the Philippians, Polycarp outlines the role and vocation of the deacon, drawing on solid principles like we read in Sacred Scripture:
"Knowing, then, that
God is not mocked,(Galatians 6:7) we ought to walk worthy of His commandment and glory. In like manner should the deacons be blameless before the face of His righteousness, as being the servants of God and Christ, and not of men. They must not be slanderers, double-tongued, (1 Timothy 3:8) or lovers of money, but temperate in all things, compassionate, industrious, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant (Matthew 20:28) of all. If we please Him in this present world, we shall receive also the future world, according as He has promised to us that He will raise us again from the dead, and that if we live worthily of Him,
we shall also reign together with Him,(2 Timothy 2:12) provided only we believe. In like manner, let the young men also be blameless in all things, being especially careful to preserve purity, and keeping themselves in, as with a bridle, from every kind of evil... Wherefore, it is needful to abstain from all these things, being subject to the presbyters and deacons, as unto God and Christ."
Once again, we see in this passage the clerical positions of presbyter and deacon, just as we find in the New Testament writings and in Catholicism today. In the account of Bishop Polycarp's martyrdom written circa 155 AD, we witness in a moving and powerful way this holy man's trust in Christ and devotion to the Church Our Lord founded. The author notes:
"Now, as soon as he [Bishop Polycarp] had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world..."
This short passage helps us to understand that there was one Church established by Our Lord, built on the Apostles who handed on their episcopate by the laying on of hands, also known as the Sacrament of Holy Orders. In both Scripture and the writings of the Fathers, we read about the various churches or dioceses spread throughout the lands, led by the successors of the Apostles, the Bishops, such as the Church at Antioch, the Church at Smyrna, the Church at Ephesus, the Church at Rome, and so on. However, in both Scripture and the Fathers, we also read about the reality of one Church united in faith and practice under the leadership of the successors of the Apostles. This is the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church which has existed since the beginning, throughout the long ages, and still exists today, forever defending the truths of the faith and preaching the full Gospel of Our Lord. Indeed, after Polycarp suffered his heroic martyrdom, the author of the account notes that the martyr had been "an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna."
The account of Polycarp's martyrdom ends with the following personal notes by the author:
"These things Caius transcribed from the copy of Irenæus (who was a disciple of Polycarp), having himself been intimate with Irenæus. And I Socrates transcribed them at Corinth from the copy of Caius. Grace be with you all."
And so, given this great testimony of the holy and faithful Bishop of Jesus Christ, Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, let us grow in the understanding of and appreciation for the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church he lived for and defended with his life. In the near future on this blog, we shall take a look at the life and writings of Saint Irenaeus who was himself a student and disciple of Saint Polycarp.
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