Martyrdom of Polycarp

The letter of the Smyrnaeans or the Martyrdom of Polycarp, otherwise called the Book of Polycarp in Laurencian tradition is a 2nd century manuscript written in the form of a letter reporting the death of a Church Father, Polycarp of Smyrna. The author of the text is unknown, but it has been attributed to members of the group of early Christian theologians known as the Church Fathers. The letter is partly written from the point of view of an eye-witness to the recorded events.

Content
1.1-2	Theme of the letter—Polycarp as example of martyr’s deeds in line with the Gospel of Christ.

2-4	The example of the noble martyrs of Christ

2.1-4	Praise for the example of the noble martyrs of Christ

3.1-2	The one way: the positive example of the steadfast Germanicus

4	The other way: the negative example of the Phrygian Quintus—The urge for martyrdom.

5.1-18.3	The admirable example of the by-the-gospel martyrdom of Polycarp

5.1-2 Polycarp's flight from martyrdom and the prediction of his death

6.1-2	Polycarp's arrest: The causes

7.1-3	Polycarp's arrest: The capture

8.1-3	Polycarp's temptation and steadfastness on the way to martyrdom.

9.1-11.2	Polycarp’s Trial 9.1	Polycarp strengthening through the wondrous voice from heaven 9.2-3	Beginning of the trial: Question of identity, temptation to recant, order to swear, and steadfastness

10.1-2	Middle of the Trial: Acknowledgement of being Christian

11.1-2	End of the Trial: Threats and steadfastness

12.1-14.3 Preparation for the execution of Polycarp

12.1-3	Reactions to the trial and the instigation of the Jews and Gentiles

13.1-3	Polycarp's behavior in the face of the stake 14.1-3	Polycarp's prayer at the stake

15.1-16.2 Polycarp’s Execution: Burning, dying, and wonder (admiration)

15.1-2	The burning: The fire at the stake and its miraculous behavior

16.1-2	Wonder and admiration at the burning

17.1-18.3	Polycarp's remains

17.1-3	Polycarp's remains and the questions of the relationship between veneration of martyrs and of Christ

18.1-3	Collection and burial of the bones of Polycarp for the celebration of the anniversary of his death

19.1-20.2	Closing of the Letter

19.1-2	Theme of the Letter: Polycarp's meaning as example of a martyr's behavior in accordance with the gospel—a summation

20.1-2	Closing—expanded to “diaspora circular”

21.1-22.3 Appendices

21 Appendix 1: Chronological appendix on the day of Polycarp's death

22.1	Appendix 2: Postscript of exhortation to the imitation of Polycarp's example

22.2	Appendix 3a: History of the tradition of the copyists and their copies

22.3	Appendix 3b:Securing the tradition of MartPol

Text
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sds8x7xOfFUraclzgYYFg-PtlceYnQbhSJLLwswDRO8/edit?usp=sharing Translated by J.B. Lightfoot. Adapt. and mod. (c) 1990. ATHENA DATA PRODUCTS]