Greek · Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
A letter answering the Philippians' request for Ignatius' letters and giving moral advice, including a case of a presbyter's financial misconduct. Chapters 10-12 and 14 survive only in Latin.
Dating
Chapter 13 implies Ignatius has just passed through and his fate is not yet known (c. 110). P. N. Harrison argued chapters 1-12 are a second letter of c. 135; many now read it as a single letter of c. 110-115 (Holmes), but the two-letter theory still has adherents.Books it uses
2.3 'what the Lord said in His teaching: Judge not...' and 7.2 'the spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak' (Matt 26:41); wording mixes Matthew, Luke and 1 Clem. 13.
2.3 'with what measure ye mete' and 'be merciful' cluster also has Lukan elements (Luke 6:36–38).
1.2 'whom God raised from the dead, having loosed the bands of the grave' (Acts 2:24).
6.2 'we must all appear at the judgment-seat of Christ, and must every one give an account of himself' (Rom 14:10–12, with 2 Cor 5:10).
11.2 'Do we not know that the saints shall judge the world? as Paul teaches' (1 Cor 6:2); also 5.3 (1 Cor 6:9–10).
6.1 'providing always for that which is becoming' (2 Cor 8:21); 4.1 armour of righteousness (2 Cor 6:7).
5.1 'God is not mocked' (Gal 6:7); 3.3 'mother of us all' (Gal 4:26).
12.1 (Latin only): 'It is declared then in these Scriptures, Be ye angry, and sin not, and, Let not the sun go down upon your wrath' (Ps 4:4 + Eph 4:26). Use of Ephesians is certain; the 'scriptures' label rests on the Latin text.
3.2 Paul 'wrote you a letter' (Greek plural, 'letters'); 11.3 'commended in the beginning of his Epistle' (Phil 1:3–11).
11.4 'count them not as enemies' (2 Thess 3:15); 11.3 boasting of them in the churches (2 Thess 1:4).
4.1 'the love of money is the root of all evils... we brought nothing into the world' (1 Tim 6:10, 7).
9.2 'they loved not this present world' (2 Tim 4:10).
Extensive verbatim use: 1.3 (1 Pet 1:8), 8.1 (1 Pet 2:22, 24), 2.1, 10.2. Eusebius (HE 4.14.9) already noted Polycarp's use of 1 Peter.
7.1 'whosoever does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is antichrist' (1 John 4:2–3; 2 John 7), plus 'of the devil' (1 John 3:8). Oxford 1905 graded it only C ('probable that Polycarp either used 1 John or was personally acquainted with its author').
Quotations
In whom, though now ye see Him not, ye believe, and believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory;” into which joy many desire to enter, knowing that “by grace ye are saved, not of works,”
Pol. Phil. 1.3Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
1 Pet 1:8 and Eph 2:8–9 woven together; Polycarp's use of 1 Peter is among the most secure attestations of that letter.
1 Peter 1:8 BSB
8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
Ephesians 2:8–9 BSB
8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: “Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;” and once more, “Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Pol. Phil. 2.3Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Sayings cluster close to 1 Clem. 13.2, apparently mediated through 1 Clement plus synoptic wording.
Matthew 7:1–2 BSB
1“Do not judge, or you will be judged. 2For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:36–38 BSB
36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Matthew 5:3 BSB
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 BSB
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 6:20 BSB
20Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
He, when among you, accurately and stedfastly taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive. And when absent from you, he wrote you a letter, which, if you carefully study, you will find to be the means of building you up in that faith which has been given you
Pol. Phil. 3.2Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Paul 'wrote you a letter' (Greek: 'letters', plural). Polycarp knows Philippians and treats Paul's writing as a continuing source of edification.
For whosoever does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is antichrist;” and whosoever does not confess the testimony of the cross, is of the devil; and whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts, and says that there is neither a resurrection nor a judgment, he is the first-born of Satan.
Pol. Phil. 7.1Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Unattributed but close to 1 John 4:2–3 / 2 John 7; the earliest likely use of the Johannine letters.
1 John 4:2–3 BSB
2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
2 John 1:7 BSB
7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
1 John 3:8 BSB
8The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
who bore our sins in His own body on the tree,” “who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth,”
Pol. Phil. 8.1Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Verbatim use of 1 Pet 2:24 and 2:22.
1 Peter 2:24 BSB
24He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
1 Peter 2:22 BSB
22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
Do we not know that the saints shall judge the world?” as Paul teaches.
Pol. Phil. 11.2Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Quotation explicitly attributed to Paul (extant only in Latin).
1 Corinthians 6:2 BSB
2Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
It is declared then in these Scriptures, “Be ye angry, and sin not,” and, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
Pol. Phil. 12.1Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe · Source (opens in a new tab)
Ps 4:4 plus Eph 4:26 introduced as 'these Scriptures'. If the Latin is reliable, a Pauline letter is called scripture c. AD 110–135, the closest parallel to 2 Pet 3:16.
Ephesians 4:26 BSB
26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,