VI. The Testimony of the Epistle of Polycarp

The one short epistle of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, is interwoven with more references to the New Testament writings than any other work of this early age. He impresses the dangers of the times, and warns of Antichrist. ^{33Westcott, op. cit., pp. 36-39; cf. M’Clintock and Strong, op. cit, vol. 8, pp. 360-363, art. “Polycarp.” (See also Introduction to The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, in Glimm’s translation, p. 147.)} Polycarp suffered martyrdom by fire about A.D. 155. It was formerly thought that his death occurred a little later, under Marcus Aurelius. Irenaeus was his noted pupil, whom we will later discuss. Polycarp’s ^{34The authenticity of the Epistle of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, is abundantly established both by external testimony (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, book 3, chap. 3; Eusebius, Church History, book 3, chap. 36, book 4 chap. 14) and internal testimony.} allusion to this Biblical term “antichrist” must suffice for this witness:PFF1 214.5

“For every one who shall not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, as antichrist: and whosoever shall not confess the testimony of the Cross, is of the devil; and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts, and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the first-born of Satan.” ^{35The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, chap. 7 (Lightfoot-Harmer), p. 179}PFF1 215.1