First Lessons

Ἀρχὴ δὲ πάντων χαλεπῶν φιλαργυρία. εἰδότες οὖν ὅτι οὐδὲν εἰσηνέγκαμεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ ἐξενεγκεῖν τι ἔχομεν, ὁπλισώμεθα τοῖς ὅπλοις τῆς δικαιοσύνης καὶ διδάξωμεν ἑαυτοὺς πρῶτον προεύεσθαι ἐν τῇ ἐντολῇ τοῦ Kυριοῦ· ἔπειτα καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ δοθείσῃ αὐταῖς πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ καὶ ἁγνείᾳ στεργούσας τοὺς ἑαυτῶν ἄνδρας ἐν πάσῃ ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγαπώσας πάντας ἐξ ἴσου ἐν πάσῃ ἐγκρατείᾳ, καὶ τὰ τέκνα παιδεύειν τὴν παιδείαν τοῦ φόβου τοῦ θεοῦ· τὰς χήρας σωφρονούσας περὶ τὴν τοῦ Kυρίου πίστιν, ἐντυγχανούσας ἀδιαλείπτως περὶ πάντων, μακρὰν οὔσας πάσης διαβολῆς, καταλαλιᾶς, ψευδομαρτυρίας, φιλαργυρίας καὶ παντὸς κακοῦ, γινωσκούσας ὅτι εἰσὶ θυσιαστήριον θεοῦ καὶ ὅτι πάντα μωμοσκοπεῖται, καὶ λέληθεν αὐτὸν οὐδὲν οὔτε λογισμῶν οὔτε ἐννοιῶν οὔτε τι τῶν κρυπτῶν τῆς καρδίας. Ἅγιος Πολύκαρπος Σμύρνης, Πρὸς Φιλιππήσιους Έπιστολή Source: Migne PG 5.1008c-1009a

'But the love of money is the root of all evils.' 1 Knowing, therefore, that 'as we brought nothing into the world, so we can bear nothing out,' 2 let us arm ourselves with the armour of righteousness, 3 and first let us teach ourselves to walk in the commandments of the Lord. Then teach your wives to walk in the faith given to them, and to love their own husbands dearly and tenderly and in all truth, and to love everyone equally and in chastity, and to raise their children in the knowledge and fear of God. Teach widows to be sensible regarding the faith of the Lord, praying continually for all, 4 being far from all slandering, evil-speaking, false-witnessing, land the love of money, and every sort of evil, knowing that they are the altar of God, and that He sees all things clearly and nothing is hidden from Him, neither reasoning, nor reflections, nor any one of the secret things of the heart. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, from the Letter to the Philippians. 1 1 Tim 6.10 2 1 Tim 6.7 3 Ephes 6.11 4 1 Thes 5.17

Good Conduct

In his ergo state et domini exemplar sequimini, firmi in fide et immutabiles, fraternitatis amatores, diligentes invicem, in veritate sociati, mansuetudine domini alterutri praestolantes, nullum despicientes. Cum possitis benefacere, nolite differre, quia eleëmosyna de morte liberat. Omnes vobis invicem subiecti estote, conversationem vestram irreprehensibilem habentes in gentibus, ut ex bonis operibus vestris et vos laudem accipiatis et dominus in vobis non blasphemetur. Vae autem per quem nomen domini blasphematur. Sobrietatem ergo docete omnes in qua et vos conversamini. Sanctus Polycarpus, Epistola Ad Philippenses Source: Migne PG 5.1013

In these things stand, and follow the Lord as example, firm and immovable in faith, lovers of fraternity, delighting in one another, companions in truth, giving way to one another in the meekness of the Lord, despising no one. When you are able to be of benefit, do not delay, because alms-giving delivers from death. 1 Let everyone be subject to one another, having behaviour that is creditable among the Gentiles, so that from your good works you will receive praise and the Lord will not be blasphemed because of you. Woe to him through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed. 2 Therefore teach everyone to be sensible, even by the way you conduct yourselves. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Phillipians. 1 Tob 12.9 2 Rom 2.24, Isaiah 52.5, Ezek 36.22

A Bishop's Counsel To A Bishop

Καλοὺς μαθητὰς ἐὰν φιλῇς, χάρις σοι οὐκ ἔστιν· μᾶλλον τοὺς λοιμοτέρους ἐν πραότητι ὑπότασσε. Οὐ πᾶν τραῦμα τῇ αὐτῇ ἐμπλάστρῳ θεραπεύεται. Τοὺς παροξυσμοὺς ἐμβροχαῖς παῦε. Φρόνιμος γίνου ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐν ἅπασιν καὶ ἀκέραιος εἰς ἀεὶ ὡς ἡ περιστερά. Διὰ τοῦτο σαρκικὸς εἶ καὶ πνευματικός, ἵνα τὰ φαινόμενά σου εἰς πρόσωπον κολακεύῃς· τὰ δὲ ἀόρατα αἴτει ἵνα σοι φανερωθῇ, ὅπως μηδενὸς λείπῃ καί παντὸς χαρίσματος περισσεύῃς. Ὁ καιρὸς ἀπαιτεῖ σε, ὡς κυβερνῆται ἀνένους καὶ ὡς χειμαζόμενος λιμένα, εἰς τὸ θεοῦ ἐπιτυχεῖν. Νῆφε, ὡς θεοῦ ἀθλητής· τὸ θέμα ἀφθαρσία καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος, περὶ ἧς καὶ σὺ πέπεισαι. Κατὰ πάντα σου ἀντιψυχον ἐγὼ καὶ τὰ δεσμά μου, ἃ ἠγάπησας. Οἱ δοκοῦντες ἀξιόπιστοι εἶναι καὶ ἑτεροδιδασκαοῦντες μή σε καταπλησσέτωσαν. στῆθι ἑδραῖος ὡς ἄκμων τυπτόμενος. Μεγάλου ἐστιν ἀθλητοῦ τὸ δέρεσθαι καὶ νικᾶν. Μάλιστα δὲ ἕνεκεν θεοῦ πάντα ὑπομένειν ἡμᾶς δεῖ, ἵνα καὶ αὐτὸς ἡμᾶς ὑπομένῃ. πλέον σπουδαῖος γίνου οὗ εἶ. Τοὺς καιροὺς καταμάνθανε. τὸν ὑπὲρ καιρὸν προσδόκα, τὸν ἄχρονον, τὸν ἀόρατον, τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς ὁρατόν, τὸν ἀψηλάφητον, τὸν ἀπαθῆ, τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς παθητόν, τὸν κατὰ πάντα τρόπον δι’ ἡμᾶς ὑπομείναντα. Ἅγιος Ἰγνάτιος Ἀντιοχείας, Ἐπιστολή Προς Πολύκαρπον

If you love good scholars, it is no grace to you. Rather bring the more difficult to submission by gentleness. Not every wound is healed by the same salve. Allay sharp pains by infusions. Be as shrewd as the serpent in all things and always innocent as the dove. 1 For this you are flesh and spirit, that you may gain the favour of the things which appear before your face, and as for the invisible things, pray that they may be revealed to you, that you may lack in nothing and be rich in every spiritual gift. The season summons you, as pilots require winds, and as those beset by storms a haven, to attain to God. Be sober, as an athlete of God, for the prize is incorruption and life eternal, concerning which you are convinced. In all things I am bound to you, I and my bonds which you loved. Let not those that seem worthy of trust and yet teach strangely strike you down. Stand firm, as an anvil smitten. It is the part of a great athlete to receive blows and conquer. But especially it is necessary for us to endure all things for God's sake, that He also may endure us. Be more zealous than you are. Attend to the times. Expect the one above any time, the eternal, the invisible, He who for us became visible, the impalpable, the impassible, who suffered for us, who endured in every way for us. Saint Ignatius of Antioch, from the Letter to Saint Polycarp 1 Mt 10.16

Perseverance And Hope

Ἀδιαλείπτως οὖν προσκαρτερῶμεν τῇ ἐλπίδι ἡμῶν καὶ τῷ ἀρραβῶνι τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἡμῶν, ὅς ἐστι Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς, ὃς ἀνήγκεν ἡμῶν τὰς ἁμαρτίας τῷ ἰδίῳ σώματι ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον, ὃς ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ ἐποίησεν, οὐδὲ εὑρέθη δόλος ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ· ἀλλὰ δι’ ἡμᾶς, ἵνα ζήσωμεν ἐν αὐτῷ, πάντα ὑπέμεινεν. Μιμηταὶ οὖν γενώμεθα τῆς ὑπομονῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐὰν πάσχωμεν διὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, δοξάζωμεν αὐτόν. Τοῦτον γὰρ ἡμῖν τὸν ὐπογραμμὸν ἔθηκε δι’ ἑαυτοῦ, καὶ ήμεῖς τοῦτο ἐπιστεύσαμεν.  Παρακαλῶ οὖν πάντας ὑμᾶς, πειθαρχεῖν τῷ λόγῳ τῆς δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἀσκεῖν πᾶσαν ὑπομονήν, ἣν καὶ εἴδατε κατ’ ὀφθαλμοὺς οὐ μόνον ἐν τοῖς μακαρίοις Ἰγνατίῳ καὶ Ζωσίμῳ καὶ ῾Ρούφῳ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν ἄλλοις τοῖς ἐξ ὑμῶν καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τοῖς λοιποις ἀποστόλοις· πεπεισμένους ὅτι οὗτοι πάντες οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον, ἀλλ’ ἐν πίστει καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ, καὶ ὅτι εἰς τὸν ὀφειλόμενον αὐτοῖς τόπον εἰσὶ παρὰ τῷ κυρίῳ, ᾧ καὶ συνέπαθον. οὐ γὰρ τὸν νῦν ἠγάπησαν αἰῶνα, ἀλλὰ τὸν ὑπέρ ἡμῶν ἀποθανόντα καὶ δι’ ἡμᾶς ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀναστάντα. Ἅγιος Πολύκαρπος Σμύρνης, Πρὸς Φιλιππήσιους Έπιστολή Source: Migne PG 5.1012c

Let us then continually persevere in our hope, and the pledge of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, 'who bore our sins in His own body on the tree,' 1 'who sinned not, and neither was cunning found in His mouth,' 2 but for us, that we might live in Him, He endured all things. 3 Let us then be imitators of His endurance; and if we suffer; 4 for His name's sake, let us glorify Him. For He has set us this example 5 in Himself, and we have believed that such is the case. I exhort you all, therefore, to yield obedience to the word of righteousness and to exercise all patience, such as you have seen before your eyes, not only in the case of the blessed Ignatius, and Zosimus, and Rufus, but also in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself, and the rest of the Apostles. This do in the assurance that all these have not run in vain, 6 but in faith and righteousness, and that they are now in their deserved place in the presence of the Lord, with whom also they suffered. For they loved not this present world, but Him who died for us, and who for us was raised again by God. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Phillipians. 1 1 Pet 2.24 2 1 Pet 2.22 3 1 John 4.9 4 Acts 5.41 5 1 Pet 2.21 6 Phil 2.16, Gal 2.2

A Fallen Priest

Nimis contristatus sum pro Valente, qui presbyter factus est aliquando apud vos, quod sic ignoret is locum qui datus est ei. Moneo itaque ut abstinete vos ab omni malo.  Qui autem non potest se in his gubernare, quomodo alii pronuntiat hoc?  Si quis non se abstinuerit ab avaritia, ab idolotatria conquinabitur et tamquam inter gentes iudicabitur, qui ignorant iudicium domini. Aut nescimus, quia sancti mundum iudicabunt? sicut Paulus docet.  Ego autem nihil tale sensi in vobis vel audivi, in quibus laboravit beatus Paulus, qui estis in principio episulae eius. De vobis etenim gloriatur in omnibus ecclesiis, quae dominum solae tunc cognoverant; nos autem nondum cognoveramus.  Valde ergo, fratres, constristor pro illo et pro coniuge eius, quibus det dominus paenitentiam veram. Sobrii ergo estote et vos in hoc; et non sicut inimicos tales existimetis, sed sicut passibilia membra et errantia eos revocate, ut omnium vestrum corpus salvetis. Hoc enim agentes vos ipsos aedificatis. Ἅγιος Πολύκαρπος Σμύρνης, Πρὸς Φιλιππήσιους Έπιστολή Source: Migne PG 5.1013

I am greatly grieved for Valens, who was at one time a priest among you, because he is so ignorant of the place that was given him. I exhort you, therefore that 'you abstain from every evil.' 1 For if a man cannot govern himself in such things, how shall he enjoin them on others? If a man does not keep himself from avarice, he shall be defiled by idolatry and shall be judged as one of the gentiles who are ignorant of the judgment of the Lord. 'Do we not know that the saints shall judge the world?' 2 as Paul teaches. But I have seen no such thing among you, nor heard of it, in the midst of whom the blessed Paul laboured, you who are commended in the beginning of his letter to you. 3 For he glories in you of all the Churches which alone then knew the Lord; but we had not yet known Him. I am greatly grieved, therefore, brethren, for him and his wife, to whom may the Lord grant repentance. And be then moderate in this, and 'do not regard such folk as enemies,' 4 but call them back as suffering and straying members, that you may save your whole body. For by acting so you shall edify yourselves. 5 Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, from the Letter to the Phillipians. 1 1 Thes 5.22 2 1 Cor 6.2 3 cf Phil 2-6 4 2 Thes 3.15 5 1 Cor 12.26

Antichrist, Devil, Satan

Πάς γὰρ ὃς ἂν μὴ ὁμολογῇ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθέναι, ἀντιχριστός ἐστιν· καὶ ὃς ἂν μὴ ὁμολογῇ τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου ἐστιν· καὶ ὃς ἂν μεθοδεύῃ τὰ λόγια τοῦ κυρίου πρὸς τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας καί λεγῃ μήτε ἀνάστασιν μήτε κρίσιν, οὖτος πρωτότοκός ἐστι τοῦ σατανᾶ. διὸ ἀπολιπόντες τὴν ματαιότητα τῶν πολλῶν καὶ τὰς ψευδοδιδασκαλίας ἐπὶ τὸν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἡμῖν παραδοθέντα λόγον ἐπιστρέψωμεν, νήφοντες πρὸς τὰς εὐχὰς καὶ προσκαρτεροῦντες νηστείας, δεήσεσιν αἰτούμενοι τὸν παντεπόπτην θεὸν μὴ εἰσενεγκειν ἡμας εἰς πειρασμόν. Ἅγιος Πολύκαρπος Σμύρνης, Πρὸς Φιλιππήσιους Έπιστολή Source: Migne PG 5.1012b

Everyone who does not confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is Antichrist; he who does not confess the witness of the cross is of the Devil; and he who perverts the words of the Lord to suit his own desires and says there is neither resurrection nor judgement, this man is the first born of Satan. So being done with these inanities of the mob, these false teachings, let us turn back to the word given to us in the beginning, sober in prayer and strong in fasting, asking the all seeing God not to lead us into temptation. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Phillipians.