A Revelation Invitation

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. …
“‘The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’” (Revelation 2:8,11c ESV)

Polycarp, the 86 year-old bishop of the church in Smyrna in the Roman province of Asia, lived in a farmhouse outside of town. He, his household and a few friends had gathered to discuss the hostilities that had recently erupted against the Christians in Smyrna. Just the day before a young Christian noble named Germanicus, a dear friend, had been executed by damnatio ad bestias (Latin for “condemnation to beasts”), a punishment reserved for the worst criminals, runaway slaves and Christians. In this form of punishment, the condemned were torn to pieces by wild animals such as lions, bears, leopards, tigers, and black panthers. This public spectacle was provided in part as entertainment for the lower classes of Roman society. While Germanicus stood in the arena, the Roman proconsul pleaded with him in view of his youth that he would deny his faith in order to obtain a pardon. Refusing, Germanicus willingly embraced martyrdom.

It was A.D. 155 as the group who had assembled at Polycarp’s house prayed and mourned. Suddenly, they heard a knock at the door. There stood soldiers who had been dispatched to arrest Polycarp. The crowds in Smyrna had not been satisfied with the death of Germanicus and now demanded the death of the “atheist” Polycarp. (Ironically, the charge of atheism was applied to Christians because they denied the existence of the gods.) So the proconsul in Smyrna sent these armed soldiers to apprehend this aged man. Upon learning of the soldiers’ intent Polycarp extended hospitality to his captors calling for a meal to be prepared. While they ate, these pagan soldiers consented to Polycarp’s request for an hour to pray before they escorted him to the stadium.

When they arrived at the arena, Polycarp was presented to Herod, the captain of the police. Herod pleaded with Polycarp to acquiesce to the proconsul’s demand: “What harm is there in saying, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ and offering incense on the altar and thereby saving yourself?”

At first Polycarp remained silent, but the captain persisted. Polycarp finally responded, “I will not do what you suggest.”

As word spread throughout the city that Polycarp had been apprehended, a near riotous crowd gathered at the stadium to revel in the death of the atheist. When Polycarp was brought into the arena, the magistrate also pressured him to renounce Jesus: “Swear the oath and I will release you. Curse the Christ.”

Polycarp replied, “For eighty-six years I have served Jesus who has only blessed me. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

Finally, the proconsul himself with threats and pleadings implored Polycarp to relent, but to no avail. When Polycarp persisted in confessing himself a Christian, the crowd of both pagans and Jews, cried out for his death. So the proconsul surrendered to the crowd’s demand. The people scavenged the city for wood from the workshops and baths to fuel the fire that would burn Polycarp alive. The usual practice involved nailing the criminal to a post so that he would not flee the fire. Polycarp requested that they leave his hands free. “He who will give me the power to endure the fire will also grant me the will to remain in the flames even without the restraint of the nails.” Instead, they tied him to the post with ropes.

Before the fire was lit, Polycarp looked to heaven and prayed, “O Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed son, Jesus Christ, I thank you and praise you that you have granted me this day and hour, that I may share, along with all the martyrs who have gone before me, the cup of your Christ. And I bless you that I too may share in the resurrection to everlasting life of both soul and body in the immortality of the Holy Spirit. May I today be received among those martyrs and before you as a rich and acceptable sacrifice. For this reason, I also praise you for all things through the everlasting and heavenly high priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved son, through whom be glory to you with him and the Holy Spirit, both now and for the ages that are to come, Amen.”

With that, the pile of wood was set ablaze and Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, endured a martyr’s death.¹

O Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed son, Jesus Christ, who is the first and the last, who died and came to life. May I be unwavering in my faith even unto death like my brother Polycarp. Prepare me to be a rich and acceptable sacrifice. Help me trust your promise that death will not hurt me. I pray that I will not fear this first death knowing that you have promised that the one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. Amen.

1 Adapted from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.