We have little information regarding the early life of Polycarp. Most commentators give his birthdate as approximately 69 A.D. and his birthplace as Smyrna, a city of Asia Minor which is now the site of Izmir, Turkey. Some say he was raised by wealthy parents, while others argue that he was brought up by a […]
Shortly before His death on the cross, the Lord Jesus had said: “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but fear not: I have overcome the world.” Not too many years later these words were fulfilled. Shortly after Pentecost persecution broke out in Jerusalem with the martyrdom of Stephen and under the leadership of him […]
There is one more thing in regard to the Apostolic Fathers that we would have you consider with us. It is the matter the persecution which the early church endured and which was therefore not at all strange to the Apostolic Fathers. For this purpose we have singled out the martyrdom of Polycarp for our […]