Tuesday 8 September 2009

Polycarp


… Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried [on earth] a very long time, and, when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life, having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true. To these things all the Asiatic Churches testify, as do also those men who have succeeded Polycarp down to the present time, - a man who was of much greater weight, and a more stedfast witness of truth than Valentinus, and Marcion, and the rest of the heretics. He it was who, coming to Rome in the time of Anicetus caused man to turn away from the aforesaid heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received this one and sole truth from the apostles, - that namely, which is handed down by the Church.
Bk 3, Ch 3.4 Irenaeus Against Heresies

2 comments:

dan said...

completely unrelated to polycarp Tim... but saw this & thought of you!

http://www.teetshirts.com/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=232

Hope you guys are all well
Love
The Steels

Unknown said...

Love it!
Simeon gave Jane the Black Country Alphabet Bag (same company) for her birthday! They can learn together that way! ;)
We are well thanks. Would be great to catch up (know that Jane has a bit recently). I'll e-mail.