# To Polycarp, inscription

- Author: [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/ignatius-of-antioch/)
- Work: [To Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/) (*Ad Polycarpum*)
- Date: ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:268; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 172–277 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/0/

Summary: Ignatius greets Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna.

## Greek text

Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, Πολυκάρπῳ ἐπισκόπῳ ἐκκλησίας Σμυρναίων, μᾶλλον ἐπισκοπημένῳ ὑπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, πλεῖστα χαίρειν.

## English translation (Claude)

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, bishop of the church of the Smyrnaeans, or rather one who has God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as his bishop: abundant greetings.

## Translation notes

- “Theophorus” (Θεοφόρος): “God-bearer,” a second name Ignatius uses in all his letters.
- “One who has … as his bishop” (ἐπισκοπημένῳ): literally “who is overseen by God,” a play on ἐπίσκοπος, “bishop, overseer.”

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Pol. 0 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/0/).