# To Polycarp 4.1

- 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 24:270–272; 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)
- Also in: PG 5:721b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/4/1/

Summary: The bishop must care for widows and oversee everything in the church.

## Greek text

Χῆραι μὴ ἀμελείσθωσαν· μετὰ τὸν κύριον σὺ αὐτῶν φροντιστὴς ἔσο. μηδὲν ἄνευ γνώμης σου γινέσθω μηδὲ σὺ ἄνευ θεοῦ τι πρᾶσσε, ὅπερ οὐδὲ πράσσεις· εὐστάθει.

## English translation (Claude)

Do not let widows be neglected. After the Lord, you be their guardian. Let nothing be done without your consent, and do nothing without God, as indeed you do not. Stand firm.

## Scripture references

- Acts 6:1: echo, low confidence
- Jas 1:27: echo, low confidence

## Citation (SBL)

Ign. Pol. 4.1 (PG 5:721b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ign-polycarp/4/1/).