# Martyrdom of Polycarp 10.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Martyrdom of Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/) (*Martyrium Polycarpi*)
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:324–326; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 2, LCL 25 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1913), 312–345 (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 5:1036c–1036d (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/10/1/

Summary: Polycarp openly declared himself a Christian and offered to explain the faith.

## Greek text

Ἐπιμένοντος δὲ πάλιν αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγοντος· Ὄμοσον τὴν Καίσαρος τύχην, ἀπεκρίνατο· Εἰ κενοδοξεῖς, ἵνα ὀμόσω τὴν Καίσαρος τύχην, ὡς σὺ λέγεις, προσποιεῖ δὲ ἀγνοεῖν με, τίς εἰμι, μετὰ παρρησίας ἄκουε· Χριστιανός εἰμι. εἰ δὲ θέλεις τὸν τοῦ Χριστιανισμοῦ μαθεῖν λόγον, δὸς ἡμέραν καὶ ἄκουσον.

## English translation (Claude)

When he persisted again and said, “Swear by the fortune of Caesar,” Polycarp answered, “If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the fortune of Caesar, as you put it, and you pretend not to know who I am, hear it plainly: I am a Christian. And if you want to learn the teaching of Christianity, give me a day and listen.”

## Translation notes

- “Christianity” (Χριστιανισμοῦ): with the letters of Ignatius, among the earliest uses of the word.

## Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 10.1 (PG 5:1036c–1036d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/10/1/).