# Martyrdom of Polycarp 14.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Martyrdom of Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/) (*Martyrium Polycarpi*)
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:330; 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 5:1040a–1040b (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/1/

Summary: Bound to the stake like a sacrificial ram, Polycarp began his final prayer to God the Father.

## Greek text

Οἱ δὲ οὐ καθήλωσαν μέν, προσέδησαν δὲ αὐτόν. ὁ δὲ ὀπίσω τὰς χεῖρας ποιήσας καὶ προσδεθείς, ὥσπερ κριὸς ἐπίσημος ἐκ μεγάλου ποιμνίου εἰς προσφοράν, ὁλοκαύτωμα δεκτὸν τῷ θεῷ ἡτοιμασμένον, ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶπεν· Κύριε ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὁ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ καὶ εὐλογητοῦ παιδός σου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πατήρ, διʼ οὗ τὴν περὶ σοῦ ἐπίγνωσιν εἰλήφαμεν, ὁ θεὸς ἀγγέλων καὶ δυνάμεων καὶ πάσης τῆς κτίσεως παντός τε τοῦ γένους τῶν δικαίων, οἳ ζῶσιν ἐνώπιόν σου·

## English translation (Claude)

So they did not nail him, but they tied him. And he, with his hands put behind him and bound, like a choice ram taken from a great flock for an offering, a whole burnt offering prepared and acceptable to God, looked up to heaven and said: “Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Servant Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels and powers and of all creation, and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your presence:

## Scripture references

- Gen 22:13: echo, medium confidence
- Rev 4:8: echo, low confidence
- Acts 4:27: echo, low confidence
- Matt 12:18: echo, low confidence

## Translation notes

- “Servant” (παῖς) can also mean “Child.” It is an early title of Jesus in prayer (Acts 4:27, 30; Did. 9.2), recalling the Servant of Isa 42:1 (Matt 12:18).
- “Choice” (ἐπίσημος): “marked out, notable.”

## Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 14.1 (PG 5:1040a–1040b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/1/).