# Martyrdom of Polycarp 14.2

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Martyrdom of Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/) (*Martyrium Polycarpi*)
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:330–332; 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 5:1040b–1040c (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/2/

Summary: Polycarp thanked God for the honor of sharing Christ's suffering and prayed to be received as a sacrifice.

## Greek text

εὐλογῶ σε, ὅτι ἠξίωσάς με τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ ὥρας ταύτης, τοῦ λαβεῖν με μέρος ἐν ἀριθμῷ τῶν μαρτύρων ἐν τῷ ποτηρίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ σου εἰς ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς αἰωνίου ψυχῆς τε καὶ σώματος ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ πνεύματος ἁγίου· ἐν οἷς προσδεχθείην ἐνώπιόν σου σήμερον ἐν θυσίᾳ πίονι καὶ προσδεκτῇ, καθὼς προητοίμασας καὶ προεφανέρωσας καὶ ἐπλήρωσας, ὁ ἀψευδὴς καὶ ἀληθινὸς θεός.

## English translation (Claude)

I bless you because you have counted me worthy of this day and hour, to receive a share among the number of the martyrs in the cup of your Christ, for resurrection to eternal life of both soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be received before you today as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as you prepared beforehand, revealed beforehand, and have fulfilled, you the God who does not lie and is true.

## Scripture references

- Mark 10:38: allusion, medium confidence
- Matt 20:22: echo, low confidence
- John 5:29: allusion, medium confidence
- Titus 1:2: echo, low confidence

## Translation notes

- “The cup of your Christ”: the cup of suffering (Mark 10:38–39).
- “Rich” (πίονι): literally “fat,” that is, choice, as in sacrificial language.
- The prayer's form (blessing, remembrance, doxology) resembles early Eucharistic prayers, which has led some to think its wording was shaped by liturgical use.

## Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 14.2 (PG 5:1040b–1040c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/14/2/).