# Martyrdom of Polycarp 2.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Martyrdom of Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/) (*Martyrium Polycarpi*)
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:314; 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)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/1/

Summary: True martyrdoms happen according to God's will, since God rules over all.

## Greek text

Μακάρια μὲν οὖν καὶ γενναῖα τὰ μαρτύρια πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ γεγονότα. δεῖ γὰρ εὐλαβεστέρους ἡμᾶς ὑπάρχοντας τῷ θεῷ τὴν κατὰ πάντων ἐξουσίαν ἀνατιθέναι.

## English translation (Claude)

Blessed and noble, then, are all the martyrdoms that have taken place in accordance with the will of God. For we must be very reverent and ascribe to God the authority over all things.

## Translation notes

- “Very reverent” (εὐλαβεστέρους) is a comparative in Greek; some translate “we who are more reverent” (than others).

## Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 2.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/2/1/).