# Martyrdom of Polycarp 22.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Martyrdom of Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/) (*Martyrium Polycarpi*)
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:340; 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 5:1045a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/22/1/

Summary: A farewell asking that readers follow in Polycarp's footsteps.

## Greek text

Ἐρρῶσθαι ὑμᾶς εὐχόμεθα, ἀδελφοί, στοιχοῦντας τῷ κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον λόγῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθʼ οὗ δόξα τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἁγίῳ πνεύματι, ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ τῇ τῶν ἁγίων ἐκλεκτῶν, καθὼς ἐμαρτύρησεν ὁ μακάριος Πολύκαρπος, οὗ γένοιτο ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πρὸς τὰ ἴχνη εὑρεθῆναι ἡμᾶς.

## English translation (Claude)

We bid you farewell, brothers, as you walk by the word of Jesus Christ that is in accordance with the gospel; with him be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of the holy elect, just as the blessed Polycarp bore witness; may we be found following in his footsteps in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

## Translation notes

- “Bore witness” (ἐμαρτύρησεν): the same verb as “was martyred”; both senses are present.

## Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 22.1 (PG 5:1045a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/22/1/).
