# Martyrdom of Polycarp 4.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Martyrdom of Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/) (*Martyrium Polycarpi*)
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:316–318; 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 5:1032d (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/4/1/

Summary: Quintus, who had volunteered for martyrdom, gave way; so the church does not approve of handing oneself over.

## Greek text

Εἷς δέ, ὀνόματι Κόϊντος, Φρύξ προσφάτως ἐληλυθὼς ἀπὸ τῆς Φρυγίας, ἰδὼν τὰ θηρία ἐδειλίασεν. οὗτος δὲ ἦν ὁ παραβιασάμενος ἑαυτόν τε καί τινας προσελθεῖν ἑκόντας. τοῦτον ὁ ἀνθύπατος πολλὰ ἐκλιπαρήσας ἔπεισεν ὀμόσαι καὶ ἐπιθῦσαι. διὰ τοῦτο οὖν, ἀδελφοί, οὐκ ἐπαινοῦμεν τοὺς προδιδόντας ἑαυτούς, ἐπειδὴ οὐχ οὕτως διδάσκει τὸ εὐαγγέλιον.

## English translation (Claude)

But one man, named Quintus, a Phrygian who had recently come from Phrygia, turned coward when he saw the wild beasts. He was the one who had pushed himself and some others to come forward of their own accord. The proconsul, by much pleading, persuaded him to swear the oath and offer sacrifice. For this reason, therefore, brothers, we do not praise those who hand themselves over, since the gospel does not teach this.

## Scripture references

- Matt 10:23: echo, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- Phrygia was later the home of the Montanist movement, known for zeal for martyrdom; some see a warning against it here, but the link is uncertain.

## Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 4.1 (PG 5:1032d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/4/1/).