# To the Philippians 11.4

- Author: [Polycarp of Smyrna](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/polycarp-of-smyrna/)
- Work: [To the Philippians](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/pol-philippians/) (*Epistula ad Philippenses*)
- Date: ca. 110–135 (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:296–298; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 282–301 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912), 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/pol-philippians/11/4/

Summary: Polycarp prays that Valens and his wife repent and urges the church to restore them as straying members rather than treat them as enemies.

## Latin text

Valde ergo, fratres, contristor pro illo et pro coniuge eius, quibus det dominus paenitentiam veram. Sobrii ergo estote et vos in hoc; et non sicut inimicos tales existimetis, sed sicut passibilia membra et errantia eos revocate, ut omnium vestrum corpus salvetis. Hoc enim agentes vos ipsos aedificatis.

## English translation (Claude)

I am therefore very sorry, brothers, for him and for his wife; may the Lord grant them true repentance. So you too must be sober in this matter: do not regard such people as enemies, but call them back as suffering and straying members, so that you may save the body of you all. For by doing this you build up yourselves.

## Scripture references

- 2 Tim 2:25: allusion, medium confidence
- 2 Thess 3:15: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Cor 12:26: echo, low confidence

## Translation notes

- “Suffering” (passibilia): capable of suffering, frail.

## Citation (SBL)

Pol. Phil. 11.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/pol-philippians/11/4/).