How Did Polycarp Impact The World

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Polycarp was and still is an influential apostolic father in the history of Christianity. He influenced those around him such as Irenaeus through his life and others through his death as a martyr. His perseverance and conviction was shown as he was being prepared to be burned he prayed, “’Lord Sovereign God…I thank you that you have deemed me worthy of this moment, so that, jointly with your martyrs, I may have a share in the cup of Christ….For this...I bless and glorify you. Amen” (Gonzalez, 2010, p. 54). His life and death was extraordinary and continues to impact us today, as it impacted those in his time.
Polycarp was born around ad 70. According to Irenaeus a student of Polycarp’s, said he was a disciple of John from the time of his early teens. He received much instruction from the apostles and was appointed Bishop of Smyrna by them. Although there is not much evidence beyond what Irenaeus says to clarify what type of relationship he had with the Apostles. It is clear by the references of Irenaeus that he was a close disciple of John and a truthful witness. For Irenaeus says, that Polycarp “would speak of his familiar intercourse with John” and the rest of witnesses to the Lord….and “thus received [information] form the eye witnesses of the Word of life, would recount them in all harmony
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In being steadfast in what he knew he tended to apply the same truths in all situations. To which Ignatius in his letter to Polycarp mentioned to him “endeavors to love all his brethren; unfortunately at times he tends to love ‘good disciples’ more than he ought, and to apply the same ‘plaster’ to all wounds” (Grant, 1946, 137-138). Therefore, in his steadfastness he stood firm to the end when He was martyred, given the chance to capitulate to the proconsul he did not. He simply kept affirming what he knew what was true, going to his demise, as immovable, in ad