Polycarp
A Student of John
by
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“He won’t recognize Jupiter, what do you think his punishment should be?” Claudius asked. “Burn him alive,” the crowd answered. “Burn him alive.” Claudius looked at his troops. “Maybe we should burn him,” he said. “Gather twigs and sticks and we will burn him.” The crowd built a large stack of wood. Claudius glared at Polycarp and said, “I have decided to burn you.” He then instructed his men, “Soldiers, bind him and place him on top of the wood.” “You don’t need to bind me,” Polycarp said. “Just have someone help me.” They placed Polycarp on top of the wood. “Light the fire,” he said. “This will end our problem.” The fire was lighted and it burned with great heat while Polycarp lay on top of the pile of burning wood. “The fire isn’t getting to him,” Claudius said. “It is dancing around him.” “His God is protecting him,” someone in the crowd yelled. “You can’t even burn him.” “Kill that trouble maker,” Claudius yelled. “No one can talk to me like that.” The soldiers weren’t sure who yelled the remarks, so they killed several people. The wood was almost all burned and Polycarp was still lying in the middle of it. “My God has been with me for eighty six years,” Polycarp said. “Now I will be with him.” Claudius ordered the executioner to stab Polycarp. As blood gushed from Polycarp’s side, the fire was extinguished, and his soul entered a state of eternal peace.
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About the Book
Polycarp’s story originates in Philippi during the middle of the first century and concludes after the middle of the second century. The story involves birth, love, travel, religion, and death. Polycarp’s father Augustus was killed while serving in the Roman Army. His mother, Dianna, was a strong willed woman and didn’t remarry. She and her attendant, Rachael, raised Polycarp and his three sisters. Polycarp became a priest and a professor. He was a student of John’s and spent time with him in Ephesus and later analyzed his writings. He moved to Smyrna and became The Bishop of Smyrna. He lived an exciting life performing research and teaching. He emphasized apostolic succession and the correctness of the scriptures. He died a martyr.