Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History, Books I–X

Chapter XIV.—The Circumstances related of Polycarp, a Friend of the Apostles.

1. At this time, while Anicetus was at the head of the church of Rome, ^{Edition note 1} Irenæus relates that Polycarp, who was still alive, was at Rome, ^{Edition note 2} and that he had a conference with Anicetus on a question concerning the day of the paschal feast. ^{Edition note 3}

2. And the same writer gives another account of Polycarp which I feel constrained to add to that which has been already related in regard to him. The account is taken from the third book of Irenæus’ work Against Heresies, and is as follows: ^{Edition note 4}

3. “But Polycarp ^{Edition note 5} also was not only instructed by the apostles, and acquainted with many that had seen Christ, but was also appointed by apostles in Asia bishop of the church of Smyrna. ^{Edition note 6}

4. We too saw him in our early youth; for he lived a long time, and died, when a very old man, a glorious and most illustrious martyr’s death, ^{Edition note 7} having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, which the Church also hands down, and which alone are true. ^{Edition note 8}

5. To these things all the Asiatic churches testify, as do also those who, down to the present time, have succeeded Polycarp, ^{Edition note 9} who was a much more trustworthy and certain witness of the truth than Valentinus and Marcion and the rest of the heretics. ^{Edition note 10} He also was in Rome in the time of Anicetus ^{Edition note 11} and caused many to turn away from the above-mentioned heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received from the apostles this one and only system of truth which has been transmitted by the Church.

6. And there are those that heard from him that John, the disciple of the Lord, going to bathe in Ephesus and seeing Cerinthus within, ran out of the bath-house without bathing, crying, ‘Let us flee, lest even the bath fall, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within.’ ^{Edition note 12}

7. And Polycarp himself, when Marcion once met him ^{Edition note 13} and said, ‘Knowest ^{Edition note 14} thou us?’ replied, ‘I know the first born of Satan.’ Such caution did the apostles and their disciples exercise that they might not even converse with any of those who perverted the truth; as Paul also said, ‘A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.’ ^{Edition note 15}

8. There is also a very powerful epistle of Polycarp written to the Philippians, ^{Edition note 16} from which those that wish to do so, and that are concerned for their own salvation, may learn the character of his faith and the preaching of the truth.” Such is the account of Irenæus.

9. But Polycarp, in his above-mentioned epistle to the Philippians, which is still extant, has made use of certain testimonies drawn from the First Epistle of Peter. ^{Edition note 17}

10. And when Antoninus, called Pius, had completed the twenty-second year of his reign, ^{Edition note 18} Marcus Aurelius Verus, his son, who was also called Antoninus, succeeded him, together with his brother Lucius. ^{Edition note 19}