Helpful Saints Corpus Reader
Martyrdom of Polycarp
Chapter 17
Reading display
Text size, spacing, and the sepia or night theme stay on this browser when storage is available.
Resume in the Library keeps only your last public work, edition and passage on this browser.
Saved Places
Saved only on this browser. Places do not synchronize between devices. Only work, edition and passage identifiers are kept; passage text is not stored.
Remove all Saved Places from this browser? Resume reading and display preferences will stay.
Martyrdom of Polycarp 17:1
But the jealous and envious evil one who resists the family of the righteous, when he saw the greatness of his martyrdom, and his blameless career from the beginning, and that he was crowned with the crown of immortality, and had carried off the unspeakable prize, took care that not even his poor body should be taken away by us, though many desired to do so, and to have fellowship with his holy flesh.
Study this passage
Martyrdom of Polycarp 17:2
Therefore he put forward Niketas, the father of Herod, and the brother of Alce, to ask the Governor not to give his body, "Lest," he said, "they leave the crucified one and begin to worship this man." And they said this owing to the suggestions and pressure of the Jews, who also watched when we were going to take it from the fire, for they do not know that we shall not ever be able either to abandon Christ, who suffered for the salvation of those who are being saved in the whole world, the innocent for sinners, or to worship any other.
Study this passage
Martyrdom of Polycarp 17:3
For him we worship as the Son of God, but the martyrs we love as disciples and imitators of the Lord; and rightly, because of their unsurpassable affection toward their own King and Teacher. God grant that we too may be their companions and fellow-disciples.
Study this passage
Chapter 17 · All reading sections
Choose an edition
About this edition
Martyrdom of Polycarp — Kirsopp Lake 1912 English translation
Unverified edition
Reading language: eng · Original language (catalog): Ancient source language(s)
Recorded completeness: Chapter 23 includes the alternative Moscow conclusion as labelled by Lake.. Available reading sections are listed below.
Available body coverage · eng
24 chapter/reading unit(s) · 61 nonempty passage record(s).
Supported chapters & passages
- Chapter 0 · 1 passage record(s)
- Chapter 1 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 2 · 4 passage record(s)
- Chapter 3 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 4 · 1 passage record(s)
- Chapter 5 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 6 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 7 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 8 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 9 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 10 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 11 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 12 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 13 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 14 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 15 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 16 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 17 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 18 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 19 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 20 · 2 passage record(s)
- Chapter 21 · 1 passage record(s)
- Chapter 22 · 3 passage record(s)
- Chapter 23 · 7 passage record(s)
Body coverage is separate from textual verification. Counts do not establish complete chapters or textual completeness.
Evidence Intelligence
Know what kind of evidence you are looking at.
Helpful Saints keeps direct biblical text, language evidence, ancient witnesses, historical context, research models, and open questions visibly distinct.Direct Biblical Text
The explicit wording and literary context of canonical Scripture.
Original-Language Evidence
Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, morphology, lemmas, semantic range, and textual comparison.
Ancient Witness
Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient Jewish literature, and early Christian writings—clearly classified.
Historical Context
Geography, material culture, chronology ranges, institutions, customs, and reception history.
Research Model
A configured chronology, theological synthesis, typological pattern, or proposed relationship.
Open Question
Evidence is incomplete, debated, or insufficient for a settled conclusion.