Below is the public-domain translation of Saint Polycarp’s Epistle to the Philippians (written c. 110–140 AD).
J.B. Lightfoot
Greeting
Polycarp and the presbyters that are with him unto the Church of God which sojourneth at Philippi;mercy unto you and peace from God Almighty and Jesus Christ our Savior be multiplied.
Chapter 1: Praise of the Philippian Church
I rejoiced with you greatly in our Lord Jesus Christ, for that ye received the followers of the true Love and escorted them on their way, as befitted you—those men encircled in saintly bonds which are the diadems of them that be truly chosen of God and our Lord; and that the steadfast root of your faith which was famed from primitive times abideth until now and beareth fruit unto our Lord Jesus Christ, who endured to face even death for our sins, whom God raised, having loosed the pangs of Hades; on whom, though ye saw Him not, ye believe with joy unutterable and full of glory, into which joy many desire to enter, knowing that by grace ye are saved, not of works, but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.
Chapter 2: An Exhortation to Virtue
Wherefore gird up your loins and serve God in fear and truth, forsaking the vain and empty talking and the error of the many, for that ye have believed on Him that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave unto Him glory and a throne on His right hand; unto whom all things were made subject that are in heaven and that are on the earth; to whom every creature that hath breath doeth service; who cometh as judge of quick and dead; whose blood God will require of them that believe not in Him.
Now He that raised Him from the dead will raise us also, if we do His will and walk in His commandments and love the things which He loved, abstaining from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing or blow for blow or cursing for cursing; but remembering the words which the Lord spake, as He taught: Judge not that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; have mercy that ye may receive mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Chapter 3: Polycarp’s Personal Humility & Mention of Paul
These things, brethren, I write unto you concerning righteousness, not because I took it upon myself, but because ye invited me. For neither am I, nor is any other such as I, able to come up to the wisdom of the blessed and glorious Paul, who when he was among you in the presence of the men of that time taught accurately and steadfastly the word of truth;and when he was absent wrote a letter unto you, into the which if ye look diligently, ye shall be able to be builded up unto the faith given to you, which is the mother of us all, while hope followeth after and love goeth before—love toward God and Christ and toward our neighbor. For if any man be occupied with these, he hath fulfilled the commandment of righteousness; for he that hath love is far from all sin.
Chapter 4: Duties of Families, Husbands, Wives, and Widows
But the love of money is the beginning of all troubles. Knowing therefore that we brought nothing into the world, neither can we carry anything out, let us arm ourselves with the armor of righteousness, and let us teach ourselves first to walk in the commandment of the Lord; and then our wives also, to walk in the faith that hath been given unto them and in love and purity, cherishing their own husbands in all truth and loving all men equally in all chastity, and to train their children in the training of the fear of God.
Our widows must be sober-minded as touching the faith of the Lord, making intercession without ceasing for all men, being far from all calumny, evil speaking, false witness, love of money, and every evil; knowing that they are God’s altar, and that all sacrifices are inspected, and that nothing escapeth Him, whether of thoughts or intents or any of the secret things of the heart.
Chapter 5: Duties of Deacons and Young Men
Knowing then that God is not mocked, we ought to walk worthily of His commandment and His glory. In like manner deacons should be blameless in the presence of His righteousness, as ministers of God and Christ and not of men; not calumniators, not double-tongued, not lovers of money, temperate in all things, compassionate, diligent, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who became a minister (servant) of all.If we be well pleasing unto Him in this present world, we shall receive the future world also, according as He promised us to raise us from the dead.
In like manner also the younger men must be blameless in all things, caring for purity before everything and curbing themselves from every evil. For it is a good thing to refrain from lusts in the world, for every lust warreth against the Spirit, and neither whoremongers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind shall inherit the kingdom of God, nor they that do inappropriate things.Wherefore it is needful to abstain from all these things, being subject to the presbyters and deacons as unto God and Christ.
Chapter 6: Duties of Presbyters (Elders)
And the presbyters also must be compassionate, merciful towards all men, turning back the sheep that are gone astray, visiting all the infirm, not neglecting a widow or an orphan or a poor man: but providing always for that which is honorable in the sight of God and of men, abstaining from all anger, respect of persons, unrighteous judgment, being far from all love of money, not quick to believe anything against any man, not hasty in judgment, knowing that we all are debtors of sin.
If then we entreat the Lord that He will forgive us, we also ought to forgive; for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and each one must give an account of himself.
Chapter 7: Countering Heresy and Docetism
For every one who shall not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is antichrist; and whosoever shall not confess the testimony of the Cross, is of the devil; and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither a resurrection nor a judgment, he is the first-born of Satan.
Wherefore let us forsake the vain doing of the many and their false teachings, and turn unto the word which was delivered unto us from the beginning, watching unto prayer and persevering in fasting, beseeching the all-seeing God with supplications that He lead us not into temptation, according as the Lord said: The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Chapter 8: Perseverance in Hope through Christ
Let us therefore without ceasing hold fast by our hope and by the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, who took up our sins in His own body upon the tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth, but for our sakes, that we might live in Him, He endured all things. Let us therefore become imitators of His endurance; and if we suffer for His name’s sake, let us glorify Him. For this example He set us in His own person, and this we believed.
Chapter 9: Exhortation to Endurance and Remembrance of Martyrs
I exhort you all therefore to yield obedience to the word of righteousness and to exercise all patience, such as ye saw before your eyes, not only in the blessed Ignatius and Zosimus and Rufus, but also in others among yourselves, and in Paul himself and the rest of the Apostles; being persuaded that all these ran not in vain, but in faith and righteousness, and that they are in their due place in the presence of the Lord, with whom also they suffered. For they loved not this present world, but Him that died for our sakes and was raised by God for us.
Chapter 10: General Exhortations to Good Works
Stand fast therefore in these things and follow the example of the Lord, firm and unchangeable in the faith, lovers of the brotherhood, loving one another, joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your intercourse one with another, despising no man. When ye are able to do good, defer it not, for almsgiving delivereth from death. Be ye all subject one to another, having your conversation unblamable among the Gentiles, that your good works both ye may receive praise and the Lord may not be blasphemed in you.
Chapter 11: Grief over Valens (Exhortation Regarding Covetousness)
I was deeply grieved for Valens, who was once a presbyter among you, because he so little understandeth the place that was given unto him. I admonish you therefore that ye abstain from covetousness, and that ye be pure and truthful. Abstain from all evil. For how shall a man teach another if he cannot govern himself in these things? If a man abstain not from covetousness, he shall be defiled by idolatry and shall be judged as one of the Gentiles who know not the judgment of the Lord.
Chapter 12: Concluding Prayer and Counsel
For I am persuaded that ye are well trained in the sacred scriptures, and that nothing is hidden from you. Only for me it is not granted. But as it is said in these scriptures: Be ye angry and sin not, and Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Blessed is he that remembereth this; and I trust it is so with you.
Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal High Priest Himself, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, longsuffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He give you a lot and portion among His saints, and to us with you, and to all under heaven who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and in His Father who raised Him from the dead. Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings and powers and princes, and for them that persecute and hate you, and for the enemies of the Cross, that your fruit may be manifest among all men, that ye may be perfect in Him.
Chapter 13: Concerning the Letters of Ignatius
Ye wrote to me, both ye yourselves and Ignatius, that if any one goeth to Syria he should carry your letters also; which request I will fulfill if I find a fitting opportunity, whether I go myself or send an ambassador to act for you.The letters of Ignatius which were sent to us by him, and as many others as we had by us, we have sent to you, according as ye requested. They are subjoined to this letter; from which ye will be able to receive great benefit; for they comprehend faith and endurance and all the edification which pertaineth unto our Lord. And concerning Ignatius himself and those who are with him, if ye have any certain news, make it known unto us.
Chapter 14: Final Greeting
These things I have written unto you by Crescens, whom I have hitherto commended unto you and now commend again. For he hath walked unblamably among us, and I believe in like manner among you. His sister also shall be commended unto you when she cometh to you. Fare ye well in the Lord Jesus Christ in grace, with all yours. Amen.