What’s Worth Dying For: The Story of Polycarp

The following story was a part of my message on Sunday (“Stephen: a heart for God”) that I had to cut out at the last minute. I am always inspired by Polycarp’ story of knowing what is worth living for and what is worth dying for.

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Perhaps you have heard of a beautiful town known as Izmir along the western seacoast of Turkey. Tucked amidst the high-rises and minarets is a church built in the 17th century and dedicated to an early Christian many of us no longer remember from a time when Izmir was known as Smyrna.

There, nearly 1900 years ago, lived an early Christian named Polycarp, a convert to Christianity during the ministry of the John the Apostle. Serving the Lord over the course of his life and well-respected in the church, Polycarp was wholly committed to the Lord Jesus at a time of great persecution for the church. The influence of the Roman Emperor appeared unlimited, and the basic declaration of allegiance to the Emperor was: “Caesar is Lord.”

When he was dragged before the Roman Proconsul on false charges, Polycarp was thoroughly interrogated and asked to swear allegiance to Caesar. “Swear, and I release you; curse Christ,” said the Proconsul. 

To which Polycarp responded, “Eighty-six years have I served Him, and he has done me no wrong: how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Again, the Proconsul said, “Swear by the genius of Caesar.” To which Polycarp responded once more, “If you vainly imagine that I would ‘swear by the genius of Caesar’, as you may say, pretending that you are ignorant who I am , hear plainly that I am a Christian.” 

It is this bold statement that eventually led to Polycarp’s execution by burning in public in AD 156. 

Polycarp’s situation starkly sets before us what we have already seen in Stephen, that knowing what’s worth living for may lead us to into the risk of finding out what’s worth dying for.

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You can read more about Polycarp in two ancient writings that are connected to him:

• “The Martyrdom of Polycarp” – an account of his last days
• “The Epistle to the Philippians” by Polycarp