Applying Polycarp's Perseverance in the Face of Adversity
Perseverance, in a Christian context, refers to the steadfast endurance of faith and obedience despite trials and suffering. The concept is deeply rooted in biblical teachings and has been a significant theme throughout Christian history, notably exemplified by figures like Polycarp [2, 3].
The Apostle Paul highlights the transformative power of perseverance, stating that "patience works out proven character; and proven character, hope" (Romans 5:4 LITV) [1]. This suggests a process where enduring hardship refines one's faith and strengthens their expectation of God's promises. The author of Hebrews encourages believers to "run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1 ESV), emphasizing Jesus as the ultimate example of faithfulness in suffering [6]. This passage uses the metaphor of a race, where believers must strip away anything that hinders them, including sin, to endure to the end [6].
Early Christian leaders, such as Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, embodied this principle of perseverance. one tradition holds that Polycarp faced martyrdom by being burned alive around 166 AD, with accounts noting the active role of Jews in his execution [3]. John Gill, in his commentary on Revelation 2:10, suggests that the divine warning to "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer" might have been specifically addressed to Polycarp, anticipating his trials [2]. Clement of Rome exhorted believers to "continually persevere in our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ," urging imitation of Christ's patience in suffering for His name's sake [8].
Theological traditions have further elaborated on the nature of perseverance. John Calvin emphasized the rarity and excellence of both prompt obedience to God's call and steadfast perseverance "unto the end" [5]. He noted that many are slow to obey or fall away due to "fickleness and inconstancy" [5]. Calvin also linked perseverance with "patience and long-suffering," recognizing that believers constantly face "a thousand temptations daily" that can weigh them down, requiring an "admirable patience" [9]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Romans 12:12 connects rejoicing in hope, enduring in tribulation, and persevering in prayer, suggesting that each practice supports the others. Prayer, in particular, is seen as strengthening faith, which in turn fosters hope and patience in tribulation [4].
Thomas Aquinas, from a scholastic Catholic perspective, defined perseverance in several ways. Primarily, it signifies "a habit of the mind whereby a man stands steadfastly, lest he be moved by the assault of sadness from what is virtuous" [7]. He also described it as a habit of maintaining a purpose of continuing in good works until the end of life [7]. This highlights perseverance not merely as an act but as an ingrained disposition.
The concept of perseverance is not without its nuances and distinctions across traditions. While many agree on the necessity of enduring faith, the precise mechanisms and theological implications can differ. For instance, Wesleyan theology, as seen in Adam Clarke's commentary, often emphasizes the human responsibility in maintaining faith and responding to grace, even in the face of severe persecution like Polycarp's [3]. Reformed theology, represented by Calvin, while acknowledging human effort, typically places greater emphasis on God's preserving grace as the ultimate source of a believer's ability to persevere [5, 9].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 5:4 (LITV) — and patience works out proven character; and proven character, hope.”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 2:10: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer,.... God's people undergo sufferings of various sorts, as the Christians of those times did, scourgings, imprisonment, confiscation of goods, and death itself in various shapes; and these are certain, they shall suffer them; they are all known beforehand to Christ, and he sometimes gives his people previous notice of them, nor should they indulge a slavish fear about them. It is reported of Polycarp, bishop of this church at Smyrna, in a letter written by the church itself (n) that three days before he suffered, he”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 2:10: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer - This may be addressed particularly to Polycarp, if he was at that time the bishop of this Church. He had much to suffer; and was at last burnt alive at Smyrna, about the year of our Lord 166. We have a very ancient account of his martyrdom, which has been translated by Cave, and is worthy of the reader's perusal. That account states that the Jews were particularly active in this martyrdom, and brought the fagots, etc., by which he was consumed. Such persons must indeed have been of the synagogue of Satan. Ten d”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 12:12: Rejoicing, &c.--Here it is more lively to retain the order and the verbs of the original: "In hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, persevering." Each of these exercises helps the other. If our "hope" of glory is so assured that it is a rejoicing hope, we shall find the spirit of "endurance in tribulation" natural and easy; but since it is "prayer" which strengthens the faith that begets hope and lifts it up into an assured and joyful expectancy, and since our patience in tribulation is fed by this, it will be seen that all depends on ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 4.4: with all the children of God in the faith of the gospel. When he says, from the first day , he commends their promptitude in having shewn themselves teachable immediately upon the doctrine being set before them. The phrase until now denotes their perseverance. Now we know how rare an excellence it is, to follow God immediately upon his calling us, and also to persevere steadfastly unto the end. For many are slow and backward to obey, while there are still more that fall short through fickleness and inconstancy. 32 3”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:1: 12:1-17 The author challenges his hearers to endure in following Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, by imitating him in his suffering (12:1-4), by enduring under God’s discipline (12:5-13), and by living in peace with others (12:14-17). 12:1 huge crowd of witnesses: The host of faithful followers of God (ch 11) bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith. • let us strip off every weight: In Greco-Roman literature, a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin . . . trips us up. It ent”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Of the Necessity of Grace, Art. 10: Article: Whether man possessed of grace needs the help of grace in order to persevere? I answer that, Perseverance is taken in three ways. First, to signify a habit of the mind whereby a man stands steadfastly, lest he be moved by the assault of sadness from what is virtuous. And thus perseverance is to sadness as continence is to concupiscence and pleasure, as the Philosopher says (Ethic. vii, 7). Secondly, perseverance may be called a habit, whereby a man has the purpose of persever”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. VIII.--PERSEVERE IN HOPE AND PATIENCE.: Let us then continually persevere in our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, "who bore our sins in His own body on the tree,"(3) "who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth,"(4) but endured all things for us, that we might live in Him.(5) Let us then be imitators of His patience; and if we suffer(6) for His name's sake, let us glorify Him.(7) For He has set us this example s in Himself, and we have believed that such is the c”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 25.4: — in all patience and long-suffering. For they are constantly, while in this world, exercised with the cross, and a thousand temptations daily present themselves, so as to weigh them down, and they see nothing of what God has promised. They must, therefore, arm themselves with an admirable patience, that what Isaiah says may be accomplished, In hope and in silence shall be your strength. 290 290 Lowth’s rendering of the passage is similar: “In silence, and in pious confidence, shall be your strength.” — Ed . ( Isai”