<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The Martyrdom of Polycarp narrates a martyrdom ‘according to the Gospel’. Numerous facets of the text echo the passion materials of the Gospels, and Polycarp is directly said to imitate Christ. Various scholars have discussed the imitatio Christi theme within the work. Such an approach focuses upon Christ as an exemplar of suffering to be imitated, through specific events of similar suffering. But the Christology of the Martyrdom of Polycarp is far richer than this focus alone. Jesus Christ is also the Son, Savior, eternal high priest, teacher, elector, king, and alternative to Caesar. As the sovereign , he actively coordinates events and chooses martyrs from among his servants. </p></abstract>

The Martyrdom of Polycarp narrates a martyrdom ‘according to the Gospel’. Numerous facets of the text echo the passion materials of the Gospels, and Polycarp is directly said to imitate Christ. Various scholars have discussed the imitatio Christi theme within the work. Such an approach focuses upon Christ as an exemplar of suffering to be imitated, through specific events of similar suffering. But the Christology of the Martyrdom of Polycarp is far richer than this focus alone. Jesus Christ is also the Son, Savior, eternal high priest, teacher, elector, king, and alternative to Caesar. As the sovereign , he actively coordinates events and chooses martyrs from among his servants.

The Christology of the Martyrdom of Polycarp: Martyrdom as Both Imitation of Christ and Election by Christ

Faith Baptist Theological Seminary Loyola University Chicago) is Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Studies at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa, United States of America.

Perichoresis

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Martyrdom of Polycarp narrates a martyrdom ‘according to the Gospel’. Numerous facets of the text echo the passion materials of the Gospels, and Polycarp...

The Christology of the Martyrdom of Polycarp: Martyrdom as Both Imitation of Christ and Election by Christ

Published Online: Nov 25, 2014

Page range: 137 - 152

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2014-0008

Keywords
Polycarp, Christology, martyrdom, imitation, imitatio Christi, election

© 2014

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Christology of the Martyrdom of Polycarp: Martyrdom as Both Imitation of Christ and Election by Christ

Published Online: Nov 25, 2014

Page range: 137 - 152

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2014-0008

KeywordsPolycarp, Christology, martyrdom, imitation, imitatio Christi, election

© 2014

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Polycarp, Christology, martyrdom, imitation, imitatio Christi, election