An alternative theory of the history of Christianity
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and the Eusebian fiction postulate
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Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna

POLYCARP: (69 -- 155). Saint, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr.
Only one Epistle, addressed to the Philippians, remains of
Polycarp, and of it CE. discusses the "serious qucstion" of its
genuineness, which depends upon that of the Ignatian Epistles, and
vice versa, above discussed; it says: "If the former were
forgeries, the latter, which supports -- it might almost be said
presupposes -- them, must be a forgery from the same hand." (CE.
xii, 219.) Poor Church of God, cannot you produce something of your
Saints that isn't a forgery?

     But if Saint Polycarp did not write anything genuine, his
Church of Smyrna did itself proud in doing honor to his pretended
Martyrtioin, in A.D. 154-5, or 165-6 (lb.) -- so exact is Church
"tradition." In one of the earliest Encyclicals -- (not issued by
a Pope) -- the wondrous tale is told. It it; addressed: "The "The
Church of God which sojourns at Smyrna, to the Church of God
sojourning in Philomelium, and to all the congregations of the holy
and Catholic -- [first use of term] -- Church in every place"; and
proceeds in glowing words to recount the virtues, capture, trial
and condemnation to death by fire, of the holy St. Polycarp. Just
before his capture, polycarp dreamed that his pillow was afire; he
exclaimed to those around, "prophetically, 'I am to be burned
alive.'" The forged and fabling Epistle proceeds: "Now, as Polycerp
was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from
heaven, saying, 'Be strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp.' No
one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who
were present heard the voice" (Ch. ix). Then the details of his
trial before the magistrates, and the verbatim report of his prayer
when led to his fate (xiv). Then (Chap. xv):

          "When he had pronounced this amen, and so finished his
     prayer, those who were appointed for the purpose kindled the
     fire. And as the flame blazed forth in great fury, we, to whom
     it was given to witness it, beheld a great miracle, and have
     been preserved that we might report to others what then took
     place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of an arch.,
     like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, encompassed
     as by a circle of fire the body of the martyr. And he appeared
     within not like flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is
     baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnsce. Moreover,
     we prececived such a sweet odor (coming from the pile), as if
     frankincene or some such precious spices had been smoking
     there. (Ch. xvi.) At length, when those wicked men perceived
     that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they
     commanded an executioner to go near and pierce him through
     with a dagger. And on his doing this, there came forth a dove,
     and a great quantity of blood, so that the fire was
     extinguished"! (Letter of the Church at Smyrna, ANF. i. 39-44;
     CE. xii, 221.)

     Even this holy Encyclical, at least as to its appended date,
is not without suspicion; for, "The possibility remains that the
subscription was tampered with by a later hand. But 155 must be
approximately correct." (CE. xii, 221.) Oh, for something saintly
above suspicion!

-- extracted from Joseph Wheless,
"FORGERY IN CHRISTIANITY", 1930

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