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Polycarp of Smyrna

Epistle to the Philippians

Chapter 12

Exhortation to various graces.

For I trust that ye are well versed in the sacred Scriptures, and that nothing is hid from you; but to me this privilege is not yet granted.1 It is declared then in these Scriptures, “Be ye angry, and sin not,”2 and, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”3 Happy is he who remembers4 this, which I believe to be the case with you. But may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Son of God, and our everlasting High Priest, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Father, who “raised Him from the dead.”5 Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings,6 and potentates, and princes, and for those that persecute and hate you,7 and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest to all, and that ye may be perfect in Him.

Notes

  1. This passage is very obscure. Some render it as follows: “But at present it is not granted unto me to practise that which is written, Be ye angry,” etc.↩
  2. Ps. iv. 5.↩
  3. Eph. iv. 26.↩
  4. Some read, “believes.”↩
  5. Gal. i. 1.↩
  6. Comp. 1 Tim. ii. 2.↩
  7. Matt. v. 44.↩

Translation by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson and Frederick Crombie: The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, vol. 1: The Apostolic Fathers (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1870).
Text from Project Gutenberg eBook #77576, proofread by Distributed Proofreaders from Internet Archive scans. Public domain.