Similar Martyrdom of Polycarp, The Shepherd of Hermas, Epistle to Diognetus, Acts of Paul and Thecla, Apocalypse of Peter | ||
The Letter to the Philippians (often simply called Philippians) is an epistle composed around AD 110 to 140 by Polycarp of Smyrna, one of the Apostolic Fathers, from Antioch to the early Christian church in Philippi. The letter is described by Irenaeus as follows:
There is also a forceful epistle written by Polycarp to the Philippians, from which those who wish to do so, and are anxious about their salvation, can learn the character of his faith, and the preaching of the truth.The letter is one of a number believed to have been written by Polycarp, but is the only extant document. The letter was composed in Greek, but the Greek text has not been preserved in its entirety; there is also a Latin translation of the letter. Moreover, a few quotations of it are preserved in Syriac.
Content
The letter warns against a number of disorders in the church and against apostasy, and encourages the Christians to persevere in good works. It also acted as a covering letter for a collection of writings by Ignatius of Antioch, whose works were being collected by the church at Philippi after Ignatius' visit there.
This is one quotation from the epistle:
"Stand fast, therefore, in this conduct and follow the example of the Lord, 'firm and unchangeable in faith, lovers of the brotherhood, loving each other, united in truth,' helping each other with the mildness of the Lord, despising no man."One of the letter's more important features is its use and citation of other early Christian writings, many of which later came to be part of the New Testament.