Recalling recent events, Polycarp points
to Ignatius as an exemplar of faith…
I have greatly rejoiced with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, because you… have accompanied… those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God… (1)
The events are very recent.
Polycarp does not yet know of the martyrdom of his friend.
The Epistles of Ignatius written by him to us, and all the rest [of his Epistles]… we have sent to you, as you requested… Any more certain information you may have obtained respecting both Ignatius himself, and those that were with him, have the goodness to make known to us. (13)
The letter gets interesting.
Polycarp grieves for a fallen presbyter and his wife.
I am greatly grieved for Valens, who was once a presbyter among you, because he so little understands the place that was given him [in the Church]. If a man does not keep himself from covetousness, he shall be defiled by idolatry, and shall be judged as one of the heathen… But who of us are ignorant of the judgment of the Lord? Do we not know that the saints shall judge the world?... may the Lord grant true repentance! And… do not count such as enemies, but call them back as suffering and straying members, that you may save your whole body. (11)
Valens did not understand “the
place that was given to him”… he did not “keep from covetousness” and fell into
idolatry… He has exchanged his future glory for that of the heathen! He cashed
in the role of judge for that of the judged! He has not appreciated the immense
gravity of the exchange.
More on this…
The Father glorified the Son,
placed all under His feet…
Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory, and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead… (2)
He will do the same for those who
do his will… They shall be raised with him and reign with him.
He who raised Him up from the dead will raise us up also, if we do His will … (2)
He has promised to us that He will raise us again from the dead, and that if we live worthily of Him, we shall also reign together with Him, provided only we believe.. (5)
We have a contrast, and so Valens
made an exchange, of cosmic proportions.
How did this happen? Partly ignorance…
partly a failure of the will… and pride.
What is the background situation?
Be not of the world…
Harry O. Maier describes a built in tension…
The importance of relatively well-to-do Christians in the foundation, organization, leadership and consolidation of the earliest Christian communities (especially Pauline churches) has been repeatedly asserted by scholars in recent years. Because of the willingness of householders to welcome Christian travellers, to welcome the local community of faith into their homes, and their ability to manage their households well, apostles and teachers like Paul found in their well-to-do hosts not only a source for the financial patronage necessary for the continuation of the church, but also a pool of leaders well-qualified to provide a secure venue for meetings and to lead the community in their absence. (Maier, 233)
(Harry O. Maier, “Purity and Danger in Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians: The Sin of Valens in Social Perspective,” Journal of Early Christian Studies, Volume 1, Number 3, Fall 1993, pp. 229-247)
Maier cites 1 Timothy 3: 2-5 (and Titus 1: 5-9) in support of this reality in Apostolic times. The characteristics worthy of a bishop are those associated with the wealthy householder.
It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity. But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?
The responsibilities of the presbyter imply means.
let the presbyters be compassionate and merciful… bringing back those that wander, visiting all the sick… not neglecting the widow, the orphan, or the poor, but always providing for that which is becoming in the sight of God and man… (6)
Again, Maier…
… wealth, while signifying a status necessary for presbyter-bishops, also may have served to undermine allegiance to the community's ideals. (Maier, 235)
One who has such means will have a tendency to look down on those who do not.
Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood… despising no one… (10)
Moreover, they will have depend on connections with the outside world… attachments… one foot in the church and another in the world. The temptation will be compromise.
Polycarp exhorts all to follow the example of the saints.
I exhort you all, therefore, to yield obedience… such as you have seen [set] before your eyes, not only in the case of the blessed Ignatius, and Zosimus, and Rufus… and in Paul himself, and the rest of the apostles… For they loved not this present world, but Him who died for us, and for our sakes was raised again by God from the dead. (9)
There are many kinds of wealth. The issue is pride.
A relevant anecdote...
While an employee of Air Canada my wife and I enjoyed the benefit of free flights. We’d put our names in and if a seat was available, we’d get it. On one flight from Toronto to Vancouver, my wife and I were put in first class on a then-new Airbus A340. It was amazing. I couldn’t believe our good fortune. We had never flown anything but economy before—we could never afford it—but there we were, and we were treated like royalty. I got used to it—and fast. About an hour into the flight an announcement was made: If anyone from economy class would like to visit the cockpit, they should come to the front of the plane. (This was before 911). In moments a stream of eager economy classers began to file by our first class seats. I was indignant. “Why were they letting these dirties up here with us.” It took an hour—an hour! I had forgotten who I was.
DSMW
