Who remembers Polycarp?

[joey_the_ox]

Since today is the Memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr, I wrote a bit about how David Bercot uses Polycarp in the introduction to his book Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up?. In particular, I take issue with his claim that "the name of Polycarp has been largely forgotten."

[steve-in-kville]

I actually had to google this. I've been on a tear studying early church history, basically how the catholic church got started. I heard this name before.

[Neto]

Sure, familiar name.

(I was tempted to say that we never ate carp, especially any made of poly plastics. But I decided not to. Opps. )

[Soloist]

I would consider his letter as Scripture.

[barnhart]

I would consider his letter as Scripture.

Interesting. Why?

[Heirbyadoption]

Since today is the Memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr, I wrote a bit about how David Bercot uses Polycarp in the introduction to his book Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up?. In particular, I take issue with his claim that "the name of Polycarp has been largely forgotten."

His name has been far better remembered in Catholic circles than Anabaptist ones, by virtue of HRCC veneration of the dead and usage of many of their writings. It has only been in the last 20-30 years that stories and lessons from Polycarp have really made a resurgence in popularity among Anabaptists, and Mennonites in particular, outside of reference to Van Braght's "Martyr's Mirror." The other thing to consider is that David's book didn't necessarily seem to be aimed at one particular denomination. I respectfully submit that neither you nor he are entirely incorrect.

[Josh]

Since today is the Memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr, I wrote a bit about how David Bercot uses Polycarp in the introduction to his book Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up?. In particular, I take issue with his claim that "the name of Polycarp has been largely forgotten."

Virtually unheard of in Protestant circles. Anabaptists talk about him because he shows up in the Martyr's Mirror. As a child I learned about him from the Pilgrim's Progress.

Anabaptists who are moving more Protestant and less Anabaptist will tend to know much less about these historical figures, since the liberal-shifting Anabaptist usually doesn't want to spend much time reading the Martyr's Mirror, but would prefer to pick up books by people like John Piper, Joyce Myers, or Jonathan Cahn.

[RZehr]

I'm familiar with the name Polycarp for a long time, since I was in school, but not familiar with his writings.

[Neto]

Since today is the Memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr, I wrote a bit about how David Bercot uses Polycarp in the introduction to his book Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up?. In particular, I take issue with his claim that "the name of Polycarp has been largely forgotten."

His name has been far better remembered in Catholic circles than Anabaptist ones, by virtue of HRCC veneration of the dead and usage of many of their writings. It has only been in the last 20-30 years that stories and lessons from Polycarp have really made a resurgence in popularity among Anabaptists, and Mennonites in particular, outside of reference to Van Braght's "Martyr's Mirror." The other thing to consider is that David's book didn't necessarily seem to be aimed at one particular denomination. I respectfully submit that neither you nor he are entirely incorrect.

For me, it was in Church history class, at a Christian & Missionary Alliance Bible college. (I think they qualify as 'Evangelical'. I've read through the Martyrs' Mirror, but some years ago, and didn't remember that he is mentioned there.)

[Soloist]

I would consider his letter as Scripture.

Interesting. Why?

For one, the one letter he wrote has no conflict with Scripture, for another, it was in my eyes just as scriptural as say Jude.

Ask yourself, why do you accept what is called canon by your church. Do you know? Why is this book rejected, or that book, why was this accepted or that. Do you know your church history?

Why was there several lists floating around of canon and none of them agreed completely? Who decided what was to be included? when was the apocrypha rejected? Who did it? What did Menno Simon's quote from? Did he regard more as canon then you?