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Office Of Readings | Week 26, Thursday, Ordinary Time | From The Letter Of Saint Polycarp To The Philippians | May Christ Build You Up In Faith And In Truth
‘May Christ build you up in faith and in truth.’
Saint Polycarp brings together the pastoral, theological, and practical elements that have characterised his message to the Philippians. Written in the early second century, it reflects the steady, humane tone of a bishop who has guided his community through times of trial and who now speaks from long experience in faith.
Polycarp begins with an expression of humility. Though confident that his readers are ‘well grounded in the Scriptures’, he describes himself as less knowledgeable. This modesty is characteristic of the early Fathers, who saw teaching not as an assertion of authority but as a shared act of service within the body of Christ. His self-deprecation mirrors the biblical wisdom of Proverbs and the humility of the apostolic tradition—an example to leaders who must teach without pride.
He quotes from the Psalms and Ephesians—’Be angry and do not sin’ and ‘Do not let the sun set on your anger’—to urge moderation of passion and the discipline of forgiveness. Anger, left unchecked, divides the Christian community; therefore, Polycarp calls for gentleness, patience, chastity, and perseverance as the true marks of maturity in faith. His prayer that Christ ‘build you up in faith and in truth’ evokes the image of the Church as a spiritual house constructed by God, a motif drawn from both Paul and Peter.
The letter’s tone then widens from pastoral counsel to universal intercession. Polycarp urges the community to pray not only for the saints and for one another, but also for rulers, authorities, and even persecutors. This reflects the teaching of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount and the practice of the early Church as described in the First Letter of Peter and the First Letter to Timothy. For Polycarp, such prayer is both obedience and witness—it transforms hostility into an opportunity for charity and ensures that ‘your good works will be seen by all men’.
The remainder of the letter moves into practical matters: the exchange of letters with Saint Ignatius of Antioch, the sending of couriers, and the commendation of trusted companions. Such details remind the reader that the early Christian Church was not a remote or idealised body, but a network of small communities bound together by correspondence, shared struggle, and mutual support. These final lines give a vivid glimpse into the living unity of the second-century Church—a communion maintained through friendship, prayer, and the movement of people as well as of words.
Polycarp concludes, as he began, with a blessing. His prayer that the Philippians may ‘find protection in the Lord Jesus Christ’ sums up the purpose of the letter: to strengthen the Church in faith, truth, and endurance, so that all may remain steadfast amid uncertainty.
From The Letter Of Saint Polycarp To The Philippians | May Christ Build You Up In Faith And In Truth
I am sure that you are well grounded in the Scriptures and nothing of their message escapes you, I, however, have not been so fortunate, As these same Scriptures put it: Be angry and do not sin and Do not let the sun set on your anger. Blessed is the man who bears this in mind, as I am sure you do.
May God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal high priest himself, the son of God, Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and in truth and in great gentleness. May you never know anger, but be patient, long-suffering, persevering and chaste. May he grant you a place among his saints; and may he give the same to us along with you, as well as to all on earth who put their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in his Father who has raised him from the dead.
Keep all the saints in your prayers. Pray, too, for our rulers, for our leaders, and for all those in power, even for those who persecute and hate you, and for those who are enemies of the cross. In this way, your good works will be seen by all men, and you will be perfected in him.
Both you and Ignatius have written me to ask whether anyone going to Syria will deliver your letter as well as ours. If the opportunity offers itself, I will do it; if I cannot, I will sent a representative.
As you request, we have returned to you the letters Ignatius sent us and as many other letters as we had; they are being enclosed with this letter. You will derive great benefit from them, for they are full of faith and patience, and great edification in all that refers to our Lord. Send us any certain information you may possess about Ignatius and his companions.
I am sending this letter to you by Crescens, whom I commended to you when I was present, and do so again. He has lived blamelessly among us, as I am sure he will among you. When his sister comes to you, she too will come with our commendation.
May you find protection in the Lord Jesus Christ, and may his grace be with all who are yours. Amen.
Christian Prayer With Jesus Christ
Eternal Father,
you have built your Church upon the foundation of faith and truth.
Grant that we, following the example of Saint Polycarp,
may live with gentleness, patience, and purity of heart.
Teach us to forgive as we have been forgiven,
to pray for friend and foe alike,
and to seek unity in all things through your Son, Jesus Christ.
May your grace sustain us,
and may your peace guard all who trust in you,
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Glossary Of Christian Terms
Saint Polycarp – Bishop of Smyrna (modern-day İzmir, Turkey) and a disciple of the Apostle John; martyred around AD 155. His Letter to the Philippians is one of the earliest Christian writings after the New Testament.
Be angry and do not sin – A quotation from Psalm 4:4 (and echoed in Ephesians 4:26), urging self-control and the reconciliation of anger before day’s end.
Faith and truth – For Polycarp, these are the twin foundations of Christian life: faith as trust in God’s promise, and truth as fidelity to the Gospel.
Chastity – Moral purity and self-discipline; in early Christian teaching, a sign of devotion to God and of integrity in relationships.
Persecutors – Those who opposed or punished Christians during the early centuries of the Church, often under Roman authority.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch – An early Christian bishop and martyr who wrote a series of letters on his way to execution in Rome, expressing deep faith and pastoral concern.
Crescens – A Christian messenger mentioned by Polycarp as the bearer of his letter, likely a trusted member of the Church community.
Intercession – Prayer made on behalf of others, reflecting the Church’s unity in charity and shared responsibility before God.
The saints – In Polycarp’s usage, all faithful Christians who strive to live in holiness, both living and departed.
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