Church Fathers - Day 11: Polycarp

More from my Lent Readings on the Church Fathers. I am behind on this.

Day 11 of the readings is the last of the letters from St. Ignatius. This one was addressed to Polycarp which is not something you might find at Bass Pro. Instead he was the Bishop of Smyrna (in Turkey) who lived from 69 AD to 155 AD. He was martyred, by being bound and burned at the stake but when the fire would not touch him, they ran him through with a sword.

St. Ignatius wrote to him (chapter 3) 

Stand firm, as does an anvil which is beaten. It is the part of a noble athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer. And especially, we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also may bear with us. Be ever becoming more zealous than what thou art. Weigh carefully the times. Look for Him who is above all time, eternal and invisible, yet who became visible for our sakes; impalpable and impassible, yet who became passible on our account; and who in every kind of way suffered for our sakes. 

Interesting image of the anvil which is beaten but does not move, nor seem to have much choice in the matter.
The image of the athlete persevering is also familiar. In this case, the idea of the WOUNDED athlete is new to the metaphor, wounded and yet continuing on to win.
Impassible - I had to look this up. It is the theological idea that God does not experience pain or pleasure. So the idea here is that Jesus took on and experienced pain and suffering as part of his incarnation.

Later in Chapter 6, Ignatius further exhorts him and the church under his care to live together in community, persevering and living in long-suffering with each other.

Labour together with one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer together; sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates, and servants of God. Please ye Him under whom ye fight, and from whom ye receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism endure as your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience as a complete panoply. Let your works be the charge assigned to you, that ye may receive a worthy recompense. Be long-suffering, therefore, with one another, in meekness, as God is towards you. May I have joy of you for ever! 

 The spiritual armor listed here is different than in Ephesians. Love is a spear - an offensive weapon. And patience is the "panoply" which is defined as a complete suit of armor "the shield, breastplate, helmet and greaves, together with the sword and lance.
The idea is the same but the emphasis different. It is interesting that patience is what provides the complete package, compared with Colossians where it is Love that binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Interpretation of the Martyring of Polycarp.