Nielsen’s Nook

Translation

3 There, as we are able, gathering full of exultation and joy, the Lord will permit us to celebrate the anniversary [1] of his martyrdom not only for the remembrance of those martyrs who have already contested, [2] but also for the training [3] and preparation of those who will contest in the future. [4]

[1] ἐπιτελεῖν … τὴν ἡμέραν γενέθλιον celebrate the birthday (BAGD, 302). It is customary to call such celebrations ‘anniversaries.’

[2] προηθληκότων (προαθλέω) contest in former times of the martyrs of earlier ages (BAGD, 702). Lake notes that this “is almost a technical term for martyrdom” see also Ignatius’s Epistle to Polycarp 1:3 (Apostolic Fathers, vol 2, p 337).

[3] ἄσκησίν viz of an athlete, here speaking of martyrdom which historically has employed athletic contest as a metaphor.

[4] τῶν μελλόντων “those about to … “, “those fixing to…”. The contest of martyrdom is assumed.

Translation

2 Then in quiet tones he persuaded [1] Nicetes the father of Herod [2] and the brother of Alce [3] to appeal to the magistrate to not give up his body so that this group [4] so it was said, “might not abandon the Crucified One to worship this man.” These things were results of the quiet tones of persuasion [5] and urgent instigation of the Jews, who also kept watch, when we were about to receive death by the fire, not knowing that we are neither able to ever desert Christ, who suffered and died [6] for the sake of the salvation of the whole world - the blameless [7] for the sake of sinners - nor to worship any other.

[1] ὑπέβαλεν (ὑποβάλλω) to instigate secretly, persuade in whispers and quite tones (DBL, GGK5680).

[2] Herod was the police chief. See note on §8.2.

[3] Ἄλκη (Alce) is the name of a particularly esteemed woman in Smyrna. St. Ignatius concludes his Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (§13.2) and his Epistle to Polycarp (§8.3) saying, “I salute Alce, a name very dear to me” (Lightfoot, 159 and 162 respectively). It seems likely that the reason such a name would be dropped here along with the name of the father of the police chief is because while Alce was a faithful Christian she was so completely contrary to the desire of her father Nicetes and brother Herod who hated Christians and persecuted them. Therefore, these names illustrate the contorted nature of the persecutions of any age, reminding us of Jesus’ sober warning, “³⁴Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Matthew 10:34-35, ESV)

[4] i.e., the Christians, viz. who wanted St. Polycarp’s body.

[5] ὑποβαλλόντων is the participial form of ὑποβάλλω used to describe the influence of the evil one upon the authorities to not allow the Christians to depart with the body of St. Polycarp.

[6] παθόντα encapsulates both death and suffering (BAGD, 634).

[7] ἄμωμον blameless, unblemished nature of sacrificial animals (BAGD, 47). See also Num 6:14, 19:2.