Nielsen’s Nook

Nielsen’s Nook
Nielsen’s Nook
Contemplative, reflective, and irenic we pray.
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Translation and Commentary on The Martyrdom of Polycarp §13.3

Will Nielsen
January 9th, 2008
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Translation

3 Then, wood [1] prepared for the pyre was placed around him at once. However, when they were about to nail him to the pyre, [2] he said, “Leave me thus. For the one who granted that I remain in the fire will also grant untroubled firmness to remain in the fire apart from your nails.”

[1] ὄργανα lit. instruments. Elsewhere is used to describe the wild arena animals as instruments by which St. Ignatius would be a sacrifice to God (Epistle of St. Ignatius to the Romans 4:2, c.f., BAGD 578).

[2] προσηλοῦν lit. to nail something to something else (BAGD, 714). In Colossians 2:14 (NA27) we read καὶ αὐτὸ ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μέσου προσηλώσας αὐτὸ τῷ σταυρῷ … And he disposed of it, having nailed it to the Cross.

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