In the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, there are seven letters addressed to the "angel" of each of seven churches. The second letter is addressed to the angel of the church in Smyrna. One can't help but wonder if this "angel" was referring to John's student and disciple Polycarp. Polycarp, whose name in Greek means "much fruit," had reportedly been John's disciple in Ephesus, along with Ignatius and Papias. He and Ignatius remained close. Ignatius' letter to him would seem to indicate that he was not only Polycarp's friend, but also his mentor after John died. Ignatius' Letter to the Smyrnians has the character of an elder bishop trying to shore up support for a younger one. It appears that Polycarp was already a bishop of Smyrna at a young age; perhaps even at the time John was writing the Revelation. He was martyred at the age of 86 around the middle of the second century (155-160 A.D.), having survived his mentor by forty years, and served as bishop for perhaps as sixty years or more.

Eyewitnesses in a letter from the church in Smyrna to the church of Philomelium apparently recorded the story of his martyrdom, the earliest outside the New Testament. It is a vivid account describing, sometimes in gruesome detail, the betrayal, the apprehension and the death by fire of this 86-year-old man who faced death like a young athlete sprinting to the finish line. The cruelty and barbarism of Rome are set in sharp contrast to this lamb-like octogenarian who refused to deny his Lord. The state and the populace in general considered the Christians to be atheists since they did not worship the gods of Rome. And so, shortly before his death, the proconsul asks Polycarp to repent and say, "Away with the atheists!"  The letter describes Polycarp solemnly looking at the whole crowd gathered to see his martyrdom. He motions toward them with his hand as he groans, "Away with the atheists!" (Martyrdom of Polycarp 9). The message was loud and clear: The Lord Christ had won out over Lord Caesar.

Polycarp is a fascinating figure because he represents a bridge between the Apostolic age and the church of the second century. Irenaeus notes that as a child he met Polycarp and heard of his encounters with the apostles and those who had seen Christ (Against Heresies 3.3; Eusebius, Church History 4.14). Not only did Polycarp confront the increasing threat of state persecution; he also took on the internal challenges of Gnosticism, embodied by Marcion, one of its most charismatic figures (whom Polycarp called the "firstborn of Satan"). In his Letter to the Philippians, Polycarp followed in the path of Ignatius, encouraging churches to honor their bishop. He also had a hand in helping to shape the New Testament canon. Towards the end of his life, we learn of Polycarp's travels to Rome (around 155 A.D.), where he met with Bishop Anicetus to seek agreement on how the church should determine the date of Easter. He was arrested not long after this visit, and was most likely martyred the following year.