{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c005\">But when the adversary of the race of the righteous, the\r\nenvious, malicious, and wicked one, perceived the impressive<a id=\"r439\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f439\"><sup>[439]</sup></a>\r\nnature of his martyrdom, and [considered] the blameless life\r\nhe had led from the beginning, and how he was now crowned\r\nwith the wreath of immortality, having beyond dispute received\r\nhis reward, he did his utmost that not the least memorial\r\nof him should be taken away by us, although many\r\ndesired to do this, and to become possessors<a id=\"r440\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f440\"><sup>[440]</sup></a> of his holy\r\nflesh. For this end he suggested it to Nicetes, the father of\r\nHerod and brother of Alce, to go and entreat the governor\r\nnot to give up his body to be buried, “lest,” said he, “forsaking\r\nHim that was crucified, they begin to worship this one.”\r\nThis he said at the suggestion and urgent persuasion of the\r\nJews, who also watched us, as we sought to take him out of\r\nthe fire, being ignorant of this, that it is neither possible for us\r\never to forsake Christ, who suffered for the salvation of such\r\nas shall be saved throughout the whole world (the blameless\r\none for sinners<a id=\"r441\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f441\"><sup>[441]</sup></a>), nor to worship any other. For Him indeed,\r\nas being the Son of God, we adore; but the martyrs, as\r\ndisciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love on account\r\nof their extraordinary<a id=\"r442\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f442\"><sup>[442]</sup></a> affection towards their own\r\nKing and Master, of whom may we also be made companions<a id=\"r443\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f443\"><sup>[443]</sup></a>\r\nand fellow-disciples!</p>","headings":["The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers","THE MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP.","THE ENCYCLICAL EPISTLE OF THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA CONCERNING THE MARTYRDOM OF THE HOLY POLYCARP.","Chap. xvii.—The Christians are refused Polycarp’s body."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg77576-paragraph-154"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"1a9fd06b4b261c2043112f24682f1a8f7de3f40f08ec8b818a98ac9b6c2f39d2","edition_title":"The writings of the Apostolic Fathers","edition_translators":["Alexander Roberts","James Donaldson","Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1870,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg77576-f440","license_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html","public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"original-editor-translator-note","review_required":["work and recension attribution","original-work chronology","Bible reference numbering and citation kind","English edition rights and attribution"],"review_status":"needs_review","rights_evidence":"Project Gutenberg metadata: Public domain in the USA. Historical 1870 English edition; electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f440","source_ebook":77576,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f440\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r440\">440</a>. </span>The Greek, literally translated, is, “and to have fellowship with his\r\nholy flesh.”</p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"5cef11d737d7f5d65aa99f44ca2d8e967d725f3bed872960330e88c0905597a9","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/77576/pg77576-images.html#f440","text_sha256":"e01430b4de8f68ecd2e94b1c136ed3dddecf6a7ec6481517bd9e7411cae8e5ae","verified":false,"work_id":null}