Written in the early second century, when the apostles' memory was still vivid, this letter from the aged bishop Polycarp to the church at Philippi is among the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament. Warm, practical, and urgent, it calls believers to steadfast faith, genuine love, and holy living in the face of hardship and false teaching. Polycarp writes as a pastor and father in the faith — quoting Scripture freely, warning against greed and heresy, and holding up the martyrs as examples of endurance. This modern-English edition renders his words in clear, inviting language while remaining faithful to the original's meaning and spirit. Whether you are a longtime reader of the Christian classics or are meeting Polycarp for the first time, this little letter speaks with surprising freshness across two thousand years. Part of The Sacred Wisdom Library.