Anf-01 ix.vi.xxxvii Pg 36
Rom. xiii. 1–7.
Both the Lord, then, and the apostles announce as the one only God the Father, Him who gave the law, who sent the prophets, who made all things; and therefore does He say, “He sent His armies,” because every man, inasmuch as he is a man, is His workmanship, although he may be ignorant of his God. For He gives existence to all; He, “who maketh His sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and unjust.”4385 4385
Anf-01 ix.vii.xxv Pg 5
Rom. xiii. 1.
And again, in reference to them he says, “For he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, the avenger for wrath to him who does evil.”4658 4658
Anf-01 iv.iv.x Pg 3
Comp. Rom. xiii. 1–7; Tit. iii. 1.
But as for these, I do not deem them worthy of receiving any account from me.”448 448
Anf-03 iv.iv.xv Pg 9
Rom. xiii. 1, etc.; 1 Pet. ii, 13, 14.
“subject to magistrates, and princes, and powers;”283 283
Anf-03 v.x.xiv Pg 3
Rom. xiii. 1.
to be subject to all power, because there is no power but of God, and because (the ruler) does not carry the sword without reason, and is the servant of God, nay also, says he, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. For he had also previously spoken thus: “For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of it. Therefore he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid.” Thus he bids you be subject to the powers, not on an opportunity occurring for his avoiding martyrdom, but when he is making an appeal in behalf of a good life, under the view also of their being as it were assistants bestowed upon righteousness, as it were handmaids of the divine court of justice, which even here pronounces sentence beforehand upon the guilty. Then he goes on also to show how he wishes you to be subject to the powers, bidding you pay “tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom,”8321 8321
Npnf-201 iii.ix.xv Pg 41
See Rom. xiii. 1 sq., 1 Pet. ii. 13 sq.
so long as it does not injure us;1149 1149 τιμὴν…τὴν μὴ βλ€πτουσαν ἡμᾶς. Compare Pseudo-Ignatius, ad Antioch. 11, and Mart. Ignat. Rom. 6 (in both of which are found the words ἐν οἷς ἀκίνδυνος ἡ ὑποταγή).
but as for these, I do not esteem them the proper persons to whom to make my defense.’1150 1150 The proconsul made quite a concession here. He would have been glad to have Polycarp quiet the multitude if he could. Polycarp was not reckless and foolish in refusing to make the attempt, for he knew it would fail, and he preferred to retain his dignity and not compromise himself by appearing to ask for mercy.
