Guide · Medium · 7 min

What is Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians?

Meet Polycarp's letter to the Christians in Philippi and its place among the Apostolic Fathers.

# What is Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians?

Quick summary

Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians is an early Christian letter associated with Polycarp of Smyrna and addressed to the Christian community in Philippi. It belongs among the Apostolic Fathers and is often read alongside the letters of Ignatius of Antioch.

It is not part of the New Testament, but it is an important witness to moral teaching, community leadership, and the reception of apostolic tradition in the second century.

Who was Polycarp?

Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna and a major figure in early Christianity. Ancient tradition places him close to the generation after the apostles, which is why his writings and traditions about him matter for the study of early Christian continuity.

What is the letter about?

The letter offers exhortations about faith, perseverance, moral conduct, pastoral care, and resistance to false teaching. It also shows a Christian community that already knows and values traditions transmitted through apostolic letters.

One important detail is its connection with Ignatius of Antioch. The church in Philippi had asked Polycarp for copies of Ignatius' letters, and Polycarp's letter preserves that setting of texts circulating between communities.

Is it part of the Bible?

No. Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians is an Apostolic Fathers text, not a canonical New Testament book.

Its value is historical and pastoral: it helps readers see how early Christians taught, read, and organized communal life after the apostolic generation.

How to read it

Read it as ancient pastoral correspondence. It is not a systematic treatise; it speaks to concrete community needs and uses the language of exhortation common in early Christianity.

It is also useful to notice how the letter echoes New Testament themes while not occupying the same canonical place as biblical books.

Sources and recommended reading

Editorial note: this article is written in an informational, non-confessional tone. Where traditions disagree, the page should describe differences of reception, use, and canon without presenting one tradition as the universal default.