THESE OPINIONS: Florinus, to put it gently, are not sound doctrine; they do not align with the Church and lead their followers into extreme impiety. Even those beyond the Church’s bounds have never dared to suggest such ideas. These opinions were not passed down to you by the presbyters who came before us and were acquainted with the apostles. For when I was a boy, I saw you in Lower Asia with Polycarp, distinguishing yourself in the royal court and seeking his approval.

I remember those events more vividly than recent events because childhood experiences grow with the soul and become a part of it. I can describe where the blessed Polycarp would sit and speak, his habits, appearance, and the talks he gave to people. He would also talk about his close interactions with John and others who had seen the Lord, recalling their words. Everything he heard from them about the Lord’s miracles and teachings, having received this information from the eye-witnesses of the Word of life, Polycarp would recount in harmony with the Scriptures.

By God’s mercy on me, I listened to these things attentively and kept them not on paper but in my heart. By God’s grace, I continually reflect on these things accurately in my mind. I testify before God that if that blessed and apostolic presbyter had heard anything like this, he would have cried out, stopped his ears, and exclaimed as he often did, “O good God, for what times have You reserved me, that I should endure these things?” He would have fled from the very place where he heard such words.

This fact is clear from his letters, whether sent to nearby Churches to strengthen them or to certain brethren, admonishing and urging them.

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