A disciple of John the Evangelist and Theologian, successor of Boukolos, the one who had served as first Bishop of the church of Smyrna; [Polycarp is the man] who ruled the bishopric after him as second bishop and who was perfected [= died] by his testimony on behalf of Christ under Marcus Antoninus.[1] He wrote an entirely marvelous letter to the Philippians and to the great Dionysius the Areopagite,[2] and to other churches.
This man,[3] because of some accusations about [sc. the date of] Easter, when Antoninus Pius was emperor and with Aniketos serving as bishop of the church of Rome, was present at Rome, where he recalled many who had believed the dogma of Marcion[4] and Valentinus; when Marcion met him by accident and said, "Do you know us, Polycarp?" he answered "I know you firstborn son of the Devil."