But there is another notion perhaps more obvious on an etymological level : “ disciple ” comes from the Latin discipuli , which means “ learner .” So also in Greek , each disciple is a mathētēs , or “ learner .” Jesus identifies his servants as learners when he says , “ A disciple is not above his teacher ” ( Mt 10:24 ). Christian discipleship , of course , involves instruction in the faith . We learn the central mysteries of the Trinity and the Incarnation , and many doctrines . Nevertheless , learning is insufficient without imitating the life of the Lord , including the outcome of his life . As Archbishop Vigneron noted in Unleash the Gospel , “ in imitation of Christ , martyrdom is the pattern for fulfillment as a disciple of Jesus , and so preparation for this heroic witness is the measure for Christian formation .” 1
One of the most important aspects of discipleship is bearing witness , in Greek , martyria . In John the Evangelist ’ s biblical economy , it is crucial that “ they will look upon him whom they pierced .” 2 This is because the court of testimony is the cross . The Apostle in his first letter reminds us that from the cross of Christ , the water and the blood flowing from Christ ’ s side along with the Spirit are the three “ witnesses ” that testify to the Lord ’ s authenticity ( 1 Jn 5:6-8 ).
This same Spirit takes up his testimony in the early Church , whose members wasted no time in following the path set forth by the Teacher . Shortly after Pentecost , as Jesus foretold , his disciples began to suffer and die for the sake of his name . Even before the passions of all the apostles , St . Stephen the protomartyr gives the first and most illustrious example of a death in imitation of the Lord ’ s own in a long line of martyrs . For the purposes of this article , we will look to two slightly more recent witnesses : Ignatius and Polycarp in the second century .
Discipleship and Martyrdom in Ignatius and Polycarp
In the earliest Church , Sts . Ignatius and Polycarp stand out as particularly exemplary disciples . We have one of the best examples of “ Christ-learning ” in Ignatius , early bishop of Antioch , who died in the arena in Rome , likely in the first decade of the second century . Ignatius wrote seven letters to churches throughout the Mediterranean while imprisoned and being led away to Rome to be fed to the beasts . 3 He also coined the term “ Christ-learning ,” which as Gregory Vall points out , he likely derives from Paul . 4 Most famously , he writes a letter to the Church of Rome asking them not to intervene to save him from the beasts , but rather to pray for him that he may come to a perfect end in the arena . He uses eucharistic imagery identifying how he expects to be ground up like wheat in the teeth of the beasts in order to become “ pure bread .” In his death , he becomes a kind of eucharistic offering , a sacrifice to God .
Ignatius saw his final contest as the culmination of discipleship . It is important to recall that all the works we have from Ignatius ’ s hand were written in captivity . Yet , even though we certainly see evidence of his discipleship in his chains and sufferings , he had an acute sense of its lack of completion . He writes to the Trallians that “ even though I have been bound and can understand heavenly things ” his discipleship is incomplete , so that God can make up what is lacking in him . 5 In his letter to the Ephesians , he recognizes that by his imprisonment he has the “ beginning ” of discipleship ; he asks their prayers as he prepares to fight the beasts “ so that I may attain to be a disciple .” 6 All Ignatius ’ s “ Christ-learning ” was geared toward this final moment , walking in the way of Jesus to his own sacrificial death . “ Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ , when the world will no longer see my body .” 7
The last Ignatian letter is one he wrote to the young bishop of the Smyrnaeans , Polycarp . Polycarp is most famous not for having received this letter but for the outcome of his life . Like Ignatius , he died in the arena . Unlike Ignatius , we have an account of Polycarp ’ s death , written by one of his disciples . In a mysterious way , the Martyrdom of Polycarp stands as a kind of epilogue to the letters of Ignatius . Ignatius ’ s own example as a witness was so excellent that another episcopal imitator , Polycarp , walks the same path . In fact , the liturgical imagery appears once again in the 86-year-old Smyrnaean bishop ’ s death , when at the final moment the whole arena fills with the aroma of frankincense — a sweet-smelling oblation indeed . 8
What Lessons Can We Learn from Them ?
One cannot read the seven letters of Ignatius without noticing that he does not want to create his own independent following . He does not want his readers to place their trust in his discipleship until he has completed his testimony in the mouths of the beasts . It is always a temptation for those in ministry to view themselves as exemplary disciples . After all , when ministers come forward to serve the Church , they risk being followed in place of Christ . Ignatius would remind us that discipleship is not about creating our own followers but about “ Christ-learning .” This is why he repeatedly emphasized throughout his letters to “ do nothing apart from the bishop .” For Ignatius , factiousness harms the unity of the Church , but discipleship unites it . 9
Indeed , one of the central messages about discipleship from Ignatius is this instruction to Polycarp , his fellow bishop : “ If you love good disciples , it is not to your credit . Rather , subject the more pestilent ones in gentleness . Not every wound is treated by the same salve .” 10 This is a reminder not only to clergy but also to all in ministry that we must love not only those who are easy to love but also the troublesome ones . No one was more troublesome to Polycarp than the proconsul trying him , yet even in his trial gentle Polycarp extended him this invitation , “ if you wish to learn ( mathein ) the account of Christianity , give a day and listen .” 11
10 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Fall 2022