Christians Elect Race

CHRISTIANS AS AN ELECT RACE

Community-formation is further manifested in the corporate language of Christians as a unique “race” and “elect” people. According to MPol 3.2, the whole crowd marveled at “the bravery of the God-loving and God-fearing race of Christians.” Polycarp’s prayer in 14.1 refers to “the whole race of the righteous who live in your presence,” and 17.1 similarly refers to “the race of the righteous.” The language of being an elect people is even more common: “the whole crowd was amazed that there should be so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect” (16.1). The next verse affirms, “This man was certainly one of the elect.” The “holy elect” are also referenced in 22.1, and the Lord’s “chosen ones” reappear in 22.3 and in the Moscow Epilogue (“so that the Lord Jesus Christ might also gather me together with his chosen ones into his heavenly kingdom”). Interestingly, MPol does not only use the language of election in a

Polycarp affirms, “If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar as you request, and pretend not to know who I am, listen carefully: I am a Christian. Now if you want to learn the doctrine of Christianity, name a day and give me a hearing” (10.1). The herald proclaimed “Polycarp has confessed three times that he is a Christian” (12.1). The riotous crowd, composed of both pagans and Jews, shouts, “This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice or worship” (12.2). By contrast, the crowd is labeled as “lawless heathen” (9.2), “the ungodly” (11.2), and “the lawless ones” (16.1). While the opponents were not “worthy” even of hearing a defense from Polycarp (10.2), he had been “counted worthy” of the day and hour of his martyrdom