Feast of St. Polycarp

For reasons explained below, on the feast of St. Polycarp I always think of the controversy between those who think the Gospels were written early, that is while the Apostles were still alive (and by the traditional authors) and those who believe the Gospels were written later (by either followers of the traditional authors or by ....?).

Of course I am in the former group, and with good reason. St. Irenaeus, a disciple of St. Polycarp, [Polycarp was in turn a disciple of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist], wrote (in Against Heresies):

"Matthew published a Gospel, writing among the Hebrews in their tongue, at the time when Peter and Paul were announcing their glad tidings at Rome and were founding the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, delivered to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke, Paul's companion, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by Paul. Then John, the disciple of the Lord, who reclined on his breast, also published the Gospel, whilst staying at Ephesus in Asia."

If that isn't enough evidence, then consider the practical evidence. The Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts were written by the same author, and Acts was written after the Gospel - (no one seems to disagree with this.) It is inconceivable that the author of Acts would neglect to include the martyrdoms of Peter and Paul and the destruction of Jerusalem (because Christ's prophecies) if the Acts were written (as the Modernists claim) after these events.

Certainly there is much more evidence - however I have never heard an argument which can refute these two pieces of evidence.

From the small holding in Bethune ...

St. Polycarp - ora pro nobis

Oremus pro invicem!