The story of Polycarp presents the challenge of steering a via media
between hagiographical and demythologizing interpretations. The article
explains the problems with regard to dating his martyrdom and the
method of separating out the anachronistic and hagiographical details
within the account. There is nothing in the Martyrdom that could not
have been written in the mid-second century, and there is no compelling
reason why it must be dated considerably later than the events it
describes. At a time when the church was growing, Polycarp’s fate was
not just a story but also a sign and a pastoral encouragement.