3a And giving heed unto the grace of Christ they despised the tortures of this world, purchasing at the cost of one hour a release from eternal punishment. And they found the fire of their inhuman torturers cold: for they set before their eyes the escape from the eternal fire which is never quenched; (MPO) 3b while with the eyes of their heart they gazed upon the good things which are reserved for those that endure patiently, things which neither ear hath heard nor eye hath seen, neither have they entered into the heart of man, but were shown by the Lord to them, for they were no longer men but angels already. (MPO)
Martyrdom of Polycarp 2:3
Semantically similar passages
4 Maccabees 17:9–11
9 “Here an aged priest, an aged woman, and seven sons, are buried through the violence of a tyrant, who wished to destroy the society of the Hebrews. (WEB) 10 These also avenged their nation, looking to God, and enduring torments to death.” (WEB) 11 For it was truly a divine conte… (WEB)
Epistle to Diognetus 10:7–8
7 Then, though thou art placed on earth, thou shalt behold that God liveth in heaven; then shalt thou begin to declare the mysteries of God; then shalt thou both love and admire those that are punished because they will not deny God; then shalt thou condemn the… (DIO)
Book of Enoch 108:8–10
8 Who love God and loved neither gold nor silver nor any of the good things which are in the world, but gave over their bodies to torture. (ENO) 9 Who, since they came into being, longed not after earthly food, but regarded everything as a passing breath, and lived acco… (ENO)
Wisdom of Solomon 3:3–5
3 and their travel away from us ruin, but they are in peace. (WEB) 4 For even if in the sight of men they are punished, their hope is full of immortality. (WEB) 5 Having borne a little chastening, they will receive great good; because God tested them, and found them worthy of hi… (WEB)
Apocryphon of John 18:4–6
4 Therefore, because they possess no concern other than solely indestructibility, on which they will concentrate from this time on, without wrath, or envy or jealousy, or lust and greed for anything, they will not be troubled by anything except only the conditi… (APJ)
4 Maccabees 14:8–10
8 so the youths, circling around the number seven, annulled the fear of torments. (WEB) 9 We now shudder at the recital of the affliction of those young men; but they not only saw, and not only heard the immediate execution of the threat, but undergoing it, persevered;… (WEB) 10 … (WEB)
1 Clement 45:7–8
7 Or were Ananias and Azarias and Misael shut up in the furnace of fire by them that professed the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? Far be this from our thoughts. Who then were they that did these things? Abominable men and full of all wickednes… (1CL)
2 Clement 10:3–5
3 For this cause is a man unable to *attain happiness*, seeing that they call in the fears of men, preferring rather the enjoyment which is here than the promise which is to come. (2CL) 4 For they know not how great torment the enjoyment which is here bringeth, and what… (2CL)
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources