(69-155) Early church father who was a disciple of John the apostle and contemporary of Ignatius of Antioch. Polycarp's letter to the Philippians, containing many references to various New Testament epistles, survives to this day. When asked to recant before his martyrdom about 155, he replied, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He hath done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me?" He was burned at the stake.