Chapter 3

THE DATE OF THE MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP.

Dr. Lightfoot's strange reasoning on this subject--The testimony of Eusebius, Jerome, and others--Eusebius and Jerome highly competent witnesses--Dr. Döllinger's estimate of Jerome--The basis on which Dr. Lightfoot rests the whole weight of his chronological argument--Aristides and his _Sacred Discourses_--Statius Quadratus, the consuls and proconsuls--Ummidius Quadratus--Polycarp martyred in the reign of Marcus Aurelius--His visit to Rome in the time of Anicetus--Put to death when there was only one emperor--Age of Polycarp at the time of his martyrdom--The importance of the chronological argument.