We wish you well, brothers, as you follow the word of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel. With Him be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of the holy elect. Just as blessed Polycarp suffered martyrdom, may we be found following in his footsteps in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Gaius copied these things from the writings of Irenaeus, the disciple of Polycarp; Gaius had also lived with Irenaeus. I, Socrates, wrote them in Corinth from the copies of Gaius. Grace be with you all.
And I, Pionius, in turn copied them from the writings just mentioned after searching for them, because blessed Polycarp revealed them to me in a vision, as I will explain in what follows. I gathered them together when they had nearly worn away with age, so that the Lord Jesus Christ may also gather me with His elect into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.