Polycarp was a priest and a professor. After his mentor died, he assumed the research project of locating and interviewing those who spent time with Jesus. When he located John, Jesus’ disciple, in Ephesus, he worked with him and learned about Jesus from John. He dedicated his life to accumulating scrolls and artifacts concerning Jesus’ life in an attempt to ensure Jesus’ message was correctly taught to future priests. His work led directly to the formation of the books that are contained in the New Testament.