History of Christian Martyrs

1. History of Christian Martyrs (Revelation 2:10)

2. Becoming A Christian • Most important decision • Could cost one’s life (Revelation 2:10) • Price to pay (Matthew 10:34-37) • Use of the word “Christian” • New Testament usage (Acts 11:26) • The world’s usage

3. Martyr • English • “One who voluntarily suffered death for refusing to renounce his religion; one who sacrifices his life, station, etc. for the sake of principle.” (Webster) • Few are willing to pay the price

4. Martyr • Greek word translated martyr • Found three times in the KJV, NKJV, and NIV (Acts 22:20; Revelation 2:13; 17:6) • Other translations use “witness” which means “one who bears witness by his death.” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary) • Summary • Martyrs willing to die (Luke 14:26) • Going to a better place (Hebrews 11:40)

5. New Testament Period • Persecution not long in coming • Satan used it (Acts 4, 5) • Men such as Paul helped (Acts 8:1-3) • Named in the New Testament • Stephen (Acts 7; 22:20) • James, son of Zebedee (Acts 12:1-4) • Paul (2 Timothy 4:6-8) • Antipas (Revelation 2:12, 13) • Peter would die violently (John 21:19)

6. New Testament Period • Work of the Jews and the Romans • Jews needed approval for death penalty • Eventually seen as an illegal religion • These passed the test of discipleship • “Resisted unto blood” (Hebrews 12:4) • “Loved not their life” (Revelation 12:11) • “Looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:26)

7. Post-Apostolic Period • Nero (65-68 AD) • He made the Christians the scapegoat for Rome’s burning. Tacitus, a Roman historian, tells how “a vast multitude were convicted . . . And in their deaths, they were made the subjects of sport, for they were covered with hides of wild beasts, and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and, when the day declined, were burned to serve for nocturnal lights.”

8. Post-Apostolic Period • Domitian (89-96 AD) • He was described as a cruel and worthless ruler who confiscated property, banished some Christians, and put hundreds to death, including his own cousin.

9. Post-Apostolic Period • Trajan (98-117 AD) • Ignatius of Antioch (108) thrown to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre during the reign of Trajan shouted, “I am the wheat of Christ; I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread.”

10. Post-Apostolic Period • Trajan (98-117 AD) • In a letter to Pliny, Governor of Bithynia, in 111 AD, he said Christians were to be left alone unless they were being prosecuted by accusers who were willing to give their names, and, if they were convicted, should be given a chance to renounce their faith

11. Post-Apostolic Period • Antonius Pius (138-161 AD) • During his reign in 155 AD, Polycarp, a student of the apostle John, was burned at the stake, and, when asked to curse the name of Jesus, replied, “Six and eighty years have I served him, and he has done me nothing but good; and how could I curse Him, my Lord and my Savior.”

12. Post-Apostolic Period • Marcus Aurelius (161-180AD) Wanted to restore ancient religious practices and saw the Christians as a hindrance to his goal. • Diocletian (284-305 AD) He “determined to exterminate Christianity and to reinstate the ancient system of worship.”

13. Post-Apostolic Period • Constantine (306–337AD) • Issued the Edict of Milan (313 AD) which said that Rome would take a neutral stance regarding “Christianity.” • This brought relief for about 1,000 years

14. Quick Review • Becoming a Christian is costly • Maybe one’s life (Revelation 2:10) • Earthly relationships (Matthew 10:34-37) • Persecution was not long in coming • Early church (Acts 4, 5) • Jews were responsible at first • Romans became a major persecuting force as time went on

15. Martyr • English • “One who voluntarily suffered death for refusing to renounce his religion; one who sacrifices his life, station, etc. for the sake of principle.” (Webster) • Few are willing to pay the price

16. Post-Apostolic Period • Antonius Pius (138-161 AD) • During his reign in 155 AD, Polycarp, a student of the apostle John, was burned at the stake, and, when asked to curse the name of Jesus, replied, “Six and eighty years have I served him, and he has done me nothing but good; and how could I curse Him, my Lord and my Savior.”

17. Post-Apostolic Period • The “church” survived terrible times • Christians did not “fit in” • They believed in one God • Refused to worship the emperor • Forced to meet in secret • Caused a loss of revenue for those associated with idolatry (Acts 19:23-41) • The story is known to God (Daniel 2:44)

18. Reformation Period • Constantine’s edict was an advantage and a disadvantage • His “conversion” helped pave the way for the establishment of “Christianity” as a state religion • The Catholic church developed and became a persecuting force

19. Reformation Period • Persecution by the church • Growth of Papal Power was gradual after Boniface III was given the title of Universal Bishop of Rome in 606 AD • Led to fierce contention between the Pope and kings and Princes. • “Dark Ages” from the collapse of Room in 476 AD to around 1,000 AD

20. Reformation Period • Church persecution (Continued) • Death was inflicted on those who opposed church doctrine • Widespread problem of Bible ignorance and death to any who tried to remedy it • In 1170 AD, the Albigenses, prominent on Southern France, were exterminated at the direction of Pope Innocent III for opposing purgatory and image worship

21. Reformation Period • Church persecution (Continued) • The Waldensians, founded in France by Peter Waldo, a merchant of Lyons, had to leave France and hide out in Italy • John Wycliffe, called “The Morning Star of The Reformation,” was considered an enemy of the Catholic Church for opposing the authority of the Pope, condemning other doctrines, and translating the Bible into English.

22. Reformation Period • Church persecution (Continued) • In 1424, some forty-four years after his death, the Council of Constance ordered that his bones be dug up and burned • John Huss was tried before the same Council as a heretic for denouncing the sale of indulgences, and was burned to death in 1415 • Martin Luther was declared an outlaw by the Diet of Worms in 1521

23. Martin Luther “Considering your sovereign majesty, and your honors, require a plain answer; this I say and profess as resolutely as I may, without doubting or sophistication, that if I be not convinced by testimonies of the Scriptures (for I believe not the Pope, neither his general Councils, which have erred many times, and have been contrary to themselves),

24. Martin Luther “my conscience is so bound and captivated in these Scriptures and the Word of God, that I will not, nor may not revoke any manner of thing; considering it is not godly or lawful to do anything against conscience. Hereupon I stand and rest: I have not what else to say. God have mercy upon me!” (Fox, p. 64)

25. Reformation Period • Church persecution (continued) • William Tyndale, an English Reformer, was betrayed by a friend, strangled, and burned at the stake in October 1536. • He once said to a doctor of religion, “If God spare my life, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scriptures than he did.” At the stake, he cried, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” (Fox, pp. 178, 184)

26. Reformation Period • We are indebted to their example • Many of them were not true Christians • Men such as Wycliffe and Tyndale helped us to have a Bible from which to study • Some persecution is taking place today as Christians refuse to bow down to the edicts of men

27. Conclusion • What have we learned? • Men and women gave their lives in order to please God • Only God knows some of their names • What impact will this have on us? • Would we die for our convictions? • How much does Jesus mean to us?