Considering The Thoughts Of A First Century Christian Facing Martyrdom
Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
From the beginning of the Lord’s church on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection in A.D. 32, most of the Roman emperors persecuted the Christians, as did the Jewish hierarchy until 70 A.D., when Jerusalem was destroyed as well as the Jewish nation itself. Some of the emperors were worse than others but even under the most favorable rulers, there was an underlying fear for their lives.
After he successfully annexed certain cities and took other landmarks by force, he enriched the city coffers by taking Dacia where there were a number of gold mines. Apparently from his exultance over the success caused him to make decrees to satisfy himself rather than the people.
According to these Acts, in the ninth year of his reign, Trajan, flushed with victory over the Scythians and Dacians, sought to perfect the universality of his dominion by a species of religious conquest. He decreed, therefore, that the Christians should unite with their pagan neighbors in the worship of the gods. A general persecution was threatened, and death was named as the penalty for all who refused to offer the prescribed sacrifice. Instantly alert to the danger that threatened, Ignatius availed himself of all the means within his reach to thwart the purpose of the emperor. The success of his zealous efforts did not long remain hidden from the Church's persecutors. He was soon arrested and led before Trajan, who was then sojourning in Antioch. Accused by the emperor himself of violating the imperial edict, and of inciting others to like transgressions, Ignatius valiantly bore witness to the faith of Christ. If we may believe the account given in the "Martyrium", his bearing before Trajan was characterized by inspired eloquence, sublime courage, and even a spirit of exultation. Incapable of appreciating the motives that animated him, the emperor ordered him to be put in chains and taken to Rome, there to become the food of wild beasts and a spectacle for the people. (Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Ignatius of Antioch)
According to some other early church writers, Ignatius, even as righteous as he was, could never be completely satisfied that his life had been worthy of the grace of God and he expressed a great degree of satisfaction of having been sentenced to death for having stood strongly for Jesus Christ. Tradition tells us that he went gladly into the arena where he was mauled and torn by hungry lions.
Although he was martyred after the New Testament had been completed, his life of faithful obedience could easily be listed side by side with those listed by the writer of the book of Hebrews, in chapter 11, and makes this remark in verse 38: Of whom the world was not worthy. Their faith and steadfastness should cause the majority of us to hang our heads in shame. Our faith has never been put to the test, but it makes one wonder, just how many would hold fast under their circumstances.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I find it hard to believe that God would want people to let themselves be mauled by lions. When I was a child I was tortured by that question. I always thought - and I still do - that if faced with the same dilemma I would lie. I would keep my beliefs intact, but I just wouldn't tell anybody. Because nobody can control a person's spirit.
Well, Jesus himself allowed them to crucify him, the cruelest method they could come up with. And he did not have to do it. The bible praises these people who refused to denounce Christ regardless of what confronted them. All the Apostles except John (and of course Judas Iscariot) were executed rather than deny their faith.
We are blessed indeed to have lived where Christians are persecuted so very little. We are ridiculed, criticized, etc. but that is nothing compared to the thousands in the first two or three centuries who were thrown to the lions, burned at the stake, had their eyes pulled out of their heads, and on and on.
I would not argue the point but I believe that we must not deny Jesus, even if it means death. Thanks for reading and commenting Jennifer.
Very interesting article Joel
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