Persecution refers to the hatred and affliction that follows the witness and holy life of God's people in a hostile world. The concept is stressed in many of the Old Testament prophetic books.

The New Testament also teaches that God's people will suffer persecution. The Lord Jesus Christ taught that God's prophets always faced persecution, so His disciples should expect the same. - Matt. 5:11-12; 10:23 -

While this applied primarily to Jesus by the early Christians the persecution of His disciples and followers was seen as a participation in Jesus' suffering: filling up "what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ"

It makes me happy to suffer for you as I am suffering now and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. - Col. 1:24 -

The idea of the coming Messiah held that the suffering of God's people was part of the coming of the kingdom - evidence that a person is truly one of God's own. Therefore they are "blessed" and should "rejoice" and "glorify God" since the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.- Matt. 5:10 -

If you have some share in the sufferings of Christ be glad because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed. It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ because it means that you have the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God resting on you. None of you should ever deserve to suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or an informer; but if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian then he is not to be ashamed of it; he should thank God that he has been called one. The time has come for the judgment to begin at the household of God; and if what we know now is only the beginning what will it be when it comes down to those who refuse to believe God's Good News? If it is hard for a good man to be saved what will happen to the wicked and to sinners? So even those whom God allows to suffer must trust themselves to the constancy of the creator and go on doing good. - 1Pet. 4:13-19 -

Jewish opposition to Christianity arose primarily among the Sadducees and Pharisee. - Acts 4:1; 5: 17 - The first persecution came because Stephen spoke out about the inadequacy of the land of Israel and the Temple for salvation. This intensified when the apostle Paul began to proclaim the salvation of the Gentiles through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Roman opposition to Christianity also developed gradually. The Book of Acts emphasized Roman tolerance for the new religion. But this began to change with the Jewish riots against Christians in Rome resulting in the Emperor Claudius banning both groups from Rome in A.D. 49. This set the stage for the intense opposition of later years that allowed Nero to make Christians the scapegoats for the fire which leveled Rome in A.D. 64. During this persecution the apostles Paul and Peter were martyred.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -