Persecution

Hostility toward Christians by authorities or society.

Passages that substantially address this topic, in date order.

• 1 Clement 45.4Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · The righteous were persecuted only by the wicked.
• 1 Clement 45.5Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · They endured with glory.
• 1 Clement 45.6Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · Daniel was persecuted by the ungodly.
• 1 Clement 45.7Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · The three young men were persecuted by the wicked, but God protects his worshipers.
• 1 Clement 45.8Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · Those who endured were honored by God.
• 1 Clement 5.2Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · The greatest pillars of the church were persecuted to death.
• 1 Clement 6.1Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · A great multitude of Roman Christians also suffered.
• 1 Clement 6.2Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · Christian women were tortured in cruel spectacles but finished the race of faith.
• Epistle of Barnabas 7.11Anonymous · ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) · To gain the kingdom one must pass through thorns and suffering.
• 2 Clement 5.4Anonymous · ca. 100–150 · Jesus: do not fear those who kill the body, but God who judges.
• To the Philippians 12.3Polycarp of Smyrna · ca. 110–135 · Pray for all believers, for rulers, for persecutors, and for the enemies of the cross.
• To the Philippians 8.2Polycarp of Smyrna · ca. 110–135 · Believers should imitate Christ's endurance and glorify him when they suffer for his name.
• To Diognetus 2.6Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · Christians are hated for refusing these gods.
• To Diognetus 5.11Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · They love all and are persecuted by all.
• To Diognetus 5.12Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · Condemned and killed, yet made alive.
• To Diognetus 5.16Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · Punished for doing good, they rejoice.
• To Diognetus 5.17Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · Jews and Greeks oppose them without being able to say why.
• To Diognetus 6.5Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · As the flesh hates the soul, the world hates Christians.
• To Diognetus 6.9Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · Persecuted, Christians multiply.
• To Diognetus 7.7Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · Martyrs thrown to the beasts do not deny the Lord.
• To Diognetus 7.8Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · The more are punished, the more believe.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 1.1Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · The church writes about the martyrs and especially Polycarp, whose death ended the persecution and showed what a gospel martyrdom looks like.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 10.2Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Polycarp was willing to explain himself to the governing authority, but not to the mob.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 12.2Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · The crowd called Polycarp the destroyer of their gods and demanded a lion, but the games were over.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 13.1Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · The crowd quickly gathered wood for the fire.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 2.2Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · The martyrs endured horrible torture without complaint, because the Lord was present with them.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 2.4Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Those sentenced to the beasts were tortured further to make them deny the faith, for the devil was at work against them.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 3.1Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Germanicus encouraged the others by his courage and chose death rather than accept the proconsul's pity.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 3.2Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Stirred by the martyrs' courage, the crowd demanded Polycarp.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 4.1Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Quintus, who had volunteered for martyrdom, gave way; so the church does not approve of handing oneself over.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 6.1Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Polycarp moved again, but his pursuers tortured a young slave into revealing where he was.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 6.2Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Betrayed by his own household, Polycarp was sought by an official named Herod, in a story that echoes Christ's Passion.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 8.2Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Officials urged Polycarp to call Caesar “Lord” and sacrifice to save himself; he refused.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 8.3Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Thrown from the carriage and injured, Polycarp walked calmly into the noisy stadium.
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 9.2Anonymous · ca. 156–160 · Told to say “Away with the atheists,” Polycarp said it, but of the pagan crowd.