What can we learn from the Early Church Martyrdom Accounts?
The Bible has a beautiful diversity of writings that can be placed into different genres. Different examples found in the Old and New Testament would include narrative, wisdom literature, epistles, collections of prophecy, and so on. When diving into the writings of the early Church, I was surprised to also find a diversity of genres and styles written. Some examples would be epistles, apologetics, and homilies.
One of the more unique genres of the early Church writings are the ancient martyrdom accounts. Typically, these writings dramatically narrate Christians suffering and dying for their faith in Jesus Christ. By the late 2nd century on, this genre became quite popular in Christian literature, and has become an interesting study for modern scholars.
It is worth noting that early Church persecution can be very misunderstood, and at times exaggerated. There certainly were times persecution was intense and terrifying, but in those first few centuries it was on and off, and mostly localized. Bryan Litfin acknowledges these misconceptions and writes:
“We must leave such romantic notions behind. Aside from the historical inaccuracies… this imagery is problematic because it depicts the ancient period as an unbroken sequence of persecution. The truth of the matter is, open hostility to the faith was both localized and sporadic. Many decades passed when the church was entirely left alone, and at times it even flourished under broad popular support.”
With that said, violent persecution did happen, and many were killed for professing Jesus as Lord. These martyrdom accounts serve not only as a way of honoring those who died for the Christian faith, but as a way to strengthen fellow Believers.
For this blog, we won’t examine each martyrdom account, nor will we examine which accounts can be considered to have historical reliability. Rather, we’ll just look some into the characteristics that are commonly associated in this genre, the purpose these writings have, and what we can learn from them today as Christians.
Early examples
It is pretty commonly noted that the style of the martyrdom genre can be rooted before Christ in passages from 2nd Maccabees. Also, Stephen’s martyrdom account in Acts has characteristics that will later be commonly found in the genre. (Jefford, 2012, Pg. 89) There is also Ignatius of Antioch’s epistles that we’ve previously discussed. While these epistles are leading up to his martyrdom, they still contain a rhetoric that will be found in the martyrdom genre.
What can be typically seen in early Church martyrdoms?
A few common traits that are often spotted in many of these writings is the martyr having strong endurance through threatening and suffering, setting their eyes on Jesus. It is also common that the Christian is convinced their martyrdom is God’s will, and there is often a miracle before/after their death as divine affirmation. The author will often try to make parallels to the martyr’s death and Jesus’s death. Wrapped up in all of these traits, the story will often try to encourage fellow Christians to courageously endure persecution, as well as possibly evangelize to non-Christians hearing the story.
God’s will
A couple examples of seeing God’s will for the martyrdom can be found in Ignatius and Polycarp. We’ve previously discussed how Ignatius had a zeal for suffering for name of Jesus. He even went so far as to ask his fellow Christians to not seek his release from prison. (Ignatius to the Romans 2) Ignatius was convinced it was not only God’s will, but what was best for his own discipleship.
In the Martyrdom of Polycarp, Polycarp receives a vision from God being told of the trials to come. (Martyrdom of Polycarp 5) After this vision, Polycarp awaits his arrest, not fleeing because he is fully convinced God wills him to die.
In examining the Martyrdom of Polycarp, Michael W. Holmes acknowledges how the narrator wishes to write Polycarp’s martyrdom in accordance to the Gospel. Holmes believes this to mean a martyrdom:
“1. Is a matter of divine calling rather than human accomplishment or initiative
2. Demonstrates a concern for salvation or well-being of others…
3. Displays endurance in the midst of suffering”
In regard to having a concern for the salvation of others, we can see this also in miracles commonly being in martyrdom accounts.
Miracles
There can be different kinds of miracles testified in the martyrdom accounts, but prophetic visions are quite common such as in Polycarp’s account and The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity. James E. Bradley has pointed out how often the early Church’s testimony of miracles are linked with the Cross and current persecution. (Bradley, 1991, Pg. 70) Bradley writes that the miracles show the Gospel is true, as well as strengthen the Believer, but are also linked to persecution to remind the Believer that this world still has trials and is temporary.
“If one surveys the early literature in its entirety, simply in terms of the frequency of references, the Christian’s willingness to die for Christ in martyrdom was an equally prominent apologetic theme as miraculous displays of power.
…Pagans could and did compete with the miracles of the early Christians; they could not compete with the early Christian’s willingness to suffer and die.”
We have previously looked into references in the New Testament and Apostolic Fathers on commanding Christians to follow the example of Jesus. What we found was almost every example referring to serving and sacrificially dying for others in love. And this is how we see the martyrs giving up their lives in these writings. It is a powerful witness of Christ and the Gospel to the world.
Parallels to the Passion of the Christ
One last trait we’ll briefly look at is how commonly these martyrdom accounts will draw similarities to the crucifixion of Jesus. The Martyrdom of Polycarp is very blatant with this. When describing Polycarp’s trial, the author claims the captain of the police’s name was Herod. In his translation on the Apostolic Fathers, Rick Brannan notes:
“Whether this was actually true, or contrived to draw a tighter parallel between the arrest and death of Polycarp with that of Christ, cannot be known for sure.”
And with this in mind, we need to recognize when reading these martyrdom accounts that they are not meant to give us a straightforward historical account of someone’s death. This is not to say the broad events in these writings didn’t happen. But the writings themselves serve a bigger purpose for the reader, and the writers will use creative liberty to get that point across.
What can we learn from these writings?
For Christians in different parts of the world suffering persecution, these writings can comfort and encourage them just as they did for Christians in previous generations. For Christians like me (white Americans) who are not suffering persecution, we can be humbled at these testimonies and be challenged to pursue Christ in everything we do regardless of our situation. Litfin writes, “For in the end, it is not death by leaping flames or gnashing fangs that bind the modern Christian to the ancient martyr; it is an unshakeable resolve to follow hard after Jesus Christ at any cost.” (Litfin, 2014, Pg. 3) Amen.
Bibliography
Litfin, B. (2014). Early Christian Marytr Stories: An Evangelical Introduction with New Translations. Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Academic.
Jefford, C. (2012). Reading the Apostolic Fathers: A Student’s Introduction. Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Academic.
Holmes, M. (2005). The Martyrdom of Polycarp and the New Testament Passion Narratives. In A. Gregory and C. Tuckett, Trajectories through the New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers. Great Clarendon Street, Oxford. Oxford University Press.
Bradley, J. (1991). Miracles and Martyrdom in the Early Church: Some Theological and Ethical Implications. The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Vol. 13, No. 1, Pg. 65-81.
Brannan, R. (2017). The Apostolic Fathers: A New Translation. Bellingham, WA. Lexham Press.
For an introduction to early Church persecution: Ryan Reeves- Early Christian Persecution (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJR0A9phBc8&t=1338s)
Thumbnail Image: The Christian Martyr’s Last Prayer- Jean-Leon Gerome