Persecution: 3 definitions

Introduction
In Christianity
1. General definition
See also

Introduction:

Persecution means something in Christianity. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. On this page you will also find search and cross-referencing tools.

In Christianity

General definition (in Christianity)

Source: archive.org: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Persecution definition and references: The first great persecution for religious opinion of which we have any record was that which broke out against the worshippers of God among the Jews in the days of Ahab, when that king, at the instigation of his wife Jezebel, “a woman in whom, with the reckless and licentious habits of an Oriental queen, were united the fiercest and sternest qualities inherent in the old Semitic race”, sought in the most relentless manner to extirpate the worship of Jehovah and substitute in its place the worship of Ashtoreth and Baal. Ahab’s example in this respect was followed by Manasseh, who “shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another” (2 Kings 21:16; comp. 24:4). In all ages, in one form or another, the people of God have had to suffer persecution. In its earliest history the Christian church passed through many bloody persecutions. Of subsequent centuries in our own and in other lands the same sad record may be made.

Christians are forbidden to seek the propagation of the gospel by force (Matthew 7:1; Luke 9:54-56; Romans 14:4; James 4:11, 12). The words of Psalms 7:13, “He ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors,” ought rather to be, as in the Revised Version, “He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts].”

Source: archive.org: Nave's Topical Bible

Persecution definition and references: –Of Jesus Genesis 3:15; Psalms 2:1-5; 22:1,2,6-8,11-21; 69:1-21; 109:25; Isaiah 49:7; 50:6; 52:14; 53:2-5,7-10; Micah 5:1; Matthew 2:13; 11:19; 12:14,24; 16:1; 20:22; 22:15; 26:3,4,14-16,59,67; 27:25-30,39-44; Mark 3:6,21,22; 11:18; 12:13; 14:1,48,65; 15:14,34; 16:17; Luke 4:28,29; 6:11; 7:34; 11:15,53,54; 12:50; 13:31; 19:14,47; 20:20; 22:2-5,52,53,63-65; 23:11,23; John 5:16; 7:1,7,19,20,30,32; 8:37,40,48,52,59; 10:20,31,39; 11:57; 14:30; 15:18,20,21,24,25; 18:22,23,29,30; 19:6,15; Acts 2:23; 3:13-15; 4:27; 7:52; 13:27-29; Hebrews 12:2,3; 1 Peter 4:1
–Of The Righteous Genesis 49:23; Job 1:9; 2:4,5; 12:4,5; Psalms 11:2; 37:32; 38:20; 42:3,10; 44:15-18,22; 56:5; 69:10,12; 74:7,8; 94:5; 119:51,61,69,78,85-87,95,110,157,161; Proverbs 29:10,27; Isaiah 26:20; 29:20,21; 51:12,13; 59:15; Jeremiah 2:30; 11:19; 15:10; 18:18; 20:7,8; 26:11-14; 50:7; Amos 5:10; Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 5:10-12,44; 10:16-18,21-23,28; 20:22,23; 23:34,35; 24:8-10; Mark 9:42; 13:9,11-13; Luke 6:22,23,26; 17:33; 21:12-19; John 12:42; 15:18,19; 16:1,2; 17:14; Acts 4:16-20; 5:29,40-42; 7:52; 8:4; 28:22; Romans 8:17,35-37; 1 Corinthians 4:9-13; 13:3; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 6:4,5,8-10; 11:23-27; 12:10; Galatians 4:29; 6:12,17; Philippians 1:12-14,28,29; Colossians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:2,14,15; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 2imothy 1:8,12; 2:9-12; 3:2,3,12; 4:16,17; Hebrews 10:32-34; 11:25-27,33-38; 12:3,4; 13:13; James 2:6; 5:6,10; 1 Peter 3:14,16,17; 4:3,4,12-14,16,19; 1 John 3:1,13; Revelation 2:3,10,13; 6:9-11; 7:13-17; 12:11; 17:6; 20:4
–See Paul
–A mode of divine chastisement Lamentations 1:3
–Diffuses the gospel Acts 8:1,4; 11:19-21; Philippians 1:12-14
–Deliverance from Psalms 124; 129:1,2
–Instances Of
–Of Abel Genesis 4:8; Matthew 23:35; 1 John 3:12
–Of Lot Genesis 19:9
–Of Moses Exodus 2:15; 17:4
–Of David Psalms 31:13; 59:1,2
–Of prophets martyred by Jezebel 1 Kings 18:4
–Of Gideon Judges 6:28-32
–Of Elijah 1 Kings 18:10; 19; 2 Kings 1:9; 2:23
–Of Micaiah 1 Kings 22:26; 2 Chronicles 18:26
–Of Elisha 2 Kings 6:31
–Of Hanani 2 Chronicles 16:10
–Of Zachariah 2 Chronicles 24:21; Matthew 23:35
–Of Job Job 13:4-13; 16:1-4; 17:2; 19:1-5; 30:1-10
–Of Jeremiah Jeremiah 15:10,15; 17:15-18; 18:18-23; 26; 32:2; 33:1; 36:26; 37; 38:1-6
–Of Urijah Jeremiah 26:23
–Of prophets Matthew 21:35,36
–Of the three Hebrew young men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego) of the captivity Daniel 3:8-23
–Of Daniel Daniel 6
–Of the Jews Ezra 4; Nehemiah 4
–Of John the Baptist Matthew 14:3-12
–Of James Acts 12:2
–Of Simon Mark 15:21
–Of the disciples John 9:22,34; 20:19
–Of Lazarus John 12:10
–Of the apostles Acts 4:3-18; 5:18-42; 12:1-19; Revelation 1:9
–Of Stephen Acts 6:9-15; 7
–Of the ekklesia (body of Christ) Acts 8:1; 9:1-14; Galatians 1:13
–Of Timothy Hebrews 13:23
–Of John Revelation 1:9
–Of Antipas Revelation 2:13
–Of the congregation at Smyrna Revelation 2:8-10

Source: archive.org: Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Persecution refers to:—Jesus Christ frequently warned His disciples that persecution would be the lot of all who followed Him ( John 15:18; John 15:20 ). So far from being dismayed at this, it should be a cause of rejoicing ( Matthew 5:11-12 ). The early Church had not long to wait for the fulfilment of these words. The martyrdom of Stephen was the signal for a fierce outburst of persecution against the Christians of Jerusalem, by which they were scattered in all directions. Saul of Tarsus was the moving spirit in this matter, until, on his road to Damascus to proceed against the Christians there, ‘Christ’s foe became His soldier.’ The conversion of Saul seems to have stayed the persecution. The attempt of Caligula to set up his statue in the Temple at Jerusalem also diverted the attention of the Jews from all else. Hence ‘the churches had rest’ ( Acts 9:31 ).

The next persecution was begun by Herod, who put to death the Apostle St. James, and would have done the same to St. Peter had he not been delivered. Herod’s motive was probably to gain a cheap popularity, but the persecution was ended by his own sudden and terrible death.

After this the history of persecution becomes more the history of the sufferings of certain individuals, such as St. Paul, though passages in the Epistles show us that the spirit of persecution was alive even if the details of what took place are hidden from us (1 Thessalonians 2:14 , Hebrews 10:32-33 , 1 Peter 2:19-25 ). Finally, in the Revelation of St. John, the seer makes frequent reference to the persecution and martyrdom of the saints as the lot of the Church in all ages.

Morley Stevenson.

Relevant text

Search found 122 books and stories containing Persecution, Persecutions; (plurals include: Persecutions, Persecutionses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chapter 52 - Whether We Should Believe What Some Think < [City of God]

Chapter XVII - The Persecution under Domitian < [The Church History of Eusebius.]

Chapter I - The Persecution under Severus < [The Church History of Eusebius.]

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Decline of Buddhism in India < [July 1970]

Address at the Parliament of Religions < [October – December, 1993]

Christmas < [December 1946]

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Chapter I - Desire of Ignatius for martyrdom < [Ignatius]

Translator's Introductory Notice.2 < [Anatolius and Minor Writers]

IX. De Fuga in Persecutione. < [Tertullian]

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