Martyr
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Topical Encyclopedia
A martyr, in the Christian context, is an individual who bears witness to their faith in Jesus Christ through suffering or death. The term originates from the Greek word "μάρτυς" (martys), meaning "witness." In the New Testament, the concept of martyrdom is closely associated with the ultimate testimony of faith, often resulting in persecution or death.

Biblical Foundation

The New Testament provides several examples of martyrdom, beginning with Stephen, who is recognized as the first Christian martyr. In Acts 7:59-60 , Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, is stoned to death while praying for his persecutors: "While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

Jesus Himself speaks of the persecution His followers will face, indicating that martyrdom is a part of the Christian experience. In Matthew 5:10-12 , He states, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you."

Historical Context

Throughout history, Christians have faced persecution for their faith, often leading to martyrdom. The early church, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and other historical documents, experienced significant persecution under Roman rule. Many early Christians, such as Polycarp and Ignatius of Antioch, were martyred for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ.

The Book of Revelation also addresses the theme of martyrdom, portraying those who have been slain for their testimony as victorious. Revelation 6:9-11 describes the souls of martyrs under the altar, crying out for justice: "When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. And they cried out in a loud voice, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?'"

Theological Significance

Martyrdom holds a significant place in Christian theology as the ultimate act of witness to the truth of the Gospel. It is seen as a profound expression of faith and love for Christ, echoing His own sacrificial death. The willingness to suffer or die rather than deny Christ is viewed as a powerful testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul, who himself faced persecution, speaks to the honor and reward associated with suffering for Christ. In Philippians 1:29 , he writes, "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him."

Legacy and Influence

The legacy of martyrs has had a profound impact on the Christian faith, inspiring countless believers throughout the centuries. Their accounts are often recounted in hagiographies and serve as a source of encouragement and strength for those facing persecution. The blood of the martyrs is frequently referred to as the "seed of the Church," emphasizing the growth and resilience of the Christian faith in the face of adversity.

In summary, the concept of martyrdom is deeply embedded in the Christian tradition, representing the ultimate witness to the faith and the enduring power of the Gospel message.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
One who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ (Acts 22:20; Revelation 2:13; 17:6). In this sense Stephen was the first martyr. The Greek word so rendered in all other cases is translated "witness."

(1.) In a court of justice (Matthew 18:16; 26:65; Acts 6:13; 7:58; Hebrews 10:28; 1 Timothy 5:19).

(2.) As of one bearing testimony to the truth of what he has seen or known (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8, 22; Romans 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 10; 1 John 1:2).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the gospel; one who is put to death for his religion; as, Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

2. (n.) Hence, one who sacrifices his life, his station, or what is of great value to him, for the sake of principle, or to sustain a cause.

3. (v. t.) To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.

4. (v. t.) To persecute; to torment; to torture.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MARTYR

mar'-ter (martus, Aeolic martur): One who gives heed, and so, a "witness," so translated in numerous passages, both as of one bearing testimony, and also as of one who is a spectator of anything (see WITNESS). In the King James Version rendered "martyr" in Acts 22:20, "thy martyr Stephen"; and Revelation 2:13, "Antipas my faithful martyr"; also 17:6, "the blood of the martyrs of Jesus," where alone the American Standard Revised Version retains "martyrs." These 3 passages are the beginning of the use of the word "martyr" for such witnesses as were faithful even unto death, its uniform modern use.

Greek
4736. Stephanos -- "crown," Stephen, the first Christian martyr
... 4735, 4736. Stephanos. 4737 . "crown," Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Stephanos Phonetic Spelling: ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4736.htm - 6k

3144. martus -- a witness
... martyr, witness. Of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally (judicially) or
figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr" -- martyr, record, witness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3144.htm - 6k

493. Antipas -- Antipas, a Christian of Pergamum
... Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Antipas Phonetic Spelling: (an-tee'-pas)
Short Definition: Antipas Definition: Antipas, a Christian martyr of Pergamum ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/493.htm - 6k

Library

Dialogue of Justin, Philosopher and Martyr, with Trypho
Dialogue of Justin, Philosopher and Martyr, with Trypho. <. Dialogue
of Justin, Philosopher and Martyr, with Trypho Justin Martyr. ...
/.../justin/dialogue of justin philosopher and martyr with trypho/

The Young Martyr
... THE YOUNG MARTYR. On the afternoon of August 9, 1853, a little Norwegian
boy, named Kund Iverson, who lived in the city of Chicago ...
/.../shaw/touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/the young martyr.htm

Peter Martyr.
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE FATHERS OF THE REFORMATION, FOUNDERS OF SECTS, AND
OF OTHER DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME. Peter Martyr. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/peter martyr.htm

The Martyr Adalbert in Prussia.
... THE LIFE AND LABOURS OF INDIVIDUAL MISSIONARIES. THE MARTYR ADALBERT IN PRUSSIA.
Adalbert was born of a noble family in Prague, in the year 956. ...
/.../neander/light in the dark places/the martyr adalbert in prussia.htm

On the Holy Martyr, S. Babylas.
... on the holy martyr, s. babylas. 1. I was anxious to-day to pay the debt which
I promised you when I was lately here. But what am I to do? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/on the holy martyr s.htm

A Martyr-Convert
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCCLXXVI A MARTYR-CONVERT. The number of
Thine own complete, ... No preacher's vocal zeal,. Moved Thy dear Martyr to defy. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/ccclxxvi a martyr-convert.htm

The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr
... The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr The First Apology of Justin, the
Martyr. THE TEXT Plea for a Fair Hearing. 1. To the Emperor ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the first apology of justin.htm

The Blessedness of the Martyr.
... Book IV. Chapter VII."The Blessedness of the Martyr. ... And should you wish to be
a martyr for the recompense of advantages, you shall hear again. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vii the blessedness of the.htm

The Life of St. George Martyr
... ST. GEORGE MARTYR. St. ... again. This blessed and holy martyr St. George is
patron of the realm of England and the cry of men of war. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of st george.htm

The Story of Stephen, the First Martyr
... THE STORY OF STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR. In the New Testament, in the book
of Acts, you will learn how the members of the church in ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of stephen the.htm

Thesaurus
Martyr (2 Occurrences)
... One who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ (Acts
22:20; Revelation 2:13; 17:6). In this sense Stephen was the first martyr. ...
/m/martyr.htm - 9k

Triune
... HISTORICAL PRACTICE 1. The Jews 2. John the Baptist 3. The Didache 4. Justin Martyr
5. Tertullian 6. Eunomius 7. Greek Church LITERATURE I. Linguistic Basis. ...
/t/triune.htm - 13k

Trine
... HISTORICAL PRACTICE 1. The Jews 2. John the Baptist 3. The Didache 4. Justin Martyr
5. Tertullian 6. Eunomius 7. Greek Church LITERATURE I. Linguistic Basis. ...
/t/trine.htm - 14k

Immersion
... HISTORICAL PRACTICE 1. The Jews 2. John the Baptist 3. The Didache 4. Justin Martyr
5. Tertullian 6. Eunomius 7. Greek Church LITERATURE I. Linguistic Basis. ...
/i/immersion.htm - 14k

Abel (22 Occurrences)
... Cain's offering had no such reference, and therefore was rejected. Abel was
the first martyr, as he was the first of our race to die. ...
/a/abel.htm - 22k

Antipas (1 Occurrence)
... 3). (2.) A "faithful martyr" (Revelation 2:13), of whom nothing more is
certainly known. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ANTIPAS. ...
/a/antipas.htm - 8k

Deutero-canonical
... He was freely attested by Clement of Rome and Justin Martyr; James by Hermas and
probably by Clement of Rome; 2 John, 3 John and Jude by the Muratorian Fragment ...
/d/deutero-canonical.htm - 14k

Deuterocanonical
... He was freely attested by Clement of Rome and Justin Martyr; James by Hermas and
probably by Clement of Rome; 2 John, 3 John and Jude by the Muratorian Fragment ...
/d/deuterocanonical.htm - 14k

Witness (295 Occurrences)
... In Acts 22:20 Revelation 2:13; Revelation 17:6 the word martus, "witness", seems
to be beginning to acquire the meaning of "martyr," as in the King James ...
/w/witness.htm - 44k

Stephen (13 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary One of the seven deacons, who became a preacher
of the gospel. He was the first Christian martyr. His ...
/s/stephen.htm - 33k

Resources
Who was Justin Martyr? | GotQuestions.org

Christian martyrdom - what does the Bible say? Should Christians desire to become martyrs? | GotQuestions.org

What should we learn from Christian martyrs? | GotQuestions.org

Martyr: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Martyr (2 Occurrences)

Acts 22:20
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
(KJV WBS NIV)

Revelation 2:13
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
(KJV WBS)

Subtopics

Martyr

Related Terms

Triune

Trine

Immersion

Abel (22 Occurrences)

Antipas (1 Occurrence)

Deutero-canonical

Deuterocanonical

Witness (295 Occurrences)

Stephen (13 Occurrences)

Latin (2 Occurrences)

New (1850 Occurrences)

James (40 Occurrences)

Version

Ebionites

Ebionism

Eucharist

Supper (17 Occurrences)

Subapostolic

Sub-apostolic

Commentaries

Separate (115 Occurrences)

Zechariah (55 Occurrences)

Canon

First (4693 Occurrences)

Timothy (28 Occurrences)

Dionysius (1 Occurrence)

Dwelleth (142 Occurrences)

Dwellest (27 Occurrences)

Martyrs (1 Occurrence)

Martial (1 Occurrence)

Magi (4 Occurrences)

Ministry (44 Occurrences)

Pergamos (1 Occurrence)

Prochorus (1 Occurrence)

Colossians (1 Occurrence)

Archippus (2 Occurrences)

Areopagus (3 Occurrences)

Raiment (75 Occurrences)

Synoptic

Slain (235 Occurrences)

Slew (206 Occurrences)

Station (78 Occurrences)

Stake (2 Occurrences)

Machpelah (6 Occurrences)

Baptismal (1 Occurrence)

Image (126 Occurrences)

Denied (34 Occurrences)

Shiloah (1 Occurrence)

Siloah (1 Occurrence)

Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)

Shelah (18 Occurrences)

Ananias (11 Occurrences)

Psychology

Lord's (548 Occurrences)

Capernaum (16 Occurrences)

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)

Selfsurrender

Self-surrender

Agape

Magus

Gospels

Regeneration (2 Occurrences)

Nehelamite (4 Occurrences)

Hebrews (24 Occurrences)

Persecution (22 Occurrences)

Matthew (5 Occurrences)

Siloam (4 Occurrences)

Agrapha

Corinthians (3 Occurrences)

Galatians (2 Occurrences)

According (7613 Occurrences)

Wherein (208 Occurrences)

Priesthood (30 Occurrences)

Holdest (11 Occurrences)

Literature (2 Occurrences)

Ascension (1 Occurrence)

Ezekiel (4 Occurrences)

Books (16 Occurrences)

Martial
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