Topical Bible: The Apostles were Hated by the World

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The apostles of Jesus Christ, chosen and commissioned to spread the Gospel, often faced hostility and persecution from the world. This animosity is rooted in the fundamental opposition between the values of the world and the teachings of Christ. The apostles' experiences of hatred and persecution are well-documented in the New Testament and serve as a testament to the cost of discipleship and the spiritual battle between light and darkness.

Biblical Foundation

Jesus Himself forewarned His disciples about the world's hatred. In the Gospel of John, He states, "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first" (John 15:18). This declaration underscores the continuity of opposition faced by both Christ and His followers. The world, characterized by sin and rebellion against God, naturally resists the transformative message of the Gospel.

The Apostolic Experience

The Book of Acts provides numerous accounts of the apostles encountering hostility. Peter and John, for instance, were arrested and threatened by the Sanhedrin for preaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:1-3). Despite these threats, they boldly proclaimed, "We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).

The apostle Paul, perhaps more than any other, exemplifies the extent of the world's hatred. He recounts his sufferings in his letters, stating, "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned" (2 Corinthians 11:24-25). Paul's experiences highlight the physical and emotional toll of apostolic ministry in a hostile world.

Theological Implications

The hatred faced by the apostles is not merely historical but carries deep theological significance. It reflects the broader cosmic conflict between God's kingdom and the powers of darkness. Jesus' words in John 15:19, "If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world," emphasize the distinctiveness of the Christian identity and mission.

The apostles' perseverance amidst persecution serves as an example for believers. The apostle Peter encourages Christians to endure suffering for righteousness' sake, writing, "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 'Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened'" (1 Peter 3:14). This perspective transforms persecution into a badge of honor, aligning believers with Christ's own sufferings.

Historical Context

The early church existed in a milieu of religious pluralism and political tension. The Roman Empire, with its pantheon of gods and emperor worship, viewed the exclusive claims of Christianity with suspicion. Jewish authorities, too, saw the burgeoning Christian movement as a threat to their religious and social order. This dual opposition from both Roman and Jewish leaders contributed to the widespread persecution of the apostles.

Legacy and Influence

The apostles' experiences of being hated by the world have left an indelible mark on Christian theology and practice. Their steadfastness in the face of persecution has inspired countless generations of Christians to remain faithful amidst trials. The apostolic witness, preserved in Scripture, continues to challenge believers to live counter-culturally, bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel regardless of worldly opposition.

In summary, the apostles' encounters with hatred from the world are a profound aspect of their ministry and legacy. Their experiences underscore the cost of discipleship and the enduring conflict between the kingdom of God and the world. Through their example, believers are called to embrace their identity in Christ and persevere in faith, even when faced with hostility.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 10:22
And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 24:9
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 15:18
If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Church and the World.
... is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. ... He had just stated that
"they hated both him and his Father." This ... The apostles were double witnesses ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the church and the world.htm

John Chapter xvii. 14-19.
... then, subjoining the reason of their being hated by the ... For even the very name of
apostles, which is a ... who, born themselves in sinful flesh, were sanctified by ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cviii john chapter xvii.htm

The World Turned Upside Down
... They said the Apostles turned the world upside down ... is of faith, but you seek it
as it were by the ... world a race of persons who have always been hated"a class ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the world turned upside down.htm

John xvii. 14
... His word;" and that on this account "they were hated." And if He saith, "As I am
not of the world," be not ... ii.22 ), how could the Apostles be reckoned equal to ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxxii john xvii 14.htm

John Chapter xv. 26, 27
... and twenty men, among whom were all the apostles; and when they, filled therewith
were speaking in the ... a goodly number of those who had hated, amazed at ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xcii john chapter xv.htm

The Seven Deacons
... to the greater freedom secured by the apostles and to ... thus reveal to the world that
they were one with ... of His disciples, "The world hath hated them, because ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 9 the seven deacons.htm

The Lord's Prayer.
... The world had hated the Master and was about to slay him, because he was not of
the world. So it would hate the apostles, who were not of the world, and seek ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the lords prayer.htm

Introduction
... be rewarded for their labors and those that were despised and hated by the ... The apostles
themselves taught their converts to look for the appearing of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/introduction.htm

To the Romans
... The greatness of Christianity lies in its being hated by the world ... be a real disciple
of Jesus Christ when the world sees my ... They were apostles: I am a convict. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/to the romans.htm

Persecution in the First Centuries.
... The Spirit of truth revealed to the apostles the real ... would it be for the church
and the world if the ... Therefore they were hated by the wicked, even as Abel was ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /2 persecution in the first.htm